干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Desiccation susceptibility of brachypterous Arpediothrips mojave Hood, a terebrantian thrips found on Yucca spp. between young leaves, was compared with that of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), a widespread terebrantian thrips found on flowers. The longevity of adult Female thrips withheld food and subjected to different vapor pressure deficits was measured. Across vapor pressure deficits. A. mojave survived 151 min, 0.28 times as long as F, occidentalis (545 min). Survival time decreased hyperbolically in A. mojave and linearly in F. occidentalis as vapor pressure deficit increased. The different trends indicate cuticular transpiration contributed more to desiccation in A. mojave than in F. occidentalis. Estimated surface-area to volume ratio of A. mojave was 2.1 times greater than F. occidentalis, primarily due to the former’s flattened body. Survival time of A. mojave was 0.58 times as long as F. occidentalis after accounting for sur face-area to volume ratio, suggesting greater cuticular permeability in A. mojave Brachypterous A. mojave appear morphologically and physiologically restricted to their microhabitat between the leaves of Yucca.