干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Phenological and spatial abundances of macropterous and brachypterous mates and females were compared in adult Arpediothrips mojave Hood, a desert thrips restricted to leaf clusters on Yucca. Macropterous adults were trapped, and brachypterous adults and immatures were collected, on Yucca schidigera Roezl ex Ortgies every 12-16 days during 3 March-14 November 1999. Thrips were found on 92% of the leaf clusters sampled. Phenologies of macropterous and brachypterous mates, macropterous females, and immatures were similar, exhibiting one discrete generation during spring and a second, smaller discrete generation during summer. Phenology of brachypterous females differed from other morphs by being abundant (97% of adult thrips) throughout most of the sampling period. Most (87%) brachypterous females occurred on leaf clusters without adult males, whereas macropterous females occurred together with brachypterous or macropterous males. I hypothesize A. mojave brachypterous females are dormant during winter and capable of parthenogenesis and macropterous adults disperse genetic variation among established thrips aggregations.