344 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



Suborder TEREBRANTIA* 



In this suborder the female has a four-valved, saw-Hke ovipositor; 

 the terminal abdominal segment of the female is conical ; that of the 

 male bluntly rounded. Wings are usually present; the front wings 

 are stronger than the hind wings and usually have more or less well- 

 developed veins; the membrane of the wings is clothed with micro- 

 scopic hairs. 



The members of this suborder are more agile than those of the 

 other one. They run rapidly; and spring, by bending under the tip 

 of the abdomen and suddenly straightening it out. 



This suborder includes two families. 



Family ^OLOTHRIPID^ 



In this family the wings are comparatively broad. Each fore 

 wing has two longitudinal veins extending from its base to near the tip, 

 where they unite 

 with a prominent 

 ambient vein 

 on each side 

 of the tip (Fig. 

 391) ; four or five 

 cross-veins are 

 present in each 

 fore wing, in 

 some species 



(Fig- 393); in 

 others, cross- 

 veins are want- 



Fig- 393- — Fore wing of Erythrothrips arizonce. 

 (After Moulton.) 



ing (Fig. 391). The ovipositor is upcurved. 



Comparatively few species belonging to this family have been 

 found in our fauna; the best-known one is the following. 



The banded thrips, ALolothrips Jascidtus. — This species is widely 

 distributed both in this country and in Europe. The adult is yellow- 

 ish brown to dark brown in color, with three white bands on the wings, 

 one at the base, one in the middle, and one at the tip. The larva is 

 yellow with the abdomen deeper orange behind. This species infests 

 many plants; it is common in the heads of red clover. 



Family THRIPID^ 



In this family the wings, when present, are usually narrow and 

 pointed at the tip. The radius and cubitus of the front wings, when 

 present, usually coalesce for about one third their length, so that 

 cubitus appears to be a branch of radius. The ovipositor is down- 

 curved. 



To this family belong most of the species of thrips that have at- 

 tracted attention on account of their economic importance. The 

 better-known of these are the following. 



*Terebrantia: terebro, to bore through. 



