Leptothrips purpuratus (Hood)

Haplothrips purpuratus Hood, 1925: 101 .

Described from one female and one male, taken on a species of Atriplex at Tempe, Arizona, this species was described as having antennal segments III–VI “bright yellow”. The fore tarsus bears a small tooth on the inner margin, as in distalis and fasciculatus, and it shares with distalis the presence of strong transverse striae on the pronotum but lacks mid-lateral setae. In contrast, fasciculatus has a smooth pronotum, and purpuratus is unique among the three species of the distalis group in lacking a sense cone on antennal segment III. Specimens have been studied from Arizona (Sacaton), California (Tecopa, Thermal, Victorville), New Mexico (Rodeo) and Texas (Ysleta).