DISCONTINUOUS DISTRIBUTION AND SYSTEMATIC RELATIONSHIPS OF THE GENUS OROTHRIPS (THYSANOPTERA, AEOLOTHRIPIDAE) AND RELATED TAXA IN MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATES

A key is provided to the three species of Orothrips, and two new synon yms are recognized. Two of these species are from western U.S.A. but t he third is from southern Europe. This discontinuous distribution, als o similar distribution patterns amongst other taxa in the basal clades of the Thysanoptera which involve the five areas of the world with a Mediterranean climate, is discussed. The systematic significance of th e duplicated antennal sensoria found in Orothrips species is briefly d iscussed.