Explanation of Names
Named for its occurrence in the Baja California Region (Brailovsky et al. 1994; see reference below)
Range
Mexico (Baja Californica; Sonora; Chihuahua); extends into southern Arizona, USA (most records are from Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise counties; also known from Maricopa County - Phoenix area)
Food
The green pods of Mesquite (Prosopis spp. notably the non-native P. velutina (Chilean, Velvet Mesquite), and the native P. glandulosa (Honey Mesquite).
Life Cycle
Eggs are posited in chains of ~ 12 under stems, or loose bark, of host plants.
Remarks
Dr. James Hogue (Cal State Northridge) pointed out that this genus has been revised (please see references below; HW). T. acutangulus is present only in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize (formerly British Honduras), and Costa Rica. The records from the United States are misidentifications (per Brailovsky, Schaefer, et al. 1994; see reference below - HW)
T. neocalifornicus is the only species of this genus that occurs in the U.S.A.
It is close to T. gigas from Mexico, and T. acutangulus (see distribution notes above).
Print References
Brailovsky, H., C. W. Schaefer, E. Barrera, R. J. Packauskas. 1994 (published 1995). A Revision of the Genus Thasus (Hemiptera: Coreidae: Coreinae: Nematopodini) Journal of the New York Entomological Society 102: 318-343.
Forbes, G., and C.W. Schaefer. 2003. Further Notes on the Genus Thasus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae). Journal of the New York Entomological Society 111: 235- 241.
Jones, W. A. 1993. New host and habitat associations for some Arizona Pentatomoidea and Coreidae. Southwestern Entomologist (Suppl.) 16:1-29.
Internet References
Excellent photos of nymphs and adults at
fireflyforest.
A photo of specimens:
USDA/ forestryimages
