New subgenera and a new species of the genus Raphignathus Dugès (Prostigmata, Raphignathidae), with taxonomic notes on the genus Neoraphignathus Smiley & Moser

Four new subgenera in the genus Raphignathus Dugès are hereby proposed: Raphignathus (Raphignathus), subgen. nov., Raphignathus (Monoraphignathus), subgen. nov., Raphignathus (Diraphignathus), subgen. nov., and Raphignathus (Triraphignathus), subgen. nov. These subgenera are diagnosed by the number of setae on the interscutal membrane of females. A new species, R. (D.) neohecmatanaensis sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on females collected from Ziziphus spina-christi Mill. (Rhamnaceae). The taxonomic status of the monotypic genus Neoraphignathus Smiley & Moser and three species (R. evidus, R. hsiufui, and R. johnstoni) are discussed. A key to world species of the family Raphignathidae is given

The spider mites of the genus Eutetranychus Banks (Acari, Trombidiformes, Tetranychidae) from Saudi Arabia: two new species, a re-description, and a key to the world species

Two new species of the genus Eutetranychus Banks are described and illustrated based on adult females and males, E. spinosus sp. n. from Indigofera spinosa Forssk (Leguminosae), E. neotransversus sp. n. from Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl. (Cupressaceae), and E. palmatus Attiah, 1967 is redescribed from Washingtonia robusta H. Wendl. (Arecaceae). Additionally, the intraspecific morphological variations within E. orientalis populations, collected from 28 various host plants and 80 different localities from six regions of Saudi Arabia from 2009 to 2017, are discussed and presented. The genus Eutetranychus is divided into two species groups based on the presence of one seta (orientalis group) or two setae (banksi group) on coxa II. In addition, seven Eutetranychus species are suggested as synonyms of E. orientalis (Klein, 1936) and E. papayensis Iqbal & Ali, 2008 is considered as species inquirenda. A key to all known species of the genus Eutetranychus is provided

Taxonomy of the Family Teneriffiidae (Acari: Prostigmata: Anystoidea): Generic Synonymies with the Key to World Species of the Family

The family Teneriffiidae Thor has an equivocal and patchy generic history due to a lack of proper diagnostic character/s, causing the addition of an over-sufficient number of genera (i.e., nine) for the 28 described species. The present study aimed to resolve those taxonomic uncertainties related to generic divisions and species assignments by thoroughly reviewing all the published literature of the family, identifying key diagnostic character/s for generic divisions while debating on previously used morphological features. In the present research, only two genera, Teneriffia Thor and Parateneriffia Thor, are considered valid genera in the family Teneriffiidae, based on the absence and presence of palpgenu oncophysis, respectively. The previously used other generic diagnostic characters such as coxal setal formula, pectination strength of leg claws, absence or presence of genital papillae, genital discs, and pedal solenidion have been argued for their inconsistencies. A total of four species were synonymized with the closely related species, while additional notes for six poorly described species are given. Moreover, the key to the genera and species of the family Teneriffiidae is provided

New Genus and New Subgenera of Camerobiid Mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Camerobiidae) with a Key to World Species of the Genus

A new genus, Monobius Alatawi and Kamran, is hereby proposed for the two already described species, viz; M. electrus (Żmudziński) and M. meyerae (Bolland). In addition, the monospecific genus Tillandsobius Bolland is synonymized with the genus Tycherobius Bolland due to variations in the setae number of tibiae I–IV. Further, the genus Neophyllobius Berlese is categorized in two new subgeneric divisions as Neophyllobius Berlese and Monophyllobius Mirza. The number and position of the midventral setae on tarsi I–IV are considered as strong diagnostic generic and subgeneric diagnostic characters. The present study also includes the key to all known species of the genus Neophyllobius. The morphological characters of ten poorly described Neophyllobius species were studied in detail through published literature. The ambiguities in the ventral idiosoma setal notation are highlighted and discussed. It is concluded that two intercoxal setae 3a–4a are always present on small platelets, paired aggenital setae (ag) are present anteriorly and paired genital setae (g) present posteriorly on genital shield. In addition, five records of new species for Saudi Arabia are reported along with re–descriptions of three species

World species of the subgenus Oligonychus (Reckiella) Tuttle and Baker (Acari, Prostigmata, Tetranychidae), diagnostic keys, taxonomic notes, and a new species

Abstract Oligonychus Berlese (Acari, Prostigmata, Tetranychidae) is an agriculturally important and the largest genus of spider mites, comprised of 211 species (including new species), two subgenera, four species groups, and 11 species subgroups. The present study comprehensively addressed the morphotaxonomic-based identification of world species of the subgenus Reckiella Tuttle and Baker. Five diagnostic keys were developed for identifying Oligonychus (Reckiella) species belonging to five species subgroups: iseilemae, pritchardi, biharensis, gossypii, and exsiccator. Taxonomic notes are provided on intraspecific variations and some closely related Oligonychus (Reckiella) species representing six species complexes, viz. the afrasiaticus complex, the litchii complex, the pratensis complex, the plegas complex, the sacchari complex, and the tylus complex. One new spider mite species, Oligonychus bahaensis sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Grasses (Poaceae) under the subgenus Reckiella

Molecular and phenotypic variations in Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein) populations from Saudi Arabia.

The oriental red spider mite, Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein) is a major pest of citrus in many countries including Saudi Arabia (SA). The morphological variations among the different populations of E. orientalis were reported. In the present study, phenotypic variations based on 40 different morphological characteristics were evaluated in 10 E. orientalis populations collected from different hosts and regions of SA. Further, ITS2-rDNA sequences were used to confirm the identity of these phenotypically varying populations. Phenotypic variations in all populations were found in the shape and length of dorsal setae, striation pattern between setae d1 and e1, and leg chaetotaxy. The rDNA sequence analysis of these morphologically varying populations resulted in 10 different ITS2 Saudi haplotypes. The phenotypic and genetic variations were more related to the host plants rather than their geographic distribution. The E. orientalis population collected from Phoenix dactylifera was phenotypically distinct and genetically divergent. The populations collected from citrus species were also more phenotypically and genetically related to each other than to populations collected from non-citrus host plants. The haplotypes recovered from Ziziphus sp., Morus sp., and Azadirecta indica from different regions were grouped in the same sub-clade. Further, the ITS2 haplotypes of Saudi E. orientalis recovered from Citrus reticulata from Riyadh and Al Ula were 100% identical to the ITS2 haplotypes recovered from Citrus sp. from Israel. It is concluded that phenotypic variations exist among different populations of E. orientalis inhabiting different host plants. This species should be identified carefully by considering phenotypic intraspecific variations

The genus Oligonychus Berlese (Acari, Prostigmata, Tetranychidae): taxonomic assessment and a key to subgenera, species groups, and subgroups

A comprehensive taxonomic assessment of the most agriculturally important and highly diverse spider mite genus, Oligonychus Berlese (Acari: Tetranychidae) was performed. The sub-generic division, species groups, doubtful species, species complexes and the interpretation of a key generic character are discussed. Based on the orientation of the male aedeagus, only two subgenera, namely Oligonychus Berlese (aedeagus downturned) and Reckiella Tuttle & Baker (aedeagus upturned), are valid in the genus Oligonychus. The subgenera Homonychus Wainstein, Metatetranychoides Wainstein, and Wainsteiniella Tuttle & Baker are considered to be synonyms of the subgenus Oligonychus, whereas the subgenus Pritchardinychus Wainstein is proposed as a synonym of the subgenus Reckiella. Moreover, based on female morphological characters, four species groups (coffeae, exsiccator, iseilemae, and peruvianus) and 11 species subgroups (aceris, biharensis, coffeae, comptus, exsiccator, gossypii, iseilemae, peruvianus, pritchardi, smithi, and subnudus) are suggested in the subgenera Oligonychus and Reckiella. Fourteen Oligonychus species are proposed as species inquirendae, and potential cryptic species complexes in the genus Oligonychus are briefly highlighted. It is agreed that the clunal seta h1 is always absent, while the para-anal setae h2 and h3 are always present in the genus Oligonychus. A key to subgenera, species groups, and species subgroups of the genus Oligonychus is provided

Evidence for Reconsidering the Taxonomic Status of Closely Related <i>Oligonychus</i> Species in <i>punicae</i> Complex (Acari: Prostigmata: Tetranychidae)

To elucidate the taxonomic problems in species delineation within the Oligonychus punicae complex (O. punicae, O. mangiferus, and O. vitis) (Acari: Prostigmata: Tetranychidae), we performed morphological and molecular investigations on mite samples, collected from different hosts/countries. Thirty-nine samples of punicae complex, collected from Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia (SA), did not show any considerable morphological differences in females and males. All 39 samples of the punicae complex resembled the original description of O. punicae, while the claimed Mexican O. punicae was distinctively different based on male aedeagus. Molecularly, the low nucleotide diversity ranged from 0% to 2.1% (ITS2-rDNA) and 0% to 1% (COI-mtDNA), and was observed among various DNA sequences of the punicae complex from Egypt, India, Israel, Pakistan, and SA, confirming their identity as one species. The high genetic divergence ranged from 17.2% to 18.8% (ITS2) and 9.2% to 10.2% (COI), observed between the claimed Mexican O. punicae and all other sequences of the punicae complex, indicating that the Mexican sample do not belong to O. punicae. Basing our findings on both morphological and molecular data, we can conclude that O. mangiferus and O. vitis are synonymized with O. punicae. Additionally, this study reveals that the claimed Mexican O. punicae needs to be re-identified

Molecular-Based Taxonomic Inferences of Some Spider Mite Species of the Genus <i>Oligonychus</i> Berlese (Acari, Prostigmata, Tetranychidae)

DNA barcoding technology using short DNA sequences has emerged as an efficient and reliable tool for identifying, confirming, and resolving closely related taxa. This study used ITS2-rDNA and mtCOI DNA sequences to confirm the identity of eight Oligonychus species, representing 68 spider mite samples, collected mainly from Saudi Arabia (SA) and some from Mexico, Pakistan, USA, and Yemen. The intraspecific nucleotide divergences of the studied Oligonychus species ranged from 0% to 1.2% for ITS2 and 0% to 2.9% for COI. However, the interspecific nucleotide divergences were distinctly higher than the intraspecific ones and ranged from 3.7% to 51.1% for ITS2 and 3.2% to 18.1% for COI. Furthermore, molecular data correctly confirmed the species identity of 42 Oligonychus samples lacking males, including a previously claimed sample of O. pratensis from SA. High genetic variations were detected in two Oligonychus species: O. afrasiaticus (McGregor) (nine ITS2 and three COI haplotypes) and O. tylus Baker and Pritchard (four ITS2 and two COI haplotypes). In addition, ITS2- and COI-based phylogenetic trees confirmed the subdivision of the genus Oligonychus. In conclusion, integrative taxonomic approaches are vital to resolve the closely related Oligonychus species, identify the samples lacking male specimens, and assess phylogenetic relationships within and among species