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

By

Saqib Mushtaq, Hafiz Muhammad
Alatawi, Fahad Jaber
Kamran, Muhammad
Flechtmann, Carlos Holger Wenzel 1938-

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2021

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1079

Pages

89--127

Subjects

Morphology , species complex , species identification , species inquirenda , spider mite , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1079.75175

 

Abstract

A comprehensive taxonomic assessment of the most agriculturally important and highly diverse spider mite genus,OligonychusBerlese (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, namelyOligonychusBerlese (aedeagus downturned) andReckiellaTuttle & Baker (aedeagus upturned), are valid in the genusOligonychus. The subgeneraHomonychusWainstein,MetatetranychoidesWainstein, andWainsteiniellaTuttle & 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, andperuvianus) and 11 species subgroups (aceris,biharensis,coffeae,comptus,exsiccator,gossypii,iseilemae,peruvianus,pritchardi,smithi, andsubnudus) are suggested in the subgeneraOligonychusandReckiella. FourteenOligonychusspecies are proposed as species inquirendae, and potential cryptic species complexes in the genusOligonychusare briefly highlighted. It is agreed that the clunal setah1is always absent, while the para-anal setaeh2andh3are always present in the genusOligonychus.A key to subgenera, species groups, and species subgroups of the genusOligonychusis provided.