Tenuipalpus (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tetranychoidea: Tenuipalpidae)

Abstract

The Tenuipalpidae (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tetranychoidea), commonly known as false spider mites or flat mites, are one of the main groups of obligate phytophagous mites of importance in agriculture and horticulture. They can cause significant damage to host plants, by feeding and vectoring diseases of plants, and are among the common species intercepted on imported fresh produce; several species are known as invasive species in different regions of the world. Tenuipalpus is the largest genus in the family and currently comprises over 300 species of worldwide distribution. In New Zealand, nine species have been recognized and are described here in detail and illustrated with line drawings. A key to adult females of Tenuipalpus from New Zealand is provided to assist identification. The ontogenetic changes of T. antipodus and T. mahoensis in idiosomal and leg chaetotaxy on the female, male, deutonymph, protonymph and larva are also presented.