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Title: Systematic revision of the Genus Deleonia (Acari: Tarsonemidae)

Author
item GOLDARAZENA, ARTURO - UNIV.FL.; LAKE ALFRED, FL
item Ochoa, Ronald - Ron
item CHILDERS, CARL - UNIV.,FL; LAKE ALFRED, FL

Submitted to: International Journal of Acarology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/29/2002
Publication Date: 9/1/2003
Citation: Goldarazena, A., Ochoa, R., Childers, C.C. 2003. Systematic revision of the Genus Deleonia (Acari: Tarsonemidae). International Journal of Acarology. 28(3):221-240.

Interpretive Summary: Mites are serious agricultural pests and cause billions of dollars in damage each year. Tarsonemids (white mites) are important not only as plant pests but also are useful predators in biological control programs. This study describes four new species of white mites that are of special interest as occupants of Camellia, Citrus, and ornamental plants in the U.S. and Costa Rica. Their feeding habits are not clear; however, the green color of the gut contents observed in several of the species, collection data, and field observations support the hypothesis that these mites feed on green algae, lichens or epiphytic plants on host trees. This research provides new information on the mites of the tropics and will be important to mite identifiers, quarantine specialists, and tropical biologists.

Technical Abstract: The genus Deleonia Linquist is revised; two previously named species (D. filifer DeLeon, and D. floridanus Attiah) and four new species (D. aguilari, D. paniaguae, D. laselva, and D. walteri) are described and illustrated. The species are associated with trees and bushes in the families Apocynaceae, Capparidaceae, Cycadaceae, Fabaceae, Melastomataceae, Meliaceae, Moraceae, Myristicaceae, Ochnaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Sapindaceae, Sterculiaceae, Simaroubaceae and Theaceae of tropical and agricultural arboreal ecosystems. D. citri Attiah is synonymized with D. floridanus, and Tarsonemus rakowiensis Kropczynska is retained in the genus Tarsonemus.