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Title: Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) species complex – resurrection of E. W. Baker’s species (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

Author
item BEARD, J. - University Of Maryland
item Ochoa, Ronald - Ron
item BAUCHAN, G. - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item BRASWELL, W. - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Submitted to: International Congress of Acarology
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2014
Publication Date: 7/13/2014
Citation: Beard, J.J., Ochoa, R., Bauchan, G.R., Braswell, W. 2014. Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) species complex – resurrection of E. W. Baker’s species (Acari: Tenuipalpidae). International Congress of Acarology. 60.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Brevipalpus phoenicis sensu lato has been identified from countries all over the world and has been associated with many different host plant species. As a taxon, it shows a degree of morphological variation. A combination such as this often indicates that the taxon actually represents a complex of cryptic species. Since 1952, nearly all Brevipalpus mites collected that lacked dorsal opisthosomal setae f2 and possessed two solenidia on tarsus II were identified as B. phoenicis, with no further regard to any other characters. With this in mind, we examined 1000’s of Brevipalpus collected from across the world, and found that B. phoenicis sensu lato does indeed represent a complex of cryptic species. The many morphological differences found amongst these specimens, and indeed throughout the literature, are the result of poor taxonomy, misidentified specimens, poor quality specimens, poor host identification and associations or a lack of quality equipment. We offer a redescription of Brevipalpus phoenicis and a diagnosis for B. phoenicis sensu stricto, resurrect several synonyms, and describe new species. In doing so we offer new morphological characters and set the standard for future descriptions, along with the collection and preservation of reference material, for taxa in this group, and discuss the development and adoption of an integrative morphological and molecular approach for the reliable separation of Brevipalpus species.