Re-description of Dendroptus flexus (Livshitz, Mitrofanov & Sharonov, 1979) (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Tarsonemidae) with notes on the newly found males and larvae of this species and its proposed generic affiliation

Abstract

Tarsonemus flexus Livshitz, Mitrofanov & Sharonov, 1979 is re-described based on females and newly discovered males and larvae from Hungary; its systematic position is also discussed. As a result, the species is transferred to the genus Dendroptus Kramer, 1876. It is speculated that the genus may contain at least two parallel phylogenetic lines.

Keywords:

• tarsonemid
• gall mites
• Hungary
• Crimea
• taxonomy
• new combination

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr Evert E. Lindquist (Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids, and Nematodes, Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Canada) for his valuable remarks on the generic affiliation of the re-described species and to Dr Alexandr Khaustov (Nikita Botanical Gardens – National Scientific Center, Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine) for making the material from the collection of Nikita State Botanical Garden available for this study.