The spider mites of the genus Eutetranychus Banks (Acari, Trombidiformes, Tetranychidae) from Saudi Arabia: Two new species, a re-description, and a key to the world species

Abstract

Two new species of the genus Eutetranychus Banks are described and illustrated based on adult females and males, E. spinosus sp. n. from Indigofera spinosa Forssk (Leguminosae), E. neotransversus sp. n. from Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl. (Cupressaceae), and E. palmatus Attiah, 1967 is redescribed from Washingtonia robusta H. Wendl. (Arecaceae). Additionally, the intraspecific morphological variations within E. orientalis populations, collected from 28 various host plants and 80 different localities from six regions of Saudi Arabia from 2009 to 2017, are discussed and presented. The genus Eutetranychus is divided into two species groups based on the presence of one seta (orientalis group) or two setae (banksi group) on coxa II. In addition, seven Eutetranychus species are suggested as synonyms of E. orientalis (Klein, 1936) and E. papayensis Iqbal & Ali, 2008 is considered as species inquirenda. A key to all known species of the genus Eutetranychus is provided.