Description of Tarsonemus parawaitei, a new species of Tarsonemidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) associated with orchard and ornamental plants in Europe, Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

A new species of Tarsonemidae, Tarsonemus parawaitei, in the waitei-group of Tarsonemus is described and illustrated in detail from the adult female and male, larval female and male, and egg. The species is recorded from western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The species has two tibial solenidia on leg I of the adult female but only one on the adult male; this sexual dimorphism has not been reported in Tarsonemidae before, and warrants further investigation. Lindquist's (1978) key to the Tarsonemus waitei group is updated in light of our results.