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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #344948
Research Project: Plant Feeding Mite (Acari) Systematics

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: New findings on tarsonemid mites (Prostigmata: Tarsonemidae) under the LT-SEM (Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy) – The case of genera Daidalotarsonemus and Excelsotarsonemus

Author
item REZENDE, J. - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)
item Bauchan, Gary
item LOFEGO, ANTONIO - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)
item WELBOURN, W. - Florida Department Of Agriculture
item Ochoa, Ronald - Ron

Submitted to: Experimental and Applied Acarology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/2017
Publication Date: 5/1/2019
Citation: Rezende, J.M., Bauchan, G.R., Lofego, A., Welbourn, W.C., Ochoa, R. 2019. New findings on tarsonemid mites (Prostigmata: Tarsonemidae) under the LT-SEM (Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy) – The case of genera Daidalotarsonemus and Excelsotarsonemus. Experimental and Applied Acarology. 1(1):49-66.

Interpretive Summary: Tarsonemid mites include more than 40 genera, some cause severe damage to agricultural crops around the world, others are associated with insects (beetles, true bugs), fungi, bacteria and soil. This article addresses new information obtained under the low temperature scanning electron microscope on the morphology and their role in nature. This study will be important to plant protection officers, ecologists, entomologists, biologists and Agriculture scientists.

Technical Abstract: Daidalotarsonemus De Leon and Excelsotarsonemus Ochoa & Naskrecki are tarsonemids considered to be plant inhabiting genera. Both present complex structured bodies which are very difficult to be interpreted by traditional light microscopy techniques. Due to this most of the papers published have presented poorly detailed drawings and descriptions for those genera. In light microscopy slide mounting distorts the individual by flattening the specimen between the slide and the coverslip. In recent years Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy (LT-SEM) has been incorporated to acarological studies, improving the understanding about the external morphology of mites in general. The impact of LT-SEM analysis on studies of the tarsonemid genera is discussed here. The use of this technology allows the recognition of small details e.g. palpal setae, protuberances on palpal tibiotarsus, cheliceral tips, dorsal ornamentation and chaetotaxy among others. This information is important not only for diagnosis but also to understand their ecology and behaviour.