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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #348729
Research Project: Plant Feeding Mite (Acari) Systematics

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Raoiella (Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) of the world

Author
item BEARD, J. - University Of Maryland
item Ochoa, Ronald - Ron
item Bauchan, Gary
item DOWLING, A. P. - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2018
Publication Date: 10/24/2018
Citation: Beard, J.J., Ochoa, R., Bauchan, G.R., Dowling, A.G. 2018. Raoiella (Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) of the world. Zootaxa. 4501(1):1-302.

Interpretive Summary: Plant feeding mites in the genus Raoiella, are major pest of palms and trees in the myrtle family such as the bay rum tree, clove, guava, allspice, and eucalyptus which contain essential oil products. However, there has been increased interest in one particular species, Raoiella indica (red palm mite), on palm trees due to its increased spread throughout the world. We describe 15 new species and redescribe six established species in the genus Raoiella based on our morphological studies using differential interference contrast (DIC) and low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LT-SEM). Research scientists, growers, USDA-APHIS and border control agents will use this information for the identification of these potential worldwide pests.

Technical Abstract: We describe 16 new species and redescribe six established species, in the genus Raoiella – R. argenta sp. nov. Beard, R. australica Womersley, R. bauchani sp. nov. Beard & Ochoa, R. crebra sp. nov. Beard & Ochoa, R. davisi sp. nov. Beard, R. didcota sp. nov. Beard, R. eugeniae (Mohanasundaram), R. goyderi sp. nov. Ochoa & Beard, R. hallingi sp. nov. Beard, R. calgoa sp. nov. Beard & Ochoa, R. illyarrie sp. nov. Beard & Ochoa, R. indica Hirst, R. karri sp. nov. Ochoa & Beard, R. macfarlanei Pritchard & Baker, R. marri sp. nov. Beard & Ochoa, R. pandanae Mohanasandaram, R. pooleyi sp. nov. Beard, R. shimpana Meyer, R. tallerack sp. nov. Beard & Ochoa, R. taronga sp. nov. Beard, R. todtiana sp. nov. Beard & Ochoa, R. wandoo sp. nov. Beard & Ochoa. We discuss shared character states among groups of species, and patterns in the additions of leg setae throughout ontogeny that occur in the genus. We provide a key to the known species of Raoiella.