Review of the genus Daidalotarsonemus De Leon (Acari: Prostigmata: Tarsonemidae)

Authors: REZENDE, J - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP); Bauchan, Gary; Ochoa, Ronald - Ron; LIN, JIAN-ZHEN - Agricultural University Of China; LOFEGO, ANTONIO - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/24/2024
Publication Date: 3/19/2024
Citation: Rezende, J.M., Bauchan, G.R., Ochoa, R., Lin, J., Lofego, A. 2024. Review of the genus Daidalotarsonemus De Leon (Acari: Prostigmata: Tarsonemidae). Zootaxa. 5426(1):001–170. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5426.1.1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5426.1.1

Interpretive Summary: The family Tarsonemidae (known as white mites) include more than 44 genera, they are associated with crops, ornamental plants, forestry, insects (beetles, true bugs), fungi, bacteria and soil. This paper presented a major revision of an important genus in the white mites associated with fungi. It included a key for the known species and three new species. This study will be important to biologist, ecologist, plant protection officers, entomologists and agriculture scientists.

Technical Abstract: We review the genus Daidalotarsonemus (Acari: Prostigmata: Tarsonemidae), including information about its taxonomy, phylogeny and distribution. In total, 42 species are listed, which the original descriptions register from 15 countries. Among them three new species are described and ten species are redescribed. Also, Mandarin descriptions for four species are translated to English, and one species is transferred to species inquirenda status. An identification key based on females is provided. Biological and biogeographical aspects of the genus are also briefly discussed. The cladistic analysis returned a single most parsimonious tree of 212 steps (CI 48, RI 76) and reinforces the hypothesis of monophyly for Daidalotarsonemus. According to it, the genus is primarily divided into two well-defined branches (A and B): the first based on two synapomorphies and the second by one synapomorphy and one homoplasy, all related to the dorsal setae d and e, respectively. The American continent hosts most of the known diversity for this group; however, the data indicates Daidalotarsonemus has a worldwide distribution, spread throughout a variety of biomes from savannahs to temperate forests.