| abstract | This is a taxonomic study of the plant-feeding mites of Puerto Rico. These mites belong to the Class Arachnida, Order Acarina, Suborder Trombidiformes, and the families Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpidae, Tarsonemidae and Eriophyidae. General morphology, general biology, and keys to species are given for each family, as well as written and pictorial descriptions f the species.
Thirteen species of spider mites or tetranychids are described. One of these, Oligonychus smithi Cromroy is described as a new species. The other species are: Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor), Eotetranychus caribbeanae (McGregor), Eotetranychus planki (McGregor), Oligonychus prateniss (Banks), O. punicae (Hirst), O. sacchari (McGregor), Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval), T. cucurbitae Rahman and Punjab, T. desertorum Banks, T. ludeni Zacher, T. marianae McGregor, and T. tumidus Banks. T. tumidus was the most abundant of all species on the Island.
One species of Tenuipalpidae, Brevipalus longisetosus Baker, had been reported previously from the Island. Three species common to the United States were found, Brevipalpus australis (Tucker), B. inornatus (Banks), and B. hoenicis (Geijskes). Three new species are also described: Brevipalpus bakeri Cromroy, Tenuipalpus frondosus Cromroy, and Tenuipalpus simplychus Cromroy.
Hemitarsonemus latus (Banks) was the most common tarsonmid found on the Island. In addition, 12 new species are described. Revised keys to the species of the genera Steneotarsonemus and Tarsonemus for the Western Hemisphere are given. A ne genus, Fungitaronemus, was erected. The following are the new species of tarsonemids described: Tarsonemus gramineus Cromroy, T. labrus C., T. modicus C., T. prominens C., T. purpurus C., T. rebros C., T. rotundus C., T. tertiapilus C., Steneotarsonemus martorelli C., S. perezi C., Fungitarsonemus borinquensis C., and Xenotarsonemus caceae C.
Seven new species of Eriophyidae are described. They are Vasates domingensis C., Diptacus borinquensis C., Rhyncahytoptus harrii C., Aceria osmia C. Aceria odorata C., Aceria purpurascenis C. and Eriophyes buceras C. |