Eriorhynchidae, a new family of Prostigmata (Acarina), with a cladistic analysis of eupodoid species of Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

A new family of eupodine Prostigmata, Eriorhynchidae fam.n., is established to accommodate Eriorhynchus gen.n., and five species from Australia: E.australicus (Womersley), E.hades sp.n., E.ramosus sp.n., E.walteri sp.n. and E.womersleyi sp.n. The new family is unique in the possession of 15–34 setae on the gnathosomatic base, a naso‐prodorsal process with 9–28 setae and a palp tibia with 6 or 7 setae. A key to the families of Eupodoidea is provided. A cladistic analysis of twenty‐seven eupodoid species from Australia and New Zealand is presented. Results indicate that the genus Eriorhynchus gen.n. (thus Eriorhynchidae) is monophyletic, and the Australian and New Zealand species of Halotydeus Berlese, Penthaleus C. L. Koch, Rhagidia Thorell and Stereotydeus Berlese form separate monophyletic goups, while the Penthaleidae are not monophyletic. The new family Eriorhynchidae is a sister group to a clade consisting of Penthaleus and Chromotydaeus quartus Qin & Halliday.

Biology, ecology and control of the Penthaleus species complex (Acari: Penthaleidae)

“…The superfamily Eupodoidea (Acari: Prostigmata), currently includes six families: Eriorhynchidae, Eupodidae, Penthaleidae, Penthalodidae, Rhagidiidae and Strandtmanniidae, of which the first five are represented in Australia (Qin and Halliday 1997;Qin 1998). These families contain species that are predaceous, fungivorous or phytophagous and are found in soil, humus, moss, lichen and litter (Krantz 1978;Qin 1996).…”

Mites on Plants

“…In contrast, plant parasitism appears to have arisen more recently within the Eupodoidea and possibly more than once (Qin and Halliday 1997 ). As far as is known, most eupodoids are predatory (e.g.…”

“…The Penthaleidae as presently defi ned may be diphyletic and herbivory may have arisen twice: once in an ancestor of Halotydeus and once in an ancestor of Penthaleus and its relatives (Qin and Halliday 1997 ). However, several other related families of poorly known mites, the Penthalodidae and Eriorhynchidae, complicate interpreting these transitions.…”

“…6 ). Eriorhynchus is the only known genus in the recently described Eriorhynchidae (Qin and Halliday 1997 ). Five species are currently known and all are large, hairy, rapidly moving mites with very long legs.…”

A checklist and key to species of Eupodoidea (Acari: Prostigmata) from Australia and New Zealand and their subantarctic islands

“…Only the 30 named species are included. Anatomical nomenclature follows that of Baker (1990Baker ( , 1995, Qin (1994Qin ( , 1996 and Qin & Halliday (1997) and important features are illustrated in Figures 1-11. Features illustrated in previously published works are also referred to in the key where appropriate, e.g.…”