Tenuipalpus


           Fig. 1.   Tenuipalpus bucidus  female dorsum   (after Pritchard & Baker 1958).

Fig. 1. Tenuipalpus bucidus female dorsum (after Pritchard & Baker 1958).


           Fig. 2.   Tenuipalpus bucidus  female dorsum   (type specimen).

Fig. 2. Tenuipalpus bucidus female dorsum (type specimen).


           Fig. 3.   Tenuipalpus pacificus  female dorsum   (images: Gary Bauchan, USDA-ARS).

Fig. 3. Tenuipalpus pacificus female dorsum (images: Gary Bauchan, USDA-ARS).


           Fig. 4.   Tenuipalpus pacificus  female   posterior dorsum (image: Gary Bauchan, USDA-ARS).

Fig. 4. Tenuipalpus pacificus female posterior dorsum (image: Gary Bauchan, USDA-ARS).


           Fig. 5.   Tenuipalpus  sp. female anterior   prodorsum, with detail of broad flat projection.

Fig. 5. Tenuipalpus sp. female anterior prodorsum, with detail of broad flat projection.


           Fig. 6.   Tenuipalpus pacificus  female   posterior venter (image: Gary Bauchan, USDA-ARS).

Fig. 6. Tenuipalpus pacificus female posterior venter (image: Gary Bauchan, USDA-ARS).


           Fig. 7.   Tenuipalpus   pacificus    female, claws (c) and empodium (e) pad-like.

Fig. 7. Tenuipalpus pacificus female, claws (c) and empodium (e) pad-like.


           Fig. 8.   Tenuipalpus  sp. female   live.

Fig. 8. Tenuipalpus sp. female live.


           Fig. 9.   Tenuipalpus  sp. female   live.

Fig. 9. Tenuipalpus sp. female live.


           Fig. 10.   Tenuipalpus  sp. female   live.

Fig. 10. Tenuipalpus sp. female live.


           Fig. 11.   Tenuipalpus  sp. live   eggs.

Fig. 11. Tenuipalpus sp. live eggs.


Key characters

  • c2, d2, e2, absent (Figs. 1-3)
  • c1, f2 present/absent (Fig. 4)
  • h2 elongate
  • anterior margin of prodorsum with broad flat projection over gnathosoma and coxae I-II, strongly forked medially (Fig. 5)
  • ventral and genital plates developed, often slightly sclerotised, often fused (Fig. 6)
  • anal plates not developed
  • 2 pairs ps setae
  • 1-3 segmented palp
  • both claws and empodium are pad-like, with tenent hairs (Fig. 7)

Similar taxa

Brevipalpus - does not have h2 elongate

Tenuilichus - c1, d1, e1 absent

Ultratenuipalpus - does not have h2 elongate

Number of species

over 300

Authority

Donnadieu

Distribution

World wide.

The African (91 spp.), Oriental (69 spp.), Neotropical (~64 spp.) and Western Palearctic (29 spp.) regions are the most species diverse.

Countries include: Brazil, China, France, India, Iran, Iraq, Mexico, Pakistan, The Philippines, South Africa, USA.

Hosts

Many families of host plant including: Anacardiaceae, Arecaceae, Asteraceae, Combretaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Meliaceae, Mimosaceae, Myrtaceae, Orchidaceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae.

Colour

  • colour varies from red, orange to yellow-green when alive (Figs. 8-10)
  • eggs tend to be red, yellow-orange (Fig. 11)

Remarks

Many species with propodosoma much wider than hysterosoma. Considered to be a paraphyletic genus.