New subgenera and a new species of the genus Raphignathus Dugès (Prostigmata, Raphignathidae), with taxonomic notes on the genus Neoraphignathus Smiley & Moser

Eid Muhammad Khan; Muhammad Kamran; Jawwad Hassan Mirza; Fahad Jaber Alatawi

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1176.106224

New subgenera and a new species of the genus Raphignathus Dugès (Prostigmata, Raphignathidae), with taxonomic notes on the genus Neoraphignathus Smiley & Moser

Zookeys. 2023 Aug 23:1176:165-180. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1176.106224. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Eid Muhammad Khan¹, Muhammad Kamran¹, Jawwad Hassan Mirza¹, Fahad Jaber Alatawi¹

Affiliation

¹ Acarology Research Laboratory, Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia King Saud University Riyadh Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Four new subgenera in the genus Raphignathus Dugès are hereby proposed: Raphignathus (Raphignathus), subgen. nov., Raphignathus (Monoraphignathus), subgen. nov., Raphignathus (Diraphignathus), subgen. nov., and Raphignathus (Triraphignathus), subgen. nov. These subgenera are diagnosed by the number of setae on the interscutal membrane of females. A new species, R. (D.) neohecmatanaensissp. nov., is described and illustrated based on females collected from Ziziphusspina-christi Mill. (Rhamnaceae). The taxonomic status of the monotypic genus Neoraphignathus Smiley & Moser and three species (R.evidus, R.hsiufui, and R.johnstoni) are discussed. A key to world species of the family Raphignathidae is given.

Keywords: Acari; Raphignathoidea; Saudi Arabia; new combinations; predatory mite.

Eid Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Kamran, Jawwad Hassan Mirza, Fahad Jaber Alatawi.