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Fig. 1. Neotetranychus victoriensis adult female - dorsal habitus.

Fig. 2.  Neotetranychus victoriensis adult female - detail of empodium.

Fig. 3.  Neotetranychus victoriensis adult female - detail of tarsus I (arrow indicates distal and adjacent duplex setae).

Fig. 4.  Neotetranychus victoriensis adult male - lateral habitus (arrow indicates tubercles).

Fig. 5.  Neotetranychus victoriensis adult male - dorsal habitus.

Fig. 6. Neotetranychus victoriensis adult male - lateral habitus.

Fig. 7.  Neotetranychus victoriensis adult male - detail of tarsus I (arrow indicates empodium).

Fig. 8.  Neotetranychus victoriensis adult male - detail of tarsus III (with short proximal solenidion).

Fig. 9.  Neotetranychus victoriensis adult male - detail of aedeagus.

Material examined

types

Taxonomy

Subfamily Tetranychinae

Tribe Tetranychini

Distribution

*Australia

Taxonomy Changes

None

Diagnosis

Female (Fig. 1)

• empodia I-IV a short claw-like structure with dorsal hairs; dorsal spur absent (Fig. 3)
• dorsal setae long, strongly barbed and set on tubercles (Fig. 4)
• dorsal opisthosomal setae c1-2, d1-2, e1-2, f1-2 inserted medially as adjacent pairs
• prodorsal setae sc1 inserted directly posterior to setae v2 (Fig. 1)
• dorsal setae f1 and f2 subequal in length, longer than setae h1
• dorsal setae f1, f2 and h1 much longer than setae h2 & h3
• dorsal cuticle with fine transverse striae, lobes on striae absent to minute
• basketweave pattern over most of opisthosoma, due to raised areas and reticulate clusters
• opisthosomal striae irregularly longitudinal between setae e1-e1 and f1-f1
• pregenital striae longitudinal
• peritreme almost straight with slightly expanded distal bulb
• palp with eupathidia elongate, narrow (one twice length of second); solenidion short, narrow
• tarsus I with the sockets of three tactile setae and one solenidion proximal to the socket of the proximal duplex seta (Fig. 3)
• tarsus II with the sockets of three tactile setae proximal to, and one tactile seta overlapping, the socket of the duplex seta
• tibia I-IV 9(1+0), 7, 5, 5
• yellowish with dark lateral spots

Male (Figs 4-6) as per female plus:

• empodium I consists of proximoventral hairs fused to form a claw-like structure (parts of hairs often visible) (Fig. 7)
• empodia II-IV as in female (Fig. 2)
• empodia with proximoventral hairs short 
• body strongly tapered posteriorly (Figs 4-6)
• dorsal setae long, set on tubercles (Fig. 4) 
• tarsus I with the sockets of three tactile setae and three solenidia proximal to the socket of the proximal duplex seta
• tarsus II with the sockets of one tactile setae and one solenidion proximal to, and two tactile setae overlapping, the socket of the duplex seta
• tibia I-IV 12(3+0), 7, 5, 5
• aedeagus dorsally directed, weakly sinous, without distinct knob; dorsal projection directed slightly posteriorly, with short straight neck that bends posteriorly to form short, finger-like projection strongly tapering to sharp point; dorsal projection thickened at bend producing an anterior angle; dorsal margin of shaft at 20-30° angle to ventral margin, curving dorsally and slightly posteriorly (at obtuse angle) to form dorsal projection (Fig. 9)

Hosts

*Spyridium parvifolium (Rhamnaceae)

Biology

This species was found on the underside of the leaves of its host.

References

*Davis, J.J. (1969e)  Neotetranychus victoriae sp. n. (Acarina: Tetranychidae), a spider mite found on Spyridium parvifolium F. Muell. in Victoria.  Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 15: 185-189