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Fig. 1. Tetranychus dianellae adult female - dorsal habitus.

Fig. 2. Tetranychus dianellae adult female - dorsal habitus.

Fig. 3. Tetranychus dianellae adult female - detail of number of proximal setae on tarsus I.

Fig. 4. Tetranychus dianellae adult female - detail of pattern of pregenital striae.

Fig. 5. Tetranychus dianellae adult female - detail of peritreme (arrows indicate tip - short hook).

Fig. 7. Tetranychus dianellae adult female - detail of pattern of dorsal striae between setae e1-e1, e1-f1 and f1-f1.

Fig. 6. Tetranychus dianellae adult female - detail of pattern of dorsal striae between setae e1-e1, e1-f1 and f1-f1.

Fig. 8. Tetranychus dianellae adult male - lateral habitus.

Fig. 9. Tetranychus dianellae adult male - detail of empodium III (dorsal spur absent).

Fig. 10. Tetranychus dianellae adult male - detail of number of proximal setae on tarsus I.

Fig. 11. Tetranychus dianellae adult male - detail of peritreme.

Fig. 12. Tetranychus dianellae adult male - detail of aedeagus.

Material examined

types; non-types

Taxonomy

Subfamily Tetranychinae

Tribe Tetranychini

Common Name

None

Distribution

*Australia: south eastern Queensland

Taxonomy Changes

None

Diagnosis

Female (Figs 1, 2)

• empodia I-IV with dorsomedial spur minute or absent (see Fig. 9)
• tarsus I with sockets of four tactile seta inserted proximal to, and one solenidion overlapping, the socket of the proximal duplex seta (Fig. 3)
• tarsus II with sockets of three tactile setae and one solenidion proximal to, and one tactile seta overlapping, the socket of the duplex seta
• pregential striae longitudinal; strong and irregular anteriorly, but weak medially and posteriorly; lobes on anterior striae (Fig. 4)
• peritreme with short recurved hook < 15 (Fig. 5)
• dorsal striae between dorsal setae e1-e1 and f1-f1 forming diamond pattern = striae e1-e1 longitudinal or irregular/oblique; e1-f1 with smal central region of transverse striae; striae f1-f1 longitudinal (Figs 6, 7)
• dorsal striae with rounded lobes, closely spaced
• ventral striae between genital area and setae 3a with lobes
• very dark green, large dark lateral food spots, gnathosoma and legs pink

Male (Fig. 8)

• empodia I-IV with dorsomedial spur minute or absent (Fig. 9)
• empodium I uncinate (proximoventral hairs fused into claw) (Fig. 10); empodia II-IV as in female, with free proximoventral hairs (Fig. 9)
• tarsus I with sockets of four tactile setae and two solenidia proximal to, and one solenidion overlapping, the socket of proximal duplex setae (Fig. 10)
• tarsus II with sockets of three tactile setae and one solenidion, and one tactile seta overlapping, the socket of the duplex setae
• peritreme with short recurved hook (Fig. 11)
• aedeagus directed dorsally with short broad neck and distinct knob; anterior projection of knob short, sharp triangular; posterior projection of knob short broad triangular to rounded; dorsal margin of knob flat; dorsal margin of shaft at approx. 40° angle to ventral margin (Fig. 12)

Hosts

*Dianella caerulea (Phormiaceae)

Similar Taxa

Tetranychus urticae Koch 1836 - see also Similar Taxa for T. urticae

Biology

Little is known of this species.  As far as we know it is of no economic importance.

References

*Davis, J.J. (1967) Studies of Queensland Tetranychidae. II. Tetranychus dianellae sp. n., a spider mite found on Dianella caeurlea Sims.  Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Science 24: 201-205