The flat mite genera Capedulia Smith Meyer and Phytoptipalpus Trägårdh (Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) from the eastern Canary Islands

Abstract

The Canary Islands are recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot. This work provides the first data on mite species of the family Tenuipalpidae from the easternmost islands of the archipelago, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, including the description of two new species, Capedulia canariensis sp. nov. and Phytoptipalpus majorensis sp. nov. Leg chaetotaxy for a species of Capedulia is presented here for the first time, and the biogeographic distribution of Capedulia is discussed in view of the discovery of the new species. Phytoptipalpus majorensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from closely related species due to a novel setal formula on genua I–II. This species appears to be host-specific on the plant Ononis hesperia (Fabaceae), and its discovery increases the remarkable number of Phytoptipalpus species recorded on this plant family.