Brevipalpus californicus (Banks, 1904)

Ueckermann, Edward A., Palevsky, Eric, Gerson, Uri, Recht, Eitan & Theron, Pieter D., 2018, The Tenuipalpidae (Acari: Trombidiformes) of Israel, Acarologia 58 (2), pp. 483-525 : 487-489

(probably B. californicus sensu lato, Beard et al., 2015b) ( Figure 4 )

Diagnosis (Female) — Prodorsum with even reticulations and short serrate setae, opisthosoma between setae c1 and d1 and d1 and e1 wrinkled with a few V-shaped folds behind setae e1, reticulations mediodorsally, with 7 pairs of short, serrate marginal setae (including f2) and 3 pairs of dorsocentral setae apparently smooth ( Fig 4A ); rostrum extends to about middle of femur I; tarsus II with 2 solenidia distally ( Fig 4D ); genital shield with large reticulations, connected to form transverse bands, and ventral shield with smaller reticulations also forming transverse bands ( Fig 4B ); spermatheca terminates into a round vesicle with a crown of short finger-like projections, vesicle with a semi-lunar “bubble” internally ( Fig 4C ).

Remarks — Beard et al. (2015b) identified 4 morpho type groups in this species that are still due for further examination.

Host and localities — From a wide range of hosts, but mainly citrus from: Australia,

Ecuador, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Palestine, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,

Thailand, USA ( Beard et al., 2015b).

Symptoms — Can cause chlorosis, blistering, or necrotic areas on leaves. In the New

World, it is strongly associated with the nuclear citrus leprosis viruses, citrus leprosis virus

( Roy et al., 2015).

Figures

Figure 4 Brevipalpus californicus(Banks) – Female: A – dorsal view; B – ventral view; C – spermatheca; D – tarsus II, the arrows indicate the two distal solenidia.