The tetranychid mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) of Kenya and a redescription of the species Peltanobia erasmusi Meyer (Acari: Tetranychidae) based on males Toroitich, Faith J. Ueckermann, Edward A. Theron, Pieter D. Knapp, Markus Zootaxa 2009 2176 33 47 Doreste, 1981 Doreste 1981 [151,662,1689,1715] Arachnida Tetranychidae Mononychellus Animalia Prostigmata 8 41 Arthropoda species progresivus  Leg chaetotaxy as follows: tarsi 13+2-12+ 1-10-9; tibiae 9(1)-7-6-6; genua 5-5-4-3; femora 10-7-4-3; coxae 2-2-1-1.  Specimens examined: 3 femalesand 1 maleon  Manihot esculenta(Euphorbiaceae)from Kabarnet, Baringo district ( N00°27.785'; E035°45.722').   Remarks:An earlier record of this species was reported by Girling et al. (1978)as  Mononychellus tanajoaBondarand later Guitterez (1987) reported that all the species from Africa earlier reported as  Mononychellus tanajoawere infact  Mononychellus progresivus. The host plant and specific location where this species was collected from in Kenyawas not specified by the authors. This species is widespread in the tropics where  Manihot esculentais cultivated. It is likely that the pest spread with the spread of this crop to many tropical countries. This is one of the most important arthropod pests of  Manihot esculentaand is amongst the spider mite species that are host specific since all the reports of this pest are from  Manihotsp as a host plant. There have however been numerous debates on the identity of this species occurring in Africa with some authors insisting that the species that occur in cassava fields all over Africa is  Mononychellus tanajoaBondarand thus most publications that deal with its control and economic importance refer to  Mononychellus tanajoawhich has been successfully controlled using the phytoseiid mite  Typhlodromalus aripoDe Leon. However, comparing the features of the specimen I have with the description given by Meyer (1987)together with the paper by Guitterez (1987) show that our specimen correspond to the description of  Mononychellus progressivus. In the field, damaged leaves exhibit the typical silver stipples caused by spider mites and the species appears yellowish in colour.