Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor, 1914)

NavesK, Pedro, AguiarK, António Franquinho, Santos, Márcia, NóbregaK, Filomena, VarelaK, Ana Rita, Silva, Maria José, MigeonK, Alain, NaviaK, Denise & AugerK, Philippe, 2023, Two new alien Eutetranychus mites (Prostigmata, Tetranychidae) for Madeira Island, Portugal, Acarologia 63 (4), pp. 1154-1162 : 1156-1157

Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor, 1914)

The Texas citrus mite is reported from Afrotropical, Australasian, Nearctic, Neotropical, and Palearctic regions (Migeon and Dorkeld 2023). In Europe it is found in southern Portugal and Spain ( Ferragut et al. 2013) ( Figure 1 ), being one of the most important pests affecting citrus partly because of limited biological control by natural enemies and disruptions following insecticide applications ( López-Olmos and Ferragut 2023).

Records: in Madeira, E. banksi was collected from several locations and in six host plants, three of which of the genus Citrus ( Table 1). One of the plant hosts was Phaseolus vulgaris ( Fabaceae ), the common bean, which is a new host to this species (Migeon and Dorkeld 2023).

The discovery of specimens collected in 2020 within the LQA collection implies that E. banksi is present in the Island for, at least, three years. Sampled plants had no significant damages visible.

Distinctive characters: females of this species are separated of closely species of the banksi -group (16 species, see Kamran et al. 2018) by having coxa II with 2 setae, members of setae e 1 and f 1 forming a trapezoid pattern, genua I and II bearing 4 setae, tibia III bearing 4–5

setae and tibia IV 5–6 setae ( Figure 2 ).

Note: new species for Madeira Island; new host record on Phaseolus vulgaris .

Figures

Figure 1 World distribution map ofEutetranychus africanusandEutetranychus banksi. For each species, country level (data derived from Migeon and Dorkeld, 2023) and geo–localized records are indicated.

Figure 2 Eutetranychus banksifemale: A – two setae present on coxae I and II; B – members of setaee1 andf 1 forming a trapezoid pattern; C – dorsal setae set on small tubercles; D–E – 4 setae on genu I: 3 dorsal (D) and 1 ventral (E); F–G – 4 setae on genu II: 3 dorsal (F) and 1 ventral (G). Scale bars A, D–G=20μm, B–C=50μm.