Phytoptipalpus Trägårdh, 1904

Ueckermann, Edward A., Ochoa, Ronald, Bauchan, Gary R. & Neser, Stefan, 2019, An amazing sub-cambium flat mite from South Africa (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae), Acarologia 59 (4), pp. 507-530 : 508

Phytoptipalpus Trägårdh, 1904

Smith Meyer and Van Dis (1993) and as updated by Alatawi et al., (2015) defined the genus as having, palpus 5-segmented, with or without setae on second segments and 3 phaneres on distal segment (except P. salicicola with one); propodosoma with 3 pairs of setae; opisthosoma with

12 or 13 pairs of setae with f2 absent or present (not e3 as in Smith Meyer and Van Dis, 1993); genital shield well defined with 2 pairs of genital setae; intercoxal setae 3a and 4a present (4a

can be absent), one pair of aggenital and 2 pairs of anal setae (ps1-ps2). Leg IV can be absent. However, this study revealed the following additional characters for the genus: Tarsi I and II bear either eight setae and a solenidion or six setae and a solenidion (in species with three legs) and setae m on the venter of the gnathosoma can be absent or present. Leg IV can also be reduced.