Mushtaq H.M.S., Saleh A.A., Kamran M., Alatawi F.J., 2023.
Molecular-based taxonomic inferences of some spider mite species of the genus Oligonychus Berlese (Acari, Prostigmata, Tetranychidae). Insects, 14 (2): 192.

Abstract
DNA barcoding technology using short DNA sequences has emerged as an efficient, reliable tool for identifying, confirming, and resolving closely related taxa. This study used ITS2-rDNA and mtCOI DNA sequences to confirm the identity of eight Oligonychus species, representing 68 spider mite samples, collected mainly from Saudi Arabia (SA) and some from Mexico, Pakistan, USA, and Yemen. The intraspecific nucleotide divergences of the studied Oligonychus species ranged from 0% to 1.2% for ITS2 and 0% to 2.9% for COI. However, the interspecific nucleotide divergences were distinctly higher than the intraspecific ones and ranged from 3.7% to 51.1% for ITS2 and 3.2% to 18.1% for COI. Furthermore, molecular data correctly confirmed the species identity of 42 Oligonychus samples lacking males, including a previously claimed sample of O. pratensis from SA. High genetic variations were detected in two Oligonychus species: O. afrasiaticus (McGregor) (nine ITS2 and three COI haplotypes) and O. tylus Baker and Pritchard (four ITS2 and two COI haplotypes). In addition, ITS2- and COI-based phylogenetic trees confirmed the subdivision of the genus Oligonychus. In conclusion, integrative taxonomic approaches are vital to resolve the closely related Oligonychus species, identify the samples lacking male specimens, and assess phylogenetic relationships within and among species.

  • https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14020192

    • Summary

  • Nomenclature
  • Identification
  • Hosts
  • Distribution
  • Other biological features

    • Nomenclatural data

    Identification tools

    Host data (19 results)

  • Oligonychus (Oligonychus) coniferarum (McGregor, 1950) [Araucariaceae: Araucaria sp.; Asteraceae: Pulicaria sp.; Cupressaceae: Thuja sp.]; Oligonychus (Oligonychus) perseae Tuttle, Baker & Abbatiello, 1976 [Betulaceae: Alnus jorullensis];
  • Oligonychus (Reckiella) afrasiaticus (McGregor, 1939) [Arecaceae: Phoenix dactylifera; Washingtonia filifera; Asteraceae: Pulicaria sp.; Poaceae: Cynodon dactylon; Pennisetum glaucum; Poaceae sp.; Sorghum bicolor; Sorghum halepense]; Oligonychus (Reckiella) dactyloni Smiley & Baker, 1995 [Poaceae: Poaceae sp.]; Oligonychus (Reckiella) pratensis (Banks, 1912) [Arecaceae: Phoenix dactylifera]; Oligonychus (Reckiella) tylus Baker & Pritchard, 1960 [Arecaceae: Hyphaene thebaica; Poaceae: Pennisetum glaucum; Poaceae sp.; Zea mays]; Oligonychus (Reckiella) washingtoniae Mushtaq, Kamran & Alatawi, 2022 [Arecaceae: Washingtonia filifera].

    • Distribution data (11 results)

  • Oligonychus (Oligonychus) coniferarum (McGregor, 1950) [Palearctic: Saudi Arabia]; Oligonychus (Oligonychus) perseae Tuttle, Baker & Abbatiello, 1976 [Nearctic: Mexico]; Oligonychus (Oligonychus) punicae (Hirst, 1926) [Oriental: Pakistan];
  • Oligonychus (Reckiella) afrasiaticus (McGregor, 1939) [Afrotropical: Yemen; Oriental: Pakistan; Palearctic: Saudi Arabia]; Oligonychus (Reckiella) dactyloni Smiley & Baker, 1995 [Palearctic: Saudi Arabia]; Oligonychus (Reckiella) pratensis (Banks, 1912) [Nearctic: United States]; Oligonychus (Reckiella) tylus Baker & Pritchard, 1960 [Oriental: Pakistan; Palearctic: Saudi Arabia]; Oligonychus (Reckiella) washingtoniae Mushtaq, Kamran & Alatawi, 2022 [Palearctic: Saudi Arabia].

    • Other biological features