Illustration of some morphological features important for identification of Rhynchopolipus rhynchophori (Ewing) (Acari: Podapolipidae)

Abstract

Rhynchopolipus rhynchophori (Ewing) (Acari: Podapolipidae) is an ectoparasite of the palm weevils, Rhynchophorus palmarum L. and Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), whose implications in the biological control of the weevils are acquiring more and more interest. Hence there is a need to discern this mite species and others species, which can be found on the palm weevils. In this paper, species-specific morphological features are illustrated using scanning electron microscopy, having in mind people inexperienced in mite morphology and systematics. Some morphological aspects of the male copulatory organ and its morphological relationship with the gnathosoma are illustrated here for the first time.