Morphological and molecular analyses of the six-spotted spider mite, Eotetranychus sexmaculatus (Riley) (Tetranychidae)—a pest more widespread than anticipated?

Abstract

A spider mite species initially identified as the six-spotted spider mite, Eotetranychus sexmaculatus (Riley), was recorded defoliating avocado trees, Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae), in the southwestern parts of Western Australia. However, due to morphological inconsistencies in the descriptions of E. sexmaculatus, it has recently been suggested that these Australian specimens actually represented the native species E. queenslandicus Manson and that E. sexmaculatus was in fact not present in Australia (Seeman et al. 2017).