Sonotetranychus tawhairauriki Zhang & Bennett, 2009

Type specimens of this species were examined during this study for comparison with the new species. We noted that the palp tarsus of Sonotetranychus species, including S. tawhairauriki Zhang & Bennett, has 7 setiform structures: 3 simple setae (a, b, c), 3 eupathidia (ul’ζ, ul”ζ, suζ) and a solenidion (ω). Seta c was misinterpreted as being l”PTi in the original description of S. tawhairauriki (Zhang & Bennett 2009, p. 167, Fig. 16). In deutonymph, coxal setae 4b was misinterpreted as the seta on trochanter IV.

Key to the species of Sonotetranychus based on females (updated from Khodayari et al. 2008)

1 Empodial claws with a minute dorsal hair.................................................................. 2

- Empodial bare claws, without hair........................................................................ 3

2 Peritremes hooked and expending distally, number of tactile setae on femora I-IV 10-7-4-4 and tibiae I-IV 9-9-8-8.............................................................................................. S. menziesii sp. nov.

- Peritremes without hooks and not expending distally, number of tactile setae on femora I-IV 9-6-4-4 and tibiae I-IV 9-9-7-8............................................................................ S. tawhairauriki Zhang & Bennett

3 Dorsal body setae spatulate........................................... S. vaneyndhoveni Meyer, Ochoa and Aguilar

- Dorsal body setae linear................................................................................ 4

4 Dorsal body setae shorter than longitudinal intervals between their bases...................... S. daleae (Tuttle & Baker)

- Dorsal body setae longer than longitudinal intervals between their bases.......................................... 5

5 Tarsus I with at least 1 solenidion proximal to duplex setae..................................................... 6

- Tarsus I without any solenidia proximal to duplex setae............................ S. angiopenis Feres & Flechtmann

6 Number of tactile setae on tibiae II, III, IV: 5-5-5............................................. S. wadicolus Meyer

- Number of tactile setae on tibiae II, III, IV more than 5-5-5.................................................... 7

7 Number of tactile setae on tibiae II, III, IV: 8-6-7....................... S. kermanensis Khodayari, Kamali & Fathipour

- Number of tactile setae on tibiae II, III, IV: 6-6-6..................................... S. albiflorae (Tuttle & Baker)