Pseudoleptus Bruyant

Khanjani, Masoumeh, Khanjani, Mohammad, Saboori, Alireza & Seeman, Owen D., 2012, Three new false spider mites of the genus Pseudoleptus Bruyant (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) from Iran, Zootaxa 3297, pp. 41-56 : 55

Key to species of the genus Pseudoleptus Bruyant

1. Hysterosoma with 13 pairs of dorsal setae.................................................................. 2

- Hysterosoma with 11- 12 pairs of dorsal setae............................................................... 4

2. Trochanter III with 1 seta.............................................................. P. graminosus Meyer

- Trochanter III with 2 setae............................................................................. 3

3. Ratio h2: h1 2.2-2.7, area between coxisternal seta 1a and 3a and posterior to seta 4a with tessellate pattern, median propodosomal shield smooth........................................................ P. hamedaniensis sp. nov.

- Ratio h2: h1 <1.5, area between coxisternal seta 1a and 3a and posterior to seta 4a with transverse striae, median propodosomal shield not smooth...................................................................... P. iranensis sp. nov.

4. Palp 3 or 4-segmented................................................................................ 5

- Palp 5-segmented..................................................................................... 8

5. Palp 3 segmented, prodorsal projections extend just past middle of coxa I........ P. graminicola Mitrofanov and Sharomov

- Palp 4 segmented, prodorsal projections extend past end of trochanter I......................................... 6

6. Hysterosoma with 11 pairs of setae (f2 and f3 absent)............................ P. pishawariensis Akbar and Chaudhri

- Hysterosoma with 12 pairs of setae....................................................................... 7

7. Palp femorogenu without seta, palp tarsus with 1 eupathidium and 1 simple seta, venter of opisthosoma with mostly transverse undulate striae................................................................ P. zelihae Pritchard and Baker

- Palp femorogenu with 1 seta, palp tarsus with 2 eupathidia and 1 simple seta, venter of opisthosoma with regions of tessellate sculpturing..................................................................... P. kermanshahiensis sp. nov.

8. Metapodosomal area entirely with longitudinal striae, propodosoma with longitudinal striae but area anterior to eyes tuberculated..................................................................... P. hilaria Baker and Tuttle

- Metapodosomal area entirely smooth or with 2 smooth lobes, propodosoma entirely covered with longitudinal striae..... 9

9. Opisthosomal shield smooth, metapodosoma (between c1 to d1) with longitudinal striae medially..................... 10

- Opisthosomal shield with longitudinal striae, metapodosoma (between c1 to d1) smooth medially... P.arechavaletae Bruyant

10. Area between c1 to d1 with tuberculate pattern, rostrum extending past distal end of femur I, area between metapodosoma and opisthosoma with tubercules..................................................... P. bouteloua Baker and Tuttle

- Area between c1 to d1 striated, rostrum extending distal end of femur I, area between metapodosoma and opisthosoma with striae............................................................................................. 11

11. Dorsocentral hysterosomal setae very short, setae c1 and d1 not more than 1/3 of length of distance to base of opposite member, metapodosomal shields rectangular, longer than wide................................... P. panicum Baker and Tuttle

- Dorsocentral hysterosomal setae longer, setae c1 and d1 about half as long as distance to base of opposite member; metapodosomal shields subcircular...................................................................... 12

12. Rostral shield long, extending to mid-distal trochanter I of leg I; propodosoma without patches of smooth cuticle.......................................................................................... P. tridens Baker and Tuttle

- Rostral shield short, extending to base of trochanter I of leg I; propodosoma with patches of smooth cuticle.......................................................................................... P. palustria Pritchard and Baker