Tydeus spathulatus Oudemans 1928 sensu Andre (2005)

Tydeus spathulatus Oudemans 1928 sensu Andre (2005)

Material examined — 4 ♀♀. 1 ♀ (Gülyalı, N40°58′37.75″ E37°59′56.64″, 4 m, 02. IX.2019),

1 ♀ (İkizce, N41°2′58.80″ E37°4′23.71″, 147 m, 31. VII.2019), 1 ♀ (İkizce, N41°2′17.67″

E37°3′13.69″, 180 m, 31. VII.2019), 1 ♀ (Perşembe, N41°4′29.02″ E37°43′52.77″, 455 m,

26. VII.2018)

Remarks — It has been observed that some specimens previously identified Tydeus as californicus ( Banks 1904) sensu Baker and Wharton (1952) , or sensu Baker (1970) might be Tydeus spathulatus Oudemans ( Trombidiformes : Tydeidae ) ( Oudemans 1928 ; Baker and Wharton 1952 ; Baker 1970 ; Andre 2005). Both T. californicus and T. spathulatus have spatulate-fusiform and distally tapered posterior opisthosomal setae f1 (, f2, h1, h2, ps1, ps2). There are transverse or subtly bent striae between their setae h1 as well. Moreover, a third species, namely Tydeus laudatus Tseng ( Trombidiformes : Tydeidae ) is potentially a junior synonym of the above-mentioned two species ( Tseng 1985). So, the situation regarding the ‘californicus’ species group is currently unclear and requires further investigation ( Ripka et al. 2022). It seems that the Turkish specimens in the current study have a close resemblance to the redescription of T. spathulatus ( Andre 2005) in all aspects. This species was first described in Italy ( Andre 2005). It was also reported from Hungary ( Tempfli et al. 2015) and Russia ( Khaustov 2023). In Türkiye, the species was found on M. domestica in Balıkesir ( Kasap et al. 2013), and on S. dulcamara in Ankara ( Kumral and Çobanoğlu 2015).

Order: Mesostigmata