Abstract
Gotoh, T., A. Takafuji and K. Gomi, 1996. Tetranychid mites of Okinawa Island(Acari: Tetranychidae). J. Acarol. Soc. Jpn., 5(2): 89-94.
This study was undertaken to elucidate: 1)the spider mite fauna of Okinawa Island and the occurrence of Tetranychus okinawanus, a newly described species from the Ryukyu Islands, 2)whether populations of T. kanzawai from the Island are one of two previously described strains, the kerria strain or the kerria-avoiding strain, and3)whether populations of T. pueraricola from Okinawa and Honshu are conspecific. Six species of tetranychid mites(T. urticae(green form), T. okinawanus, T. piercei, T. pueraricola, T. kanzawai and Oligonychus biharensis)were collected from 13 different plants. T. okinawanus was not found on agricultural crops in the present survey, but was abundant on weeds. Crossing experiments revealed that all seven populations of T. kanzawai collected from seven plant species were the kerria strain. There was a strong reproductive incompatibility between the Nago and Hitachi-Ohta(Ibaraki Pref.)populations of T. pueraricola, but the mechanism responsible for the incompatibility was unknown.
