Major infestations of the flat mite species Raoiella indica Hirst affecting bananas, palms and other ornamental plants have been reported from the Caribbean islands, Mexico, FL (USA), Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil. Specimens from these localities were examined using traditional light microscopy and low-temperature scanning electron microscopy techniques. While little is known about the biology of this mite, its recent appearance in the Americas in both commercial coconut and banana plantations has raised concerns about its economic impact as an invasive pest.

The genus Brevipalpus has over 300 species worldwide. The three most important agricultural pest species in the genus, Brevipalpus californicus (Banks), B. obovatus Donnadieu, and B. phoenicis (Geijskes), have been consistently confused and misidentified for more than 50 years. The present study provides a discussion of the characters and character states used to separate these mites. Low-temperature scanning electron microscopy and traditional light microscopy techniques were used to illustrate the subtle morphological differences between these three species. Morphology of the dorsal propodosoma, opisthosoma, and leg chaetotaxy of all three species was examined and compared. The number of dorsal setae, the number of solenidia (omega) on tarsus II, and dorsal cuticular patterns were the most important characters in the identification of Brevipalpus species. B. phoenicis is similar to B. californicus in having two omega on tarsus leg II and different from B. obovatus which has only one omega on tarsus leg II and similar to B. obovatus in having only one pair of F setae (f3), but differing from B. californicus which has two pairs of F setae (f2-3). The dorsal opisthosomal and propodisomal cuticular patterns frequently used to distinguish between these three species are useful but one must be aware that age, feeding, and mounting techniques can affect the appearance of these characters.

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The taxonomic history of the genus Tenuipalpus Donnadieu is discussed and Tenuipalpus caudatus (Dugès) (=Tenuipalpus palmatus Donnadieu) is redescribed based on specimens from Portugal intercepted at ports of entry in the United States, and references including photographic records of the neotype of T. caudatus. In addition, a proposed new species, Tenuipalpus erbei sp. nov. is described from Costa Rica. Our results show that T. caudatus, T. erbei sp. nov. and another 36 known species of Tenuipalpus share a pair of lateral body projections associated with setae c3, considered a synapomorphy for the newly defined group, Tenuipalpus sensu stricto. We also show that its members share other character states, although these features are found elsewhere in Tenuipalpus and also in Ultratenuipalpus, indicating their origins are within Tenuipalpus. A list of Tenuipalpus sensu stricto species is presented.