Penthaleus Explained

Penthaleus is a genus of earth mites in the family of Penthaleidae, first described by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1835.^{[1] [2]}

They are a major winter pest of a variety of crops and pastures in southern Australia.^[3]

There are just four species which occur in Australia:

• Penthaleus falcatus Qin & Halliday, 1996
• Penthaleus major (Dugès, 1834)
• Penthaleus minor (Canestrini, 1886)
• Penthaleus tectus Halliday, 2005

Notes and References

1. Web site: Australian Faunal Directory: Penthaleus. 2022-01-26. biodiversity.org.au. en.
2. Koch, C.L. 1835. Deutschlands Crustaceen, Myriapoden und Arachniden. Ein Beitrag zur Deutschen Fauna. Regensberg : Herrich-Schäffer Vol. 1.
3. H. Womersley . 1941 . The red-legged earth-mite (Acarina, Penthaleidae) of Australia . . 65 . 2 . 292–294 .