Unraveling phenetic and phylogenetic relationships among Cecidophyes mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea)

Thirty-five morphological characters were
\nmeasured for statistical analyses. The
\nmorphological variability and phenetic
\nrelationships among the studied species were
\nanalyzed using MANOVA, CVA, and UPGMA
\nanalyses. Phylogenetic relationships were
\ninvestigated using the D1-D2 region of the 28S
\nrDNA gene sequences. The ML phylogenetic tree
\nrevealed species separation into three groups,
\nindicating that Cecidophyes is paraphyletic. The
\nMANOVA showed statistically significant
\ninterspecific differences. Both the CVA and
\nUPGMA analyses yielded identical results,
\nnotably the clear distinction of C. psilonotus and
\ntwo clusters: one comprising C. gymnaspis and
\nC. lauri and the other composed of the
\nremaining four species.