TY - JOUR JF - Acarologia T1 - Comparative and functional morphology of the gnathosoma of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) VL - 25 IS - 2 SP - 179 EP - 190 PY - 1984 SN - 0044-586X SN - 2107-7207 PB - Les Amis d'Acarologia AU - Andre, H.M. AU - Remacle, C. UR - https://www1.montpellier.inrae.fr/CBGP/acarologia/article.php?id=2722 DA - 1984-08-03 KW - Tetranychidae KW - gnathosoma KW - functions KW - ultrastructure AB - The gnathosoma of Tetranychus urticae has been studied through light microscopy, S.E.M. and T.E.M. From a functional point of view, the study indicates that the chelicerae are a piercing-sucking structure; the interlocked stylets are actively protracted but passively retracted. The pathway of food through the gnathosoma is redescribed accordingly. Comparative morphology reveals severa! new structures unique to Tetranychidae such as the cervical canaliculus and the prelabial and supralabral cavities. Descriptive terminology is standardized with that used for other mites. ER -