Cunaxatricha tarsospinosa, Castro & Heyer, 2008

Castro, Tatiane Marie Martins Gomes De & Heyer, Jacob Den, 2008, A new genus, with a new species, from Brazil (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae), Zootaxa 1771, pp. 54-62 : 56-60

Cunaxatricha tarsospinosa sp. nov.

The natural color of adults and immatures of this species is pale-orange to reddish; idiosoma oval- to diamond shaped; one pair of subcuticular red eyes anteriorly to the posterior dorsal sensillae.

Female ( Figs. 1–9). Dimensions. Idiosoma: length 380(312–422); width 270(220–315).

Dorsum ( Fig. 1). Single propodosomal plate totally and finely reticulated, with one pair each of setae vi 130(125–135), ve 27(25–37), sce 148(137–162) and sci 52(42–62). Sensillae (vi and sce) densely finely pilose. Dorsal setae c1 15(12–25), c2 15(12–25), d1 14(12–20), e1 15 (12–25), f1 22(17–27), h1 26(22–30) on the integument. Setae f2 absent.

Venter ( Fig. 2). Coxal plates weakly sclerotised; demarcated only by apodemes; striae very fine. A small reticulated area antero- laterad to coxal plate III. Integument with 1 pair of propodogastral setae, 1 pair of paracoxal setae, 6 or 7 hysterogastral setae and one pair of paragenital setae laterad to weakly sclerotised genital plates. Genital valves with 4 pairs of genital setae in straight lines and genital papillae not visible. One pair of para-anal setae anteriad to anal plates and two pairs of anal setae.

Gnathosoma ( Figs. 3–5). Hypognathum 118(105–147) long with 4 pairs of hg - setae: hg1 6(5–7), hg2 30(25–35), hg3 29(25–35) and hg4 16(15–22) and two pairs of adoral setae ( Fig. 3). Seta hg4 not placed on the coxal region, but between hg2 and hg3. Palp five-jointed, 108(87–125) long ( Fig. 4). Femur not divided and possesses ventral ridges indicating a fusion. Trochanter without setae; femur, 2 setae; genu, 4 setae; tibiotarsus, 2 dorsal setae, 2 ventral setae and 1 terminal solenidion. Some of the specimens bear on the tibiotarsus a spine-like setae replacing one of the ventral setae. Chelicera 120(95–147) long with cheliceral seta 5(5–7) ( Fig. 5).

Legs ( Figs. 6–9). Length of legs: I 237(220–270), II 236(215–275), III 270(250–302), IV 267(255–280); length of tarsi: I 74(60–90), II 76(67–87), III 88(80–105), IV 91(82–102). The chaetotaxy of the legs is as follows: coxae I–IV, 1 peg, 3– 1– 3– 1; trochanters I–IV, 1– 1– 2 – 1; basifemora I–IV, 3– 3– 1– 0; telofemora I– IV, 4– 4– 4– 3; genua I–IV, 1 asl, {1 small asl, 1 large asl}, {1 large asl, 1}, 3– 2 asl, 4– 1 asl, 4– 1 asl, 3; tibiae I–IV, 1 asl, {1 asl, 1}, 4– {1 asl, 1}, 4– 1 asl, 5– 4; tarsi I–IV, 3 asl, {1 asl, 1 peo, 1}, 1 dtasl, 2 tsl, 9 or 11– 1 bsl, 1 dtasl, 1 tsl, 12– 11 or 12– 10. Distal anteroventral spine-like setae ( Fig. 6a) present on tarsi I–IV. Femur I and II not completely divided in basifemur and telofemur. Tarsal lobes not prominent.

Male ( Figs. 10–15). Dimensions. Idiosoma: length 242(215–270), width 168(150–192), length of hypognathum 87(82–98), length of palp 76(70–85), length of chelicera 85(80–93), cheliceral seta 5(4–5), length of legs: I 179(167–190), II 168 (155–185), III 191 (172–200), IV 199 (185–210); length of tarsi: I 60(53–65), II 58 (52–62), III 64 (55–70), IV 65 (55–70); dorsal setae: vi 90(70–108), ve 16(14–24), sci 32(24–37), sce 111(90–118), c1 9(7–12), c2 10(7–14), d1 9(7–10), e1 9 (8–10), f1 12(10–15), h1 11(10–13), hypognathal setae, hg1 6(5–7), hg2 22(20–25), hg3 23(20–27), hg4 12(10–13) .

Differs from the female by the presence of an additional totally finely reticulated hysterosomal plate bearing setae c1, c2, d1 and e1 ( Fig. 10) and venter with only 4 hysterogastral setae ( Fig. 11). Genua I–II with 1 asl, {1 small asl, 1 large asl, 1}, 3– 1 asl, {1 asl, 1}, 3 ( Figs. 12 and 13). Genua III and IV like the female ( Figs. 14 and 15).

Tritonymph ( Fig. 17). Dimensions. Idiosoma: length, 265; width, 200; length of hypognathum 98; length of palp 80; length of chelicera 85; cheliceral setae 4; length of tarsi: I 58, II 61 , III 70 , IV 72 ; dorsal setae: vi 107, ve 17, sci 40, sce 130, c1 10, c2 9, d1 9, e1 8, f1 14, h1 20; hypognathal setae, hg1 5, hg2 30, hg3 20, hg4 15 .

The tritonymph resembles the female except for the presence of a clear ecdysis line dorsally on the propodosoma ( Fig. 17).

Deutonymph ( Figs. 20 and 23). Dimensions. Idiosoma: length, 197; width, 160; length of hypognathum, 85; length of palp, 70; length of chelicera, 79; cheliceral setae, 4; length of legs: I, 160; II, 160; III, 183; IV, 182; length of tarsi: I, 48, II, 45; III, 51; IV, 51; dorsal setae: vi 92, ve 22, sci 47, sce 105, c1 14, c2 12, d1 17, e1 15, f1 20, h1 22, hypognathal setae, hg1 5, hg2 20, hg3 20, hg4 8 .

The deutonymph differs from the tritonymph by the presence of only 4 hysterogastral setae and genital valves with only 3 pairs of genital setae ( Fig. 23). The leg chaetotaxy differs from the tritonymph as follows: basifemora I–II, 2– 2; genu I ( Fig.20), 2 asl, {1 asl, 1}, 3; tarsi I–II, 1 asl, {1 asl, 1 peo, 1}, 2 tsl, 1 dtasl, 9– 1 bsl, 1 tsl, 11.

Protonymph ( Figs. 10 and 22). Dimensions. Idiosoma: length, 185; width, 155; length of hypognathum, 72; length of palp, 67; length of chelicera, 54; cheliceral setae, 4; length of legs: I, 155; II, 152; III, 170; IV, 160; length of tarsi: I, 50, II, 50; III, 58; IV, 50; dorsal setae: vi 92, ve 17, sci 35, sce 100, c1 10, c2 10, d1 10, e1 10, f1 21, h1 15, hypognathal setae, hg1 7, hg2 20, hg3 17, hg4 10 .

The protonymph differs from the deutonymph by the presence of only 2 hysterogastral setae and genital valves with only 1 pair of genital setae ( Fig. 22). Also the leg chaetotaxy differs as follows: coxa I, no seta; trochanter IV, no seta; femur IV (not divided into basifemur and telofemur), no seta; genua I ( Fig. 19) and IV, 1 asl, {1 asl, 1}, 3– 1 asl; tibiae II and IV, {1 asl, 1}, 3– no seta; tarsi I, II and IV, 1 asl, {1 asl, 1 peo, 1}, 2 tsl, 10– 1 bsl, 1 tsl, 11– 7.

Larva ( Figs. 16, 18 and 21). Dimensions. Idiosoma: length, 140; width, 128; length of hypognathum, 62 µm; length of palp, 48; length of chelicera, 45; cheliceral setae, 4; length of tarsi: I, 40, II, 40; III, 45; dorsal setae: vi 80, ve 20, sci 40, sce 85, c1 12, c2 12, d1 15, e1 15, f1 20, h1 12, hypognathal setae, hg1 5, hg2 18 .

Integument of the venter ( Fig. 16) with 1 pair of propodogastral setae, 1 pair of paracoxal setae, no hysterogastral setae and no paragenital setae. Genital valves absent. Hypognathum lack setae hg3 and hg4. Triplex setae placed at the middle of tarsus I ( Fig. 21). The leg chaetotaxy differs as follows: coxa III, 1; trochanters I– III, 0– 0– 0– 1; femur III not divided in basifemur and telofemur, 5; genua I ( Fig.18) –III, 2 asl, 3– 1 asl, 3– 1 asl, 3; tibiae I–III, 1 asl, {1 asl, 1}, 3– {1 asl, 1}, 3– 1 asl, 4; tarsus III, 10.

Remarks. Type specimens found on the leaves of 8 different plant species of 5 families, Arecaceae , Cecropiaceae , Euphorbiaceae , Myrtaceae and Sapindaceae of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and also on the leaves of rubber trees. Biological studies have been carried out by the first author about this new species using Tenuipalpus heveae Baker (Tenuipalpidae) as prey. T. heveae is a phytophagous mite that occurs on leaves of rubber tree in Brazil. The results of the latter study will be reported on in the near future.

Type material. Holotype female, from Hevea brasiliensis (Willd ex A.Juss.) Müll.Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) , 15. VI.2007, Piracicaba , São Paulo, T.M.M.G. Castro.

Paratypes. Cananéia, São Paulo: 1 female, from Astrocaryum aculeatissimum (Schott) Burret (Arecaceae) , 19. IV.00, L. V.F.Silva; 1 male, from A. aculeatissimum , 13.X.1998, M.G.C.Gondim Jr.; 1 female, from Bactris setosa Mart. (Arecaceae) , 13.X.98, M.G.C.Gondim Jr.; 1 male, from Coussapoa microcarpa (Schott) Ruzzini (Cecropiaceae) , 14. II.2001, L. V.F.Silva; 1 larva, from C. microcarpa , 14. II.2001, L. V.F.Silva; 1female, from Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecaceae) , 12.VII.00, G.P.Arruda Filho; 1 female, from unidentified plant, 22.VII.2002, L. V.F.Silva; 1 female, from Psidium cattleyanum Weinw. (Myrtaceae) , 17.VII.2002, N.C.Mesa.

Pariquera Açu, São Paulo: 1 female, from unidentified plant, 17.VII.02, N.C.Mesa; 1 protonymph, from unidentified plant, 17.VII.02, N.C.Mesa .

Piracicaba , São Paulo: 1 female, from Caryota urens L. ( Arecaceae ), III.98, M.G.C.Gondim Jr.; 1 female, from Croton floribundus Spreng. (Euphorbiaceae) , 26. VI.1998, M.S.Zacarias; 1 larva, from C. floribundus , 26. VI.1998, M.S.Zacarias; 1tritonymph, from Diatenopteryx sorbifolia Radlk. (Sapindaceae) , 13.VIII.2002, N.C. Mesa; 4 females, from H. brasiliensis , 15. VI.07, T.M.M.G. Castro; 1 deutonymph, from H. brasiliensis , 15. VI.07, T.M.M.G. Castro; 1 larva, H. brasiliensis , 15. VI.07, T.M.M.G. Castro.

Selvíria , Mato Grosso do Sul: 1 female, from H. brasiliensis , 27. IV.2006, M. R.Vieira; 1 tritonymph, from H. brasiliensis , 07. VI.2006, M. R.Vieira.

Etymology. The generic designation refers to the subfamily Cunaxinae (Cunax-) and absence of trichobothria (-atricha); the species designation tarsospinosa refers to the presence of a spine-like seta on tarsi I and II.