Athrix brevitibia, Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., 2004

Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., 2004, New genus and seven new species of Brazilian eriophyoid mites and redescription of Catachela machaerii Keifer (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea), Zootaxa 611, pp. 1-20 : 4-6

Athrix brevitibia n.sp. ( Fig. 2 )

DIAGNOSIS — Empodia 7­rayed; epigynum with fine arched transverse lines; prodorsal shield with a pair of admedian lines.

FEMALE (n = 6) — Body fusiform, 163 (154–176), 58 (55–66) wide. Gnathosoma downcurved; antapical seta not seen; basal seta (2–3); chelicera 16 (14–18). Prodorsal shield 37 (33–40) including rounded frontal lobe 3 (3–5); shield 57 (56–69) wide. Shield ornamentation of one pair of admedian lines on anterior three fourths; otherwise smooth. Seta bearing tubercles situated laterally on shield, 36 (33–36) apart; scapular seta (sc) 5 (5), directed upwards. Legs: tibial and femoral setae I missing. Leg I 25 (21–25); femur 11 (9–12), femoral seta (bv) missing; genu 3 (2–4), genual seta (l") 24 (21–26); tibia small, 2 (2), tibial seta (l') missing; tarsus 5 (5–6), dorsal seta (ft') 16 (14–16), lateral seta (ft") 19 (18–19), unguinal seta (u') 4 (4–5), solenidion straight, blunt, 5 (5–6), empodium 7 (5–7), 7­rayed. Leg II 20 (18–22); femur 10 (7–11), bv 15 (11–16); genu 3 (3–4), l" 13 (11–14); tibia small, 2 (1–2); tarsus 6 (4–6), ft' 8 (6–9), ft" 21 (20–22), u' 3 (3–4), solenidion 13 (13), straight, tapering, blunt, set on an enlarged tubercle; empodium 7 (5–7), 7­rayed. Coxigenital area: coxae I fused, with a faint sternal line in some specimens. Coxal seta I (1b) 7 (5–7), 10 (10–11) apart, set on anterior margin of coxa I, which is somewhat declivitous; if 1b are broken off the recognition of their bases is very difficult. Coxal seta II (1a) 9 (9–11), 12 (9–13) apart; coxal seta III (2a) 31 (26–33), 23 (23–26) apart. Coxigenital area apparently smooth. Genitalia 16 (14–18) wide, 11 (10–13) long; genital seta (3a) 6 (6–11). Epigynum with fine arched, transverse lines. Opisthosoma dorsum with a faint anterior dorsomedian ridge extending over 3 (2–3) annuli; and two lateral ridges delimiting a shallow median trough (immature stages with opisthosoma apparently evenly arched in cross section). Lateral seta (c2) 38 (33–40), on annulus 1 (1–2) from genitalia rear margin. Ventral seta I (d) 59 (54–60), 25 (25–31) apart, under dorsal annulus 8 (8); ventral seta II (e) 46 (38–46), 16 (16–19) apart, under dorsal annulus 17 (17–18); ventral seta III (f) 16 (16–17), 17 (17–19) apart, on 5th ventral annulus from rear. Total dorsal annuli 35 (35– 36), smooth (microtuberculate in immature stages); ventral annuli microtuberculate. Caudal seta (h2) 46 (46–55); accessory seta (h1) minute.

MALE (n = 3) — Smaller than female, 145–154, 49–53 wide. Gnathosoma: chelicera 16–18. Prodorsal shield 35–37 including frontal lobe 4 long, 49–51 wide; sc 3–4, 32–33 apart. Legs: leg I 19–21; femur 8–10, bv missing; genu 2–3, l" 20–22; tibia 1, l' missing; tarsus 4, ft' 13–14, ft" 18–19, u' 4–5, solenidion 5–6, empodium 4, 7­rayed. Leg II 18–20; femur 7–8, bv 12–14; genu 3, l" 10; tibia 1; tarsus 4–6, ft' 6–7, ft" 18–21, u' 4–5, solenidion 10–11, empodium 4–5, 7–rayed. Coxigenital area: 1b 4–5, 7–11 apart; 1a 8– 10, 7–10 apart; 2a 21–28, 21–22 apart; sternal line 4. Coxisternal area smooth. Genitalia: 13–14 wide, 11–12 long; 3a 7–8. Opisthosoma: c2 30, on annulus 1–2; d 37–40, 22–23 apart, under dorsal annulus 7; e 39–43, 14–17 apart, under dorsal annulus 16; f 15–16, 15– 18 apart, on 5th ventral annulus from rear. Total dorsal annuli 35, smooth; ventral annuli microtuberculate. Caudal seta (h2) 44–52; h1 minute.

TYPE MATERIAL — Holotype female, 41 female and 6 male paratypes, from Heteropteris anoptera Juss. (Malpighiaceae) , Luis Antônio, São Paulo, Brazil (21° 36' 13" S, 47° 47' 17" W), 25 Oct. 2001, coll. J. Moraes, on six microscopic preparations.

RELATION TO HOST — Vagrant on leaves.

ETYMOLOGY — The specific designation brevitibia is derived from the Latin, brevis, short, and Latin, tibia, leg segment and refers to the very short tibiae on legs I and II.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Athrix brevitibia n. sp. AL, anterolateral aspect of prodorsal shield; CG, coxigenital region of female; D, dorsal aspect of female; E, empodium (enlarged); GM, male genitalia; L 1, leg I (enlarged); L 2, leg II (enlarged).