Brevipalpus etiennei, Flechtmann, 2010

Flechtmann, C. H. W., 2010, Description Of Two New Tetranychoid Mite Species (Acari, Prostigmata) From Guadeloupe, French Antilles, Acarologia 50 (1), pp. 5-11 : 5-8

Brevipalpus etiennei n. sp

( Figures 1 and 2 )

Diagnosis — Body shape Brevipalpine ( Mesa et al., 2009); hysterosoma with six pairs of lateral setae, three pairs of dorsocentral setae; palpus 3- segmented, with two setae on distal segment. Tarsus II of female with one solenidion. Fourth pair of ventral setae missing.

Female — (n = 10). Body length, including gnathosoma 300 (285-319), widest at level half way between dorsocentral setae 1 and 2, 188 (176-188) wide. Rostrum not extending beyond middle of femur I; palpus three segmented, with two slender setae on distal segment and one serrate seta on middle segment. Dorso propodosomal anterior extension or rostral shield deeply cleft medially, with fingerlike pair of median and two ancillary lobes and a pair of lateral broad dentate lobes. Propodosoma with entire dorsum reticulate; vertical external setae ensiform, serrate, strong; scapular setae 1 and 2 setiform, slightly serrate, small; pores absent. Hysterosoma with dorsal integument entirely reticulate, the elements transverse medially and caudally to

Acarologia 50(1): 5–11 (2010)

third pair of dorsocentral setae and with two anterior smooth, narrow branches in direction to but not reaching setae first pair of dorsolateral setae. Dorsal hysterosomal and lateral setae short, slightly serrate; penultimate pair of lateral setae shortest. Pores absent. Entire venter reticulate; first pair of ventral setae whiplike, long, 224 (198-245); second pair of ventral setae setiform, slightly serrate, short, 19 (14-23); fourth pair of ventral setae missing. Ventral opisthosomal setae (aggenital, genital and pseudoanal setae) short, serrate. Leg chaetotaxy, from coxae to tarsi: I — 2-1-4-3-5-6 (or 7) + 1 solenidion; II — 2-1-4-3-5-6 (or 7) + 1 solenidion; III — 1-1-2-2- 3-5; IV — 1-1-1-2-3-4.

Male — (n = 5). Smaller than female, 234- 304 long including gnathosoma; 131-150 greatest width. Palp three segmented; middle segment with a strong lanceolate seta. Tarsis II with two sensory rods or solenidia. Dorsal body with two transverse sutures, partially reticulate, as figured. First pair of ventral seta filamentous, 58-81, third pair of ventral setae 5-7; fourth pair of ventral setae missing. Genital apparatus as figured, with a short aedeagus. Leg chaetotaxy, from coxae to tarsi: I — 2-1-4-3-5-6 + 1 solenidion; II — 2-1-4-3-5 + 2 solenidia; III — 1-1-2- 2-3-5; IV — 1-1-1-2-3-5.

Nymph — ("empty", n = 2). Idiosoma 252-280, widest 123-158. Proprodosomal setae: vertical external seta 103-128; internal scapular seta 62-109; external scapular seta very short; hysterosomal dorsal setae short, except for the antepenultimal hysterosomal lateral seta, which is 149-175 long.

Nymph — (moulting into female, n = 2). Idiosoma 294, 158 wide. Vertical external seta 135-158; internal scapular seta 40-158, antepenultimate hysterosomal lateral 140-158.

Nymph — (moulting into male, n = 1). Idiosoma 256, 137 wide. Vertical external seta 112; internal scapular seta 30; antepenultimate hysteriosomal lateral seta158.

Type material — Holotype female, 15 female, 11 male, three "empty" nymphs, two nymphs moulting into a female, one nymph moulting into a male, from the underside of leaves of Charianthus corymbosus (Rich.) Cogn. (Melastomataceae) , Pointe Noire, Morne à Louis, Guadeloupe, col. J. Étienne, 04 March 2007, on 22 microscopic preparations in the collection of Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.

Etymology — I take pleasure naming the species after Jean Étienne, INRA Entomologist in Guadeloupe, who collected and submitted the specimens.

Remarks — The new species belongs to the small group of Brevipalpus exhibiting a three segmented palp, as B. frankeniae Baker, Tuttle and Abbatiello, 1975 , but differs in presenting a much shorter rostrum (reaching distal end of genu I in frankeniae , only extending to mid of femur I in the n. sp., in the aspect of the dorsal setae (broadly ovate in frankeniae , setiform in the n. sp.) and in a much different dorsal opisthosomal reticulation pattern. The female somewhat resembles B. colpodes Pritchard and Baker, 1958 (two terminal palp setae, palp four segmented), B. docimas Pritchard and Baker, 1958 (three terminal palp setae, palp four segmented) and B. hybus Pritchard and Baker, 1958 (three terminal palp setae, palp four segmented) in having the dorsal hysterosomal reticulation elements transverse in the caudal part of middorsum, but differs by the presence of two anterolateral, narrow, smooth integumental areas, not present in the aforementioned species.

Figures

FIGURE 1: Brevipalpus etiennei n. sp. A - Female dorsum; B - male dorsum; C - trochanter, femur, genu and tibia of leg I of female; D - tarsus of leg I of female; E - tarsus of leg II of female; F - tarsus of leg II of male; G - palp of female; H - palp of male; I - male reproductive structures.

FIGURE 2: Brevipalpus etiennei n. sp. A - Female, posterior ventral aspect; B - nymph, dorsum, with vertical external (V2), scapular 1 (Sc1) and antepenultimate dorsolateral (h2) setae separate; C - nymph, anal area.