Retracrus pupunha, Reis, Aleuny C., Gondim, Manoel G. C., Navia, Denise & Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., 2012

Reis, Aleuny C., Gondim, Manoel G. C., Navia, Denise & Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., 2012, Eriophyoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea) on palms (Arecaceae) from the Brazilian Amazon: a new genus and four new species, Zootaxa 3446, pp. 49-59 : 56-58

Retracrus pupunha n. sp. Reis & Navia

Phytoptidae, Sierraphytoptinae, Mackiellini ( Fig. 4 )

Diagnosis. Retracrus pupunha n. sp. is the third species assigned to the genus Retracrus . It is distinctive in the: format of the prodorsal shield setae (sc and ve); number of rays on the empodia; presence of concave arched lines between the scapular setal tubercles; and in the relative rate of measurement between the length and width of the body. The new species differs from Retracrus johnstoni Keifer 1965 in the ornamentation of the female epigynum by having longitudinal sinuous lines at the base of the coverflap (smooth in R. johnstoni ) and in the presence of arched lines between the prodorsal shield tubercles (prodorsal shield smooth in R. johnstoni ). It differs from both R. johnstoni and Retracrus elaeis Keifer 1975b by having an undivided 8-rayed empodium (6-rayed in R. johnstoni and 7-rayed, divided in R. elaeis ). The new species also has distinctive prodorsal shield setae with the usual bulbous base followed by another dilatation (absence of the second dilatation in R. elaeis and R. johnstoni ); R. pupunha n. sp. also has the widest body with a relative rate of measurement between the length and width lower than 2 (around 1.7) [higher than 2 in R. elaeis (2.5 to 2.7) and in R. johnstoni (2.3 to 2.4)].

FEMALE (n=10). Body fusiform, 158 (158–181), 97 (94–108) wide; Gnathosoma downcurved, 31 (28–33); basal seta (ep) 3(3–4); antapical seta (d) 11 (10–12) long; chelicerae 20 (20–23) long. Prodorsal shield 75 (71–80), 95 (92–107) wide, subquadrangular, almost smooth, with concave arched lines between scapular setal tubercles (sc). Scapular setae (sc) 20 (18–20) long, with bulbous base, followed by a dilatation, 43 (42–54) apart, on prominent tubercles, placed on the rear shield margin and directed backwards; vertical external seta (ve) 20 (19–21) long, with bulbous base, followed by a dilatation, 45 (41–52) apart, on prominent tubercles on anterolateral margin of prodorsal shield, directed forwards. Frontal lobe 12 (8–12), 33 (29–33) wide, wide-based and rounded. Legs with all segments present; lacking genual seta (l ʺ) on legs I and II, and tibial seta (l') on leg II. Leg I 33 (31–37); femur 13 (13–15), femoral seta (bv) 13 (13–16); genu 3 (3–4); tibia 7 (7–8), tibial seta (l') 22 (22–25), solenidion knobbed (φ) 10 (10); tarsus 6 (6), lateral seta (ft") 21 (21–23), dorsal seta (ft') 20 (20–21), unguinal seta (u') 4 (4–5), solenidion (ω) 7 (7), empodium simple 7 (6–7), 8-rayed. Leg II 33 (31–35); femur 14 (13–15), bv 18 (17–20); genu 3 (3–4); tibia 7 (7–8); tarsus 6 (6), ft" 22 (21–22), ft' 7 (7–9), u' 4 (4), ω 7 (6–7); empodium simple 7 (6–7), 8-rayed. Coxae I and II without granules. Prosternal apodeme not visible. Coxal seta I (1b) 9 (9–11) long, 16 (16–23) apart; coxal seta II (1a) 35 (33–35) long, 13 (13–22) apart; coxal seta III (2a) 37 (35–37) long, 38 (38–45) apart. Genitalia 25 (25–30), 32 (32–35) wide, with longitudinal sinuous lines at the base of the epigynum; genital seta (3a) 20 (18–20). Opisthosoma 15 (15–16) dorsal annuli, smooth, middorsal ridge extending over anterior opisthosoma (around first 8 annuli); 45 (45–49) ventral annuli, microtubercles visible from ventral seta II (e) to caudal lobe, elongated. Lateral seta (c2) 30 (30–33), on annulus 1 (1). Ventral seta II (e) 21 (20–23), on annulus 26 (26–29), 20 (19–26) apart, 15 (13–17) microtubercles apart; ventral seta III (f) 29 (29–33), on annulus 41 (41–45), 24 (21–27) apart, 17 (17–25) microtubercles apart. Caudal seta (h2) 64 (58–65); accessory seta (h1) absent.

MALE (n=5). Smaller than female, 144–156, 72–85 wide. Gnathosoma 26–31; basal seta (ep) 3; antapical seta (d) 11–13; chelicerae 19–22. Prodorsal shield as in female, 62–76, 70–84 wide. Scapular seta (sc) 14–19 long, 33–42 apart; vertical external seta (ve) 15–19 long, on prominent tubercles on anterolateral margin of prodorsal shield, 36–40 apart, directed forwards. Legs as in female. Leg I 30–34; femur 12–13, femoral seta (bv) 13–15; genu 3; tibia 6–8, tibial seta (l') 20, solenidion (φ) 7–10; tarsus 5–6, lateral seta (ft") 17–19, dorsal seta (ft ʹ) 17–18, unguinal seta (u') 4, solenidion (ω) 5–6; empodium simple 5–6, 8-rayed. Leg II 29–32; femur 12–14, bv 15–17; genu 3; tibia 6–7; tarsus 5, ft" 19–20, ft' 5–7, u' 4, ω 6–7; empodium 5–6, 8-rayed. Coxae as in female. Prosternal apodeme not visible. Coxal seta I (1b) 10–11, 16–21 apart; coxal seta II (1a) 25–31, 9–13 apart; coxal seta III (2a) 30–34, 33–38 apart. Genitalia 11–13, 13–16 wide, eugenital setae as figured; genital seta (3a) 12–15. Opisthosoma as in female, 15 dorsal annuli; 36–44 ventral annuli. Lateral seta (c2) 19–24, on first annulus. Ventral seta II (e) 16–20, on annulus 19–24, 14–19 apart, 9–14 microtubercles apart; ventral seta III (f) 22–25, on annulus 32–39, 22–25 apart, 19–21 microtubercles apart. Caudal seta (h2) 65–74; accessory seta (h1) absent.

Type material. Female holotype, 30 female and 9 male paratypes, from Bactris gasipaes Kunth (Arecaceae) , Campo Experimental Confiança, Cantá, Roraima, Brazil, 02°35'40.8"N, 60°29'10.51"W, 0 6 August 2008, collected by Ranyse Barbosa Querino da Silva, on 9 microscope slides. Holotype and paratypes (25 specimens: 19 females and 6 males on 6 microscope slides) deposited in the collection of the Laboratório de Acarologia, Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. Paratypes (14 specimens: 11 females and 3 males on 3 microscope slides) deposited in the collection of the Laboratório de Quarentena Vegetal, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, DF, Brazil.

Relation to host plant. No damage symptoms were observed.

Etymology. The specific name “ pupunha ” refers to the common name given to the host plant, Bactris gasipaes .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Retracrus pupunha n. sp. CGM. Coxigenital region, male; D. Dorsal habitus, female; em. Empodium, leg I, female; LM. Lateral habitus, female; LO. Lateral opisthosoma view of anterior section of mite; L 1. Leg I, female; L 2. Leg II, female; V. Ventral habitus, female.