Neoparaphytoseius caatinga Silva, Silva & Moraes, 2021

Silva, Lídia R. A., Silva, Edmilson S., Marticorena, Jorge L. M. & De Moraes, Gilberto J., 2021, A new species of Neoparaphytoseius (Acari: Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) from Brazil, with a review of the genus, Zootaxa 4985 (2), pp. 235-244 : 236-241

Neoparaphytoseius caatinga Silva, Silva & Moraes n. sp.

( Figures 1–8 )

Diagnosis. Dorsal shield mostly smooth, with a few anterolateral striae, without incision next to s 4. Setae j 3, Z 4, Z 5, s 4 and Jv 5 relatively thick and serrate, j 1 relatively thick and smooth; other idiosomal setae aciculate and smooth. Ventrianal shield with three pairs of setae and a pair of small rounded pores postero-median to Jv 2. Peritreme extending anteriorly to the level of j 1. Macrosetae distinct and present on genu, tibia and tarsus of the leg IV, thick and tapered distally. Calyx of spermatheca cup-shaped or, atrium small and major duct quite distinct next to atrium.

Adult female (n = 5)

( Figures 1–5 ).

Measurements given in Table 1 .

Dorsum. ( Figure 1 ) Dorsal shield almost completely smooth except for a few anterolateral striae; with 16 pairs of setae (j 1, j 3– j 6, J 2, J 5, z 2, z 4, z 5, Z 1, Z 4, Z 5, S 2, S 5), five pairs of pores (gd2, gd5, gd6, gd8 and gd9) and seven pairs of distinct lyrifissures (id1, id2, id4, idm1, idm2, idx, idl3, idm5, idm6); without incision next to s 4. Setae r 3 and R 1 in the unsclerotised cuticle. Setae j 3, Z 4, Z 5, s 4 and Jv 5 relatively thick and serrate; j 1 and r 3 relatively thick and smooth; other dorsal idiosomal setae aciculate and smooth.

Venter. ( Figure 2 ) Ventral shields smooth. Sternal shield with three pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures; posterior margin slightly concave. Genital shield with the posterior margin truncate. Ventrianal shield elongate, with three pairs of pre-anal setae (Jv 1, Jv 2 and Zv 2) and a pair of pores mediad and slightly posteriad of Jv 2. Setae of the venter of the idiosoma aciculate and smooth except Jv 5 thick and serrated.

Peritreme. Extending anteriorly to level of setae j 1.

1) from the original description ( El-Banhawy 1984), specimen from Sooretama, Espirito Santo, Brazil on unidentified plant; (2) Itabuna, Bahia, Brazil (14º46’09”S, 39º17’31”W), on Solanum stramonifolium , 4 October 2004; K.K.M. Fiaboe; (3) Pariquera-Açu, São Paulo, Brazil (24º36’51”S, 47º53’22”W), on Rubus brasiliensis , 19 March 2001; L.V.F. da Silva; (4) from the original description ( Jiménez, 2014) specimen from Iquitos Province, Loreto Department, Peru (03°44’ S 73°14’ W), on Inga edulis (Mart.) (Fabaceae) . Both specimens deposited in the reference collection of mites of the “Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Universidade de São Paulo ”, Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil.

Chelicera. ( Figure 3 ). Fixed digit with 11–12 teeth in addition to apical tooth, and setiform pilus dentilis; movable digit with three teeth in addition to the apical tooth.

Spermatheca. ( Figure 4 ). Calyx cup-shaped or, atrium small and major duct quite distinct next to atrium.

Legs. ( Figure 5 ). Macrosetae present only on genu, tibia and tarsus of leg IV, thick and tapered distally. Chaetotaxy of genua: II: 2 2/1 2/1 1; III: 1 2/1 2/0 1; IV: 1 2/1 2/0 1.

Adult male (n = 3)

( Figures 6–8 ).

Measurements given in Table 2 .

Dorsum. ( Figure 6 ). Ornamentation of the dorsal shield and shape of the setae as in adult female. Setae r 3 and R 1 inserted in the dorsal shield.

Venter. ( Figure 7 ). Sternogenital shield smooth, with five pairs of setae and three pairs of lyrifissures. Ventrianal shield subtriangular, reticulate, with four pairs of setae and a pair of pores posteromediad to Jv 2.

Peritreme. Extending anteriorly to level of setae j 1.

Chelicera. ( Figure 8 ). Fixed digit with three teeth in addition to the apical tooth, and setiform pilus dentilis; movable digit with one tooth in addition to apical tooth. Spermadactyl L-shaped with toe relatively elongated.

Legs. Macrosetae and chaetotaxy as in the female.

Specimens examined. Female holotype collected from Croton blanchetianus (Euphorbiaceae) on 1 August 2019, in Olho D´água das Flores, Alagoas, Brazil (9°32′9″S, 37°17′38″W). Paratypes, collected in the same place and on the same plant as holotype, on the following dates: two females, 30 January 2019, one female, 15 March 2019, four females, 18 June 2019, two females, 1 August 2019; one male, 30 January 2019 and one male, 1 August 2019. All this material is deposited at Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Two paratype females collected on 30 January 2019, three paratype females collected on 18 June 2019, one paratype female collected on 1 August 2019 and one paratype male collected on 1 August 2019, in same locality and on the same plant as holotype, are deposited at Laboratório de Acarologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Two paratype females collected on 1 August 2019, in same locality and on the same plant as holotype, are deposited at Laboratório de Entomologia e Acarologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Arapiraca, Alagoas, Brazil. All types collected by L.R.A. Silva.

Etymology. The name of the new species refers to the biome, “Caatinga”, where it was found.

Figures

FIGURES 1–5. Neoparaphytoseius caatinga sp. n. Female. Dorsum of idiosoma; 2. Venter of idiosoma; 3. Chelicera; 4. Spermatheca; 5. Leg IV (genu, tibia and basitarsus).

FIGURES 6–8. Neoparaphytoseius caatinga sp. n. Male. 6. Dorsal shield; 7. Ventrianal shield; 8. Chelicera.