Neocunaxoides promatae Rocha, Rodrigues & Ferla

Rocha, Matheus Dos Santos, Rodrigues, Everton Nei Lopes & Ferla, Noeli Juarez, 2015, New species and records of cunaxid mites (Acari: Cunaxidae) from soil in Southern Brazil, Zootaxa 3981 (1) : -

Neocunaxoides promatae Rocha, Rodrigues & Ferla sp. nov.

LSID Number–urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0F829D2F-25DC-4196-BF92-FB016233913E ( Figs. 2–5 )

Diagnosis. Neocunaxoides promatae sp. nov. resembles Neocunaxoides andrei ( Baker & Hoffmann 1948) by having a mushroom-shaped seta on pedipalp tibiotarsi. It can be distinguished from N. andrei by having a dorsal shield covered by striations, one knob-like apophysis in integumental region between femorogenua and tibiotarsi, five sts on telofemora II, three ats on genua I, five sts on genua IV and two ats on tibiae I.

Neocunaxoides promatae sp. nov. differs from all species of this genus by having one knob-like apophysis on the integumental region between the femorogenua and tibiotarsi ( Fig. 2 ); no other Neocunaxoides have an apophysis in this region. Some species of Cunaxoidinae such as Lupaeus lectus Castro & Den Heyer (2009) , Pulaeus myrtaceus Castro & Den Heyer (2009) and Neocunaxoides andrei ( Baker & Hoffmann 1948) have an apophysis on palpal tibiotarsi. Additionally, this apophysis is common in Cunaxinae, being found in Dactyloscirus and Armascirus .

Female. (n=5) Idiosoma 294 (285–312) long, 211 (205–227) wide.

Gnathosoma . ( Fig. 3 A–C) Subcapitulum. ( Fig. 3 A). 140 (135–150) long, 2 pairs of adoral setae and 4 pairs of setae (hg1–4); hg4 longest. Ventral region with longitudinal striae. Palp. ( Fig. 3 B). 81 (77–85) long, 3-segmented. Chaetotaxy: trochanter 0; femorogenua 5 outer and 1 inner sts; integumental region between femorogenua and tibiotarsi contains 1 knob-like apophysis; tibiotarsi 1 pointed process, 1 mushroom seta and 5 sts. Tibiotarsi ends in claw. Chelicera. ( Fig. 3 C). 127 (125–130) long, slender, integument granulated dorsally, each with narrow claw and dorsal seta.

Dorsum. ( Fig. 4 A). Partially covered by single shield with broken striae, shield 204 (200–212) long, with propodosomal setae, 2 pairs of setose trichobothria, at and pt, and simple tactile setae c1, d1, e1 and c2. Setae f1 on minute sclerites barely larger than setal socket and h1 on integument. Setae h2 located laterad anal region. Setae lps, mps, c1, c2, d1, e1, f1, h1, h2 simple. Setal lengths as follows: at 115 (110–122), pt 117 (110–120) lps 34 (32–37), mps 32 (27–37), c1 20 (17–23), c2 23 (22–25), d1 21 (20–22), e1 23 (20–25), f1 23 (22–25), h1 26 (25–27) and h2 16 (15– 18). Cupule im present, between e1 and f1.

Venter. ( Fig. 4 B). Partially covered by clearly demarcated plates. Coxal plates I and II fused and not connected medially, with 6 pairs of setae; coxal plates III and IV fused, posterior edge extending beyond anterior edge of genital plates and with 6 pairs of setae. Weakened median platelet between posteromedian extremity of coxae II. Coxal plates with dense, fine striae. Coxae I–IV setal formula 3-3-3-3. Genital plates weakly sclerotized, with 4 pairs of setae (g1–g4) and 2 pairs of papillae. Integument between coxal and genital shields with 4 pairs of setae. Anal region with pair of anal setae and pair of paranal setae. Cupule ih laterad posterior edge of genital shield.

Legs ( Fig. 5 A–D). Leg I 195 (190–205), leg II 173 (165–180), leg III 185 (180–195), leg IV 207 (200–215). Chaetotaxy: trochanter I-IV, 1-1-2-1; basifemora I-IV, 3-5-2-0; telofemora I-IV, 5-5-4-3; genua I with 3 ats, 1 duplex seta (mst and ats), 4 sts; genua II 2 ats, 5 sts; genua III with 1 ats, 5 sts; genua IV with 2 ats, 5 sts; tibiae I with 2 ats, 5 sts; tibiae II with 1 bsl, 5 sts; tibiae III with 1 bsl, 5 sts; tibiae IV with 1 smooth T, 4 sts; tarsi I with 2 ats, 1 lbsl, 1 dep (depression with peg-like setae), 1 dtsl, 2 tsl, 18 sts; tarsi II with 1 lbsl, 22 sts; tarsi III with 17 sts; tarsi IV with 17 sts.

Male and developmental stages. Unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet is a noun in apposition referring to the type locality “Centro de Pesquisas e Conservação da Natureza Pró-Mata”.

Types. Holotype. Female, Centro de Pesquisas e Conservação da Natureza Pró-Mata (29°29'4.20"S, 50°13'15.16"W), São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (collected in leaf litter on Atlantic Araucaria forest), 23/IX/2014, M.S. Rocha et al. leg., deposited in the Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Agricultural Zoology, Superior School of Agriculture “Luiz de Queiroz”, University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Paratypes. Three paratypes females, Centro de Pesquisas e Conservação da Natureza Pró-Mata (29°29'4.20"S, 50°13'15.16"W), São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (collected in leaf litter on Atlantic Araucaria forest), 23/IX/2014, M.S. Rocha et al. leg., deposited in Museu de Ciências Naturais (ZAUMCN), UNIVATES—Centro Universitário, Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; three paratypes females, Centro de Pesquisas e Conservação da Natureza Pró-Mata (29°29'4.20"S, 50°13'15.16"W), São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (collected in soil on Atlantic Araucaria forest), 23/IX/2014, M.S. Rocha et al. leg., deposited in the ZAUMCN.

Natural History. Specimens were collected under soil and leaf litter. The soil samples had a concentration of 28% of organic matter and 8.66% humidity. The leaf litter was approximately 12 cm deep and mainly composed of branches (50%) and leaves (39%).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Neocunaxoides promatae sp. nov. Female, Palp (arrow indicates knob-like apophysis).

FIGURE 3. Neocunaxoides promatae sp. nov. Female, Gnathosoma— A. Subcapitulum; B. Palp, dorsal; C. Chelicera, dorsal.

FIGURE 4. Neocunaxoides promatae sp. nov. Female, Idiosoma— A. Dorsal; B. Ventral.

FIGURE 5. Neocunaxoides promatae sp. nov. Female, Legs, dorsal view— A. Leg I; B. Leg II; C. Leg III; D. Leg IV.