Tenuipalpus bacuri Flechtmann and Noronha

Flechtmann, Carlos H. W. & Noronha, Aloyséia C. S., 2013, A new species of the genus Tenuipalpus (Prostigmata: Tenuipalpidae) with remarks on a conceivable ovipositor in flat mites, Zootaxa 3681 (4), pp. 493-499 : 493-496

Tenuipalpus bacuri Flechtmann and Noronha sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–15 )

Diagnosis. Tenuipalpus bacuri sp. nov. related to T. garciniae Meyer and Bolland, 1984 but its dorsal integumentary pattern much less elaborate and all dorsal idiosomal setae in female short, setiform and slightly serrate, except for very long pair of caudolateral setae h2 (in garciniae dorsocentral setae sub-spatulate).

FEMALE: (n = 10). Dimensions of holotype (measurements of paratypes): body length (from tip of dorsopropodosomal anterior extension to caudal end) 275 (260–303); greatest width 180 (165–185). Dorsum ( Fig. 1 ): median area of propodosoma smooth and envolved laterally and posteriorly by ridge formed of few elongate cells; propodosoma laterally with fine irregular longitudinal striae. Hysterosoma with median transverse ridge at level of setae of second pair of dorsocentral setae (d1) and smaller and weaker ridge at level of third pair of dorsocentral setae (e1). Posteriorly to setae e1 irregular longitudinal striae and caudally striae transverse. One pair of large circular pores mediolaterally on opisthosoma. Propodosoma extends anteriorly in 2 elongate tips reaching middle of femur of leg I, each with small basal ancillary lobe. First 2 pairs of propodosomal setae (v2 and sc1) as well as hysterosomal setae c1, d1, d2, and e1 minute, slightly serrate; third pair of dorsopropodosomal setae, sc2, and humeral setae, c3, 3– 4 times as long as setae of second pair of dorsopropodosomals, serrate. Caudolateral setae e2, f1, f2, and h1 serrate, slightly longer than humeral setae, and h2 flagellate, long. Venter ( Figs. 3–4 ): Podosoma with pair of short anterior setae (3a) and pair of long posterior setae (4a), about 4 times as long as long 3a. Genital and ventral plates fused, bearing 1 pair of pregenital setae and 2 pairs of genital, long, smooth setae. Two pairs of anal setae present. Gnathosoma : palpus 3 segmented ( Fig. 9 ); terminal segment short, as long as wide, with rod-like elongate solenidion. The second segment largest and bearing long pectinate seta. Gnathosoma venter with 1 pair of setae. Legs ( Figs. 5–8 ): Setation (solenidia in parentheses), from coxae to tarsi: I 2–1 –4 –2–4-5?(2); II 2–1 -4–2–5–7?(2); III 1–1 –2–0–3–5?; IV 1–1 –1–0–3–4?(1).

Note on female morphology. Internally, underneath the caudal one third of the genitoventral shield, a somewhat complex set of “ridges” or “folds” radiating from the center ( Fig. 3 ) resemble a folded structure similar to the ovipositor in Tetranychidae ( Lustgraaf 1977) and is here regarded as such. However, it could be merely the distal folded part of the oviduct, as suggested by Alberti & Coons (1999) for the Tetranychidae . A similar structure was illustrated in the drawing of the female of T. moraesi Feres and Hernandes, 2006 , however, the authors did not make any further reference to it.

MALE: unknown.

LARVA: (n = 5). 135–158 long, 93–114 wide. Dorsum ( Figs. 10): median area of propodosoma with small ovoid beads forming reticulate pattern; randomly dispersed beads on dorsolateral anterior areas. Remaining of propodosoma with striae, longitudinal laterally and transverse centrally. Setae v2 and sc1 minute; sc2 long, serrate. Striae entirely transverse at level of setae c1 and d1 and irregularly longitudinal caudally. Entire complement of dorsalsetae of adult female present, except for setae c3, which absent. Venter ( Fig. 11): integument transversally striate except for longitudinal striae around genital-anal area. One pair of anterior ventral setae (3a) and 2 pairs of anal setae present.

PROTONYMPH (n = 10): 170–209 long; 123–154 widest. Dorsum ( Fig. 12 ): integument transversally striate and folded. With full complement of dorsal setae, c3 (absent in larva) added. Prodorsal shield anteromedially with 2 anterior, pointed lobes, extending to middle of femur of leg I. Setae v2, sc1, c1, d1, and e1 minute; setae sc2 serrate, long. Prodorsum smooth. Venter ( Fig. 13 ): transversely striate; caudally, striae longitudinal around anal area and becoming transverse anteriorly, in genital area, marked by presence of 1 pair of genital setae. Two pairs of genital setae present.

DEUTONYMPH (n = 10): 245–286 long; 172–205 wide. Dorsum ( Fig. 14 ): striae and folds as in protonymph. Venter ( Fig. 15 ): striate as in protonymph. Two pairs of genital setae, 2 pairs of anal setae and 1 pair of long setae (pregenital ag or 4a).

Relation to host. All stages of the mite are intense orange, almost red in colour and are found on both sides, predominantly on the lower, of the leathery leaves, which show no visible alteration/damage.

Type material. Holotype female, 18 paratype females, 17 paratype deutonymphs, 13 paratype protonymphs, and 7 paratype larvae, on 20 microscopic preparations, from leves of “ bacuri ”, Platonia insignis Mar. (Clusiaceae) , BRASIL: Pará, Belém, Embrapa – Amazonia Oriental, 10 January 2013, coll. ACS Noronha; 16 female paratypes, same host, on two microscopic preparations, Tome-Açú, Pará, ACS Noronha, 12 June 2012, coll. ACS Noronha.

Type deposition. The Acarology Collection, Universidade de São Paulo, ESALQ, Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.

Etymology. The species designation bacuri is taken from the comon name of the fruit of the host plant.

Differential diagnosis. T. bacuri sp. nov. is related to T. garciniae Meyer and Bolland, 1984 collected from Garcinia sp., also a Clusiaceae , in Cameroun, Africa ( Meyer & Bolland 1984; Meyer 1993). Other than the morphological differences given in the diagnosis, in T. bacuri sp. nov. the ventral and genital shields are coalesced (divided by a clear transverse suture in T. garciniae ); the terminal segment of the palp bears only one long solenidion (two solenidia of unequal length in garciniae ); and their leg setation is quite different.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Tenuipalpus bacuri sp. nov., female dorsum.

FIGURES 2 – 4. Tenuipalpus bacuri sp. nov., female. 2. venter, 3. caudal opisthosomal internal structure, probable ovipositor, 4. receptaculum seminis.

FIGURES 5 – 9. Tenuipalpus bacuri sp. nov., female. 5. leg I, 6. leg II, 7. leg III, 8. leg IV, 9. palp.

FIGURES 12 – 13. Tenuipalpus bacuri sp. nov., protonymph. 12. dorsum, 13. perianal area.

FIGURES 14 – 15. Tenuipalpus bacuri n. sp. (deutonymph) — 14. dorsum, 15. opisthosomal ventral area.