Tenuipalpus, Donnadieu, 1876

Castro, Elizeu B., Feres, Reinaldo J. F., Ochoa, Ronald & Bauchan, Gary R., 2016, A new species of Tenuipalpus sensu stricto (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) from Brazil, with ontogeny and a key to the known species, Zootaxa 4088 (3), pp. 355-378 : 356-377

Tenuipalpus sensu stricto group

Diagnosis. Adults female and male: Species of this group can be differentiated from other Tenuipalpus by presence of one pair of lateral body projections associated with setae c3. See Castro et al. (2016) for a detailed diagnosis.

Discussion

The rapid replacement of the Cerrado by agricultural crops such as soybean, rice, corn, and cotton as well as pasture ( Klink & Moreira 2002), increases the risk that species may become extinct before they are even known ( Demite et al. 2009). Some tenuipalpids show host preference ( Mesa et al. 2009) and may occur only on a single genus of plants [e.g. T. heveae Baker that has only ever been recorded occurring on plants of the genus Hevea (Euphorbiaceae) ]. Due to such host specificity, we believe that if a given plant becomes extinct, then the mites associated with it may also become extinct. This information highlights the importance of the conservation of biomes with endemics species, as the Cerrado.

The 39 known species of Tenuipalpus sensu stricto were collected on plants of 29 different families and were described mainly from Neotropical (19 spp.) and Neartic regions (8 spp.) ( Mesa et al. 2009; Castro et al. 2016). Of these species, four are known from Brazil. Two species were described from specimens collected from Brazil: T. spinosaurus (described herein), and T. latiseta Aranda collected on an unidentified plant of the family Celastraceae from São Paulo state ( Flechtmann 1976); and another two species of the sensu stricto group were recorded in Brazil: Tenuipalpus anacardii De Leon was collected by Flechtmann (1976) on Anacardium occidentale (Anacardiaceae) from Ceará State, and T. coyacus De Leon was recorded by Vasconcelos et al. (2005) on Cocos nucifera (Arecaceae) from Pernambuco state.

Tenuipalpus spinosaurus bears a pair of lateral projections associated with setae c3 (synapomorphy of Tenuipalpus sensu stricto group), and another pair of lateral projections anterior to setae sc2 (present also in some other Tenuipalpus and Ultratenuipalpus ). It also bears a longitudinal crest on the dorsal opisthosoma that occurs in four other species of the sensu stricto group (e.g. T. caudatus (Dugès) and T. erbei Kane, Castro & Ochoa ). In addition, the presence of the pair of projections anterior to setae sc2 in the protonymphs and deutonymphs show that this character could be expressed during the ontogenetic development of Tenuipalpus sensu stricto.

Key to known species of Tenuipalpus sensu stricto (sensu Castro et al. 2016)

(based on adult females)

1. Dorsum with one pair of lateral projections associated with setae c3 and another pair of lateral projections anterior to setae sc2; lateral setae sc2, c3, e3, f2, f3 and h1 variable in shape from lanceolate, obovate to ovate; femora I and II with setae d inserted in lateral position on tubercles................................ Tenuipalpus sensu stricto (sensu Castro et al. 2016)…2

- Dorsum always without a pair of lateral projections associated with setae c3 and usually without the lateral projection anterior to setae sc2; lateral setae not as mentioned above and usually setiform or minute; femora I and II with setae d usually inserted in dorsal position................................................ Tenuipalpus sensu lato (sensu Castro et al. 2016)

2. Opisthosoma with six pairs of dorsolateral setae (f2 absent; c3, d3, e3, f3, h1, h2 present).............................................................................................. T. lalbaghensis Channabasavanna & Lakkundi

- Opisthosoma with seven pairs of dorsolateral setae (c3, d3, e3, f2, f3, h1, h2 present)................................ 3

3. Three pairs of pseudanal setae (ps1–3 present).............................................................. 4

- Two pairs of pseudanal setae (ps1–2 present, ps3 absent)...................................................... 6

4. Setae c3 inserted on the associated lateral projections................................. T. banahawensis Corpuz-Raros

- Setae c3 inserted anterior to the associated lateral projections................................................... 5

5. Palps two segmented; opisthosomal setae c3 obovate; opisthosomal setae e3 lanceolate; opisthosomal setae f2 and f3 ovate with broadly acute tips................................................................. T. mahoensis Collyer

- Palps three segmented; opisthosomal setae c3 lanceolate; opisthosomal setae e3, f2 and f3 lanceolate with narrowly acute tips............................................................................ T. inophylli Gutierrez & Bolland

6. Central prodorsum with honeycomb pattern................................................................. 7

- Prodorsum not as above................................................................................ 8

7. Palps three segmented; tibiae I–IV with 5, 5, 3, 3 setae, respectively....................... T. rhyssus Baker & Pritchard

- Palps one segmented; tibiae I–IV with 3, 3, 1, 1 setae, respectively............................. T. chiclorum De Leon

8. Prodorsal setae v2 distinctly longer than setae sc1............................................. T. micheli Lawrence

- Prodorsal setae v2 smaller or of similar length to setae sc1 ..................................................... 9

9. Dorsal opisthosoma with one or more crests............................................................... 10

- Dorsal opisthosoma without any crests.................................................................... 15

10. Dorsal opisthosoma with two crests, one transverse and one longitudinal crest.................................... 11

- Dorsal opisthosoma with one crest, either one transverse or one longitudinal...................................... 12

11. Prodorsum with longitudinal striations; with transverse opisthosomal crest posterior to setae d1 ................................................................................. T. caudatus (Dugès) / T. arbuti Mitrofanov & Sharonov *

- Prodorsum with transverse to oblique striations; with transverse opisthosomal crest anterior to setae d1 .............................................................................................. T. erbei Kane, Castro & Ochoa

12. Opisthosoma with one transverse crest....................................................... T. sandyi De Leon

- Opisthosoma with one longitudinal crest..................................................................13

13. Ventral setae 4b inserted in common position in coxal region IV................................ T. eugeniae De Leon

- Ventral setae 4b inserted in unusual medially displaced position off coxal region IV, closer to setae 4a ................. 14

14. Prodorsal setae sc1 obovate and long (25–30 long)............................. T. spinosaurus Castro, Feres & Ochoa

- Prodorsal setae sc1 obovate and short (10 long)................................................ T. boyani De Leon

15. Dorsal opisthosoma with central setae c1, d1, e1 of similar lengths and shape to lateral setae e3, f2 and f3 ............... 16

- Dorsal opisthosoma with at least one central seta minute or with lengths distinctly smaller than lateral setae e3, f2 and f3 ..25

16. Prodorsal setae sc1 of similar length to setae sc2 ............................................................ 17

- Prodorsal setae sc1 distinctly smaller than setae sc2 ......................................................... 19

17. Dorsal opisthosomal setae e3 inserted in common position on lateral margin, and seta of similar length to setae f2 and f3; genua I–IV with 2, 2, 1, 0 setae, respectively...................................................... T. coyacus De Leon

- Dorsal opisthosomal setae e3 inserted mesad lateral margin, and seta shorter than setae f2 and f3; genua I–IV with 2, 2, 0, 0 setae, respectively.................................................................................... 18

18. Femora I–IV with 4, 4, 1, 0 setae, respectively; trochanters I–IV with 1, 1, 2, 1 setae, respectively..................................................................................................... T. dasples Baker & Pritchard

- Femora I–IV with 4, 4, 2, 0 setae, respectively; trochanters I–IV with 1, 1, 1, 1 setae, respectively.......... T. tuttlei Ochoa

19. Venter with two pairs of 3a setae (3a2 present).............................................................. 20

- Venter with one pair of 3a setae (3a2 absent)............................................................... 24

20. Dorsal opisthosomal setae e3 (12–16 long) distinctly smaller than setae f2 and f3 (32–36 long)........ T. xylosmae De Leon

- Dorsal opisthosomal setae e3 with similar lengths of f2 and f3 setae............................................. 21

21. Prodorsal setae sc2 broadly lanceolate and elongate........................................... T. bakeri McGregor

- Prodorsal setae sc2 narrowly lanceolate and elongate........................................................22

22. Prodorsal setae sc1 obovate and larger than setae v2..................................... T. argus Baker & Pritchard

- Prodorsal setae sc1 minute and of similar length to setae v2 ................................................... 23

23. Dorsal opisthosomal setae c3 of similar length and shape to dorsocentral setae c1, d1 and e1..... T. pigrus Pritchard & Baker

- Dorsal opisthosomal setae c3 distinctly smaller than dorsocentral setae c1, d1 and e1......... T. rhagicus Pritchard & Baker

24. Prodorsum with longitudinal striations; dorsal opisthosomal setae e3 of similar length to setae f2 and f3 ................................................................................................ T. raphiae Meyer & Bolland

- Prodorsum with irregular striations; dorsal opisthosomal setae e3 smaller than f2 and f3...... T. chamaedorea Salas & Ochoa

25. Opisthosomal dorsocentral setae c1 and d1 obovate......................................................... 26

- Opisthosomal dorsocentral setae c1 and d1 minute.......................................................... 27

26. Prodorsal setae v2 of similar length to setae sc1; dorsal opisthosomal setae e3, f2 and f3 obovate.................................................................................................. T. cupressoides Meyer & Gerson

- Prodorsal setae v2 minute and distinctly smaller than setae sc1; dorsal opisthosomal setae e3, f2 and f3 narrowly lanceolate elongate............................................................................. T. victoriae De Leon

27. Venter with two pairs of 3a setae (3a2 present).............................................................. 28

- Venter one pair of 3a setae (3a2 absent)................................................................... 31

28. Prodorsal setae sc2 narrowly falcate; dorsal opisthosomal setae c3 obovate to lanceolate, short; dorsal opisthosomal setae e3, f2 and f3 narrowly lanceolate........................................................................... 29

- Prodorsal setae sc2 broadly falcate; dorsal opisthosomal setae c3 obovate, short; dorsal opisthosomal setae e3, f2 and f3 broadly lanceolate to obovate........................................................................... 30

29. Dorsal opisthosomal setae c1 and d1 short and obovate (12–14 long); genua with 2, 2, 1, 1 setae, respectively.............................................................................................. T. unonopsonis De Leon

- Dorsal opisthosomal setae c1 and d1 minute and acicular (4–5 long); genua with 3, 3, 1, 0 setae, respectively............................................................................................... coccolobicolus De Leon

30. Prodorsum with oblique striations; dorsal opisthosomal setae e3, f2 and f3 28–32, 29, 25–27 long, respectively......................................................................................... T. coccolobicoloides De Leon

- Prodorsum completely smooth; dorsal opisthosomal setae e3, f2 and f3 longer than above, 49, 43, 40 long, respectively................................................................................................. T. imias Cao

31. Dorsum ornamented and strongly striated................................................................. 32

- Dorsum smooth or weakly striated....................................................................... 33

32. Irregular striations on dorsal idiosoma; setae c3 orbicular to obovate............................. T. anacardii De Leon

- Longitudinal striae on dorsal idiosoma; setae c3 narrowly lanceolate.......................... T. cheladzeae Gomelauri

33. Most dorsal setae narrowly lanceolate, elongate............................................................. 34

- Most dorsal setae broadly lanceolate to obovate.............................................................37

34. Prodorsum with longitudinal striations on central region...................................................... 35

- Prodorsum without longitudinal striations on central region................................................... 36

35. Dorsal opisthosomal setae e3 of similar length to setae f2 and f3.................................... T. vexus De Leon

- Dorsal opisthosomal setae e3 smaller than setae f2 and f3....................................... T. mansoni De Leon

36. Prodorsal setae sc2 inserted posterior to the lateral projections; dorsal opisthosomal setae h1 distinctly smaller than setae e3, f2 and f3 ............................................................................... T. hastaligni De Leon

- Prodorsal setae sc2 inserted on the lateral projections; dorsal opisthosomal setae h1 of similar length to setae e3, f2 and f3 ..................................................................................... T. podocarpi Lawrence

37. Prodorsum and dorsal opisthosoma weakly striated; genua I–IV with 3, 3, 1, 0 setae, respectively....... T. lucumae De Leon

- Prodorsum and dorsal opisthosoma completely smooth; genua I–IV with 2, 2, 1, 0 setae, respectively...... T. latiseta Aranda

Remarks. T. proctori De Leon was described based only on a male. Information on the following species were taken using illustrations and descriptions from the literature: T. arbuti , T. cheladzeae , T. cupressoides , T. imias , T. inophylli , T. lalbaghensis , T. mahoensis , T. micheli , T. podocarpi and T. raphiae .