Formicomotes Sevastianov, 1980

Khaustov, Alexander A. & Frolov, Andrey V., 2018, A new species of Formicomotes Sevastianov (Acari: Heterostigmata: Dolichocybidae) associated with termites (Isoptera: Termitidae) from Brazil, with redescription of Formicomotes octipes Sevastianov, 1980, Zootaxa 4382 (2), pp. 393-400 : 394

Genus Formicomotes Sevastianov, 1980

Type species: Formicomotes octipes Sevastianov, 1980 , by original designation.

Diagnosis (based on Magowski 1988 with modifications). Female (X and Y forms). Gnathosoma without cheliceral setae. Trichobothria sc 1 absent. Segment H consolidated with Ps and Ag into one (HPsAg) undivided plate, located ventrally. Claws of legs III and IV similar in sizes. One pair of setae on each pair of coxal plates. Solenidia on legs represented by sensory pits, except distinctly clavate φ 1. Leg setation: leg I: Tr 0, Fe 1 (v”), Ge 1 (l’), Ti 5(2) (d, l’, l”, v”, k, φ 1, φ 2), Ta 7(2) (p’, p”, tc’, tc”, u’, u”, pv’, ω 1, ω 2); leg II: Tr 0, Fe 1 (v”), Ge 1 (l’), Ti 3(1) (d, l’, v”, φ), Ta 5(1) (tc’, tc”, pl”, pv’, pv”, ω); leg III: Tr 0, Fe 0, Ge 1 (l’), Ti 3(1) (d, l’, v”, φ), Ta 5 (tc’, tc”, pl”, pv’, pv”); leg IV: Tr 0, Fe 0, Ge 1 (l’), Ti 3(1) (d, l’, v”, φ), Ta 4 (tc”, pl”, pv’, pv”). For differences between phoretic (Y morph) and non-phoretic (X morph) females and diagnosis of male see Magowski (1988).

Species included. The genus Formicomotes includes 3 species: F. octipes Sevastianov, 1980 (type species), F. heteromorphus Magowski, 1988 and F. brasiliensis sp. nov.

Distribution and hosts. Formicomotes octipes Sevastianov, 1980 was described from Ukraine phoretic on the ant Lasius fuliginosus (Latreille) ( Sevastianov 1980) . We also recorded this species from Crimea from wet forest litter. Formicomotes heteromorphus Magowski, 1988 is an economically important pest of the edible mushroom Auricularia polytricha in Thailand ( Magowski 1988). The phoretic host of this species is unknown. Phoretic females of F. brasiliensis sp. nov. are associated with the workers of termites Nasutitermes sp. in Brazil.