Notostrix macrothrix, Flechtmann & de Moraes, 2013

Flechtmann, Carlos H. W. & de Moraes, Gilberto J., 2013, A new species of Notostrix (Acari: Eriophyidae), with notes on the host plants and distribution of species of this genus, Journal of Natural History 47 (3 - 4), pp. 197-202 : 198-201

Notostrix macrothrix sp. nov.

( Figure 1 )

Diagnosis of adults

A Notostrix with long scapular seta, reaching the twelfth–fourteenth dorsoopisthosomal annulus, inserted on a stalk set on the scapular tubercle; prodorsal shield smooth, with a median, rounded elevation. Palp genual seta (antapical seta) long, simple, about as long as lateral seta of tarsus I.

Adult female (holotype and five paratypes)

Body slender, elongate, 234 (220–246), 55 (55–63) wide, with two dorsal longitudinal wax stripes on opisthosoma in live specimens (see Figure 1 ).

Gnathosoma . Palpal genu or antapical seta long, 20 (20–23), unbranched, similar in length to lateral seta of tarsus I (ft ́́); basal seta long, 13 (8–13). Cheliceral stylets 25 (25–31).

Prodorsal shield. Length 60 (52–63), width 49 (48–50), with a median rounded elevation. Scapular seta long, reaching twelfth–fourteenth dorso-opisthosomal annulus when folded backwards in the microscopic preparation, inserted on a basal stalk which is set on the scapular tubercle; seta 34 (31–36), stalk 10 (6–10); tubercles 23 (22–26) apart. Scapular seta probably directed upward in life. Shield design absent, except for an arched submarginal line which bends posteriorly inward, around scapular tubercle. Frontal lobe rounded anteriorly, long (longer than wide), 15 (11–15), base 13 (10–14) wide (see Figure 1D ,AL.)

Coxigenital area. With 5 (5–6) annuli, microtuberculate. Sternal line faint, 10 (8–10). Coxa I with short longitudinal lines and granules; coxa II mesally with granules. Coxal seta I (1b) 10 (8–10), 9 (9–11) apart; coxal seta II (1a) 25 (25–31), 8 (7–10) apart; coxal seta III (2a) 18 (18–22), 38 (31–38) apart (see Figure 1V .)

Genitalia. Width 25 (25–27), length 19 (19–22); epigynum with longitudinal lines of variable lengths; genital seta (3a) 28 (27–29). (See Figure 1V .)

Opisthosoma. With a slight and short dorsomedian anterior ridge and with a shallow dorsomedian furrow extending dorsad of opisthosomal seta f. Total of 94 (64–94) dorsal annuli, caudal 12–13 annuli faint, all smooth. Total of 117 (90–117) ventral annuli, with small bead-like microtubercles. Lateral seta (c2) 47 (44–47), on annulus 5 (6–7) from genitalia rear margin. Ventral opisthosomal seta I (d) 73 (63–78), 38 (37–45) apart, on annulus 21 (18–15); ventral seta II (e) 39 (39–59), 24 (23–27) apart, on annulus 57 (48–57); ventral seta III (f) 41 (40–48), 24 (24–27) apart, on annulus 92 (82–92) or twelfth (twelfth–thirteenth) from rear. Caudal seta (h2)> 32 (32–33), broken in all specimens examined; accessory seta (h1) absent (see Figure 1D )

Legs. Genual and tibial setae II missing. Leg I 30 (28–35); femur 10 (10–12), femoral seta (bv) 16 (16–19); genu 4 (4–5), genual seta (l ́́) 35 (35–37); tibia 7 (5–7), tibial seta (ĺ) 22 (22–25); tarsus 6 (6–8), lateral seta (ft ́́) 21 (15–21), dorsal seta (ft́) 18 (18–23), unguinal seta (ú) 5 (4–5), solenidion 6 (5–6); empodium 5 (4–5), seven-rayed. Leg II 30 (30–33); femur 12 (10–12), bv 24 (21–25); genu 3 (3–4), l ́́ absent; tibia 4 (4–6); tarsus 8 (8–9), ft ́́ 26 (26–29), ft́ 21 (19–24), ú 4 (4–5), solenidion 8 (8–9); empodium 5 (4–5), simple, seven-rayed. (See Figure 1 .)

Adult male (three paratypes)

Slightly smaller than female, 215–238, 49–53 wide.

Gnathosoma . Antapical (palpal genual) seta 21–27; basal seta 6–9; cheliceral stylet 20–26. Scapular seta (sc) 23–24, stalk 6–7, tubercles 18–21 apart. Frontal lobe 12–17, base 11–13 wide.

Coxigenital area. With 6–9 annuli, microtuberculate. Sternal line 8–9, faint. Coxal setae: 1b 8–10, 8–10 apart; 1a 22–29, 18–21 apart; 2a 28–40, 18–21 apart.

Genitalia. Width 16–10, length 17–18; genital seta 3a 27–28 ( Figure 1 GM).

Opisthosoma. As in female. Total of 68–71 dorsal annuli, smooth; total of 87–93 ventral annuli, microtuberculate. Lateral seta (c2) 40–42, on annulus 5–7. Ventral setae: d 55–62, 32–34 apart, on annulus 17–19; e 48–50, 19–20 apart, on anulus 42–46; f 46–49, 25–27 apart, on annulus 75–82 or 12th–13th from rear. Caudal seta (h2)> 29–43, broken in all specimens examined; accessory seta (h1) absent.

Legs. As in female. Leg I 27–28; femur 9–11, bv 18–22; genu 3–4, l ́́ 29–35; tibia 5–6, ĺ 19–23; tarsus 6–8, ft ́́ 16–18, ft́ 15–16, ú 4–6, solenidion 5–7; empodium 4–5, sevenrayed. Leg II 28–29; femur 10–11, bv 22–26; genu 3–4; tibia 4–5; tarsus 5–7, ft ́́ 26–29, ft́ 20–25, ú 4–5, solenidion 8; empodium 5, seven-rayed.

Material examined

Female holotype, 18 female and 7 male paratypes, on 3 microscopic preparations, vagrant on coconut palm leaves, Cocos nucifera L. ( Arecaceae ), Saint Louis , La Réunion ; 79 female and 9 male paratypes, on 10 microscopic preparations, same host, Saint Paul , La Réunion ; 6 female and 5 male paratypes, on 3 microscopic preparations, same host, Sainte Suzanne , La Réunion ; 59 female and 10 male paratypes, on 7 microscopic preparations, same host, Saint Benoit , La Réunion , and 29 female and 1 male paratype, on 3 microscopic preparations, same host, Etang Salé , La Réunion , all collected February 2011, by Tatiane M.M.G. de Castro. Deposited in the Acarology Collection of Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Sâo Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil .

Etymology

The specific designation, macrothrix , is derived from makros, Greek for long and thrix, Greek for hair, and refers to the long scapular seta.

Remarks

Notostrix macrothrix sp. nov. differs from all known species of this genus by the peculiar aspect of the scapular seta (long and with a basal stalk – short and set directly in the scapular tubercle in all other described species), and long palp genual (antapical) seta (short in all other species).

Hosts and world distribution of Notostrix species

Navia and Flechtmann (2003) and Navia et al. (2007) summarized the information concerning the morphology, hosts and the world distribution of the species then known in this genus. An additional species, N. spinula Navia and Flechtmann, 2005 , has been described since then. Species placed today in Notostrix are known only from palm trees, Arecaceae . In fact, an eriophyid species was described as Notostrix sargentodoxae Wei and Kuang, 1993 from Sargentodoxa cuneata , of the family Sargentodoxaceae , but Wei et al. (2009) transferred it to Asetipodus Wang and Wei, 1993, a genus similar to Notostrix . Despite the specificity of Notostrix species to palm hosts, six of the species are known from at least two palm species; two species ( N. butiae Gondim Jr., Flechtmann and Moraes, 2000 and N. nasutiformes Gondim Jr., Flechtmann and Moraes, 2000 ) have been reported from six palm species each.

Nine of the 14 species now placed in Notostrix were described from Brazil. Others were described from Jamaica, India, Mexico, the Philippines and, now, La Réunion. One species has also been reported from Costa Rica. This fact could suggest that the place of origin of this mite group is somewhere in the American continent.

However, most of the world investigation about the taxonomy and distribution of eriophyids on palm trees has been done in recent years, and especially in the American continent, while searching for A. guerreronis and its natural enemies on different palm species. Eight of the nine species described from Brazil were found while searching for those agents. The species described in the present study and the species described from Mexico were also found while searching for control agents of A. guerreronis .

It is conceivable that species of this genus have rarely been reported from other parts of the world mainly because they do not cause significant damage to their hosts, and because the effort in those countries to look for eriophyids on palm trees has been relatively small. These mites are found mostly on the lower surface of the leaflets of their hosts, although two species ( N. exigua Flechtmann, 1998 and N. vasquezae Navia and Flechtmann, 2005 ) have been reported from the upper leaflet surface, and one ( N. flabellifera Mohanasundaram, 1982 ) from unopened leaves. Thus, if searches were carried out in other countries where palm trees are grown, examining symptomless leaves, the determined distribution and the diversity of Notostrix could be quite different from what is presently known.

Figures

Figure 1. Notostrix macrothrix sp. nov.: (AL) female anterolateral view; (V) female anteroventral view; (D) female dorsal view; (L1) female leg I; (L2) female leg II; GM, male genitalia.