Daidalotarsonemus savanicus, Rezende & Lofego & Ochoa, 2015

Rezende, J. M., Lofego, A. C. & Ochoa, R., 2015, Two new species of Daidalotarsonemus (Acari: Prostigmata: Tarsonemidae) from Brazil, Acarologia 55 (4), pp. 435-448 : 441-446

Daidalotarsonemus savanicus n. sp.

( Figures 5-8 )

Diagnosis — Females of this new species are most similar to Daidalotarsonemus tessellatus De Leon (1956) and Daidalotarsonemus ethiopicus Mahunka (1981) for the ornamentation pattern on tergite C and shape of anterior setae v1, sc2, c1 and c2. They differ from the others by the ornamentation pattern on tergite D, with reticulation all over it including a rhomboid reticulum on the center of the plate; shape of posterior setae d, e, f and h; and shape of the setae pl" on tarsus II, which are stout and serrate.

Adult female (eight specimens measured).

Gnathosoma — covered by the prodorsum, subtriangular in ventral view, length 31 (30 – 33), maximum width 20 (19 – 23); dorsal apodeme distinct. Setae dgs 13 (11 – 14) and vgs 9 (8 – 10) smooth; palps short 9 (9 – 10), with one small subterminal seta. Pharynx fusiform, 17 (15 – 18) long and wide10 (9 – 12) at maximum width.

Idiosoma - dorsum ( Figures 5 and 8 ) — length 228 (223 – 232), width at level of c1 141 (138 – 142); prodorsal shield with regular ornamentation. Stigma located near lateral notch of prodorsal shield, which is equidistant to the v1 and sc2 setal bases. Tergite C with four transverse central rows of reticula and irregular ornamentation laterally. Tergite D with irregular ridges, including a rhomboid reticulum on the center of the plate. Lengths of the setae: v1 27 (26 – 29), sc1 12 (11 – 14), sc2 38 (36 – 40), c1 18 (16 – 20), c2 17 (15 – 18), d 34 (33 – 36), e 24 (22 – 26), f 39 (37 – 40) and h 23 (22 – 25). Maximum width of expanded setae: d 7, e 17 (16 – 18) and f 6. All dorsal setae serrate; except for sc2, c1 and c2 smooth. Setae v1, c1, c2 and h setiform; sc2 falcate; d and f lanceolate with two veins; e asymmetrical, subelliptical, with one lateral vein. Distances between dorsal setae: v1-v1 28 (26 – 29), sc2-sc2 53 (50 – 54), v1-sc2 30 (29 – 31), c1-c1 56 (54 – 57), c2-c2 116 (115 – 117), c1-c2 37 (36 – 39), d -d 38 (37 – 40), f -f 14 (13 – 16), e -f 14 (12 – 15) and h -h 18 (17 – 20). Setae sc2 inserted posteromedial to sc1.

Idiosoma - venter ( Figure 6 ) — setae 1a 7 (6 – 9), posteriad of apodemes 1; 2a 9 (8 – 9), posterolaterad and near middle of apodemes 2; 3a 16 (15 – 18) near anteriomedial margins of apodemes 3; 3b 15 (13 – 17) on posterior margins of apodemes 4. Apodeme 1 conspicuous, fused to anterior end of prosternal apodeme. Apodeme 2 not fused to the prosternal apodeme. Prosternal apodeme conspicuous from junction with apodeme 1 to the middle portion of sejugal apodeme, where is fused with it. Sejugal apodeme uninterrupted, with a median furrow. Apodeme 3 with a constriction near its middle, extending diagonally from proximity of base of seta 3a to anterior margin of trochanter 3; apodeme 4 extending diagonally from the middle of the poststernal apodeme to base of seta 3b. Poststernal apodeme bifurcated anteriorly. Tegula 14 (12 – 15) wide and very short 4 (4 – 5); posterior margin slightly arched. Setae ps 21 (19 – 22) serrate.

Legs ( Figure 7 ) — lengths (measured from femur to tarsus): leg I 45 (42 – 46), leg II 47 (45 – 48), leg III 85 (83 – 86). Number of setae (solenidia in parentheses) on femur, genu, tibia and tarsus, respectively: leg I: 3-4-5(2)+7(1), leg II: 3-4-4-3(1), leg III: 3-4-4. Tarsal solenidion ω of tibiotarsus I 6, stout, wider medially. Sensory cluster of tibia I complete, solenidion φ1 3, slender, capitate; solenidion φ2 2 (2-3), robust, slightly capitate; famulus k 4 (4 – 5); all inserted at approximately the same level. Seta d of tibia I 13 (12 – 15), serrate. Solenidion ω of tarsus II proximally inserted, 5 long, stout, wider medially; seta pl” of tarsus II stout and serrate. Seta d of tibia II 12 (11 – 14), serrate. Femorogenu IV 33 (31 – 34); tibiotarsus IV 9 (9). Length of leg IV setae: v’ F 8 (7 – 9), v’ G 17 (16 – 19), v´ Ti 25 (23 – 26) and tc" 59 (58 – 62); all setae smooth, except for v’ G serrate; v’ Ti falcate.

Adult male and larva — Unknown.

Type material — Holotype and eleven paratypes. Holotype from Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Caryocaraceae) . Among paratypes, two from Campomanesia pubescens (DC.) Berg (Myrtaceae) , one from Miconia albicans (Sw.) Triana (Melastomataceae) , one from Myrtaceae sp., one from Pouteria torta (Mart.) Radlk. (Sapotaceae) , 52°35’W 18°51’S, Chapadªo do Sul, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, 26/I/2010, J.M. Rezende, A.C. Lofego & P.M. Paulon; one from Bauhinia sp. (Fabaceae) , one from Didymopanax vinosum Cham. & Schltdl. (Araliaceae) , one from Myrtaceae sp., 52°44’W 18°15’S, Chapadªo do CØu, State of GoiAEs, 02/II/2010; one from Genipa americana L. ( Rubiaceae ), 51°45’W 17°51’S, Jataí, State of GoiAEs, 05/II/2010; one from Xylopia aromatica (Lam.) Mart. (Annonaceae) , 48°54’W 18°31’S, Tupaciguara, State of Minas Gerais, 10/II/2010; one from Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Caryocaraceae) , 46°41’W 15°59’S, Unaí, State of Minas Gerais, 03/III/2010. Holotype and five paratypes deposited at DZSJRP; three paratypes deposited at ESALQ/USP; three paratypes deposited at USNM.

Etymology — the name savanicus refers to the Cerrado, a savannah biome in which this species is commonly found.

Remarks — Following an examination of voucher specimens, we conclude that individuals of this new species have been recorded as Daidalotarsonemus tessellatus De Leon in previous papers ( Buosi et al. 2006, Demite et al. 2009, Feres et al. 2005, Lofego et al. 2005 and Sousa et al. 2015). The observations made by Lofego et al. (2005) regarding the habits for Daidalotarsonemus tessellatus , for which phytophagy was observed, should be conferred to Daidalotarsonemus savanicus .

Figures

FIGURE 5: Daidalotarsonemus savanicus n. sp. (female): Dorsal surface of the idiosoma.

FIGURE 6: Daidalotarsonemus savanicus n. sp. (female): Ventral surface of the idiosoma.

FIGURE 7: Daidalotarsonemus savanicus n. sp. (female). Legs: A – leg I; B – leg II; C – leg III; D – leg IV.

FIGURE 8: Daidalotarsonemus savanicus n. sp. (female): Dorsal micrograph of the idiosoma.