Lamellodectes distinctus, Hernandes, Fabio A. & Valim, Michel P., 2014

Hernandes, Fabio A. & Valim, Michel P., 2014, On the identity of two species of Proctophyllodidae (Acari: Astigmata: Analgoidea) described by Herbert F. Berla in Brazil, with a description of Lamellodectes gen. nov. and a new species, Zootaxa 3794 (1), pp. 179-200 : 186-190

Lamellodectes distinctus sp. nov.

( Figs. 4–6 , 10 B)

Proterothrix s.l. sp., ex Conopophaga lineata , in Kanegae et al. (2008: 33)

Description. MALE (holotype). Idiosoma, length × width, 260 (256–266 in 7 paratypes) × 110 (108–118). Prodorsal shield: lateral margins with incisions at level of scapular setae, posterior margin slightly convex medially, total length of shield along midline 90 (87–91), width 83 (78–84), surface with circular lacunae except in anterior area, these lacunae slightly larger in posterior third than in middle part; scapular setae se 82 (97) in length, their bases separated by 48 (44–48), setae si separated by 41 (36–40) ( Fig. 4 A). Setae cp situated ventrally on soft tegument. Setae c2 situated dorsally on anterior margins of humeral shields. Subhumeral setae c3 lanceolate, 21 (19–21) × 6 (5–6). Hysteronotal shield: greatest length 157 (151–158), width in anterior region 75 (72–77), anterior margin slightly concave, surface with numerous circular lacunae and with a distinctly darker patch centrally that is less conspicuous in some specimens. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 8 (8–13). Opisthosomal lobes short, their posterior margins rounded. Supranal concavity present ( Fig. 4 A). Setae h1 situated at midlevel of supranal concavity. Lamellae triangular in shape, length 15 (13–14), width at base 8 (8–10). Setae h3 represented by macrosetae, 98 (81–95) long, setae ps2 30 (23–32) long; setae f2 present; setae h2 105 (91–111) long; setae ps1 minute, about 5 long, situated near inner margins of lamellae. Distance between dorsal setae: c1:d1 37 (32–37), d1:d2 26 (23–32), d2:e1 22 (24–28), e1:h1 33 (29–37), h1:h1 47 (48–52), h3:h3 27 (31–37).

Epimerites I fused into a thick Y with almost right-angled arms, area between free branches sclerotized ( Fig. 4 B), with posterior tips not connected to epimerites II. Coxal fields I and II without large sclerotized areas. Rudimentary sclerite rEpIIa absent. Epimerites IVa present, short. Aedeagus length (from anterior bend to apex) 51 (48–54), genital arch length 10 (7–11), width 22 (19–25). Adanal suckers 12 (11–15) in diameter, corolla with indentations, distance between centers of discs 21 (21–26). Setae ps3 8 (7–10) long. Distance between ventral setae: 3a:4a 26 (25–32), 4a:g 32 (30–33), g:ps3 18 (17–19), ps3:ps3 14 (13–16).

Femora I, II without crests. Solenidion σ 1 of genu I 10 (8–10) in length, situated at midlength of segment. Genual seta cG I and II setiform, mG I and II slightly thicker basally with filiform apex ( Figs. 4 A, B). Length of solenidia: ω 1 of tarsus I 13 (12–14), ω 1 of tarsus II 14 (14–16), ω 3 of tarsus I 27 (27–30). Legs III and IV similar in form and size. Tarsus IV 29 (29–32) long; setae d and e button-like ( Fig. 5 D).

FEMALE (1 paratype). Idiosoma, length × width, 401 × 145. Prodorsal shield: 102 × 126, lateral margins moderately curved at level of scapular setae, posterior margins slightly convex medially, surface with lacunae as in male, setae se 102 long, separated by 73, si separated by 61. Scapular shields present. Setae cp situated ventrally, on humeral shield. Setae c2 situated dorsally on anterior margins of humeral shields. Setae c3 lanceolate, 24 × 7. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 7. Anterior hysteronotal shield roughly rectangular, greatest length 202, width at anterior margin 113, surface covered with numerours circular lacunae ( Fig. 6 A). Length of lobar region 89, greatest width 105. Terminal cleft as an inverted U with divergent arms, 63 long. Setae h1 on lobar shield. Hysterosomal setae f2 present. Setae h2 blade-like with apical filament, total length 84, width of enlarged part 6. Setae ps1 situated on opisthosomal lobes dorsally, near inner margins of lobes, approximately at midlevel of terminal cleft. Setae h3 setiform, 64 long. Distance between dorsal setae: c1:d1 52, d1:d2 48, d2:e1 26, e1:h1 67, h1:h1 65, h2:h2 86, ps1:ps1 30, h3:h3 58.

Epimerites I fused into narrow V, base of epimerites II with oblique sclerotized extension flanking trochanters II. Epimerites II with small sclerotized extensions anteriorly ( Fig. 6 B). Coxal fields II as in male. Epimerites IVa present, wide. Translobar apodemes of opisthosomal lobes absent. Epigynum horseshoe-shaped and apodemes of oviporus connected to tips of epimerites IIIa. Primary spermaduct not enlarged near head of spermatheca ( Fig. 10 B); copulatory opening situated ventrally, posterior to anal opening. Pseudanal setae ps2 and ps3 setiform, seta ps2 situated at midlevel of anal opening; distances between ventral setae: 1a:3a 51, 3a:g 24, g:4a 75, 4a:ps3 82, ps2:ps3 22, ps2:ps2 51, ps3:ps3 18.

Femur I without ventral crest, femur II with small crest. Solenidion σ 1 of genu I 12 in length. Genual seta cG I and II setiform, mG I and II slightly thicker basally, with filiform apex. Seta d of tarsus II–IV subequal to corresponding seta f. Solenidia ω 1 of tarsi I 17 in length, ω 3 of tarsi I 33, ω 1 of tarsi II 14. Genu IV with small dorsal inflation, genu III not modified.

Material examined. Male holotype, 6 male and 1 female paratypes (DZUnesp-RC) ex Sporophila caerulescens (Viellot) ( Passeriformes , Emberizidae ), BRAZIL: Reserva Bicudinho-do-Brejo, 25º45’28.7”S, 48º43’24.6”W, Guaratuba, Paraná, 19 January 2012, coll. F.A. Hernandes; 1 male paratype ( MNRJ), same data as the holotype.

Additional material. 4 males and 4 females (DZUnesp-RC) ex Conopophaga melanops (Vieillot) (Conopophagidae) , BRAZIL: Santa Catarina, Blumenau, 26°54'21.89"S, 49°04'33.60"W, 26 February, 2006, coll. A. Becker; 6 males and 19 females ex Conopophaga lineata (Wied) , BRAZIL: Distrito Federal, Fazenda Água Limpa, 15º57’S, 47º56’W, Brasília, 19 March 2002, coll. M. F. Kanegae; 2 males and 7 females, same data, 10 May 2002; 5 females, same data, 9 July 2002.

Etymology. The specific epithet reflects the morphological features in both sexes that differentiate L. distincutus from the type species of Lamellodectes . Adjective in the nominative singular.

Differential diagnosis. Lamellodectes distinctus sp. nov. can be distinguished from L. ocelatus (Berla) by having opisthosomal setae f2 present in both sexes; in males, epimerites I are united into a Y, and in females, the translobar apodemes are absent, and setae h1 are situated on soft tegument between anterior hysteronotal and lobar shields. In both sexes of L. ocelatus , setae f2 are absent; in males, epimerites I are fused into a V; in females, the translobar apodemes are present, and setae h1 are situated on the anterior margin of lobar shield.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Lamellodectes distinctus sp. nov., male. A—dorsal view; B—ventral view.

FIGURE 5. Lamellodectes distinctus sp. nov., male. A – D—legs I – IV, respectively.

FIGURE 6. Lamellodectes distinctus sp. nov., female. A—dorsal view; B—ventral view.

FIGURE 10. Female spermathecae: A— Lamellodectes ocelatus (Berla) comb. nov.; B— L. distinctus sp. nov.; C— Platyacarus minor (Berla) comb. nov.