Tenuipalpus flechtmanni, Mesa, N. C., De Moraes, G. J. & Ochoa, R., 2006

Mesa, N. C., De Moraes, G. J. & Ochoa, R., 2006, Two new species of Tenuipalpus (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) from southeastern Brazil, Zootaxa 1138, pp. 45-51 : 48-50

Tenuipalpus flechtmanni n. sp.

( Figure 2 A–D)

Diagnosis: This species belongs to the rhusi subgroup of the proteae group, established by Meyer (1993) and whose adult females are characterized by having 6 pairs of dorsolateral opisthosomal setae and one pair each of Ic3 and Ic4. Females of this new species resemble T. leipoldti Meyer, 1993 , but differ by having one seta on trochanter III and no seta on genu III, as well as v2, c1, d1 and e1 setiform, smooth, as opposed to 2 setae on trochanter III, one seta on genu III, as well as v2, c1, d1 and e1 subspatulate to spatulate, serrate, in T. leipoldti .

Adult female: (Specimens measured: 5).

Subcapitulum (rostrum) extending to base of femur I. Palpus ( Fig. 2 C) with three segments; proximal segment without setae, intermediate segment with a dorsodistal pectinate seta; distal segment with one eupathidium 7 (6–8).

Idiosoma ( Fig. 2 A) 246 (245–250) long, 188 (180–200) wide. Rostral shield deeply cleft, with pointed lobes. Propodosoma with anterior margin irregular; dorsocentral region delimited laterally by 2 curved grooves, with irregular pattern; region immediately behind it and anterior to sejugal furrow with discontinuous creases; lateral region with diagonal striae. Setae v2 3 (3–4) smooth, s c1 14 (12–16) and sc2 18 (17–20), leaf like and spiculate. Propodosomal pores absent.

Dorsal surface of hysterosoma with 2 curved, roughly longitudinal grooves; region between grooves with roundish pattern. Setae c1 5 (4–7), c3 15 (14–16), d1 4, d3 5 (4–6), e1 4 (3–5), f2 20 (19–23), f3 21 (18–23), h1 16 (14–17); setae c1, d1, d3, and e1 smooth; c3 leaf­like and spiculate; h2 100 (80–120), flagelliform, serrate proximally; setae f2, f3, h2 spoon­like and spiculate. Setae e3 absent. Ventral surface ( Fig. 2 D) with fine longitudinal striae between Ic1 and Ic2 and between Ic3 and Ic4. Genitoventral plate lightly sclerotized, with fine transverse striae. Seta Ic3 10 (8–11), Ic4 64 (50–80); ag 13 (10–15), g1 and g2 13 (11–14) inserted in a transversal line.

Chaetotaxy of legs I to IV: coxa 2/2/1/1; trochanter 1/1/1/1; femur 4/4/2/1; genu 2/2/0/ 0; tibia 5/5/3/3; tarsi I and II each with a serrate seta overlying distal solenidium.

Adult male: unknown.

Deutonymph: ( Fig. 2 B) 245 long and 188 wide. Setae v2 3, s c1 110, sc2 36, c1 3, c3 92, d1 3, d3 3, e1 3, f2 19, f3 20, h1 12, h2 50; v2, c1, d1, d3, e1, smooth; sc1, sc2, c3, f2, f3 and h1 leaf­like; h2 flagelliform, serrate proximally.

Type material. Holotype female and 20 paratype females and 3 paratype nymphs, Parque Nacional de Itatiaia, Itatiaia–RJ, (22o16’S; 44o34’W) on Campomanesia sp. ( Myrtaceae ), XII–1993, C.H.W. Flechtmann. Deposited in the reference collection of Departamento de Entomologia, Fitopatologia e Zoologia Agrícola, Setor Zoologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba–SP, Brazil. One paratype female, same collection data, deposited in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA.

Etymology: This species is named in honor of Prof., Dr. Carlos H. W. Flechtmann, Brazilian Acarologist and Professor at the ESALQ­USP.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Tenuipalpus flechtmanni: A. Female dorsal shield; B. Deutonymph; C. Palpus; D. Female ventral surface.