Aceria celata, Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., 2007

Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., 2007, Two new taxa in the Eriophyidae (Acari, Prostigmata) from the Brazilian fauna, Zootaxa 1425, pp. 29-33 : 29-31

Aceria celata n.sp.

( Fig. 1 )

Diagnosis. Prodorsal shield richly ornate, with median, admedian and submedian lines, partially connected by transverse lines and delimiting two pairs of cells, together with two pairs of lateral cells.

FEMALE (n = 6). Body elongate, 231 (199–246), 70 (62–70) wide; gnathosoma: basal seta 4 (4–5); antapical seta 11 (9–11); chelicera 13 (13–15). Prodorsal shield 35 (32–35), 46 (44–46) wide; anterior central margin slightly concave. Shield design of median and admedian lines extending over entire shield length, connected on posterior two thirds by transverse lines, delimiting two pairs of cells. One pair of submedian lines on anterior two thirds of shield length and connected to admedian lines by a transverse line; one pair of lateral lines on middle one third of shield. Anteriorly to prodorsal shield tubercles two pairs of cells. Laterally a few granules near shield border. Shield setiferous tubercles near rear shield margin, 29 (26–30) apart; scapular seta (sc) 36 (29–36), directed backwards. Legs: leg I 34 (33–34); femur 10 (9–10), femoral seta (bv) 13 (13–15); genu 4 (4–5), genual seta (l") 26 (24–30), set on a tubercle; tibia 10 (8–10), tibial seta (l') 11 (9–11), basal; tarsus 8 (7–8), dorsal seta (ft') 18 (15–19), lateral seta (ft") 24 (22–25), unguinal seta (u') 7 (6–9), solenidion 7 (7–8), thin, blunt; empodium 8 (7–8), 6-rayed. Leg II 33 (32–33); femur 10 (9–10), bv 12 (12–14); genu 5 (4– 5), l" 10 (10–12); tibia 8 (7–8); tarsus 8 (7–8) ft' 10 (10–12), ft" 25 (23–26), u' 7 (7–9), solenidion 9 (8–9), empodium 9 (7–9), 6-rayed. Coxigenital area: coxae smooth; prosternal apodeme faint, 4 (4). Coxal setae I (1b) 12 (12–14), 12 (11–12) apart; coxal setae II (1a) 24 (22–24), 11 (10–11) apart; coxal setae III (2a) 40 (38–42), 26 (24–26) apart; coxisternal area with 6 (6–7) annuli, microtuberculate. Genitalia 24 (23–25 wide. 18 (14–19) long; genital seta (3a) 11 (11–14). Epigynum with 10 (10–12) longitudinal ribs. Opisthosoma evenly arched in cross section. Lateral seta (c2) 32 (22–32), on annulus 4 (4–5) from genitalia rear margin. Ventral seta I (d) 38 (36–40), 43 (39–47) apart, on annulus 16 (15–16); ventral seta II (e) 13 (12–14), 26 (20– 26) apart, on annulus 34 (32–35); ventral seta III (f) 25 (25–36), 22 (19–22) apart, on annulus 61 (57–61) or 6th from rear. Total ventral annuli 66 (63–66), microtuberculate; total dorsal annuli 75 (68–75) microtuberculate and microtubercles fading on the caudal 17 (15–19) annuli. Caudal seta (h2) 85 (83–103); accessory seta (h1) 6 (6).

MALE (n = 2). Smaller than female, 189–194, 48–57 wide. Gnathosoma: basal seta 3; antapical seta 7; chelicera 12. Prodorsal shield 27–31, 38–39 wide; sc 19, 23–25 apart. Legs: leg I 26; femur 7–8, bv 9–10; genu 3–4, l" 18–19; tibia 6–7, l' 7–8; tarsus 6–7, ft' 9–10, ft" 13–15, u' 5–7, solenidion 6, empodium 5, 6- rayed. Leg II 26; femur 6–7, bv 10; genu 3–4, l" 10–11; tibia 5–6; tarsus 5–6, ft' 7–8, ft" 16–17, u' 5, solenidion 7; empodium 5–6, 6-rayed. Coxigenital area: prosternal apodeme 5; 1b 9–11, 10–11 apart; 1a 22, 8–10 apart; 2a 26–28, 19–23 apart. Coxisternal area with 6 annuli. Genitalia 17–18 wide, 9–10 long; 3a 10–11. Caudally granulated. Opisthosoma: c 2 19–20, on annulus 2–4; d 26, 30–31 apart, on annulus 12–14; e 11–12, 18–20 apart, on annulus 28–29; f 19–20, 19 apart, on annulus 52–53 or 6th from rear. Total ventral annuli 57– 58; total dorsal annuli 67–69, microtuberculate; h2 57–63; h1 4–5.

Type material. Female holotype, 14 female and 2 male paratypes, from Heteropteris aceroides Griseb , Malpighiaceae , Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 21o 54' 50" S 47o 49' 21" W, 20 September 2001, coll. G.J. de Moraes, on eight microscopic preparations.

Relation to host. Erineum galls on lower leaf surface.

Etymology. The specific designation, caelata , from the Latin caelo, – atus, meaning engraved in relief, embossed work, refers to the rich ornamentation on the prodorsal shield.

Remarks. A. caelata n.sp. was recovered from erineum galls on leaves of Heteropteris aceroides from which Athrix lissoscutum Flechtmann, 2004 was also taken. This new species may in fact be the causative agent, and not the latter species as previously described by Flechtmann (2004).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Aceria celata n. sp. CGF, coxigenital region of female; D, anterodorsal aspect of female, above of type and below of a paratype; E, empodium (enlarged); GM, male genitalia; L 1, leg I (enlarged); L 2, leg II (enlarged); P, distal end of palpus.