Propilus tavaresi, Navia, Denise & Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., 2005

Navia, Denise & Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., 2005, A new genus and five new species of Eriophyoidea (Prostigmata) associated with palm trees from Brazilian Amazon, Zootaxa 1078, pp. 41-58 : 54-55

Propilus tavaresi n. sp. ( Fig. 5 )

( Phytoptidae : Sierraphytoptinae, Mackiellini)

Diagnosis. Dorsal opisthosomal annuli with elongate microtubercles except in caudal 4 annuli, which are smooth; lateral projections attenuate. Vertical external setae slightly backwards from antero–lateral shield margin, pointing up and forward.

Female. (Measurements of holotype and ranges of 9 paratypes) Body fusiform, 125 (115–137) long, 55 (52–63) wide; colour in life white–yellowish. Gnathosoma projecting downwards, 18 (18–20) long; basal seta (ep) (2) long; antapical seta (8–10) long. Chelicerae 16 (16–19) long; oral stylets 12 (10–12) long. Prodorsal shield 28 (27–29) long, 46 (43–51) wide, semicircular, smooth. Scapular seta (sc) absent. Vertical external seta (ve) 5 (4–5) long, on tubercles 23 (22–26) apart, directed up and forwards, inserted on 1/3 anterior shield reaching anterior shield margin. Shield design consisting in a median concave line slightly ahead of posterior shield margin; longitudinal admedian lines extending on posterior half of shield; two lateral lines forming arches extending on 2/3 posterior shield. Frontal lobe subtriangular, apically rounded and broad–based, wider than long, 4 (4–5) long, base 11 (11–12) wide, not extending over gnathosoma. Legs lacking seta on tibia I (l’). Legs I 19 (18–21) long; femur 6 (5–7) long, femoral seta (bv) 5 (4–5) long; genu 3 (3–4) long, genual seta (l”) 16 (16–18) long; tibia 4 (3–4) long; tarsus 4 (4) long, lateral seta (ft”) 12 (12–15) long, dorsal seta (ft’) 7 (6–7) long, unguinal seta (u’) 4 (4) long, solenidion 6 (6–7) long; empodium 5 (5) long, 8–ayed. Legs II 17 (16–20) long; femur 4 (4–5) long, bv 4 (4) long; genu 3 (34) long, l” 11 (11–13) long; tibia 3 (3–4) long; tarsus 4 (4) long, ft” 12 (12–14) long, ft’ 4 (4) long, u’ 4 (3–4) long, solenidion 6 (6–7) long; empodium 5 (5–6) long, 8 (7–8)­rayed. Coxae smooth. Sternal line 8 (7–10) long. Coxal seta I (1b) 7 (7–8) long, 7 (7–9) apart; coxal seta II (1a) 16 (14–17) long, 10 (8–10) apart; coxal seta III (2a) 22 (22–24) long, 26 (24–28) apart. Seven (6–8) coxigenital semi annuli, smooth. Area with granules anteriorly to coxigenital semi annuli. Genitalia semicircular, 21 (19–21) wide, 7 (7–9) long; granulated area anterior to epigynum; genital seta (3a) 6 (6–7) long. Opisthosoma with 18 (18–23) broad dorsal annuli (from rear shield margin), evenly arched, with sparse and elongated microtubercles, except the 45 smooth caudal annuli; ventrally with 32 (30–38) annuli, with slender and elongated microtubercles, placed slightly ahead of rear border of annuli, sparse on lateral region between lateral and ventral seta II (c and e); attenuate lateral projections. Lateral seta (c2) 15 (13–16) long, on annulus 23 (23). Ventral seta I (d) 18 (16–19) long, 33 (33–39) apart, 42 (33–44) microtubercles apart, on annulus 7–8 (7–10); ventral seta II (e) 20 (17–22) long, 17 (17–20) apart, 16 (14–18) microtubercles apart, on annulus 15–16 (15–19); ventral seta III (f) 15 (15–18) long, 25 (21–27) apart, 19 (16–22) microtubercles apart, on annulus 28–29 (26–33). Caudal seta (h2) 36 (33–37) long; accessory seta (h1) minute.

MALE. (Measurements of 5 paratypes) Smaller than female, 89–116 long, 44–50 wide. Gnathosoma 16–18 long; antapical seta 68 long. Chelicerae 12–16 long; oral stylets 7–11 long. Prodorsal shield 23–28 long, 36–43 wide. Scapular seta (sc) absent. Vertical external seta (ve) 4–5 long, 20–23 apart. Frontal lobe 4 long, base 7–11 wide. Legs as in female. Legs I 15–19 long; femur 5–6 long, femoral seta (bv) 4 long; genu 3–4 long, genual seta (l”) 14–17 long; tibia 3–4 long; tarsus 4 long, lateral seta (ft”) 12–13 long, dorsal seta (ft’) 4–5 long, unguinal seta (u’) 3–4 long, solenidion 7–8 long; empodium 5 long, 7–8­rayed. Legs II 13–18 long; femur 4–5 long, femoral seta (bv) 4 long; genu 3–4 long, l’ 12 long; tibia 3 long; tarsus 4 long, ft” 11–13 long, ft’ 4 long, u’ 2–3 long, solenidion 7 long; empodium 4–5 long, 7–8­rayed. Coxae smooth. Sternal line clear, 68 long. Coxal seta I (1b) 5–6 long, 6–8 apart; coxal seta II (1a) 9–12, 7–9 apart; coxal seta III (2a) 19–21 long, 21–24 apart; 3–4 anterior smooth coxigenital semi annuli and 5–7 posterior microtuberculated coxigenital semi annuli. Genitalia 11–14 wide, 5–6 long, smooth, papillae as figured; genital seta (3a) 4–6 long. Opisthosoma as in female, with 18–19 dorsal annuli; 3136 ventral annuli. Lateral seta (c2) 12–14 long, on annulus 1–2. Ventral seta I (d) 12–18 long, 27–29 apart, 26–32 microtubercles apart, on annulus 7–9; ventral seta II (e) 12–15 long, 13–16 apart, 11–14 microtubercles apart, on annulus 16–19; ventral seta III (f) 13–17 long, 19–21 apart, 14–20 microtubercles apart, on annulus 27–32. Caudal seta (h2) 26–33 long; accessory seta (h1) minute.

Type material. female holotype, 9 female and 5 male paratypes, from Elaeis oleifera (Kunth) Cortés (Arecaceae) , Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, 3º04’S 59º55’W, 28 september 2003, collected by D. Navia and A. M. Tavares, on 7 microscopic preparations, in the collection of Laboratório de Quarentena Vegetal, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil and paratypes in the collections of Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, AM, Brazil and Departamento de Entomologia, Fitopatologia e Zoologia Agrícola, Universidade de São Paulo, ESALQ, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.

Relation to host. Mites are vagrants on inner surface of leaves causing no apparent damage. Colonies were observed protected under a dense layer of loose of trichomes along midrib.

Etymology. We take pleasure in naming this species after Adauto Maurício Tavares, Entomologist at Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, for his most valuable support in collecting this material.

Remarks. Propilus tavaresi n. sp. is distinct in presenting microtubercles on dorsal opisthosomal annuli (these are smooth in all other described species), and in the posterior position of the vertical setae on the prodorsal shield (either on anterior margin or on the ventrally bend anterior part of the shield in the other species).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Propilus tavaresi n. sp. D. Dorsal habitus of female. V. Ventral habitus of female. CGM. Coxigenital region of male. L 1. Leg I. L 2. Leg II. E. Empodium.