Podocinum sagax (Berlese)

Santos, Jandir C., Martins, João P. I., Britto, Erika P. J. & De Moraes, Gilberto J., 2017, A new species of Podocinum (Acari: Podocinidae) from Brazil, and supplementary descriptions of three species of this genus, Zootaxa 4290 (3), pp. 444-458 : 450-453

Podocinum sagax (Berlese)

Laelaps sagax Berlese, 1882c: 638 .

Podocinum sagax . — Berlese, 1882a: 340; 1882b: 1; 1913a: 83; Evans & Hyatt, 1957: 918; De Leon, 1964: 43; Ishikawa, 1979: 115; Liang, 1993: 55; Bhattacharyya, 1994: 58; Yan et al., 2012: 44 .

Specimens examined. Two females and two males collected by J.C. Santos on December 12, 2012 at Jaboticabal, São Paulo State; four females and three males collected by J.C. Santos on November 10, 2013 at Piracicaba, São Paulo State. All specimens collected from litter.

Adult female: (five specimens measured)

Gnathosoma. Chelicera with antiaxial and dorsal lyrifissures as well as dorsal seta distinct ( Fig. 24 ); fixed digit 78 (78–79) long, with six teeth in addition to apical tooth and a minute setiform pilus dentilis; movable digit 78 (78–79) long, with two teeth in addition to apical tooth. Palp setae (trochanter to tibia): 2-5-6-13; all setae aciculate and smooth; apotele 3-tined ( Fig. 25 ). Anterior region of epistome with three distally divided extensions; lateral extensions with outer margin denticulate ( Fig. 26 ). Deutosternum with anteriormost transverse line smooth followed by six transverse lines of denticles about parallel to each other, each with 20–31 denticles; corniculus horn-shaped, about 32 (32–33) long and 15 (14–15) wide basally; seta h 2 slightly posteriad of h 3 ( Fig. 27 ). Measurements of setae: h 1 30 (28–33), h 2 5 (5–6), h 3 31 (30–33), pc 22 (20–23).

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 28 ). Dorsal shield covered by small protuberances not aligned to constitute a polygonal network ( Figs 28, 29 ), 526 (513–538) long and 370 (355–390) wide at widest level. Dorsal shield without lateral incisions. Podonotal region with 10 pairs of setae (j 1 –j 3, j 5 –j 6, z 5, s 2 –s 5), one pair of distinguishable lyrifissures and four pairs of distinguishable pores. Opisthonotal region with eight pairs of setae (J 1, J 3 –J5, Z 1, Z 3, S 4, S 5), and one pair of distinguishable pores. Setal lengths: j 1 8, j 2 74 (73–75), j 3 11 (10–13), j 5 14 (13–15), j 6 15, z 5 15, s 2 12 (10–13) , s 3 13, s 4 15, s5 18 (15–18), J 1 16 (15–18), J 3 74 (73–75), J 4 99 (95–100), J 5 85 (85–90), Z 1 19 (18–20), Z 3 93 (90–93), S 4 21 (21–22), S 5 100 (100–103). Podonotal setae aciculate and smooth (except j 2, serrate) and opisthonotal setae serrate (except J 1, Z 1 and S 4, aciculate) ( Figs 28, 30 ).

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 31 ). Base of tritosternum indistinguishable; laciniae 53 (52–53) long, separated for about 95% of their total length ( Fig. 32 ). Sternal shield 88 (85–90) long at mid-line and 126 (123–130) wide between setae st 1 and st 2, reticulate; posterior margin slightly concave; with three pairs of setae (st 1– st 3); seta st 4 inserted on metasternal plate; lyrifissures (iv 1– iv 4) absent. Genital shield smooth centrally and reticuate laterally, apex of hyaline anterior region rounded, posterior margin truncate, widened posteriorly to include iv 5, distance st 5– st 5 83 (78–90). Unsclerotised cuticle postero-laterad of iv 5 with a pore (gv 2). Ventrianal shield subtrapeZoidal 260 (250–263) long at mid-line and 164 (150–175) wide at widest level; with four pairs of setae (Jv 1, Jv 3, Jv 4 and Zv 2) in addition to circumanal setae; para-anal and post-anal setae similar in length, the former inserted slightly anteriad of level of posterior margin of anal opening. Without opisthogastric setae on unsclerotised cuticle flanking ventrianal shield. Exopodal plate fused with peritrematic plate next to coxa IV, entire, extending forward up to coxa II. Measurements of setae: st 1 40 (38–43), st 2 30 (28–35), st 3 30 (28–30), st 4 20, st 5 21 (18–23); Jv 1 22 (20–23), Jv 3 21 (20–23), Jv 4 46 (45–46), Zv 2 21 (21–22), para-anal 20 (20–21), post-anal 21 (21–22). All setae aciculate and smooth.

Peritreme and peritrematic plate ( Figs 28, 31 ). Peritreme extending forward almost to level of j 1. Peritrematic plate fused with dorsal shield anteriad of s 2, extending posteriorly behind coxa IV; with a distinguishable pore next to coxae II; section posteriad of stigma with a pore and no distinct lyrifissures.

Spermathecal apparatus. Most similar to phytoseiid type; apparently calyx and vesicle constituting an elongate sac; major and minor duct distinct ( Fig. 33 ).

Legs. Median section of pulvilli of legs II–IV rounded; paradactyli of these legs elongate and acuminate ( Fig. 34 ). Lengths: I: 1478 (1463–1479); II: 755 (750–765); III: 664 (655–675); IV: 851 (833–863). Chaetotaxy/setation – coxae: I: 0, 0/1, 0/1, 0; II: 0, 0/1, 0/1, 0; III: 0, 0/1, 0/1, 0; IV: 0, 0/1, 0/0, 0; trochanters: I: 1, 0/1, 1/2, 1; II: 1, 0/1, 0/2, 1; III: 1, 1/2, 0/1, 0; IV: 1, 1/2, 0/1, 0; femora: I: 2, 1/1, 3/2, 2; II: 2, 2/2, 2/1, 1; III: 1, 2/1, 1/0, 1; IV: 1, 2/1, 1/ 0, 1; genua: I: 2, 1/0, 3/2, 2; II: 1, 2/1, 2/0, 1; III: 1, 2/1, 2/0, 1; IV: 1, 2/0, 2/1, 0; tibiae: I: 2, 1/0, 3/2, 1; II: 1, 1/1, 2/ 1, 1; III: 1, 1/1, 2/1, 1; IV: 1, 1/1, 2/1, 0; tarsi: I: not counted, II: 18 setae, III: 18, IV: 17. No leg macrosetae.

Adult male: (five specimens measured).

Gnathosoma. Chelicera with antiaxial and dorsal lyrifissures as well as dorsal seta distinct ( Fig. 35 ); fixed digit 75 long, with two teeth in addition to apical tooth and a minute setiform pilus dentilis; movable digit 74 long with one tooth in addition to apical tooth; spermadactyl 73 long, slightly curved upward near adjacent rounded membrane; palp chaetotaxy, deutosternal region and position of hypostomal setae as in adult female. Anterior region of epistome as adult female ( Fig. 36 ). Setae h 1 30 (29–31), h 2 5 (5–6), h 3 32 (32–33), pc 21 (21–22) long.

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 37 ). Dorsal shield ornamentation as in adult female 390 (363–390) long and 288 wide at widest level. Podonotal and opisthonotal shields fused, without lateral incisions. Podonotal region with 10 pairs of setae (j 1 –j 3, j 5 –j 6, z 5, s 2 –s 5), one pair of distinguishable lyrifissures and four pairs of distinguishable pores. Opisthonotal region with eight pairs of setae (J 1, J 3 –J5, Z 1, Z 3, S 4, S 5), and one pair of distinguishable pore. Setal lengths: j 1 8, j 2 68, j 3 13, j 5 13, j 6 13, z 5 13, s 2 13 , s 3 13, s 4 13, s 5 15, J 1 18 (15 – 18), J 3 55 (48 – 55), J 4 75 (73 – 75), J 5 50, Z 1 18 (15 – 18), Z 3 63 (58 – 63), S 4 18, S 5 75. Shape of setae as in adult female.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 38 ). Tritosternum as in female. Holoventral shield mostly smooth, with scant striae along lateral margin of sternogenital region, 315 (315–320) long at mid-line and 182 (180–182) wide between setae Jv 1 and Z v 2; with nine pairs of setae (st 1– st 5 and Jv 1, Jv 3– Jv 4, Zv 2), two pairs of lyrifissures and two pair of pores, in addition to circumanal setae, (iv 1– iv 4) absent. Para-anal and post-anal setae similar in length, the former inserted at about midlevel of anal opening. Metapodal plates not discreet. Measurements of setae: st 1 23, st 2 25 (23–25), st 3 25 (23–25), st 4 20 (18–20), st 5 18; Jv 1 18, Jv 3 18, Jv 4 28, Zv 2 18 (15–18); para-anal 19 (19–20), postanal 19 (19–20). Shape of setae as in adult female.

Peritreme and peritrematic plate ( Figs 37, 38 ). Peritreme similar to female, but longer, abutting peritreme of opposite side. Peritrematic plate fused with exopodal and ventrianal.

Legs. Lengths: I: 1375 (1300–1375); II: 638 (563–655); III: 575 (550–575); IV: 725 (675–775). Chetotaxy and shape of setae and pretarsi as in adult female.

Figures

FIGURES 24 – 34. Podocinum sagax (Berlese). Female. 24. Antiaxial view of chelicera; 25. Apotele; 26. Epistome; 27. Hypostome; 28. Dorsal view of idiosoma; 29. Ornamentation of dorsal shield; 30. Seta J 3; 31. Ventral view of idiosoma; 32. Tritosternum; 33. Spermathecal apparatus; 34. Pretarsus of leg II. Lyrifissures and pores enlarged for improved visibility.

FIGURES 35 – 38. Podocinum sagax (Berlese). Male. 35. Antiaxial view of chelicera; 36. Epistome; 37. Dorsal view of idiosoma; 38. Ventral view of idiossoma. Lyrifissures and pores enlarged for improved visibility.