Xenotarsonemus spiniphorus

Lofego, Antonio C., De Moraes, Gilberto J. & Ochoa, Ronald, 2007, Four new species of Xenotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from Brazil, Zootaxa 1646 (1), pp. 1-15 : 11-14

Xenotarsonemus spiniphorus , sp nov.

( Figs. 19–24)

Diagnosis. Females of this species are similar to those of Xenotarsonemus gordoni Ochoa (1991) , but differ by having a pair of spine-like structures on the lateral of the prodorsal shield and by having solenidion Φ 1 a litter bit longer than solenidion Φ 2 while X. gordoni bears Φ1 approximately 30% shorter than Φ 2.

Adult female (3 specimens measured).

Gnathosoma: capsula subtriangular, length 26 (26–27), maximum width 27 (25–29); dorsal apodeme indistinct. Setae ch 8 (7–9) and vm 6 (5–7), smooth; seta pp not seen. Palpus short, with 2 small subterminal setae and terminal cone-shaped structures. Pharynx fusiform, 15 (15–16) long and 7 (6–7) wide at widest region.

Idiosoma ( Figs. 19 and 20): length 163 (162–165), width at level of c 1 108 (107–110); prodorsal shield covering gnathosoma, with a pair of spine-like structures posterolaterad of sc 2. Stigma on lateral of prodorsal shield, equidistant to bases of setae v 1 and sc 2. Lengths of the setae: v 1 22 (22–23), sc 1 16 (15–18), sc 2 32 (31– 33), c 1 16 (15–18), c 2 25 (24–25), d 17 (15–18), e 13 (13–14), f 16 (15–17), h 17 (16–18). Setae v 1, d, e, f and h serrate, sc 2, c 1 and c 2 smooth, all setiform; sc 1 capitate and with tiny spines. Distances between dorsal setae: v 1 -v 1 27 (25–29), sc 2 -sc 2 55 (52–58), v 1 -sc 2 20, c 1 -c 1 77 (73–79) c 2 -c 2 98 (95–100), c 1 -c 2 35, d-d 46 (44–49), f-f 12 (10–13), e-f 24 (21–26), h-h 30 (29–30). Seta sc 1 inserted slightly posterior to sc 2.

Coxisternal setae 1a 7, near middle of apodeme I; 2a 12 (11–12), near middle of apodeme II; 3a 13 (12– 13), near anterior end of apodeme III; 3b 8 (7–9), near posterior end of apodeme IV. Apodeme I conspicuous, fused to anterior end of prosternal apodeme. Apodeme II not fused to prosternal apodeme. Prosternal apodeme totally conspicuous, joining sejugal apodeme, with a widened section on posterior third and a triangular node on anterior third. Sejugal apodeme uninterrupted. Apodeme III extending diagonally from base of seta 3a to anterior margin of trochanter III and with anterior end foot-like; apodeme IV extending diagonally from anterior region of the poststernal apodeme to base of seta 3b. Poststernal apodeme bifurcate anteriorly. Coxistenal plates smooth. Tegula pointed, 16 long and 5 wide. All ventral setae smooth.

Legs ( Figs. 21–24 ): lengths (femur to tarsus): leg I 43 (40–46), leg II 44, leg III 47 (47–48), leg IV 26 (25– 26). Number of setae (solenidia in parentheses) on femur, genu, tibia and tarsus, respectively: leg I: 4-4-5(2)- 8(1), leg II: 3-3-4-6(1), leg III: 1+3-4-5. Tarsal solenidion ω of tibiotarsus I 8, stout and cylindrical, narrow near base. Sensory cluster of tibia I complete, solenidion Φ 1 3, slender, capitate; solenidion Φ 2 3, stout; famulus k 5; Φ 1 and Φ 2 inserted at approximately the same level, proximal to k. Seta d of tibia I 29 (29–30), serrate. Solenidion ω of tarsus II proximal, 5 (5–6) long, stout and cylindrical, narrow near base; seta pl´´5 long, spine-like. Seta d of tibia II 14 (13–15), serrate. Femorogenu IV 20 (19–20); tibiotarsus IV 6. Lengths of setae of leg IV: v´F 10 (10–11), v´G 15 (14–16), v´Ti 30 (29–30) and tc´´39 (39–40); all setae smooth.

Adult male: unknown.

Type material: holotype female from Myrcia venulosa DC. (Myrtaceae) , Pirassununga, State of São Paulo, Brazil, 03/ V /2000, A.C. Lofego; 1 paratype female from M. venulosa , São Carlos State of São Paulo, Brazil, 25/I/2000, A.C. Lofego; 1 paratype female from Campomanesia pubescens (DC.) , São Carlos State of São Paulo, Brazil, 25/IV/2000, A.C. Lofego; all deposited at ESALQ / USP. One paratype female from unidentified plant, São José do Rio Preto, State of São Paulo, Brazil, 22/X/1992, R.J.F. Feres, deposited at DZSJRP.

Etymology: the species name spiniphorus refers to the presence of the spine-like structures on prodorsal shield of the females of this species.

Figures

FIGURES 21–24. Xenotarsonemus spiniphorus (female). 21, leg I; 21’, sensorial cluster; 22, leg II; 23, leg III; 24, leg IV.