Kakamasia, Ueckermann & Grout, 2007

Ueckermann, Edward A. & Grout, Timothy G., 2007, Tydeoid mites (Acari: Tydeidae, Edbakerellidae, Iolinidae) occurring on Citrus in southern Africa, Journal of Natural History 41 (37 - 40), pp. 2351-2378 : 2366-2368

Genus Kakamasia gen. nov.

Type species. Kakamasia cataracta sp. n.

Diagnosis

Adults. This new genus is closely related to Pronematulus Baker , Pronematus Canestrini , and Homeopronematus Andre´. It differs from them all in that femur IV is divided (however, femur IV may be divided in some species of Pronematulus ), and in the setal formula of the tarsi, namely 8(ω)-6(ω)-6-5, as opposed to 8(ω)-7(ω)-6- 6 in Pronematulus , 8(ω)-6(ω)-5- 5 in Pronematus , and 8(ω)-6(ω)-6- 6 in Homeopronematus . It further differs from Pronematus and Homeopronematus in that genu II has three setae instead of two. Femur IV of both Pronematus and Homeopronematus bears two setae, instead of one seta as in Kakamasia . Kakamasia bears setae on trochantera I and II, whereas Pronematus has none.

This monotypic genus can be defined as follows: dorsum of idiosoma with 14 pairs of setae including a pair of trichobothria (sci); tarsus I without apotele; poroidotaxy: four (ia, im, ip, ih); genital organotaxy: 0-0-4 (eugenital (eu)-genital (ge)-aggenital (ag) setae); solenidiotaxy: three (tarsi I and II and tibia I); epimeral formula: 3-1-4-2 (ventral plus coxal setae); chaetotaxy of some leg segments: tarsi 8(ω)-6(ω)-6-5, genua 3-3-2-1, femora 3-3-2-1+0, and trochanters 1-1-1-0. Femur IV divided. Anal opening extends posterior to ps 3 to form a lobe.

Etymology

The genus name refers to the town close to the locality where this species was collected and its gender is feminine.

Kakamasia cataracta sp. n.

( Figures 22–25 )

Type material

South Africa: Northern Cape Province: one holotype female, from Citrus sinensis (Delta Valencias) , Augrabies near Kakamas (28 ° 39.99S, 20 ° 27.59E), 14 May 2003, T. G. Grout .

Accession number: Acy: 03/244.

Diagnosis

The diagnostic characters of this species are the same as those defining the genus.

Female (n51). Dimensions of holotype: length of idiosoma 302, width 167; legs: I 158, II 154, III 177, IV 177; setae: υi 16, υe and c 25, sci 47, sce, d and h 1 32, e and f 1, f 2 63, h 2 54, ps 1 22, ps 2 44, ps 3 13; cheliceral stylets 13; palptarsus 16.

1–2

Dorsum ( Figure 22 ): prodorsum with four pairs of setae, including trichobothrium (sci), υi is the shortest and υe situated posteromedially to sci. Opisthosoma with 10 pairs of setae and three pairs of cupules (ia, im, ip). All setae setose. Striae longitudinal on prodorsum and diagonal to longitudinal from setae c 1 to d and transverse from d to behind f 1–2.

Venter ( Figure 23 ): epimeral formula 3-1-4-2. Genital area with four pairs of aggenital setae. Eugenital and genital setae absent but three pairs of anal setae (ps) present, only ps 3 situated ventrally. Anal opening extends posterior to ps 3 to form a lobe. Ventral cupule ih close to setae ps 2.

Gnathosoma ( Figure 24 ): palp chaetotaxy (tarsus to trochanter): 5(?)-1-2-0. Solenidion minute, setae pζ and d apparently forked distally.

Legs ( Figure 25 ): chaetotaxy of leg segments: tarsi 8(ω)-6(ω)-6-5, tibiae 4(ϕ)-2-2-2, genua 3-3-2-1, femora 3-3-2-1+0, and trochantera 1-1-1-0. Solenidion ϕ and setae k are closely associated. All leg setae slightly serrated. Femur IV divided. Distal third of four terminal setae on tarsus I smooth. Tarsi II–IV each terminates in two claws and a hairy empodium. Solenidion on tarsus I short (9) but extends to anterior margin of tarsus. Coxae I without coxal organs.

Etymology

The species name cataracta is derived from the Greek word kataraktes (5 waterfall), which refers to the Augrabies Waterfall close to the collection site.

Figures

Figures 22–25. Kakamasia cataracta sp. n., female. (22) Dorsum. (23) Venter. (24) Palp. (25) Leg I.