Excelsotarsonemus tupi Rezende, Lofego & Ochoa

Rezende, Jose Marcos, Lofego, Antonio Carlos, Ochoa, Ronald & Bauchan, Gary, 2015, New species of Daidalotarsonemus and Excelsotarsonemus (Acari, Tarsonemidae) from the Brazilian rainforest, ZooKeys 475, pp. 1-36 : 16-22

Taxon classification Animalia Trombidiformes Tarsonemidae

Excelsotarsonemus tupi Rezende, Lofego & Ochoa sp. n. Figs 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

Diagnosis.

Females of this species resemble those of Excelsotarsonemus kaliszewskii Ochoa & Naskręcki ( Ochoa et al. 1995) because of the similar shape of setae sc2, c1 and d. However, setae c2 and e of Excelsotarsonemus tupi sp. n. are setiform-like, while in Excelsotarsonemus kaliszewskii these setae are falcate and elongate. In addition, the humps on the prodorsum and the muscle attachments of tergite D are very different in shape between these two species, being more ornate and prominent in Excelsotarsonemus kaliszewskii .

Adult female

(3 specimens measured). Gnathosoma (Figs 24 and 27): completely covered by the prodorsum. Subtriangular in ventral view, length 21 (21-22), maximum width 17 (16-19); dorsal apodeme distinct. Setae dgs 8 (7-9) and vgs 4 (4-5) smooth; Palps moderately short 6-8 (7), with 2 small subterminal setae and terminal projections. Pharynx fusiform, 15 (14-16) long and 8 (7-9) wide at maximum width region. Gnathosoma, idiosoma and legs covered with tiny dimples, each around 0.3 (0.2-0.5) in diameter.

Idiosoma - dorsum (Figs 22-23): length 175 (171-179), width at level of c 1 94 (93-95); prodorsal shield covering gnathosoma. Entire dorsum covered with cerotegument. Stigma inserted proximally at the lateral notch of the prodorsal shield, near the base of setae v1. Prodorsum, tergites C and D with distinct muscle attachments, visible with DIC and PC optic microscopes. Lengths of the setae: v1 23 (22-25) (Fig. 28C), sc1 15 (15-16) (Fig. 28B), sc2 44 (43-47) (Fig. 28D), c1 46 (44-49) (Fig. 28E), c2 14 (11-17), d 32 (31-34), e 26 (25-29), f 36 (35-37) and h 19 (19-20). Maximum width of expanded setae: sc2 12 (11-13), c1 8 (8-9), d 22 (21-23), e 3 (3-4) and f 22 (21-23). All dorsal setae serrated. Bothridia sc1 capitate with tiny spines. Setae v1 linear; c2 setiform; c1 oblong very elongated; sc2 lanceolate with three heavy dorsal veins; d ovate and f asymmetrical, both with internal cells; e linear, heavily serrate (Figs 28F-H); h elliptical, serrate with one dorsal vein. Distances between dorsal setae: v1-v1 37 (37-38), sc2-sc2 48 (47-49), v1-sc2 16 (15-18), c1-c1 45 (44-46), c2-c2 76 (74-80), c1-c2 17 (16-19), d–d 25 (23-28), f–f 11 (9-15), e–f 13 (11-16) and h–h 10 (9-14). Seta sc2 located lateral to sc1. Dorsal cupules not easily seen.

Idiosoma - venter (Figs 24-25): setae 1 a 5 (4-7), inserted on tubercles posteriad of apodemes 1; 2a 7 (6-10), posterolaterad of apodemes 2; 3a 8 (7-11) near anteriomedial margins of apodemes 3; 3b 6 (5-9) on posterior margins of apodemes 4. Apodeme 1 conspicuous, fused to anterior end of prosternal apodeme. Apodeme 2 short and not fused to prosternal apodeme. Prosternal apodeme not clearly united with sejugal apodeme, continuous along length to level of apodemes 2, ending in a diffuse area that reaches to sejugal apodeme. Sejugal apodeme uninterrupted. Apodeme 3 with a constriction near anterior end, extending diagonally from proximity of base of seta 3a to anterior margin of trochanter III; apodeme 4 extending diagonally from the middle of the poststernal apodeme to base of seta 3b. Poststernal apodeme bifurcated anteriorly. Externally, apodemes 3 and 4 surrounded by a distinct punctation. Tegula wide 16 (15-17) and very short 4 (4-5) with posterior margin slightly arched. Seta ps 6 (15-6) smooth.

Legs (Fig. 26): lengths (measured from femur to tarsus): leg I 44 (43-48), leg II 40 (39-41), leg III 90 (88-93), leg IV 33 (31-35). Number of setae (solenidia in parentheses) on femur, genu, tibia and tarsus, respectively: leg I: 3-4-4(2)-7(1), leg II: 3-3-4-4(1), leg III: 0+3-4-4. Claws medium-sized (not reduced) and hooked. Empodia of the legs I, II and III about the same size or slightly smaller compared to the respective basal stalks. Tarsal solenidion ω of tibiotarsus I 4 (4-5), stout, wider medially. Sensory cluster of tibia I incomplete, solenidion φ 1 4, slender, capitate; famulus k 6 (6-7); both inserted at approximately the same level (Fig. 28A). Seta d of tibia I 21 (20-22), serrate. Solenidion ω of tarsus II proximally inserted, 4 long, stout, wider medially. Seta d of tibia II 18 (17-21), serrate. Femorogenu IV 19 (19-20); tibiotarsus IV 8 (7-9). Length of leg IV setae: v’ F 7 (7-8), v’ G 10 (9-11), v´ Ti 18 (19-23) and tc" 25 (23-28); setae v’ Ti and tc" smooth; v’ Ti falcate.

Adult male.

Unknown.

Type material.

Holotype female and 2 paratype females on Theobroma cacao L., 14°47'45"S; 39°10'18"W, Ilhéus, State of Bahia, Brazil, 10/IX/2012, A. C. Lofego and J.M. Rezende. Holotype and 2 paratype females are deposited in the DZSJRP.

Etymology.

The species name tupi is in honor of a Tupi people, one of the most important native indigenous tribes in Brazil which used to live in all coastal region where this mite species was found.