Aceria megalops, Flechtmann & De & Moraes, 2002

Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., De, Gilberto J. & Moraes, 2002, Three new species of eriophyid mites (Acari: Eriophyidae) from the State of São Paulo, Brazil, Zootaxa 23, pp. 1-8 : 3-7

Aceria megalops n. sp. ( Figs. 2 , 3 )

DIAGNOSIS – With a pair of conspicuous ocellus­like structures on postero­lateral prodorsal shield, anterior shield lobe over gnathosoma; 5­rayed empodium; rear third of dorsoopisthosomal annuli somewhat wider and with suppressed microtubercles.

REMARKS – A pair of ocellus­like structures has been described in approximately l.5% of the circa 800 species presently assigned to the genus Aceria . In this small group, similarly to A. titirangiensis Manson, 1984 , A. megalops n.sp. has 5­rayed empodium and the caudal part of the opisthosoma is differentiated. In the former, the microtubercles fade away over the last 6 annuli, whereas in the latter they are suppressed in the last 15­18 dorsal annuli.

FEMALE – (n = 6). Body elongate, vermiform, 136 (135­145) long, 45 (45­48) wide. Gnathosoma (17­18), curved down; basal setae 3 (2­3); antapical setae 5 (4­6); chelicerae 15 (13­15). Prodorsal shield 24 (23­26) long, 35 (35­41) wide; surface rough; median and admedian lines short, restricted to posterior third; with two longitudinal subellyptical protuberances extending from shield setiferous tubercles to base of frontal lobe. Tubercles 13 (13­18) apart, scapular setae (sc) 27 (26­30), directed backwards. Legs: legs I 20 (20­23); femur 6 (5­7), femoral seta (bv) 7 (7­8); genu 3 (3), genual seta (l") 14 (14­18); tibia 4 (4­ 5), tibial seta (l') 6 (5­8); tarsus 4 (4­6), solenidion (Z) 6 (5­7), empodium 5 (4­5), 5­ rayed, dorsal seta (ft') 11 (10­11), lateral seta (ft") 17 (15­17), unguinal seta (u') 3 (3). Legs II 18 (18­20); femur 4 (4­7), bv (6­8); genu 2 (2), l" 8 (7­10); tibia 3 (3); tarsus 4 (4­5), solenidion (Z) 7 (6­7),empodium 5 (4­5), 5­rayed, ft' 7 (6­7), ft" 16 (15­17), u' 2 (2­3). Coxisternal area: coxae partially beset with short dashes and granules; coxal seta I (1b) 9 (8­10), 7 (7­8) apart; coxal seta II (1a) 15 (13­18), 6 (6­7) apart; coxal seta III (2a) 25 (25­ 27), 18 (16­19) apart. Coxigenital area with 5 (4­5) annuli, microtuberculate. Genitalia 18 (18­19) wide, 13 (11­13) long; epigynium with 12 (12­14) longitudinal lines and basal granulated area; genital seta (3a) 10 (10­11). Opisthosoma: annuli continuous dorsoventrally, with ellyptical­elongate microtubercles except rear third annuli which have no microtubercles dorsally. Lateral seta (c2) 16 (14­16), on annulus 4 (4­5) counting from rear margin of genitalia; ventral seta I (d) 31 (31­42), 31 (29­33) apart, on annulus 15 (15­ 16); ventral seta II (e) 9 (8­10), 18 (17­19) apart, on annulus 31 (29­33); ventral seta III (f) 14 (14­17), 13 (13­15) apart, on annulus 48 (46­52) or on annulus 6 (6­7) from rear. Total ventral annuli 53 (51­57); total dorsal annuli 61 (61­63), 44 (44­47) microtuberculate plus 17 (15­18) with microtubercles suppressed. Caudal seta (h2) 48 (42­58); accessory setae (h1) in holotype one member of the pair 5, the other 11 long, in paratypes (5­8).

MALE – (n = 4). Smaller than female. Body 114­128 long, 41­43 wide. Gnathosoma 16, basal seta 2, antapical seta 4, chelicerae 12­13. Prodorsal shield 23­24, 33­37 wide; sc 23­25, 13­16 apart. Legs I 19­21; femur 6, bv 5­7; genu 3, l" 14­16; tibia 3­4, l' 4­6; tarsus 5, solenidion (Z) 5­7, empodium 4, 5­rayed, ft’ 7­10, ft” 13­15, u' 3. Legs II 18­19; femur 6­7, bv 5­6; genu 2, l" 7­10; tibia 2­3; tarsus 4, solenidion (Z) 6­7, empodium 4­5, 5­rayed, ft' 6­9, ft" 13­15, u' 2­3. Coxisternal area: 1b 6­9, 6­7 apart; 1a 13­15, 5­6 apart; 2a 22­25, 15­16 apart. Coxisternal annuli 4­5, microtuberculate. Genitalia: 13­14 wide, 9­12 long; granulated; 3a 8­9. Opisthosoma: c 2 14­15, on annuli 2­4; d 30­37, 24­26 apart, on annuli 11­15; e 8­9, 12­16 apart, on annuli 24­30; f 13­16, 13­14 apart, on annuli 41­50 or annuli 6­7 from rear. Total ventral annuli 46­55; total dorsal annuli 53­58, of which 37­42 microtuberculate, 16 caudal with microtubercles suppressed.

TYPE MATERIAL – Female holotype, 32 female and 7 male paratypes, from Guapira opposita (Vell.) Reitz (Nyctaginaceae), Cananéia , São Paulo, Brazil (24o53'54" S, 47o50'14" W), coll. G.J. Moraes, 14 February 2001, on 17 microscopic preparations in the collection of Departamento de Entomologia, Fitopatologia e Zoologia Agrícola, Universidade de São Paulo ­ ESALQ, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil .

RELATIONSHIP TO HOST ­ The mites were found in buds with irregular, densely clustered growth, with reduced leaves interspersed with globular, fleshy sprouts or wartlike structures.

ETYMOLOGY – The specific designation megalops is derived from mega, Greek for large, and ops, Greek for eye, referring to the presence of ocellus­like structures on the prodorsal shield.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Aceria megalops n. sp. AD, anterior dorsal aspect; AL, anterior lateral aspect; CD, caudal dorsal aspect; CGF, coxigenital area of female; E, empodium; GM, genitalia, male; L 1, leg I; L 2, leg II; legs, E and GM enlarged.

FIGURE 3. Damage caused by Aceria megalops n. sp. to a growing tip of Guapira opposita (Vell.) Reitz.