Scolotosus Flechtmann & Keifer

Flechtmann, Carlos H. W. & De, Dalva L., 2010, New taxa in the Eriophyidae (Acari, Prostigmata) from forest trees in southern Brazil, Zootaxa 2337, pp. 18-30 : 21-23

Scolotosus Flechtmann & Keifer *, n.gen.

Scolotosus Flechtmann & Keifer, 1971: 34 . Nomen nudum. Scolotosus, Oldfield, 1996:209 . Nomen nudum. Scolotosus, Amrine et al., 2003: 84 . Nomen nudum. *H.H. Keifer in memoriam.

The name Scolotosus , illustration and description first appeared in a Thesis by Flechtmann (1971). Since a Thesis cannot be considered a publication, the name Scolotosus , as well as that of S. centrolobii , its type species, cannot be considered as published for nomenclatural purposes.

Amrine et al. (2003), although citing Scolotosus and S. centrolobii and giving its illustration, in not explicitly indicating these as intentionally new and not designating type specimens, did not make these names available and must, therefore, be considered nomina nuda. The description of the genus and its type species, as written in 1971 by Flechtmann & Keifer (in Flechtmann, 1971), are herein presented.

Assignment and diagnosis – Eriophyidae , Phyllocoptinae , Tegonotini .

Moderately slender tapering species, widest anteriorly with abruptly anterior end and shield. Shield with short anterior lobe over rostrum base. Dorsal tubercles on rear shield margin, projecting short setae divergently to rear. Rostrum small, with short form of oral stylet. Legs and coxae with standard setation and form. Abdomen [opisthosoma] with rather wide tergal-sternal rings which are equal dorso-ventrally. Each abdominal ring [opisthosomal annulus] with a row of spines completely encircling body toward rear of ring. Middorsal longitudinal ridge on thanosome [anterior opisthosoma], fading toward telosome [caudal opisthosoma]; lateral thanosomal [anterior opisthosomal] ridge or series of projecting lobes from dorsal tubercles, also fading toward telosome [caudal opisthosoma]. Spines on ridge and lobes tending to be larger. Thanosome and telosome [opisthosoma] with all standard setae. Female genitalia as usual, with internal anterior apodeme of moderate length.

Type species. Scolotosus centrolobii n. sp.

Etymology. Scolos, a Greek word meaning spine; Tosus, a Greek word meaning too much. Gender masculine.

Remarks. In a sense this genus is very close to Tegonotus spp., genotype heptacanthus (Nal.), but the character of the lateral lobes is quite different from the older genus, and the circles of spines is unlike Tegonotus . The form of the shield does not resemble Tegonotus spp.