Andocaeculus caioi Ott & Ott, 2014

Ott, Ana Paula & Ott, Ricardo, 2018, A new species of rake-legged mite Neocaeculus (Acari, Caeculidae) from Brazilian semiarid and new data on distribution of Andocaeculus caioi, Iheringia, Série Zoologia (e 2018027) 108, pp. 1-10 : 6-10

Andocaeculus caioi Ott & Ott, 2014

Andocaeculus caioi OTT & OTT, 2014:356 , figs 1-42.

Notes. Regarding recent information about caeculids collected some time ago in a cemetery in Botucatú, São Paulo (G. R. S. Ruiz, pers. comm.), it was possible to locate, examinate and identify the specimens as A. caioi . Besides of some variations in chaetotaxy in aspidosomal and dorsal plates it was not possible to identify consistent differences on the specimens with the material from Rio Grande do Sul. Interestingly specimens of both populations were collected in areas with basalt and sandstone formations. Locally the both formations are popularly called also “cuestas” (“Cuesta do Haedo” in Rio Grande do Sul and “Cuesta de Botucatú” in São Paulo). Cuestas are defined by plateau slopes were, in this case, the sandstone layers emerge beneath the basalt. However, the regions are some thousand kilometers apart and the species distribution range is considerably enhanced. Recently we receive the information that the species is also present in Argentina (A. Porta, pers. comm.). Material collected at Lavras do Sul was found on granite outcrops. Despite the larger amount of material collected after the description of the species, to date no males of this species were recognized; similar findings were reported by COINEAU (1967) regarding Neocaeculus luxtoni .

New records. BRAZIL, São Paulo: Botucatú: 2♀, 2 juv. “under stone in cemetery”, Cemitério antigo de Botucatú (22°53’55”S, 48°26’42”W), 13.X.2002, G. R. S. Ruiz leg. ( DZSJRP-ACARI 9552 ). Rio Grande do Sul: Sant’Ana do Livramento: 74♀, 25 juv. in basalt outcrop, Fazenda Bela Vista, Área de Proteção Ambiental do Rio Ibirapuitã (30°25’53.94”S, 55°38’54.59”W), 18. V .2014, R. Ott & C. Mansan leg. ( MCN-ACA 1922 ); 9♀, 2 juv. in sandstone outcrop, Área de Proteção Ambiental do Rio Ibirapuitã (30°30.43.90’S, 55°36’0.29”W), 18. V .2014, R. Ott leg. ( MCN-ACA 1923 ); 2♀, 13 juv. in basalt outcrop, Estância do Açude (30°28’56.91”S, 55°32’56.97”W), 4.XII.2014, R. Ott leg. ( MCN-ACA 1924 ); 4♀, 1 juv. in basalt outcrop near bridge over creek, 4.XII.2014, R. Ott leg. ( MCN-ACA 1925 ); 3♀, 1 juv. Faz. da D. Laura, Rincão Bonito (30°34’40.27”S; 55°31’10.21”W), 3-7.XII.2014, R . Botero & R. Ott leg. ( MCN-ACA 1926 ); São Francisco de Assis : 11♀, 1 juv. under sandstone rocks layers at slope of hill, (29°30’59.63”S, 55°7’26.80”W), 8.XII.2014, R . Ott & R. Botero leg. ( MCN-ACA 1927 ); Lavras do Sul: 17♀, 1 juv., under stones in outcrop at road side, RS-630 (30°45’11.30”S; 54°22’47.37”W), 29.I.2015, R . Ott & R. Teixeira leg. ( MCN-ACA 1928 ); 10♀, 1 juv., under stones in outcrop at road side, RS-630 (30°49’19.64”S, 54°28’51.86”W), 30.I.2015, R . Ott & R. Teixeira leg. ( MCN-ACA 1930 ) .

A new species of rake-legged mite Neocaeculus ( Acari , Caeculidae )... O& O