Abacarus nectandrae n. sp. (Fig. 1)

DIAGNOSIS – With 7­rayed empodium, no seta on tibia I and femur I and epigynium with arched transversal lines.

REMARKS – This new species is unique among the members of the genus Abacarus by missing setae concurrently on tibia and femur of leg I.

FEMALE – (n = 6). Idiosoma 174 (145­187) long, 61 (54­61) wide. Gnathosoma 25, antapical seta not discernible; basal seta 4 (3­4). Prodorsal shield 37 (36­41) long, with distinct frontal lobe; anterior half with short longitudinal dashes, separated from posterior half by a sinuous transverse line; posterior half with admedian lines, and a transverse line curved backwards between shield tubercles. Dorsal shield tubercles distinctly elongate, directing scapular seta (sc) backwards. Scapular seta 35 (32­35) apart, needle­like, 9 (8­9) long. Legs: leg I 25 (23­26); femur elongate, 9 (7­9), femoral seta (bv) missing; genu 4 (3­ 4), genual seta (l”) 26 (25­27); tibia 4 (3­4), tibial seta (l’) missing; tarsus 5 (5­6), solenidion (Z) knobbed, 4 (5­7), empodium 7­rayed, 5 long, dorsal seta (ft’) 13 (11­14), lateral seta (ft”) 18 (16­18), unguinal seta (u’) 5 (4­5). Leg II 21 (21­23); femur 9 (8­9), bv 19 (18­20); genu 3, l” 12 (11­12); tibia 3; tarsus 4 (4­5), solenidion (Z) long, 15 (15­18), empodium 5 (4­6), 7­rayed, ft’ 4, ft” 22 (22­26), u’ 4 (3­4). Coxisternal area: coxae I fused, granulated, no sternal line; coxal seta I (1b) 4 (4­5), 7 (5­8) apart; coxal seta II (1a) 20 (14­20), 11 (11­12) apart; coxal seta III (2a) 31 (30­33), 23 apart. Coxigenital area with 2 (2­3) transverse lines of microtubercles and no other evidence of annuli. Genitalia 18 (18­19) wide, 18 (14­18) long; epigynium with 2 pairs of curved transverse lines; genital seta (3a) 25 (22­33). Opisthosoma: dorsomedian ridge extends to approximately midway the distance between ventral setae II and III; lateral ridges fade away shortly behind. Lateral seta (c2) 42 (40­44), on annulus 3 (3­4), counting from rear margin of genitalia; ventral seta I (d) 53 (49­58), 34 (33­35) apart, on annulus 14; ventral seta II (e) 42 (38­47), 19 (18­21) apart, on annulus 29 (26­28); ventral seta III (f) 13 (12­15), 12 (12­13) apart, on annulus 45 (42­45) or 6th from rear. Total ventral anuli 50 (47­50), with elongate microtubercles; total dorsal annuli 43 (42­45), smooth except for the caudal 9 (7­8) annuli which bear minute bead­like microtubercles on posterior margins. Caudal seta (h2) 46 (40­49), accessory seta (h1) 1 (1­2).

MALE – not seen.

TYPE MATERIAL – Female holotype, 23 female paratypes, from Nectandra membranacea (Sw.) Griseb, ( Lauraceae), Pariquera­açu, São Paulo, Brazil (24o36’51”S, 47o53’22” W), coll. G.J. Moraes, 19 May 2001, on 6 microscopic preparations deposited in the collection of Departamento de Entomologia, Fitopatologia e Zoologia Agricola, Universidade de São Paulo, ESALQ, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil .

RELATIONSHIP TO HOST – vagrants on the underside of leaves; no apparent damage.

ETYMOLOGY – The specific designation nectandrae is derived from Nectandra, the name of the genus of the plant on which the new species was collected.