Typhlodromips paramilus Nuvoloni & Lofego

Nuvoloni, Felipe Micali, Lofego, Antonio Carlos, Castro, Elizeu Barbosa & Feres, Reinaldo José Fazzio, 2015, Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from rubber tree crops in the State of Bahia, Brazil, with description of two new species, Zootaxa 3964 (2), pp. 260-274 : 267-268

Typhlodromips paramilus Nuvoloni & Lofego n. sp.

( Figs 8–16 )

Diagnosis. This new species belongs to the lugubris species group, characterised by Chant & McMurtry (2005b) as having the spermatheca funnel-shaped. It is similar to T. furcus Lofego et al. (2011) by having the spermatodactyl bifurcate, leg macrosetae with knobbed-tips, and the spermatheca funnel-shaped. It also resembles T. amilus De Leon (1967) due to the dorsal shield reticulation, and similar length of the dorsal setae. Otherwise, the new species is distinguished from T. furcus by having dorsal shield strongly reticulated, setae s4, S2, Z4 and Z5 with knobbedtips and the spermatodactyl ending in a terminal hook. Typhlodromips paramilus n. sp. differs from T. amilus by having the calyx of spermatheca about one-half to one-third shorter, the atrium more prominent, and the ventri-anal shield pentagonal instead of sub-triangular as in T. amilus .

Specimens examined. Holotype female and paratype male collected from Hevea brasiliensis , clone PMB 0 1, from Igrapiúna, Bahia, Brazil, (13°48'S, 39°10'W), 8 August 2008, E.B. Castro coll.; three paratype females from H. brasiliensis , clone FDR 5788, 8 August 2008, E.B. Castro coll.; one paratype female collected from Hevea brasiliensis , clone PMB 0 1, 8 August 2008, F.M. Nuvoloni coll.; all specimens were deposited at DZSJRP.

Etymology. The name paramilus was designated due to the similarity between the new species and Typhlodromips amilus .

Description. Female (n=6) ( Figs 8–12 ).

Dorsum. Dorsal shield mostly reticulate, with lateral striation anteriad of S4, and light striation on transversal band posteriad of S4 and Z4, 307 [313] (300–332) long and 175 [185] (175–200) wide at level of s4; seven pairs of pores and 13 pairs of lyrifissures visible. Setae j1 18 [17] (13–19), j3 20 [20] (20–21), j4 12 [12] (11–14), j5 12 [12] (11–13), j6 15 [14] (13–15), J2 18 [18] (17–20), J5 13 [11] (10–13), z2 14 [14] (12–15), z4 16 [17] (15–18), z5 14 [14] (13–16), Z1 18 [19] (16–21), Z4 34 [35] (32–37), Z5 58 [64] (58–68), s4 26 [24] (22–26), S2 23 [23] (22–25), S4 15 [18] (15–20), S5 12 [14] (12–15), r3 11 [13] (11–14), and R1 16 [15] (13–16). Most setae smooth and pointed, except s4, S2 which are smooth and knobbed, and Z4 and Z5 serrated and knobbed.

Venter. Sternal shield with anterolateral striae; three pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures. Distances between st1-st3 56 [58] (56–60), st2-st2 60 [64] (60–70). Genital shield with faint striation, distance between st5- st5 63 [63] (60–67). Ventrianal shield pentagonal, lightly striated, with 100 [106] (100–113) long, 85 [89] (85–95) wide at level of ZV2 and 80 [81] (80–84) wide at median level of anus, with three pairs of pre-anal setae (JV1, JV2, ZV2) and a pair of pores in the transverse line with JV2. Setae JV5 with knobbed-tip. Opisthogastric cuticle with a pair of small metapodal plates. Peritremes extending to level of j1.

Chelicera. Fixed digit 27 [28] (25–30) long, with eight to nine teeth and pilus dentilis present; movable digit 25 [26] (24–29) long, with four teeth.

Spermatheca. Calyx funnel-shaped, 12 [17] (12–20) long, atrium nodular.

Legs. Macrosetae present on all legs: Sge I 17 [20] (17–22), Sge II 15 [16] (15–17), Sge III 20 [23] (20–25), Sti III 17 [15] (14–17), Sge IV 30 [33] (30–35), Sti IV 15 [42] (12–20) and St IV 40 [42] (37–45). All macrosetae with terminal knob. Apart from the distinct macrosetae, genu IV has one, and tibia IV has two knobbed-tip setae. Chaetotaxy of genu II 2 2/0 2/2 2; genu III 1 2/2 1/0 1.

Male. (n=2) ( Figs 13–14 ).

Dorsum. Dorsal shield pattern similar to female, 245 long and 160 wide. Setae j1 15, j3 17, j4 11, j5 12, j6 15, J2 16, J5 9, z2 15, z4 16, z5 12, Z1 18, Z4 27, Z5 45, s4 20, S2 18, S4 16, S5 17, r3 10, R1 15. Most setae smooth and pointed, except s4 and S2, which are smooth and knobbed, and Z4 and Z5, serrated and knobbed.

Venter. Sternogenital shield smooth. Ventrianal shield subtriangular, reticulated, 110 long, 145 wide at anterior corners, and 80 wide at anus level, with three pairs of pre-anal setae (Jv1, Jv2 and Zv2), one pair of pores in the transverse line with JV2. Seta Jv5 smooth, more than 1.5 longer than pre-anal setae. Peritreme extending to level of j1.

Chelicera. Movable digit 20 long, with one teeth; fixed digit 25 long, with five teeth; pilus dentilis not visible. Spermatodactyl elongate and bifurcate, 14–20 long, terminal bifurcation obscured in some preparations.

Legs. Macrosetae present on all legs: Sge I 15 with pointed tip, Sge II 14 knobbed tip, Sge III 15 pointed tip, Sti III 13 blunt tip, Sge IV 25 knobbed, Sti IV 20 knobed, and St IV 32 knobbed. Chaetotaxy as in female.

Remarks. Typhlodromips paramilus n. sp. was among the most abundant species found in the survey. This species has setae Z4 and Z5, with knobbed tips and serrated stems ( Figs 15–16 ), similar to those of T. amilus . The seta has an evident terminal gap, with a hyaline mucous or waxy knob. The knob is variable in size among individuals, and sometimes absent, suggesting that it is secreted by an associated gland at the base of the seta.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 14. Typhlodromips paramilus n. sp. Female: 8. Dorsal idiosoma, 9. Ventral idiosoma, 10. Genu, tibia and tarsus of leg IV, 11. Chelicera, 12. Spermatheca. Male: 13. Spermatodactyl (frontal and lateral view), 14. Ventrianal shield.

FIGURES 15 – 16. Typhlodromips paramilus n. sp. Detail of female dorsal setae: 15. Seta Z 4, 16. Seta Z 5.