Athrix lissoscutum, Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., 2004

Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., 2004, New genus and seven new species of Brazilian eriophyoid mites and redescription of Catachela machaerii Keifer (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea), Zootaxa 611, pp. 1-20 : 2-4

Athrix lissoscutum n.sp. (Fig. 1)

FEMALE (n = 6) — Body fusiform, 186 (158–186), 69 (69–71) wide. Gnathosoma downcurved; antapical seta bifurcate, 8 (8); basal seta 3 (3–4); chelicera 20 (18–22). Prodorsal shield 40 (40–43), including rounded frontal lobe 4 (3–5); shield 66 (66–71) wide; smooth. Seta bearing tubercles situated laterally on shield, 53 (53–63) apart; scapular setae (sc) 6 (4–6), directed upwards. Legs with all the usual segments present; tibial and femoral setae I missing. Leg I 28 (26–28); femur 11 (9–12), femoral seta (bv) missing; genu 4 (3–4), genual seta (l") 27 (24–28); tibia 2 (2–3), tibial seta (l') missing; tarsus 6 (6–7), dorsal seta (ft') 18 (15–19), lateral seta (ft") 22 (18–24), unguinal seta (u') 7 (5–7), solenidion 7 (5–7), blunt, empodium 6 (5–6), 4–rayed. Leg II 26 (20–27); femur 10 (8–11), bv 13 (10–14); genu 4 (3–4), l" 12 (10–13); tibia 3 (3); tarsus 8 (5–8), ft' 10 (7–10), ft" 21 (18– 24), u' 4 (4–5), solenidion 9 (9–10), blunt, empodium 7 (6–7), 4­rayed. Coxigenital area: coxae partially granulated; coxae I fused with no evidence of sternal line. Coxal seta I (1b) 7 (5–8), 13 (11–13) apart; coxal seta II (1a) 13 (10–14), 11 (11–14) apart; coxal seta III (2a) 20 (18–28), 27 (26–32) apart. Coxigenital area apparently smooth. Genitalia 26 (26– 27) wide, 21 (18–21) long; genital seta (3a) 10 (9–13). Epigynum basally granulated and distally with longitudinal, broken lines. Opisthosoma dorsum with a faint anterior dorsomedian ridge and two lateral ridges delimiting a shallow trough. Lateral seta (c2) 26 (25– 26), on annulus 1 (1–2) from genitalia rear margin. Ventral seta I (d) 48 (46–60), 35 (31– 28) apart, under dorsal annulus 8 (7–8); ventral seta II (e) 26 (25–37), 19 (18–23) apart, under dorsal annulus 17 (16–18); ventral seta III (f) 23 (20–24), 22 (22–24) apart, on 6 (6) th ventral annulus from rear. Total dorsal annuli 34 (33), smooth (microtuberculate in the immature stages); ventral annuli microtuberculate. Caudal seta (h2) 61 (61–76); accessory seta (h1) minute.

FIGURE Athrix lissoscutus ., D, dorsal aspect of female and detail of antapical seta; E, empodium (enlarged); GM, male genitalia; L1, leg I (enlarged); L2, leg II (enlarged); N. dorsal aspect of nymph.

MALE (n = 3) — Smaller than female, 163–172, 62–69 wide. Gnathosoma: basal seta 4–5; chelicera 18–19. Prodorsal shield 40–42, 66–68 wide, frontal lobe 4. Scapular seta (sc) 3–4, 51–58 apart. Legs: leg I 25–26; femur 9–10, bv missing; genu 3, l" 25–27; tibia 2–3, l' missing; tarsus 6–7, ft' 14–16, ft" 20–22, u' 5, solenidion 5–6, empodium 5, 4– rayed. Leg II 20–22; femur 7–9, bv 11–14; genu 3–4, l" 9–11; tibia 3; tarsus 5–7, ft' 6–7, ft" 19–21, u' 4–5, solenidion 7–9, empodium 4–6, 4­rayed. Coxigenital area: 1b 5, 11–13 apart; 1a 9–13, 11–12 apart; 2a 20–23, 26 apart. Coxisternal area smooth. Genitalia smooth, 18–19 wide, 11–13 long; 3a 9–10. Opisthosoma: c 2 19–22, on annulus 1–2 from genitalia rear margin; d 40–48, 27–38 apart, under dorsal annulus 8; e 19–28, 16–17 apart, under dorsal annulus 16–17; f 19–23, 22–23 apart, on 6th ventral annulus from rear. Total dorsal annuli 32–33, smooth. Caudal seta (h2) 57–63; h1 minute.

TYPE MATERIAL — Holotype female, 23 female and 5 male paratypes, from Heteropteris aceroides Griseb (Malpighiaceae) , São Carlos, SP, Brazil (21° 54' 50" S, 47° 49' 21" W), 20 Sept. 2001, coll. G.J. Moraes, on 9 microscopic preparations.

RELATION TO HOST — Erineum galls on leaf lower surface.

ETYMOLOGY — The specific designation lissoscutum is formed of the Greek lissos, smooth, polished plus the Latin scutum, shield and refers to the smooth prodorsal shield.