Gamasiphis species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Ologamasidae) from Ecuador, with description of a new species and new records Melo-Molina, Elsa L. Santos, Jandir C. De Moraes, Gilberto J. Castilho, Raphael C. Zootaxa 2021 2021-11-17 5068 3 410 418 f7b822ad-f389-464d-81f6-a2e6f014f1f0 Melo-Molina & Santos Melo-Molina & Santos. In 2021 [151,681,1003,1030] Arachnida Ologamasidae Gamasiphis Animalia Mesostigmata 1 411 Arthropoda species vikkiae sp. nov.   Type material.   Holotypefemale:  ECUADOR: Esmeraldas( Coast region): La Independencia( 0°06’29.8”N 79°21’16.9”W;  164 m), from soil at the base of  Piper peltatumon  26 September 2019.   Paratypes: ECUADOR: Napo( Amazon region): one female, Tena( 0°53’49.4”S 77°48’08.0”W;  608 m), from soil at the base of  Musa paradisiacaon  4 August 2019;  two females, Tena( 0°53’49.7”S 77°48’07.5”W;  611 m), from soil at the base of  Citrus limonon  4 August 2019;  one female, Tena( 0°53’49.4”S 77°48’06.5”W;  610 m) from soil at the base of  Saccharum officinarumon  4 August 2019;  one female, Tena( 0°19’36.7”S 76°53’17.5”W;  607 m) from soil at the base of  Renealmia sessilifoliaon  26 February 2018.  Allspecimens collected by C.A. Ortega-Ojeda.  Holotypedeposited at INABIO, three paratypeat LEA-UCE and two paratypesat ESALQ/ USP.   Diagnosis(adult female). Anteromedial extension of epistome aciculate; setae j2, j3, j4, j5, z3and Z1at least as long as distance to the base of the respective subsequent setae; with two pairs of presternal platelets; seta Zv2as long as distance to base of Zv3; seta Jv5about in level with anterior margin of anal opening and about four times as long as para-anal seta; post-anal seta about 4.5 times as long as para-anal setae.   Description. Adult female (n = 6) ( Figs 1–8).  Gnathosoma.Fixed cheliceral digit 44 (42–47) long, with 7–8 teeth in addition to the apical hook and the aciculate pilus dentilis ( Fig. 1); movable cheliceral digit 47 (44–49) long, with four teeth in addition to the apical hook; chelicera with antiaxial and dorsal lyrifissures as well as dorsal seta distinct; arthrodial process shaped as a short coronet-shaped fringe. Palp apotele 3-tined. Epistome 3-tined, with an anteromedian extension longer than others, all three aciculate ( Fig. 2). Deutosternum with indistinct margins, with seven transverse denticulate lines ( Fig. 3); anteriormost shaped as an inverted “V”, first to fourth lines with very small teeth, and fifth to seventh multidenticulate; lines fourth to sixth U-shaped. Internal malae fimbriate laterally. Corniculi horn-shaped 26 (25–27) long, 16 (15–16) wide at the widest point; seta h3directly posterior to h1and slightly anterior and medial to h2. Measurements of setae: h121 (20–22), h218 (17–20), h321 (18–22), sc18 (17–20); all setae aciculate.  Dorsal idiosoma( Fig. 4). Dorsal shield 437 (419–455) long, 269 (265–276) wide (between s6and r6), covering totally the idiosoma. Podonotal region smooth anteriad of z4, imbricate behind; with 22 pairs of setae ( r1and r2absent; other rsetae visible in ventral view); with seven pairs of lyrifissures and four pairs of pores. Opisthonotal region imbricate anteriad of J4, smooth behind; with 14 pairs of setae ( J1and all Rsetae absent); S2and S5 visible in ventral view; with nine pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures and two pairs of distinguishable pores. Measurements of setae: j113 (12–14), j234 (33–35), j333 (30–36), j434 (31–35), j534 (32–35), j634 (33–35), z115 (14–15), z230 (28–32), z334 (33–35), z435 (34–36), z528 (28–30), z637 (35–40),  s114(12–15),  s214(13–15),  s333(30–35),  s436(35–37),  s536(35–37),  s633(32–35), r323 (20–25), r412 (10–15), r511 (8–13), r628 (25–31), J220 (16–24), J319 (16–21), J411 (10–11), J57 (6–7), Z137 (36–40), Z219 (17–21), Z321 (20–21), Z410, Z569 (66–71),  S17,  S28(7–9),  S37,  S411(10–11),  S517(16–19); all setae aciculate.   FIGURES 1–8.  Gamasiphis vikkiaeMelo-Molina & Santos  n. sp., adult female. 1. Lateral (antiaxial) view of chelicera; 2. Epistome; 3. Hypostome; 4. Dorsal idiosoma; 5. Ventral idiosoma; 6. Tritosternum; 7. Spermatheca; 8. Leg IV. Lyrifissures and pores enlarged for improved visibility.  Ventral idiosoma( Fig. 5). Base of tritosternum 19 (18–21) long and approximately 13 wide basally ( Fig. 6); laciniae 65 (58–73) long, pilose, separated for about 95% of their total length. With two pairs of presternal platelets. Sternal shield reticulate; 73 (70–75) long at midline and 69 (65–75) wide at median level of coxae II; with four pairs of setae ( st1–st4), st3inserted in line and medial to st2, and four pairs of lyrifissures. Genital shield scantly reticulate, 70 (68–73) long and 70 (68–72) wide at the widest level; bearing st5, distance st5–st547 (46–49), anterior margin convex and posterior margin truncate. Ventrianal shield imbricate anteriorly to Zv3and apparently smooth posteriorly; 205 (182–221) long at midline (from anterior margin to postanal seta), 176 (148–192) wide at widest point (between Jv2and Zv2); with eight pairs of setae ( Jv1–Jv5, Zv1–Zv3) in addition to circumanal setae and with four pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Peritreme extending to region between coxae I and II. Measurements of setae: st124 (23–25), st224 (23–27), st313 (13–14), st420 (20–21), st519 (18–20), Jv125, Jv225 (23–27), Jv326 (25–26), Jv433 (31–36), Jv546 (44–48), Zv132 (29–34), Zv235 (34–36), Zv325 (24–25), para-anal 13 (12–14), post-anal 53 (50–54); all setae aciculate.  Spermatheca( Fig. 7). Phytoseiid-type. Spermathecal apparatus distinguishable as a membranous tubular structure, extending medially from base of coxa IV.  Legs.Lengths: I: 352 (330–364); II: 277 (250–296); III: 242 (230–247); IV: 339 (320–351). Numbers of setae on segments of legs I–IV: coxa: 2, 2, 2, 1; trochanter: 6, 5, 5, 5; femur: 13, 11, 6, 6; genu: 13, 11, 9, 8; tibia: 14, 10, 8, 9; tarsus II–IV: 18, 18, 17. Leg IV with four macrosetae: two on genu [ ad242 (41–42) and pd139 (38–39)], one on tibia [ pd142 (40–42)] and one on basitarsus [ pd346 (44–46)] ( Fig. 8). All legs with pretarsi, with elongate ambulacral stalk and a pair of strongly sclerotised claws.   Etymology.The species is named in honor of the daughter of the first author, VictoriaEugenia Martinez (Vikki).   Remarks.  Gamasiphis vikkiaeMelo-Molina & Santos  n. sp.is most similar to  G. adanalis Karg, 1990, but the latter has 20 pairs of setae on the podonotal region ( s1absent and only three pairs of rsetae); 12 pairs of setae on the opisthonotal region; the dorsal setae ranging between 15-20 long; setae j2, j3, j4, j5, z3and Z1at most 0.6 times as long as distance to the base of the respective subsequent setae. In the key to  Gamasiphisspeciesprovided by Castilho et al. (2012b), couplet 52 (page 1993) would require the following adjustment for inclusion of this new species: 52. Dorsal and ventrianal shields mostly imbricate............................................................ 52a - Dorsal shield smooth and ventrianal shield smooth or transversely striate anteriorly to Zv2and smooth elsewhere....... 53 52a. Podonotal region with 20 pairs of setae ( s1absent and three pairs of rsetae); opisthonotal region with 12 pairs of setae; setae j2, j3, j4, j5, z3and Z1at most 0.6 times as long as the distance to base of the respective subsequent setae.......................................................................  Gamasiphis adanalisKarg, Lesser Antilles ( Karg 1990) - Podonotal region with 22 pairs of setae ( s1present and four pairs of rsetae); opisthonotal region with 14 pairs of setae; setae j2, j3, j4, j5, z3and Z1at least as long as the distance to base of the respective subsequent setae............................................................................  Gamasiphis vikkiaeMelo-Molina & Santos  n. sp., Ecuador 3407623304 2019-09-26 La Independencia Ecuador 164 0.10827778 Coast region 1 -79.35469 1 411 1 Esmeraldas holotype 3407623301 2019-08-04 Ecuador Amazon region 608 -0.89705557 Tena 1 -77.80222 1 411 1 1 Napo paratype 3407623315 2019-08-04 Ecuador Amazon region 611 -0.8971389 Tena 1 -77.802086 1 411 1 1 Napo paratype 3407623311 2019-08-04 Ecuador Amazon region 610 -0.89705557 Tena 1 -77.80181 1 411 1 1 Napo paratype 3407623305 2018-02-26 Ecuador Amazon region 607 -0.3268611 Tena 1 -76.88819 1 411 1 1 Napo paratype 3407623309 [682,1211,1292,1318] C. A. Ortega-Ojeda. Ecuador Amazon region All 1 411 1 Napo paratype 3407623302 ESALQ, USP Ecuador 1 411 2 Napo holotype