Ueckermannopalpus Castro, Seeman & Beard, 2025

Castro, Elizeu B., Tassi, Aline D., Machado, Vinicius B. G., Ochoa, Ronald, Beard, Jennifer J., Seeman, Owen D. & Lofego, Antonio C., 2025, A new genus of flat mites (Acariformes: Tenuipalpidae), with the description of three new species from Brazil, Zootaxa 5653 (1), pp. 33-62 : 34-35

Genus Ueckermannopalpus Castro, Seeman & Beard gen. nov.

Type species: Ueckermannopalpus mineirus Castro, Ochoa & Beard sp. nov.

Diagnosis (adult female). Palps usually three-segmented, rarely two-segmented ( unguibus ); distal palp segment (tarsus) with 1 terminal phanere. Anterior margin of prodorsum usually with distinct median forked projection forming a notch, rarely small ( iraniensis ) or absent ( thymus ); dorsal opisthosoma with 9 pairs of setae (c1, c3, d1, d3, e1, e3, f3, h1, h2 present; c2, d2, e2, f2 absent); dorsal setae fine, usually short (c1 long in iraniensis ). Ventral and genital plates not developed, both regions merged together into ventro-genital region; 2 pairs of ps setae, anal plates membranous, ps2–3 inserted longitudinally on anal plates; setae 4a elongate and fine; usually lacking supernumerary coxal setae 4a2 (present in thymus ); lacking supernumerary coxal setae 3a2. Trochanter setal formula 1-1-2-1, all trochantal setae acicular. Femora formula 4-4-2-2 or 4-4-2-1; femur III seta d present; femur IV seta d usually absent, rarely present ( thymus ). Genua formula 3-3-0-0 or 3-3-1-1; genua III–IV usually lacking seta l′, rarely present ( thymus ). Tibiae with five setae (lʹʹ present). Femora I–IV, genua I–II, tibiae I–IV usually with seta d and l″ acicular, smooth or barbed. Where known, ontogenetic addition of setae typical for family. Empodia pad-like and tarsal claws usually pad-like, rarely uncinate ( unguibus ), both with tenent hairs. Opisthonotal pores present.

Remarks. Ueckermannopalpus gen. nov. is closest to Amblypalpus in sharing several characteristics, such as the palps usually three-segmented, reduction of the dorsal opisthosomal setae (c2, d2, e2, f2 absent), ventral and genital shields not developed, similar leg setation, and the morphology of the pretarsus. The new genus is distinguished from Amblypalpus by having the opisthosomal setae h2 present, which represents a significant plesiomorphic retention. Ueckermannopalpus gen. nov. is also close to Goodeniacarus Beard & Seeman, 2025 and Inglacarus Beard & Seeman, 2025 in sharing many of the same characteristics shared with Amblypalpus listed above. The new genus is distinguished from Goodeniacarus by having e1 and h2 present (absent in Goodeniacarus); femora I–IV, genua I–II, tibiae I–IV usually with seta d and l″ acicular, smooth or barbed (blunt in Goodeniacarus). The new genus is distinguished from Inglacarus by having e1 present (absent in Inglacarus); and two or three segmented palps (one segmented in Inglacarus).

Etymology. The genus Ueckermannopalpus is named in honour of our colleague and dear friend Dr. Edward (Eddie) A. Ueckermann, who was a research scientist and professor at the North-West University, South Africa, and has dedicated more than 40 years to the study of mites.