Ueckermannopalpus cerradoensis Castro, Ochoa & 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 : 44-48

Ueckermannopalpus cerradoensis Castro, Ochoa & Beard sp. nov.

( Figs. 10–14 )

Diagnosis. FEMALE: Prodorsal and opisthosomal setae short to minute. Anterior region of prodorsum with longitudinal striae; central region of prodorsum smooth; sublateral and lateral regions with longitudinal striae; opisthosoma with longitudinal striae sublaterally; cuticle between setae d1 and e1 with transverse and broken striae. Palps three-segmented; second segment elongate and bearing one seta; distal (third) segment bearing one eupathidium. Ventral seta 4a2 absent; ventral cuticle mostly striated; ventral propodosoma with irregular striae centrally and longitudinal striae laterally; ventro-genital and anal plates poorly developed. Ventro-genital plate with irregular striae. Trochanters I–IV 1-1-2-1, genua I–IV 3-3-0-0, tibiae I–IV 5-5-3-2. Tarsal claws pad-like.

Type material. Holotype: female collected on Vernonia polyanthes Less. ( Asteraceae ), from the Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra, located in São Roque de Minas, Minas Gerais, Brazil, (20°10’S, 46°26’W), 21 September 2016, coll. E.B. Castro ( DZSJRP). Paratypes: 3 females, same data as holotype ( DZSJRP); 1 female, same data as holotype ( DEES).

Description

FEMALE ( Figs. 10–14 , n=5). Dorsum ( Figs. 10–11 ): Distance between setae v2–h1 215 (205–215), sc2–sc2 135 (130–140). Anterior margin of prodorsum with one pair of median lobes, forming a forked projection with a notch. Anterior region of prodorsum with longitudinal striae; central region of prodorsum smooth; sublateral and lateral regions with longitudinal striae; opisthosoma with longitudinal striae sublaterally; cuticle between setae d1 and e1 with transverse to broken striae. Opisthosomal pores present. Prodorsal and opisthosomal setae short to minute, similar in length. Setal lengths: v2 6 (6), sc1 5 (5–6), sc2 6 (5–6), c1 4 (3–4), c3 5 (5–6), d1 5 (5), d3 5 (5), e1 5 (4–5), e3 5 (4–5), f3 5 (4–5), h1 4 (4–5), h2 5 (4–5). Distances between setae: v2–v2 23 (17–23), sc1–sc1 95 (91–96), c1–c1 23 (22–27), c3–c3 150 (145–160), d1–d1 17 (15–17), d3–d3 135 (130–140), e1– e1 14 (10–14), e3–e3 115 (105–120), f3–f3 100 (85–100), h2–h2 53 (53–60), h1–h1 10 (10–13).

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 13 ): Palps three-segmented, basal (first) segment short; second segment elongate and bearing one long, barbed setae d 10 (10–11); distal (third) segment short and bearing one eupathidium ul′ 7 (7–8). Ventral setae m 10 (9–10) barbed; distance between setae m–m 18 (16–18).

Venter ( Fig. 12 ): Ventral cuticle mostly striated; ventral prodorsum with irregular striae centrally and longitudinal striae laterally; ventro-genital and anal plates poorly developed. Ventro-genital plate with irregular striae. Coxal, genital and anal setae fine; setae 1a, 4a elongate filiform. Setal lengths: 1a 90 (55–90), 1b 25 (22–28), 1c 10 (10– 11), 2b 20 (20–25), 2c 14 (14–17), 3a 9 (9–12), 3b 12 (9–12), 4a 50 (35–55), 4b 9 (6–9), ag 4 (4–5), g1 5 (4–6), g2 5 (5–6), ps2 7 (8–10), ps3 10 (10–11).

Spermatheca : Not visible.

Legs ( Figs. 14 ): Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi): 2-2-1-1, 1-1-2-1, 4-4-2-1, 3-3-0-0, 5-5-3-2, 9(1)- 9(1)-5-5. Tarsi I and II each with one solenidion ω” 7 (7–8), 6 (6–7) and two eupathidia pζ′–pζ” (all 7–8). Femora with dorsal setae d, thin, slightly barbed. Genua III and IV nude. Tibia IV with two setae (seta d absent). Tarsal claws pad-like.

MALE AND IMMATURES: Unknown.

Etymology. The name cerradoensis is given in reference to the Cerrado biome, where the mites were collected.

Differential diagnosis. Ueckermannopalpus cerradoensis sp. nov. resembles U. mineirus sp. nov., here described, by the shape of dorsal setae and dorsal ornamentation, but can be separated by having ventral setae 4a elongate and filiform (4a short in U. mineirus sp. nov.), setal formula of tibia 5-5-3-2 (5-5-3- 3 in U. mineirus sp. nov.), and seta d on the second palp segment and seta m on infracapitulum barbed (setae d and m smooth in U. mineirus sp. nov.).

Figures

FIGURE 10. Ueckermannopalpus cerradoensis sp. nov., dorsum of female.

FIGURE 11. Ueckermannopalpus cerradoensis sp. nov., dorsum of female.

FIGURE 12. Ueckermannopalpus cerradoensis sp. nov., venter of female.

FIGURE 13. Ueckermannopalpus cerradoensis sp. nov., ventral infracapitulum of female.

FIGURE 14. Ueckermannopalpus cerradoensis sp. nov., female. A —leg I, B —leg II, C —leg III, D —leg IV. (Right legs).