Gómez-Moya, Cristina Antonia ¹ ; Martin, João Pedro Inez ² ; Feliz Lebrón, Andrea O. ³ and Moraes, Gilberto J. de ⁴

¹✉ Universidad Tecnológica del Cibao Oriental (UTECO). Ave. Universitaria 10, Cotui, Provincia Sánchez Ramírez, Dominican Republic & Instituto Dominicano de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales (IDIAF), C. Rafael Augusto Sánchez 89, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
²Depto. Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Universidade de São Paulo (ESALQ-USP), Piracicaba-SP, Brazil.
³Instituto Dominicano de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales (IDIAF), C. Rafael Augusto Sánchez 89, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
⁴Depto. Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Universidade de São Paulo (ESALQ-USP), Piracicaba-SP, Brazil.

2023 - Volume: 63 Issue: 3 pages: 856-866

ZooBank LSID: 2A6E53FE-3187-4F02-AFA4-9D41B3E56F3E

Original research

Keywords

Abstract

Introduction

After the important citrus disease known as greening or Huanglongbing reached the Dominican Republic (Matos et al. 2009), country located on Hispaniola Island in the Caribbean region, the interest for the cultivation of passionfruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) increased considerably, to replace citrus cultivation. As a consequence, the interest to determine the organisms associated with passionfruit has also increased. Little is known about the phytosanitary problems affecting this crop in the Dominican Republic (Valdez et al. 2016), but recent investigations have shown the common presence of adult beetles (Coleoptera) of the family Nitidulidae in the flowers. Studies conducted in different parts of Brazil have shown the presence of the following nitidulid species in passionfruit flowers: Brachypeplus sp. (Azevedo et al. 2005), Conotelus sp. (Potin et al. 2016) and Conotelus luteicornis Erichson (Souza Santos et al. 2021; Souza Santos 2022). An unidentified species of Conotelus has been mentioned to cause about 80% yield losses in passionfruit in western Brazil, where the insect is found throughout the year (Potin et al. 2016).

Examination of the beetles collected in the Dominican Republic showed the presence of numerous pale-yellow mites, moving quickly over the whole beetle. The objective of this publication is to present the description of a new species found in this study.

Material and methods

Samples of leaves, flowers and fruits of P. edulis were collected from plants of commercial cultivations and transported in plastic bags to the laboratory for examination. The samples were examined under dissecting microscopes, collecting all mites found in association with adults of an unidentified species of the beetle Conotelus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and mounting them in Hoyer´s medium on microscope slides. They were later examined under phase (Leica, DMLB) and interference contrast (Nikon, Eclipse 80i) microscopes. The morphological characterization included the measurements of each structure in micrometers, with a graded eyepiece, that are here presented as averages followed (in parentheses) by the respective ranges. It also included the illustration of taxonomically relevant structures, based on photographs taken with a digital camera attached to the interference contrast microscope, processing the images with a digital tablet, using the Adobe Illustrator® program.

Notation of the idiosomal setae is based on Lindquist and Evans (1965) and Lindquist (1994), of pores and lyrifissures, on Kazemi et al. (2014); leg chaetotaxy, on Evans (1963a); and palp chaetotaxy, on Evans (1963b).

Results

An initial examination of the mites showed them to belong to an undescribed species of Proctolaelaps Berlese, 1923 of Melicharidae Hirschmann, 1962. This species is subsequently described.

Proctolaelaps elcotoy Gómez-Moya & Martin n. sp.

ZOOBANK: 88EB0309-2860-4943-88A2-904C2F414656

Diagnosis

Female with dorsal shield not sufficiently large to cover dorsum of idiosoma, exposing a relatively broad band of unsclerotized dorsomarginal cuticle; dorsal shield with 34 pairs of aciculate to slightly spiny setae, j1 the longest (19–23 µm) and J5 the shortest (8–12 µm). Sternal shield with posterior margin concave; epigynal shield with posterior margin slightly convex; anal shield ovoid and with distinct anteromedial lobe; opisthogaster with setae Jv1-Jv5, Zv1-Zv5 and Sv. Spermatheca discernible as a long duct whose proximal fourth narrows down from about 3 to about 1 µm in diameter, retained for the remaining extension; epistome short, acuminate and with few and distinct denticles; fixed and movable cheliceral digits respectively with 9–11 and three teeth; tibia III with nine setae (one more pl seta than usual for the genus); no leg macrosetae. Male with separate ventral and anal shields, the first about hexagonal and the second ellipsoidal; spermtodactyl sinuous, directed initially down- and forward and then up- and forward, narrowing down from base to apex and with tip truncate and with barely noticeable enlargement.

Adult female

(Figs. 1A–1G, 2A–2D) (seven specimens measured)

Dorsum of idiosoma — (Fig. 1A): dorsal shield 438 (425–438) long and 275 (263–228) wide (at level of z6, widest level), not sufficiently large to cover dorsum of idiosoma, exposing a relatively broad band of unsclerotized dorsomarginal cuticle; reticulate, except for section posteriad Z4 and a central longitudinal band between j3 and j5–j6, smooth; probably because of being dome-shaped, mounted females show a fold between j6 and J1, which should not be confused with a division of the dorsal shield. Podonotal region with 23 pairs of setae (j1-j6, z1-z6, s1-s6, r2-r6) five pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures and four pairs of distinguishable pores. Opisthonotal region with 21 pairs of setae, 11 pairs of lyrifissures and three pairs of pores; although usually ventral in Gamasina, Jv5 and Zv5 are visible on dorsal view in all type specimens of this species. All setae aciculate to slightly spiny and smooth. Setal lengths: j1 22 (19–23), j2 15 (14–17), j3 15 (12–15), j4 15 (15–16), j5 16 (16–17), j6 17 (16–18), z1 13 (10–14), z2 15 (15–16), z3 16 (15–16) , z4 16 (15–17), z5 16 (15–17), z6 16 (15–17), s1 13 (13–15), s2 15 (15–16), s3 16 (15–17), s4 17 (15–20), s5 18 (16–19), s6 16 (15–20), r2 16 (15–17), r3 17 (16–18), r4 15 (15–16), r5 16 (15–18), r6 15 (16–16), J1 18 (17–18), J2 18 (16–20), J3 18 (17–20), J4 16 (15–17), J5 10 (8–12), Z1 17 (16–20), Z2 18 (16–20), Z3 17 (16–18), Z4 16 (14–16), Z5 16 (15–18), S1 16 (15–17), S2 17 (15–18), S3 17 (15–17), S4 15 (15–15), S5 16 (15–18), R1 14 (13–15), R2 13 (13–15), R3 14 (13–15), R4 14 (13–15), R5 14 (13–15), R6 13 (13–14), UR1 13 (12–13), UR5 13 (12–14).

Venter of idiosoma — (Fig. 1B): all setae aciculate to slightly spiny and smooth. Base of tritosternum 10 (10–13) long and 13 (12–14) wide proximally; laciniae 68 (62–70) long, divided for about 60% of their total length. Presternal region sparsely reticulate, with a pair of transversely elongate cells surrounded by the less sclerotized background. Sternal shield 90 (84–100) long medially and 80 (73–85) wide at level of st2; fused with anterior portion of endopodal plate, usually with slightly undulate line of connection to the presternal region and with posterior margin medially concave; mostly smooth, with few laterolongitudinal striae; with three pairs of setae (st1-st3), one pair of pores (gvb) at distal end of extension between coxae I–II and two pairs of lyrifissures (iv1, iv2). Metasternal plate irregular, bearing st4 and iv3. Sclerotized section of epigynal shield with rather irregular margin, smooth, with a pair of median lines diverging posteriorly; 175 (174–183) long, including hyaline flap, whose anterior margin narrows down to a broad tip, reaching level between st2–st3; 86 (84–88) wide at widest level posteriorly and bearing st5; distance st5–st5 65 (60–66); with lateral margins posteriorly diverging; posterior margin slightly convex; lyrifissures iv5 on unsclerotised cuticle, posterolaterad st5. Anal shield 80 (75–85) long and 65 (65–70) wide at widest level, ovoid, with distinct anteromedial lobe (in some specimens constituted by a pair of closely associated tubercles darker than surroundings) and scant striae; bearing the circumanal setae and one pair of marginal pores (gv3) posterolaterad para-anal setae; anal opening not enlarged, 33 (31–34) long including frame; one of the types with two post-anal setae fused proximally; other types, with the usual single post-anal seta. Posterior portion of endopodal plate represented by a dagger-shaped to tri-radiate fragment between coxae III-IV. Exopodal plate distinct from posterior margin of coxa IV to level of coxa I, bearing gv2 right at the margin. With two pairs of metapodal plates, the inner smaller and less clearly discernible. Unsclerotised cuticle around anal shield with 11 pairs of setae (Jv1-Jv5, Zv1-Zv5 and Sv; Jv5 and Zv5 observed in dorsal view) and four pairs of lyrifissures. Setal lengths: st1 20 (17–21), st2 20 (17–23), st3 20 (15–20), st4 18 (13–20), st5 18 (16–18), Jv1 16 (15–17), Jv2 16 (13–16), Jv3 12 (12–14), Jv4 12 (12–14), Jv5 15 (14–17), Zv1 13 (12–15), Zv2 14 (13–15), Zv3 12 (12–13), Zv4 12 (10–13), Zv5 14 (12–15), Sv 12 (11–12), para-anal 15 (15–18), and post-anal 15 (12–15).

Peritrematic plate and peritreme — (Figs. 1A, 1B): peritrematic plate fused with dorsal shield anteriad s1 and fused with exopodal plate beside coxa IV by a narrow and curved bridge; with a lyrifissure (ipz1) next to the outer margin of the peritrematic plate, fitting a constricted section of the peritreme about in level with s1; with a lyrifissure (ip2) and a pore (gp1) in the section between coxae II-III; with a lyrifissure immediately posteriad stigma (ip3) followed by gp2 at the distal end of the peritrematic bridge connecting to the exopodal plate; lyrifissure ip4 at the margin of the exopodal plate, just behind the connection with the peritrematic bridge; peritreme extending forward almost to level of z1.

Spermathecal structure — (Figs. 1C, 1D): distinguishable as a long duct (tubulus) 147 (135–180) long, seemingly opening (vestibulus) at anterior margin of coxa IV, narrowing down slightly in the proximal fourth (from about 3 to about 1 µm) and then maintaining uniform diameter up to the distal end, which in some specimens seems bifurcate.

Gnathosoma — (Figs. 1E–1G): anteromedian region of epistome short, acuminate and with few and distinct denticles. Fixed cheliceral digit 38 (37–38) long, with 9–13 teeth and an expansive hyaline lobe lightly constrict medially; movable digit 35 (35–36) long, with three teeth and with ventral projection distinct in some specimens, connected with an anti-axial curved line extending forward to the masticatory surface. Dorsal and antiaxial lyrifissures as well as dorsal seta distinct, the latter as a stout spine; fringed hyaline rim along the paraxial face of the cheliceral shaft above base of movable digit with 15–20 denticles; dorsodistal pointed process of fixed digit undiscernible. Deutosternum relatively wide, demarcated by lateral lines and smooth anterior and posterior margins and with seven transverse denticulate lines, the first three with 5–10 and others with 10–20 denticles. Corniculus 23 (20–25) long and 7 (6–8) wide at widest level, in some specimens parallel to each other, in others strongly convergent, crossing each other distally; with a short thorn-like extension of the anterior margin of the hypostome at the inner base of each corniculus, so that in each side, the tip between the internal malae and the palp trochanter seemingly incised. Internal malae subtriangular, with discreet fimbriae. Palp femur al broadly spatulate; palp genu al1 and al2 spine-shaped, the first erect and the second curved; palp tarsal claw 2-tined. Setal lengths: h1 20 (16-20), h2 25 (24-25), h3 16 (15-19), sc 17 (16-20); inner palp trochanter seta (av) 17 (17–18), outer palp trochanter seta (pv) 14 (14–15).

Legs — (Figs. 2A–2D): leg pretarsi I-IV each with a pair of claws and pulvillus with three rounded lobules. Leg lengths (from base of coxa to tip of tarsus, not including pre-tarsus): I – 350 (325–350), II – 288 (275–300), III – 295 (268–300) and IV – 370 (363–375). Chaetotaxy: leg I – coxa 0–0/1, 0/1–0, trochanter 1–0/1, 1/2– 1, femur 2–3/1, 2/2–2, genu 2, 3/2, 3/1, 2, tibia 2, 3/2, 3/1, 2; leg II – coxa 0–0/1, 0/1–0, trochanter 1–0/1, 0/2–1, femur 2–3/1, 2/2–1, genu 2, 3/1, 2/1, 2, tibia 2, 2/1, 2/1, 2; leg III – coxa 0–0/1, 0/1–0, trochanter 1–1/1, 0/2–0, femur 1–2/1, 1/0–1, genu 2, 2/1, 2/1, 1, tibia 2, 1/1, 2/1, 2 (one more pl seta than usual for the genus); leg IV – coxa 0–0/, 0/1–0, trochanter 1–1/1, 0/2–0, femur 1–2/1, 1/0–1, genu 2, 2/1, 3/0, 1, tibia 2, 1/1, 3/1, 2; tarsi: I: setae not counted; II–IV: 18 setae each. Leg setae aciculate and smooth; no macrosetae.

Adult male

(Figs. 3A–3D) (three specimens measured)

Dorsum of idiosoma — (Fig. 3A): dorsal shield 410 (400–425) long and 250 (245–275) wide (at level of z6, widest level), sufficiently large to cover most of the dorsum of the idiosoma, except for a a narrow lateral and posterior band; ornamentation, as in adult female; mounted males with a fold between j6 and J1, which should not be confused with a division of the dorsal shield. Podonotal and opisthonotal regions as in adult female in relation to chaetotaxy, shape of the setae and distinguishable lyrifissures and pores, except for the absence of R6 and UR5; setae j2–j5, z2–z4 longer than in female and other setae slightly shorter. Setal lengths: j1 25 (24–25), j2 34 (31–36), j3 28 (28–29), j4 20 (20–21), j5 19 (18–21), j6 14 (13–15), z1 13 (12–14), z2 28 (25–30), z3 26, z4 22 (22–23), z5 14 (14–15), z6 13 (12–15), s1 14 (13–15), s2 16 (16–17), s3 16 (15–17), s4 15 (14–17), s5 19 (19–20), s6 15 (14–17), r2 16 (16–17), r3 17 (17–18), r4 16 (15–18), r5 15 (14–16), r6 13 (13–14), J1 16 (15–17), J2 14 (13–16), J3 12 (12–13), J4 11 (10–12), J5 9 (8–9), Z1 18 (16–20), Z2 16 (16–17), Z3 13 (12–15), Z4 11 (10–12), Z5 13 (13–14), S1 14 (13–17), S2 15, S3 11, S4 10 (10–11), S5 12 (11–13), R1 12, R2 12 (11–13), R3 11 (11–12), R4 11 (10–12), R5 12 (11–13), UR 10 (10–11).

Venter of idiosoma — (Fig. 3B): all setae aciculate and smooth. Tritosternum similar to adult female, base 5 long and 8 wide proximally; laciniae 45 long, divided for about 60% of their total length. Presternal region without distinguishable plates or ornamentation. Composition of ventral setae and distinguishable lyrifissures and pores as in adult female, except for the absence of Sv. Sternogenital shield fused with whole endopodal plate, posteriorly truncate to slightly convex, with a pair of small lateral incisions; 180–182 long and 73–77 wide at level of st2; smooth, except for scant lateral striae posteriad st4; bearing five pairs of setae (st1-st5), one pair of pores (gvb) on distal end of extension between coxae I–II and two pairs of lyrifissures (iv1, iv2). Ventral and anal shields separate; the former about hexagonal, 53–56 long at midline and 102–105 of maximal width, reticulate, with irregular margin; bearing four pairs of setae (Jv1, Jv2, Zv1, Zv2) and one pair of lyrifissure (iv5). Anal shield 75–80 long at midline and 65–74 of maximal width, ellipsoidal, with a short pair of anteromedial lobes (darker than surroundings), with scant striae; bearing circumanal setae and a pair of marginal pores (gv3) posterolaterad para-anal setae; anal opening not enlarged, 25 long, including frame. Exopodal and metapodal plates as in adult female. Unsclerotised cuticle around anal shield with six pairs of setae (Jv3-Jv5, Zv3-Zv5) and four pairs of lyrifissures. Setal lengths: st1 16 (15–18), st2 18 (15–20), st3 16 (15–16), st4 15 (13–17), st5 15 (15–16), Jv1 16 (15–17), Jv2 16 (15–17), Jv3 12 (10–13), Jv4 11 (10–12), Jv5 15 (15–16), Zv1 12 (12–13), Zv2 12, Zv3 10, Zv4 11 (11–12), Zv5 11 (10–12), para-anal 13 (12–13), and post-anal 13 (12–13).

Peritrematic plate and peritreme — (Figs. 3A, 3B): peritrematic plate fused with dorsal shield at level of r3; lyrifyssure ipz1 seemingly present in one of the adult males, but not distinguishable in others; with one lyrifissure (ip2) and one pore (gp1) in region between coxae II–III; with a lyrifissure immediately posteriad stigma(ip3) followed by gp2 at the posterior end of the narrow, irregular bridge connecting the exopodal plate; lyrifissure ip4 at the margin of the exopodal plate; peritreme extending forward almost to level of z1.

Gnathosoma — (Figs. 3C, 3D): anteromedian region of epistome apparently truncate and smooth. Fixed cheliceral digit almost strait, 32–40 long, with 7–9 teeth in addition to the apical tooth; movable digit sigmoid, 32–35 long, with one tooth; spermatodactyl 50–60 long, sinuous, directed initially down- and forward and then up- and forward, narrowing down from base to apex, with truncate tip and with barely noticeable enlargement; dorsal and antiaxial lyrifissures distinct; dorsal seta short, thorn-shaped. Deutosternum demarcated by lateral lines, with smooth anterior and posterior margins containing three basal denticulate transverse lines, each with 6–15 denticles followed by fours smooth transverse lines. Setal lengths: h1 15 (13–16), h2 14 (13–15), h3 20 (20–22), sc 14 (13–16); palp trochanter av 14 (14–15), pv 10 (9–10). Corniculus 32 (30–35) long and 7 (6–8) wide at widest level, parallel to each other. Internal malae subtriangular, thoroughly fimbriate.

Legs — Leg lengths: I, 290 (270–310); II, 260 (250–275); III, 265 (263–270) and IV 340 (330–363). Leg chaetotaxy and shape as in adult female; also, no macrosetae, but pv1 and pv2 of femora I–II and pv of genua and tibiae of same legs distinctly stouter and longer than av setae of same segments.

Type specimens

Holotype female, three paratype females, and one paratype male, on Conotelus spp. (Insecta: Nitidulidae), from flowers of Passiflora edulis Sims (Passifloraceae), collected by C.A. Gómez-Moya on 9-V-2019 at Duey (DD lat, long: 19.0005754, -70.0485666), Cotui, Sánchez Ramírez province, Dominican Republic, deposited in the mite collection of Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura ''Luiz de Queiroz″, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Estado de São Paulo, Brazil. Four paratype females and one paratype male, same data, deposited in the Entomological Collection of Instituto de Investigaciones Botánicas y Zoológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; and five paratype females and one paratype male, on the same insect carrier and the same plant, collected by A.O. Feliz Lebrón at Juana Vicenta (DD lat, long: 19.226665, -69.4213367), Samaná province, Dominican Republic, deposited in the Entomological Collection of Museo Nacional de Historia Natural ''Prof. Eugenio de Jesús Marcano″, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (MNHNSD).

Etymology

The epithet ''elcotoy» is a name in apposition referring to the place of origin of the type specimens of the new species (El Cotoy), the ancient name of Cotui.

Remarks

This new species closely resembles Proctolaelaps micropilis De Leon, 1963 in different ways, as by having very short dorsal idiosomal setae, a line parallel to the margin of dorsal shield demarcating a lateral band in which most r-R setae are inserted, r3 on dorsal shield and anal shield with distinct median anteromarginal lobe; however, P. micropilis differs from the new species by having dorsal shield mostly smooth, reticulated only anterolaterally, genital shield medially reticulate, spermathecal structure narrow next to solenostome and wider and seemingly punctate for most of its extension and males with ventrianal shield (instead of with separate ventral and anal shields in P. elcotoy n. sp.). It is also similar to Proctolaelaps lobatus De Leon, 1963 in different ways, including by the short dorsal idiosomal setae, the presence of ipz1 and the similar shape of the spermathecal apparatus; however, P. lobatus differs from the new species by lacking a line parallel to the margin of the dorsal shield, by having r3 off the shield, j1 much shorter than Z5, anal shield without distinct median anteromarginal lobe, an extensive central area of the podonotal region smooth, the presence of only one pl seta on tibia III (according to Halliday et al. 1998, but see subsequent note) and males with ventrianal shield [as reported by Abo-Shnaf et al. (2016), and differently from what was mentioned by Halliday et al. (1998), specimens identified as P. lobatus from the Dominican Republic have two pl setae on tibia III; Brazilian specimens that we identified as P. lobatus also have two pl setae on tibia III]. Proctolaelaps micropiloides Karg, 1994 is also similar in relation to the lengths of the dorsal idiosomal setae and the presence of marginal band bearing the R setae, differing by having one of the marginal setae (apparently r6) off the dorsal shield, chelicera with discreet dorsal seta, different ornamentation of sternal shield, and anal shield without distinct median anteromarginal lobe. Proctolaelaps pistilli Ma & Yin, 1999 also looks similar to the new species, differing from it by having Z5 longer than other dorsal shield setae and J5 very short; sternal shield with posterior margin about straight, and anal shield subquadrate. Nothing has been mentioned in the literature about the number of pl setae on tibia III of P. macropilis, P. macropiloides and P. pistilli.

Discussion

The presence of metapodal plates in males of Proctolaelaps species is not common. For most Proctolaelaps species whose adult males have been described, discrete metapodal platelets have not been shown. Apparently, this is due to their fusion with the large subtriangular ventrianal shield. Few species of Proctolaelaps have the anterior section of the ventrianal shield narrowed, namely P. glaucis Fain, Hyland & Aitken, 1977, P. hunteri Fain, Hyland & Aitken, 1977, P. jurgatus OConnor, Colwell & Naeem, 1991, P. kirmsei Fain, Hyland & Aitken, 1977 and P. mermillion OConnor, Colwell & Naeem, 1991; all of these have a pair of large metapodal plates; these mites have either been found in association with hummingbirds or in flowers. Yet three other species (P. belemensis Fain, Hyland & Aitken, 1977, P. naskreckii Dusbabek & Havlicek, in Dusbabek et al. 2007 and P. threnetes Dusbabek & Literak, in Dusbabek et al. 2007), also described from hummingbirds, have wider ventrianal shields and do not have discrete metapodal platelets.

Males of most Proctolaelaps species have separate sternogenital and ventrianal shields. However, in males of P. holoventris Moraes, Britto, Mineiro & Halliday, 2016 the ventral idiosomal shields are fused, as suggested by its name. Proctolaelaps elcotoy Gómez-Moya & Martin sp. nov. seems to be the first species of the genus to have well separate ventral and anal shields, despite the delusive impression in males of P. belemensis, with a constriction between the anal and the ventral section of the shield. Likewise, the presence of ipz1 (in both sexes of the species here described) is also uncommon. Putatively the same lyrifissure, was reported by Lindquist and Moraza (2008) in deutonymphs but in no other stages of Spadiseius calyptrogynae Lindquist & Moraza (Melicharidae), and not in any developmental stages of another species of the same genus described in that publication. Lyrifissure ipz1 should not be confused with that designated ip1 by Lindquist and Moraza (2008), also on the peritrematic plate, next to s2 and to the inner margin of the peritrematic plate.

The family Melicharidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) is little known in the Dominican Republic. According to Perez-Gelabert (2020) and Santos et al. (2023), only one previous publication (Abo-Shnaf et al. 2016) refers to species of this family in that country, reporting the following species: Proctolaelaps bickleyi (Bram, 1956), Proctolaelaps aff. fiseri Samšiňák, 1960 and P. lobatus. This is an extremely small number, given that over 150 species are presently included in this genus of worldwide distribution (Santos et al. 2023).

Some species of genus Proctolaelaps have been mentioned to have potential as biological control agents (Moraes et al. 2015). Hence the interest on the study of this particular new species found in association with Conotelus, considering the potential of these beetles to cause economic damage to passionfruit, as observed in Brazil.

Proctolaelaps species have shown diverse feeding habits in different habitats, including association with insects, plant foliage, tree bark, laboratory cultures, beetle galleries, nests of birds and ants, moss, rotten fruits and litter (Lindquist and Hunter 1965; Moraes et al. 2015; Santos et al. 2023). About 25 species of Proctolaelaps have been reported as phoretic on beetles (Lindquist and Hunter 1965, Trach and Khaustov 2017, Duarte et al. 2018, Silva et al. 2020, Santos et al. 2023). At least two of these have been reported in association with nitidulid species; however, this seems to be the first report of association between a Proctolaelaps and a Conotelus species.

Acknowledgements

To Fondo Nacional de Innovación y Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (FONDOCYT), for subsidizing the projects 2016-2017-179 and 2016-2017-127. To Eddy Antigua and Pedro Agramonte, Ministry of Agriculture office of the Sánchez Ramírez province; to Elsa Tineo, laboratory assistant at the Mata Larga Experimental Station, IDIAF, San Francisco de Macorís, Duarte province and to the students Mariely Jerez, Santo Jiménez and Eliazer Brito (UTECO School of Agronomy), for the collaboration provided.

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