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A new species of Galendromimus Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from the Caatinga biome, Brazil

Silva, Lídia Rafaele Almeida ¹ ; Gondim Jr., Manoel Guedes Correa ² and Demite, Peterson Rodrigo ³

¹✉ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco – UFRPE, Recife, Brazil.
²Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco – UFRPE, Recife, Brazil.
³Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso – UFMT, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

2024 - Volume: 64 Issue: 1 pages: 32-39

https://doi.org/10.24349/cny5-hj6f
ZooBank LSID: 6162400A-E99F-41A7-9FE8-902B860A86EB

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Original research

Keywords

Galendromimini phytoseiid mites taxonomy Typhlodrominae

Abstract

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Introduction

The tribe Galendromimini consists of a small group of mites in the subfamily Typhlodrominae, family Phytoseiidae (Chant and McMurtry 1994). The species are recognized in four genera (Galendromimus Muma, Cydnoseius Muma, Silvaseius Chant and McMurtry and Breviseius Moraes, Barbosa & Castro) and are included in that tribe (Chant and McMurtry 1994, 2007; Moraes et al. 2013). The genus Galendromimus is characterized by the presence of seta s6 and Z1 and the absence of S2, S4 and R1; z3, J2, S5, JV3, JV4 and ZV3 present or absent; some setae on the dorsal shield, especially Z4 and Z5, elongate, thick and strongly serrated (Chant and McMurtry 1994; Demite et al. 2014); sternal and genital shields smooth; sternal shield lightly sclerotised; ventrianal shield subrectangular, constricted at level of JV3, mostly smooth anterior to anal opening and reticulate elsewhere, with three [JV1, JV2 and ZV2; G. (Nothoseius) borinquensis (De Leon)] or four pairs of pre-anal setae (JV1, JV2, JV3 and ZV2) and a pair of preanal pores of variable position and size; fixed cheliceral digit with few teeth, anterior to pilus dentilis; leg macrosetae absent [differentiated seta on basitarsus IV of G. (N.) borinquensis, not much longer than neighboring setae]; spermatheca variable; and distal end of peritreme anterior of j3 [except G. (Galendromimus) alveolaris (De Leon)] (Chant and McMurtry 1994; Demite et al. 2014). Six species are placed today in Galendromimus (Galendromimus). These are distinguished from the other species of the subgenus Galendromimus (Nothoseius) by the presence of JV3; the absence of JV4 and ZV3; the possible presence of J2 and the possible absence of S5; leg macrosetae absent; and calyx of spermatheca tubular (in some species inflated near atrium) (Demite et al. 2014). The subgenus Galendromimus (Galendromimus) has three species groups based on the presence or absence of z3 and S5 setae — alveolaris group: z3 absent and S5 present; sanctus group: z3 and S5 absent; and roraimensis group: z3 present and S5 absent (Chant and McMurtry 1994; Demite et al. 2014); sanctus species group contains two species, G. (G.) sanctus De Leon and the new species described here from biome Caatinga.

The Caatinga is the biome that covers most of the area with a semi-arid climate in Northeast Brazil, with approximately 912,529 km² distributed in ten states (Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, and Sergipe), which corresponds to 10.7% of the national territory (Silva et al. 2018). The Caatinga has a high level of endemism, with species adapted to the climatic characteristics of low precipitation and humidity (Silva et al. 2018). Araújo and Rodrigues (2023), report 65 species belonging to 22 genera of Phytoseiidae for the Caatinga biome. Recently, two species were described for the biome, Neoparaphytoseius caatinga Silva, Silva & Moraes and Galendromus (Mugidromus) agreste Silva, Gondim Jr. & Demite (Silva et al. 2021, 2023). In this work, a new species of Galendromimus collected from Caatinga biome is described and illustrated.

Material and methods

Mites were collected from leaves of four native plant species [Euphorbiaceae: Croton blanchetianus Baill., Fabaceae: Cenostigma nordestinum E. Gagnon & G.P.Lewis; Bauhinia subclavata Benth. and Anacardiaceae: Spondias tuberosa Arruda], in a Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN; acronym in Portuguese) area of the Caatinga biome, Pedra do Cachorro. The RPPN is located in the municipality of São Caetano, Pernambuco, Brazil (8°14′40.23″S, 36°10′58.46″W). The vegetation of the Caatinga biome has well-defined characteristics: low-sized trees and shrubs that, in general, lose their leaves in the dry season, in addition to many cacti, which have structures adapted to store water (Alvarez et al. 2012). The climate in this region is classified as ''Bsh'' of Köppen and Geiger (hot semi-arid climate), with an average temperature of 22.7 °C and average annual rainfall of 615 mm (APAC; DCA 2022). The collections were carried out in the dry and rainy season, but the occurrence of new species was restricted only to the rainy season.

The mites were observed under a stereomicroscope (40x) and subsequently mounted on slides with Hoyer's medium. The slides were examined under a phase-contrast microscope (Olympus BX41). The illustration and photos of the species was processed with the software Adobe Illustrator CS6, based on images captured by the phase-contrast microscope with attached camera (Leica DMR).

Measurements of taxonomically relevant structures were taken using a graduated eyepiece, and given in micrometers (μm) in the text. The measurements of the holotype are given in bold, followed by the average measurement and then the minimum and maximum values (in parentheses) for the holotype and paratypes. The setal nomenclature was that of Lindquist and Evans (1965) adapted by Rowell et al. (1978) and Lindquist (1994) for the dorsum. The dorsal shield was measured from the level of its connection with the peritremal shield (near seta j1) to its posterior margin. The setal nomenclature for the venter was the proposed by Chant and Yoshida-Shaul (1991). The idiosomal setal pattern follows Chant and Yoshida-Shaul (1992). Terminology for the spermathecal apparatus follows that described by Beard (2001).

The type specimens are deposited in the mite collection of Laboratório de Acarologia da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife, Pernambuco and in the mite collection of Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

Results

Taxonomy

Galendromimus (Galendromimus) kynolithus sp. nov.

ZOOBANK: 3BE18F0E-52BC-4FB8-9E70-D5E25EC74FCF

(Figures 1-2)

Diagnosis

Idiosomal setal pattern (11D:5B; JV-4:ZV-3). Dorsal shield reticulated; setae r3 located in unsclerotized cuticle next to dorsal shield; setae z2, z4, Z1, Z4, Z5, s4, s6 serrated; setae j1, j3, J5 and r3 lightly serrated; setae j4, j5, j6, J2 and z5 smooth; setae z2, z4, Z1, Z4, Z5, s4, s6 distinctly thick; setae on dorsal shield inserted in tubercles (prominent or discrete); peritreme extending to the level of setae j3; sternal shield and metasternal plates not discernible; genital shield smooth; ventrianal shield longer than wide, smooth anterior to anal opening and with some reticulations laterally and posteriorly, with four pairs of preanal setae (JV1, JV2, JV3 and ZV2) and a small pair of rounded pores gv3, located posterior to JV2; JV4 and ZV3 absent; all ventral setae smooth. Spermatheca with calyx elongate and atrium nodular. Legs without macrosetae. Males with ventrianal shield subtriangular, smooth with slight reticulation posterior to anal opening, with five pairs of preanal setae (JV1, JV2, JV3, ZV1 and ZV2), one distinct pair of pores (gv3) posteromesad to JV2; spermatodactyl L-shaped, with indistinct heel.

Female (n = 19)

Dorsum of idiosoma — (Figure 1A). Dorsal shield reticulated, 304 297 (279–314) long and 143 154 (141–173) wide at the level of s4; three pairs of pores (solenostomes) (gd6, gd8 and gd9) and seven lyrifissures (poroids) (id1, idm2, idm3, idm5, idm6, idl3 and idl4) visible. Lengths of setae: j1 20 20 (18–22), j3 15 15 (14–19), j4 8 9 (8–10), j5 9 10 (8–10), j6 9 10 (9–11), J2 11 11 (10–11), J5 12 10 (9–12), z2 24 27 (24–31), z4 38 39 (36–41), z5 10 10 (8–11), Z1 61 58 (53–62), Z4 73 75 (72–80), Z5 80 81 (75–85), s4 38 39 (36–41), s6 49 51 (48–55), r3 16 16 (14–18). Seta r3 located in unsclerotized cuticle next to dorsal shield. Setae z2, z4, Z1, Z4, Z5, s4, s6 serrated; setae j1, j3, J5 and r3 lightly serrated; setae j4, j5, j6, J2 and z5 smooth; setae z2, z4, Z1, Z4, Z5, s4, s6 distinctly thick; setae on dorsal shield inserted in tubercles (prominent in j1, j3, z2, z4, Z1, Z4, Z5, s4 and s6 and discrete in remaining setae).

Peritreme — Extending to the level of j3.

Venter — (Figure 1B). Sternal shield not discernible; distance between st1-st3 58 55 (52–58), st1-st1 53 51 (50–53), st2-st2 63 60 (57–63) and between st3-st3 66 66 (60–71). Metasternal plates not visible. Genital shield smooth, with distance between st5-st5 67 65 (62–68). With one metapodal plate. Ventrianal shield longer than wide, 104 102 (98–106) long, 77 74 (66–78) wide at the level of ZV2 and 73 71 (66–73) wide at the anus level; smooth anterior to anal opening and with some reticulations laterally and posteriorly; with four pairs of preanal setae (JV1, JV2, JV3 and ZV2) and a small pair of rounded pores gv3, located posterior to JV2; distance between gv3-gv3 10 11 (10–12). Unsclerotized cuticle next to the ventrianal shield with two pairs of setae (ZV1 and JV5). JV5 17 16 (14–19). All ventral setae smooth.

Spermatheca — (Figure 1C). Calyx elongate, 21 20 (17–23) long; atrium nodular.

Chelicera — (Figure 1D). Movable digit 20 20 (18–21) long, with one tooth; fixed digit 23 23 (22– 25) long, with two apical teeth.

Legs — (Figure 1E). No macrosetae. Dorsal setae in genu, tibia and basitarsus inserted in tubercles. Chaetotaxy formulae of genu II: 2-2/0-0/2-1 (7 setae), genu III: 2-2/1-1/0-1 (7 setae) and genu IV: 2-2/1-1/0-1 (7 setae).

Male (n=8)

Dorsum of idiosoma — (Figure 2A). Idiosomal setal pattern and ornamentation of dorsal shield as in female; 223 (215–232) long and 132 (126–136) wide at s4 level; only two pores (gd6 and gd8) and five lyrifissures (idm3, idm5, idm6, idl3 and idl4) visible. Lengths of setae: j1 16 (15–18), j3 14 (13–15), j4 9 (8–10), j5 9 (7–10), j6 10 (9–11), J2 10 (9–11), J5 8 (7–9), z2 21 (19–23), z4 29 (27–31), z5 10 (9–10), Z1 38 (35–39), Z4 40 (37–44), Z5 47 (41–50), s4 29 (27–31), s6 35 (31–37), r3 14 (11–15). Seta r3 located on dorsal shield. Setae z2, z4, Z1, Z4, Z5, s4, s6 serrated; setae j1, j3, J5 and r3 lightly serrated; setae j4, j5, j6, J2 and z5 smooth; setae z2, z4, Z1, Z4, Z5, s4, s6 distinctly thick; setae on dorsal shield inserted in tubercles (prominent in j1, j3, z2, z4, Z1, Z4, Z5, s4 and s6, and discrete in remaining setae).

Peritreme — Extending to the level of z2.

Venter — (Figure 2B). Sternogenital shield smooth; ventrianal shield smooth with slight reticulation posteriorly to anal opening, subtriangular; 92 (83–101) long and 123 (110–131) wide at level of anterior corners, with five pairs of preanal setae (JV1, JV2, JV3, ZV1 and ZV2), one distinct pair of pores (gv3) posteromesad to JV2. JV5 11 (10–11) in length. All ventral setae smooth.

Chelicera and spermatodactyl — (Figure 2C). Movable digit 17 (15–18) long, with one tooth; fixed digit 17 (16–18) long, with two apical teeth. Spermatodactyl L-shaped, with indistinct heel; shaft 10 (9–11), foot 8 (7–10).

Legs — No macrosetae. Chaetotaxy of genua II, III and IV as in females.

Type specimens

Holotype female on Cenostigma nordestinum, 18-V-2021, São Caetano, Pernambuco, Brazil (88°14′40.23″S, 36°10′58.46″W), L.R.A. Silva coll. Paratypes: 1 female on Croton blanchetianus; 16 females and 6 males on C. nordestinum; 1 female on Spondias tuberosa; 2 males on Bauhinia subclavata. All paratypes were collected in the same locality, date and same collector as the holotype. The holotype, 10 paratype females on C. nordestinum and 1 paratype female on C. blanchetianus and six paratype males on C. nordestinum and 2 paratype males on B. subclavata are deposited in the collection of Laboratório de Acarologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife, Pernambuco; six paratype females on C. nordestinum and one paratype female on S. tuberosa, are deposited in the collection of Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

Differential Diagnosis

Galendromimus (Galendromimus) kynolithus sp. nov. belongs to the sanctus species group by having the setae J2, Z1 and JV3 present and z3, S2, S4, S5, R1, JV4 and ZV3 absent (setal pattern: 12-1D:5B; JV-4:ZV-3), with a single species: Galendromimus (Galendromimus) sanctus. This new species differs from G. (G.) sanctus by having the setae Z1 (26-47%) and s6 (30-49%) longer (see Table 1), reaching and surpassing the bases of the following setae, respectively (comparing with the redescription by Chant and Yoshida-Shaul 1986). Additionally, in the original description of G. (G.) sanctus and in Chant and Yoshida-Shaul (1986), the spermathecal cervix is wider compared to that of G. (G.) kynolithus sp. nov.

Etymology

The name kynolithus (from greek kyon-kynos, dog and lithos, stone) refers to the combination of the name ''Pedra do Cachorro'', the reserve where the new species was found.

Key to species of Galendromimini of the world

Updated from Demite et al. (2014)

1. Setae S2 and S4 present
...... 2

— Setae S2 and S4 absent
...... 5

2. Seta Z1 absent
...... Breviseius Moraes, Barbosa & Castro – B. sennae Moraes, Barbosa & Castro

— Seta Z1 present
...... Cydnoseius Muma – 3

3. Leg IV without macrosetae
...... C. muntius Schicha & Corpuz-Raros

— Leg IV with macrosetae
...... 4

4. Dorsal shield with scale-like reticules; sternal and ventrianal shields reticulate; genital shield reticulate laterally and smooth centrally
...... C. negevi (Swirski & Amitai)

— Anterior half of dorsal shield transversely striate and posterior half with transversely elongate reticules; ventral shields smooth
...... C. vitis Basha, Yousef, Ibrahim & Mostafa

5. Seta z3 absent; Z1 absent and R1 present
...... Silvaseius Chant & McMurtry – S. barretoae (Yoshida-Shaul & Chant)

— Seta z3 present/absent; Z1 present and R1 absent
...... Galendromimus Muma – 6

6. Setae J2 and JV3 absent; JV4 and ZV3 present; calyx of spermatheca cup-shaped; JV5 stout and serrate
...... Galendromimus (Nothoseius) De Leon – G. (N.) borinquensis (De Leon)

— Seta J2 present/absent, seta JV3 present; JV4 and ZV3 absent; calyx of spermatheca variable; JV5 setiform, smooth or serrate Galendromimus (Galendromimus) Chant & McMurtry
...... 7

7. Seta S5 absent
...... 8

— Seta S5 present
...... alveolaris species group – 10

8. Seta z3 present
...... roraimensis species group – G. (G.) roraimensis Demite & Lofego

— Seta z3 absent
...... sanctus species group – 9

9. Seta Z1 not reaching the base of Z4
...... G. (G.) sanctus De Leon

— Seta Z1 reaching the base of Z4
...... G. (G.) kynolithus sp. nov.

10. Seta J2 absent; JV5 serrated
...... G. (G.) paulista Zacarias & Moraes

— Seta J2 present; JV5 smooth
...... 11

11. Peritreme extending to level of r3
...... G. (G.) alveolaris (De Leon)

— Peritreme extending to level of j1
...... 12

12. With many distinct ''pits'' on the central region of the dorsal shield; r3 on unsclerotised cuticle
...... G. (G.) multipoculi Zacarias, Moraes & McMurtry

— Without ''pits'' on the central region of the dorsal shield; r3 on dorsal shield
...... G. (G.) tunapunensis De Leon

Acknowledgements

Lídia R. A. Silva received a scholarship from ''Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior'' (CAPES); Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for the financial support (Proc. No. 306092/2021-2). Peterson R. Demite received a scholarship (PNPD) from the ''Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior'' (CAPES; Proc. No. 88882.314486/2013-0). We acknowledge Antonio C. Lofego (UNESP, S.J. do Rio Preto, São Paulo) by making available phase contrast-microscopy of Laboratório de Acarologia, UNESP S.J. do Rio Preto, for illustrations and capture of the images; to Jandir C. Santos for the help in making the plates; to Guaraci Cardoso and Márcia Melo for their welcome and permission to carry out the collections at the RPPN Pedra do Cachorro, São Caetano, Pernambuco, Brazil; to PEUFR - Herbário Professor Vasconcelos Sobrinho (UFRPE, Recife, Pernambuco) for plant identification.

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