Flat Mites of the World

Authority

Evans

Species group characters

Brevipalpus phoenicis species group

Dorsal opisthosomal setae f2 absent; tarsi II with 2 solenidia (one adaxial, one abaxial). Palps four segmented, setal formula 0-1-2-3(1s+2e) (s = solenidion, e = eupathidium).

Setal formula for legs I-IV (coxae to tarsi): 2-2-1-1, 1-1-2-1, 4-4-2-1, 3-3-1-1, 5-5-3-3, 9(1)-10(1)-5-5. Leg chaetotaxy: feI-II d, l', v', bv", fe III d, ev', fe IV ev'; ge I-II d, l', l", ge III-IV l'; ti I-II d, l', l", v', v", ti III-IV d, v', v".

Distribution based on confirmed specimens

Honduras

Species characters

Adult female habitus

Figure 1

Prodorsum

Central (Fig. 2): cuticle with weak areolae

Sublateral (Fig. 2): posterior region with reticulation of large cells; anterior region with large cells to setae v2, and large smooth region anterolaterally

Opisthosoma

c1-c1 to d1-d1: cuticle smooth or with weak wrinkles (Fig. 3)

d1-d1 to e1-e1: cuticle with short transverse folds (Fig. 3)

e1-e1 to h1-h1: cuticle with a few weak chevrons (V-shaped folds), becoming smooth towards h1-h1 (Fig. 4)

Sublateral: cuticle reticulate with large, uniform, broad cells (Figs. 3, 4)

Palp

palp femurogenu with barbed, broad flat dorsal seta (Fig. 5)

Venter

Setae 4a-ventral plate (Fig. 6): cuticle with reticulation of large irregular cells, slightly weaker centrally

Ventral plate (Fig. 7): cuticle with irregularly shaped cells or "warts"; central cells more elongate than lateral cells

Genital plate (Fig. 7): with large cells

Spermatheca

A moderately thick duct is visible, but no vesicle is visible

Hosts based on confirmed specimens

Chamaedorea sp. (Arecaceae); Hydrocotyle mexicana (Apiaceae); Passiflora bicolor (Passifloraceae); *pearl flower Heterocentron subtriplinervium (Melastomataceae)

* = holotype

Remarks

Beard, J.J., Ochoa, R., Braswell, W.E. & Bauchan, G.R. (2015) Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) species complex (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) — a closer look. Zootaxa, 3944(1), 1-67. (open access: http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/list/2015/3944%281%29.html)

Evans, G., Cromroy, H.L. & Ochoa, R. (1993) The Tenuipalpidae of Honduras (Tenuipalpidae: Acari). Florida Entomologist, 76(1), 126-155.