Zootaxa, Acari, Prostigmata, Eriophyoidea

Zootaxa 1037: 23–28 (2005) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/

ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)

Copyright © 2005 Magnolia Press

ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)

ZOOTAXA

A new eriophyoid mite in the genus Disella from Ilex paraguariensis in Brazil DENISE NAVIA1 & CARLOS H. W. FLECHTMANN2 1

Researcher, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Laboratório de Quarentena Vegetal, C. P. 02372, 70.770-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil ([email protected]) 2 CNPq-Brazil Researcher, Universidade de São Paulo/ESALQ, Departamento de Entomologia, Fitopatologia e Zoologia Agrícola, 13.418-900 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil ([email protected])

Abstract A new phytophagous mite species of Disella Newkirk & Keifer genus (Eriophyidae, Nothopodinae), namely D. ilicicola n. sp., is described from Ilex paraguariensis Saint Hilaire (Aquifoliaceae) from South Brazil. This is the second Eriophyoidea mite reported infesting I. paraguariensis in Brazil and the second Disella species described from Ilex host plants. Key words: Acari, Prostigmata, Eriophyoid, Erva-Mate, Aquifoliaceae, South American holly

Introduction Ilex paraguariensis Saint Hilaire (Aquifoliaceae) is a medium-sized evergreen tree indigenous to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, where it is commonly known as “ErvaMate” or “Yerba Mate”. It is in the holly family, and bears holly-like leaves that are quite stiff and leathery. Ilex paraguariensis leaves are used as a natural, refreshing tea beverage since the time of the ancient Indians of Brazil and Paraguay throughout South America. Nowadays it is cultivated in many tropical or subtropical countries to supply a world demand for its leaves. In addition to its standing as a popular beverage, I. paraguariensis has been used in herbal medicine as a tonic, diuretic, and as a stimulant to reduce fatigue, suppress appetite, and aid gastric function systems (Taylor, 2004). Eriophyoidea mites were firstly mentioned infesting I. paraguarienis groves in Brazil by Parseval (1939). This author reported the presence of a “disease” symptom, later associated with eriophyid infestations and not with a pathogen, even before 1939, in several localities of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. According to Parseval (1939), the description of these symptoms was similar to those reported by the entomologist E. E.

Accepted by Z.-Q. Zhang: 14 Jul. 2005; published: 19 Aug. 2005

23

1037

ZOOTAXA

1037

Blanchard, from Argentina, indicating the mite was disseminated in I. paraguariensis groves areas in South America. Parseval (1939) presented a clear photomicrograph of the eriophid mite and tentatively assigned it as a Phyllocoptes species. Twenty years later a Phyllocoptinae (Eriophyoidea) species, Dichopelmus notus Keifer 1959, was described from I. paraguariensis specimens collected in Misiones Argentina and which corresponds to the species referred by Parseval (1939). In January 2004 high populations of another Eriophyoidea, distinct of D. notus, were observed infesting I. paraguariensis in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. This Eriophyoid mite, belonging to the genus Disella Newkirk & Keifer 1975, was found to be new to science and is herein described. Up to now twelve species were assigned to the genus Disella (Amrine et al. 2003), one on plants of the genus Ilex, Disella ilicis (Keifer 1965), described from Ilex glabra (L.), from Florida, USA. The new species is the second one from an Ilex host plant and the 14th in the genus Disella. Measurements are given in micrometers. For females, each measurement of the holotype precedes the corresponding range for the paratypes. Some measurements of the male paratype could not be taken because of the orientation it was mounted. In the description of the eriophyid mite ventral opisthosomal annuli count starts from genitalia rear margin and dorsal opisthosomal annuli count from prodorsal rear margin.

Disella ilicicola n. sp. (Figs. 1 and 2) Diagnosis — Six-rayed empodia; short sternal line; dorsal shield tubercles well ahead of rear shield margin, scapular setae (sc) shorter than distance of its bases to rear shield margin; microtubercles on ventral opisthosomal annuli absent on two longitudinal bands extending back from sides of rear end of genitalia, merging at half the distance of ventral seta I (d) to II (e) and ending at ca. half the distance of ventral seta II (e) to III (f). Female (Measurements of holotype and ranges of eight paratypes) — Body robust, fusiform, 188 (169–197) long, 78 (76–80) wide; colour in life yellowish. Gnathosoma projecting downwards, 20 (20–23) long; basal seta (ep) 3 (2–3) long; antapical seta (d) 3 (3–4) long. Chelicerae 20 (20–22) long; oral stylets 12 (12–16) long. Prodorsal shield 43 (42–46) long, 75 (71–77) wide, subretangular. Scapular seta (sc) 8 (7–8) long on prominent tubercles 31 (28–33) apart, directing setae up and backwards; tubercles placed ahead of rear shield margin on 2/3 posterior shield. Shield design of complete median line, admedian lines slightly sinuous, two transversal lines connecting median and admedian lines delimiting six median cells; irregular, curved submedian lines; many curved and discontinuous lines and dashes present on lateral and rear shield; in a lateral view, large cells occupy anterior shield margin. Frontal lobe broadly rounded anteriorly, 4 (4–5) long, base 24 (24–28) wide. Legs with tibia fused to tarsus. Leg I 20 (19–21) long; femur 9 (8– 10) long, femoral seta (bv) 5 (5–6) long; genu 4 (3–4) long, genual seta (l”) 21 (20–23) 24

© 2005 Magnolia Press

NAVIA & FLECHTMANN

long; tarsus 4 (4–5) long, lateral seta (ft”) 20 long, dorsal seta (ft’) 16 (15–18) long, unguinal seta (u’) 6 (5–7) long, solenidion 6 (6–7) long; empodium 6 (5–7) long, 6- (6–7) rayed. Leg II 17 (17–19) long; femur 9 (8–9) long, bv 6 (5–8) long; genu 3 long, l" 7 (6–8) long; tarsus 5 long, ft" 20 (19–20) long, ft’ 2 (2–3) long, u’ 4 (4–5) long, solenidion 6 (5– 6) long; empodium 5 long, 6- (5–6) rayed. Coxigenital area smooth. Sternal line 4 (4–6)

FIGURE 1. Disella ilicicola n. sp. D. — Dorsal habitus of female. V. — Ventral habitus of female.

A NEW DISELLA


25

ZOOTAXA

1037

ZOOTAXA

1037

long. Coxal seta I (1b) absent; coxal seta II (1a) 18 (16–19) long, 11 (9–11) apart; coxal seta III (2a) 26 (25–28) long, 26 (23–27) apart. Four coxigenital semi annuli, smooth. Genitalia 20 (19–20) wide, 19 (17–21) long; coverflap with one or two transverse arched lines on the rear portion; central area smooth; 3 (3–4) semi-annuli, microtuberculate, on anterior coverflap; genital seta (3a) 8 (7–9) long. Opisthosoma with two slight ridges extending on first 2 (2–4) annuli and evenly arched on median and posterior region; 42 (40–45) dorsal annuli, smooth; ventrally with 42 (40–45) annuli, microtubercles absent in two longitudinal bands extending back from sides of rear end of genitalia, merging at half the distance of ventral seta I (d) to II (e) and ending at ca. half the distance of ventral seta II (e) to III (f), placed slightly ahead of rear border of annuli, more elongated on telosome (caudad of line across bases of seta f). Lateral seta (c2) 20 (17–20) long, on annulus 1–2. Ventral seta I (d) 20 (19–21) long, 37 (36–41) apart, 4 (4–6) microtubercles apart, on annulus 10 (10–13); ventral seta II (e) 7 (6–8) long, 20 (16–20) apart, on annulus 22 (20– 26); ventral seta III (f) lateral, 17 (17–18) long, 19 (16–20) apart, 11 (11–15) microtubercles apart, on annulus 37 (35–40). Caudal seta (h2) 37 (36–40) long; accessory seta (h1) minute. Male (n=1) — Smaller than female, 106 long, 69 wide. Gnathosoma 19 long; basal seta (ep) 3 long; antapical seta 4 long. Chelicerae 18 long; oral stylets 12 long. Prodorsal shield 44 long, 67 wide. Scapular seta (sc) 7 long, 26 apart. Frontal lobe 4 long, base 22 wide. Legs as in female. Leg I 20 long; femur 9 long, femoral seta (bv) 4 long; genu 3 long, genual seta (l") 23 long; tarsus 5 long, lateral seta (ft") 18 long, dorsal seta (ft’) 15 long, unguinal seta (u’) 5 long, solenidion 6 long; empodium 6 long, as in female, 6-rayed. Leg II 17 long; femur 8 long, bv 5 long; genu 3 long, l" 7 long; tarsus 4 long, ft" 19 long, ft’ 2 long, u’ 4 long, solenidion 5 long; empodium 5 long, 5-rayed. Coxigenital area smooth. Coxal seta I (1b) absent; coxal seta II (1a) 16 long, 8 apart; coxal seta III (2a) 24 long, 22 apart. Genitalia 16 wide, 11 long, smooth, papillae as figured; genital seta (3a) 9 long. Opisthosoma with 40 dorsal annuli; 42 ventral annuli. Lateral seta (c2) 15 long, on annulus 1. Ventral seta I (d) 16 long, 30 apart, 5 microtubercles apart, on annulus 10; ventral seta II (e) 8 long, 14 apart, on annulus 22–23; ventral seta III (f) 12 long, 18 apart, on annulus 37. Caudal seta (h2) 37 long; accessory seta (h1) minute. Type material — female holotype, 8 female and 1 male paratypes, from Ilex paraguariensis Saint Hilaire (Aquifoliaceae), Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brazil, 20 January 2004, collected by L. A. Chiarardia and J. M. Milanez, on 7 microscopic preparations, in the collection of Departamento de Entomologia, Fitopatologia e Zoologia Agrícola, Universidade de São Paulo, ESALQ, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil and paratypes in the reference collection of Laboratorio de Quarentena Vegetal, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil. Relation to host — vagrant on inner surface of mature leaves causing chlorosis. Etymology — The specific designation ilicicola is derived from the genus, Ilex, of the host plant, plus cola, L. -colus, a, um, dwelling in, inhabitant.

26


NAVIA & FLECHTMANN

ZOOTAXA

1037

FIGURE 2. Disella ilicicola n. sp. L. — Lateral habitus of female. GM. — Genitalia of male. L1. — Leg I. L2. — Leg II. E. — empodium.

A NEW DISELLA


27

ZOOTAXA

1037

Remarks — Disella ilicicola n. sp. is, so far, the only species in the genus with a 6rayed empodium; this structure being 4-, 5- or 7-rayed in the other known species. It is close to D. talisiae (Keifer 1969) in the absence of ventral microtubercles in two longitudinal bands (in the other known species the ventral annuli are entirely microtuberculate), but differs in the opisthosomal annulation: 22 dorsal and 34 ventral annuli in D. talisiae and 40–45 dorsal and ventral annuli in D. ilicicola n. sp.. It also shares with D. talisiae the presence of one or two transverse arched lines on the rear portion of the otherwise smooth coverflap; in the other known species the coverflap is either smooth, beset with longitudinal lines or is granulated in addition to the presence of crescent lines.

Acknowledgements We are grateful to L. A. Chiarardia and J. M. Milanez, “Centro de Pesquisa para Agricultura Familiar (CEPAF), Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária e Extensão Rural de Santa Catarina (EPAGRI)”, Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brazil, for collection and sending of the material and for providing informations.

References Amrine, J.W. jr.; Stasny, T.A.H. & C.H. Flechtmann (2003) Revised keys to world genera of Eriophyoidea (Acari: Prostigmata). Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, 244 pp. Keifer, H.H. (1959) Eriophyid Studies 28. Occasional Papers (2), Bureau of Entomology, California Department of Agriculture, 10–11. Keifer, H.H. (1965) Eriophyid Studies B-13. Bureau of Entomology, California Department of Agriculture, 19 pp. Keifer, H.H. (1969) Eriophyid Studies C-2. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 17 pp. Newkirk, R.A. & Keifer, H.H. (1975) Synoptic keys to groups and genera. Eriophyoidea. In: Jeppson L.R., Keifer H.H.& Baker E.W. (Eds.), Mites Injurious to Economic Plants. University California Press, Berkeley, Califonia, USA, pp. 562–587. Parseval, M. von (1939) Eriofídas no Brasil. Revista Agronômica, Porto Alegre 3(30), 511–517. Taylor, L. (2004) The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs. Square One Publishing, New York, 268 pp.

28


NAVIA & FLECHTMANN