First record of Tenuipalpuspanici de Leon (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) in South America, with new morphological data and a discussion on the ontogeny of setae

Abstract

Tenuipalpus panici De Leon was originally described from female specimens collected on Panicum maximum Jacq. (Poaceae) from South of Baranquetas, Puerto Rico. In this paper, we redescribe the female of T. panici based on the holotype and on specimens newly collected in Brazil. It is the first record of the species in South America. Females, nymphs and larvae were collected on Paspalum notatum Flugge (Poaceae); males were absent. New morphological data for both females and immatures (e.g., dorsal and ventral ornamentation, gnathosomal, idiosomal, leg chaetotaxy, and measurements) and a discussion on the patterns of ontogenetic setal additions for all the immature stages are provided. Tenuipalpus panici is the only species of the genus known with two setae appearing on femur IV in the protonymph and successive stages.