Two new species of Tarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

The Tarsonemidae (Acari: Prostigmata) exhibit a high diversity of feeding habits and morphological structures, which allow them to live in a diversity of habitats. Tarsonemus is the largest genus, with more than 280 described species belonging to three subgenera: Tarsonemus sensu stricto, Chaetotarsonemus and Schaarschmidtia. Eight species of the genus have been reported from Brazil. In addition, there are two new species, Tarsonemus cacaosp. nov. from Theobroma cacao L. (Malvaceae) branches, and Tarsonemus bahiensissp. nov. from Passiflora foetida L. (Passifloraceae) and Etlingera elatior Jack (Zingiberaceae) leaves. Both new species were collected in a cabruca agroforest, a traditional cacao cultivation system in the southern coast region of Bahia state. The new Tarsonemidae are described and illustrated here. Pharyngeal and gnathosomal structures of the new species are compared to other Tarsonemus species.