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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #347217
Research Project: Plant Feeding Mite (Acari) Systematics

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: A new species of cave dwelling Neocarus (Acari: Opilioacaridae) from Bahia State, Brazil, with remarks on taxonomic characters

Author
item DE ARAUJO, M. - UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL PAULISTA (UNESP)
item BICHUETTE, MARIA - UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SAO CARLOS
item Bauchan, Gary
item Ochoa, Ronald - Ron
item FERES, R. J - SAO PAULO STATE UNIVERSITY (UNESP)

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2018
Publication Date: 5/28/2018
Citation: De Araujo, M.S., Bichuette, M.E., Bauchan, G.R., Ochoa, R., Feres, R.F. 2018. A new species of cave dwelling Neocarus (Acari: Opilioacaridae) from Bahia State, Brazil, with remarks on taxonomic characters. Zootaxa. 4402:303-322.

Interpretive Summary: Most of the cave soil mites are not well known and information on their feeding and ecology is scarce. This article described a new species and discussed feeding behavior and its importance. This study will be important to ecologists, biologists, soil researchers, biocontrol researchers and entomologists.

Technical Abstract: Neocarus coronatus sp. n., is described from caves and the surrounding epigean environment of a karst area from São Desidério county, Bahia state, Brazil. A dissection procedure is presented for the better use of the scarce Opilioacaridae material, especially to analyze gut content. Sexual dimorphism is presented, mainly by the major density of setae on the dorsal shield in the prominent triangular anterior region. Females have an ovipositor with 3 pairs of smooth digitform projections and 6-8 eugenital setae. Adults have palpal tibiotarsus with 4 d setae. Using Low-Temperature Scanning Electon Microscopy (LT-SEM), evaluation of the chaetotaxy (especially setae shape) and morphology are greatly improved over standard light microscopy techniques enhancing the interpretation of characters for species differentiation. Also, comments of the fragility of microinvertebrates in cave environments are presented.