Systematic & Applied Acarology (2006) 11, 195–203.

ISSN 1362-1971

A new species of Steneotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from Brazil

A.C. LOFEGO1 & M.G.C. GONDIM JR2

1CentroUniversitário do Norte Paulista (UNORP), 15020-040, São José do Rio Preto-SP, Brazil.
E-mail: aclofego@ig.com.br
2
Depto. Agronomia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, 52171-900, Recife-PE, Brazil.
E-mail: mguedes@ufrpe.br

Abstract

Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum sp. nov. (Acari: Tarsonemidae) was described from adult females and males
collected on Cocos nucifera L. in northeastern Brazil. This species was distinguished from other species of the
genus Steneotarsonemus by the strong concave posterior margin of the prodorsal shield of females. This new
species was more abundant during dry season in that region. The damage on coconut fruits caused by S.
concavuscutum was observed as necrotic longitudinal bands.

Key words: Coconut, Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum sp. nov., description, Brazil

Introduction

Tarsonemid mites of the genus Steneotarsonemus are phytophagous and specialized on

monocotyledon plants (Lindquist 1986; Ochoa et al. 1991b; Smiley et al. 1993; Almaguel et al.
2000). Only one species of this genus (Steneotarsonemus furcatus De Leon) has been reported from
coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), damaging fruits in Central America and in Brazil (Ochoa et al. 1991a;
Navia et al. 2005). A new species of Steneotarsonemus was recently collected on fruits of this plant
species, provoking damage on coconut fruits in northeastern Brazil. This new species is described in
this paper.
The terminology follows Lindquist (1986). For each structure, the mean measurement is given
in micrometers, followed in parentheses by the respective range.

Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum sp. nov.

(Figs. 1–12)

Diagnosis
This species differs from others in the genus by the strongly concave posterior margin of the
prodorsal shield of females, and by absence of the spinelike seta (pl") on tarsus II of males and
females.

Adult female (5 specimens measured).

Gnathosoma: subcircular, length 35 (32–40), maximum width 39 (35–43); dorsal apodeme
distinct. Setae ch 16 (14–18), serrate; setae vm 7 (6–8), smooth; seta pp not observed. Palpus short

© 2006 Systematic & Applied Acarology Society 195

and robust, with one tiny basal seta and one slight longer subterminal seta. Pharynx fusiform, 8 (8–
9) long and 4 (3–5) wide at widest region.
Idiosoma (Figs. 1 and 2): length 209 (180–245), width at level of c1 115 (110–125). Prodorsal
shield with anterior margin truncate, covering only base of the gnathosoma; posterior margin
conspicuously concave. Stigmata located slightly anteriad to bases of setae v1. Lengths of dorsal
setae: v1 10 (9–11), sc1 15 (15–16), sc2 11 (10–13), c1 7 (7–9), c2 9 (8–12), d 7 (6–9), e 8 (7–9), f 8
(7–10), h 12 (10–15). All setae serrate and setiform, except sc1 which is capitate and has tiny spines.
Distances between dorsal setae: v1–v1 37 (36–38 ), sc2–sc2 43 (40–46), v1–sc2 48 (45–50), c1–c1 52
(49–54), c2–c2 107 (100–112), c1–c2 33 (30–43), d–d 43 (40–47), f–f 32 (29–37), e–f 19 (16–22), h–
h 35 (32–38).

FIGURE 1. Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum sp. nov. (female). Dorsal surface.

196 SYSTEMATIC & APPLIED ACAROLOGY VOL. 11

 Coxisternal setae 1a 6 (5–7), inserted near anterior end of apodeme I; 2a 7 (6–9), near middle
of apodeme II; 3a 8 (7–8), near anterior end of apodeme III; 3b 9 (7–10), on posterior end of apodeme
IV. Apodeme I conspicuous, fused to anterior end of prosternal apodeme forming a Y-shaped
structure with it. Apodeme II weakly fused to prosternal apodeme. Prosternal apodeme conspicuous
from junction with apodeme I to level of apodeme II, not discernible from this point to level of
sejugal apodeme. Sejugal apodeme discernible near lateral extremes but interrupted medially.
Apodeme III extending diagonally from proximity of base of seta 3a to anterior margin of trochanter
III, diffuse and curved near 3a; apodeme IV short, slightly curved, ending at base of 3b. Poststernal
apodeme absent. Tegula 19 (17–20) long and 38 (37–40) wide; posterior margin rounded. Seta ps
smooth. All ventral plates with faint puncta.

FIGURE 2. Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum sp. nov. (female). Ventral surface.

2006 LOFEGO & GONDIM JR: A NEW SPECIES OF STENEOTARSONEMUS FROM BRAZIL 197
FIGURES 3–6. Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum sp. nov. (female). 3, leg I; 3', sensorial cluster;
4, leg II; 5, leg III; 6, leg IV.

198 SYSTEMATIC & APPLIED ACAROLOGY VOL. 11

 Legs (Figs. 3–6): lengths (femur to tarsus): leg I 41 (40–43), leg II 42 (38–44), leg III 49 (42–
55), leg IV 33 (29–35). Number of setae (solenidia in parentheses) on femur, genu, tibia and tarsus,
respectively: leg I: 4-4-6(2)-7(1), leg II: 3-3-4-4(1), leg III: 1+3-4-4. Tarsal solenidion ω of
tibiotarsus I 5 (4–6), stout and bacilliform. Sensory cluster of tibia I complete; solenidion φ1 3,
capitate; solenidion φ2 2, robust and rod-shaped; famulus k 4 (4–5); all those inserted at
approximately the same level. Seta d of tibia I 26 (23–29), smooth. Solenidion ω of tarsus II 5 (4–
5), stout and rod-shaped; seta pl´´ absent. Seta d of tibia II 11 (10–12), smooth. Femorogenu IV 24
(20–25); tibiotarsus IV 9 (8–10). Length of setae of leg IV: v´F 6 (5–6), v´G 9 (8–9), v´Ti 18 (16–21)
and tc´´ 70 (60–75); all setae smooth.

Adult male (5 specimens measured).

Gnathosoma: subcircular, length 37 (31–40), maximum width 38 (33–41); dorsal apodeme
conspicuous. Setae ch 18 (15–22) and vm 10 (8–12) smooth, seta pp not observed. Palpus similar to
female. Pharynx fusiform, 9 (8–10) long and 4 (4–5) wide at widest region.
Idiosoma (Figs. 7 and 8): length 191 (170–205), maximum width 114 (95–128). Prodorsal shield
trapezoidal. Length of dorsal setae: v1 20 (16–24), v2 14 (11–16), sc1 47 (36–53), sc2 27 (23–29), c1
16 (12–18), c2 40 (30–45), d 18 (14–20), f 15 (12–16). All setae setiform and slightly serrate, except
c2 which is smooth. Distances between dorsal setae: v1–v1 26 (25–28), v2–v2 32 (30–34), sc1–sc1 42
(38–46), sc2–sc2 50 (47–55), v1–v2 12 (11–14), v2–sc1 11 (10–13), sc1–sc2 20 (17–23), c2–c2 105
(90–115), c1–c1 70 (61–77), c1–c2 33 (29–37), d–d 47 (41–50), f–f 26 (25–28). Seta c1 slightly closer
to d than to c2, postero-mediad to the latter.
Coxisternal seta 1a 10 (9–12), mediad and slightly anterior to cupula of coxisternal plate 1; seta
2a 11 (10–13), mediad and well anterior to cupula of coxisternal plate 2; seta 3a 11 (10–13), near
middle of apodeme III; seta 3b 11 (10–13), near posterior third of apodeme IV. Apodeme I fused to
anterior end of prosternal apodeme; apodeme II not fused to prosternal apodeme. Prosternal apodeme
uninterrupted, fused with sejugal apodeme. Sejugal apodeme uninterrupted and centrally fused with
prosternal apodeme. Lines of fusion between coxae III and IV with venter of idiosoma conspicuous
(apodemes III and IV, poststernal apodeme and connecting apodemes); apodeme III almost
transversal; poststernal apodeme widening posteriorly, bearing a pair of spine-shaped structures near
its anterior third. All ventral plates with faint puncta.
Legs (Figs. 9–12): length (femur to tarsus): leg I 62 (53–67), leg II 66 (55–75), leg III 74 (58–
85), leg IV 57 (54–65). Number of setae (solenidia in parentheses) on femur, genu, tibia and tarsus:
leg I: 4-4-6(2)-7(1), leg II: 3-3-4-4(1), leg III: 1-3-4-3. Solenidion ω of tarsus I 5 (4–5), stout and
rodlike. Sensory cluster of tibia I complete, solenidion φ1 3 (3–4), capitate; solenidion φ2 2 (2–3),
rodlike; famulus k 4 (4–5), inserted slightly distal to φ1 and φ2. Seta d of tibia I 34 (27–40), serrate.
Solenidion ω of tarsus II proximal, 5 (4–6) long, stout and rodlike. Seta pl´´ absent. Seta d of tibia
II 29 (20–35), serrate.
Leg IV robust. Trochanter IV wider than long, seta v´ 12 (10–14), smooth. Femorogenu IV 44
(36–50) long and 21 (17–25) wide at its base level, with a well development and round protuberance
on posterolateral surface between bases of setae v´F and v'G. Seta v´F 11 (9–12), v'G 16 (13–19) and
l´´G 13 (9–15), all smooth . Tibia IV 6 (5–6), solenidion φ 6 (5–7), bacilliform; seta v'Ti 32 (27–35),
smooth. Tarsus IV short 4 (3–4), bearing 3 smooth setae of following lengths: tc" 4 (3–4), pv" 6 (5–
6) and u' 4 (3–4). Claw well developed.

Type specimens
Holotype female, 21 paratype females, 1 allotype male and 17 paratype males from Cocos
nucifera L., Maragogi, State of Alagoas, Brazil, 12/XII/2005, M.G.C. Gondim Jr.; deposited at the
mite reference collection of Departamento de Entomologia, Fitopatologia e Zoologia Agrícola,

2006 LOFEGO & GONDIM JR: A NEW SPECIES OF STENEOTARSONEMUS FROM BRAZIL 199
Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, 13418-900 Piracicaba-
SP. Twelve paratype females and 6 paratype males, same collection data as holotype, deposited at
United States National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC 20560,
USA .

FIGURE 7. Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum sp. nov. (male). Dorsal surface.

Remarks
This new species has been found only on fruits of coconuts and always under bracts. Despite of
surveys conducted on flowers and leaves no mites were found in these plant parts. The damage
observed on infested fruits consisted of longitudinal necrotic bands, usually beginning under the

200 SYSTEMATIC & APPLIED ACAROLOGY VOL. 11

bracts and sometimes reaching almost all length of the fruits (Fig. 13), which is very similar to those
symptoms produced by Steneotarsonemus furcatus De Leon. The initial symptoms of S.
concavuscutum attacks occur on younger fruits and became more noticeable on older fruits. In
northeastern Brazil, S. concavuscutum are found in more abundance during the dry season, from
September to Mach.

Etymology
The epithet concavuscutum refers to the concavity of the posterior margin of the female
prodorsal shield.

FIGURE 8. Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum sp. nov. (male). Ventral surface.

2006 LOFEGO & GONDIM JR: A NEW SPECIES OF STENEOTARSONEMUS FROM BRAZIL 201
FIGURES 9–12. Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum sp. nov. (male). 9, leg I; 9', sensorial cluster;
10, leg II; 11, leg III; 12, leg IV.

Acknowledgements

To International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) represented by Dr. R. Hanna, coordinator

of project “Baseline surveys of coconut mite and associated fauna in Benin and Brazil”. To Dr.
Gilberto José de Moraes for his critical revision of the manuscript. This work was supported by
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).

202 SYSTEMATIC & APPLIED ACAROLOGY VOL. 11

FIGURE 13. Fruits of Cocos nucifera attacked by Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum.

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Accepted by O. Seeman: 7 Sept. 2006

2006 LOFEGO & GONDIM JR: A NEW SPECIES OF STENEOTARSONEMUS FROM BRAZIL 203