Tenuipalpus ariauae Feres & Hernandes, 2006, n. sp.

Tenuipalpus ariauae n. sp. Feres & Hernandes (Figs. 21–30)

Diagnosis: This species is placed in the caudatus group, anoplus subgroup (Baker & Tuttle 1987; Meyer 1993), and is similar to T. protectus Meyer (1979) by the pattern of dorsal ornamentation. In T. ariauae, however, only setae sci is developed, the other dorsal setae are minute, except for setae h1, which are very long and whiplike; also differ in the chaetotaxy of legs: T. ariauae: femur IV 1, genu I and II 3, tibia IV 3, tarsi 7(1)­7(1)­3­3; T. protectus: femur IV 2, genua I and II 2, tibia IV 2, tarsi 8(1)­8(1)­5­5. In T. ariauae the short solenidion on 3rd palpal is absent, whereas in T. protectus that solenidion is about half the length of the long solenidion on that segment.

Female: (7 individuals)—Body length 264 (253–275), width 143 (143–154). Reddish colour when alive.

Dorsum (Fig.21): ve 4 (3–6), sci 21 (20–22), spatulate­serrate, sce 10 (8–12), lanceolate; hysterosomal setae similar to ve and sce; except h2 whiplike; c1 6 (4–7), c3 4 (3–6), d1 4 (4–6), d3 4 (4–6), e1 4 (4–6), e3 3 (3–4), f1 4 (3–5), f2 4 (3–6), h1 4 (3–6), h2 122 (120–131).

Venter (Fig.22): ventral integument striated; IC3 setae short; IC4 setae long, exceeding the bases of pre­genital setae; genital setae similar to anal setae, shorter than pre­genital setae.

Gnathosoma (Fig.23): rostrum extending to 2/3 of the length of femur I; palp 3­ segmented, 2nd segment elongate with a long hairy seta dorso­distally; 3rd segment short (2 m) and bearing a long solenidion (8 m), 4 times the length of segment; rostral shield split 2/3 of its length.

Legs (Figs.24–27): chaetotaxy (from coxa to tarsus): I 3 (including 1a)­1­4­3­5­7(1), II 2­1 ­4­3­5­7(1), III 1­2 ­2­0­3­3, IV 1­1 ­1­0­3­3. Femur I with 2 serrate dorso­lateral setae and 2 hairy ventral setae; femur II with 3 serrate dorso­lateral setae and 1 hairy ventral seta.

Male: Unknown.

Immatures: larvae, protonymphs and deutonymphs have the full complement of dorsal setae of the adult, viz. 3 prodorsal pairs (ve, sci and sce) and 10 hysterosomal pairs (c1, c3, d1, d3, e1, e3, f1, f2, h1 and h2). Central region of idiosoma covered by transverse rows of integument folds.

Deutonymph: (2 individuals) (Fig. 28)—Body length 250 (245–256); width 137 (136–139).

Dorsal setae: ve 2, sci 23, sce 19, c1, c3, d1, d3, e1,, e3, f1 and f2 2, h2 80, h1 3.

Legs: chaetotaxy (from coxa to tarsus): I 3­1 ­4­3­5­7(1), II 2­1 ­4­3­5­7(1), III 1­2 ­2­0­ 3­3, IV 1 ­0­1­0­3­3.

Protonymph: (2 individuals) (Fig. 29)—Body length 192 (190–193); width 117 (111–122).

Dorsal setae: ve 2, sci 22, sce 17, c1 3, c3 2, d1 3, d3 2, e1 3, e3 2, f1 2, f2 2, h1 3, h2 78.

Legs: chaetotaxy (from coxa to tarsus): I 3­1 ­3­1­5­6(1), II 1 ­0­3­1­5­6(1), III 1­2 ­2­0­ 3­3, IV 1 ­0­1­0­3­3.

Larva: (1 individual) (Fig. 30)—Body length 136; width 125.

Dorsal setae: sci serrate 12; sce 11; h2 whiplike 44; other dorsal setae reduced, 2.

Legs: chaetotaxy (from coxa to tarsus): I 1 ­0­3­1­5­5(1), II 1 ­0­2­1­5­5(1), III 0­0­2­0­ 3­3.

Relation to host: inhabits the upper surface of leaves.

Type material: Female holotype, from Qualea grandiflora Mart. (Vochysiaceae), April 26, 1990, “Sítio” São Luiz (20º50’S, 49º18’W), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, (DZSJRP n.6292).

Paratypes— 3 females, 2 deutonymphs, 2 protonymphs and 1 larva, June 21,1990 and 2 females, July 23, 1990, “Sítio” Santo Antonio (20º44’S; 49º21’W); 1 female, July 23, 1990, “Sítio” São Luiz (20º50’S, 49º18’W), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil (DZSJRP ns.6292–6300); same host as holotype.

Etymology: ariauae, from ariauá, referring to the indigenous name of the host plant.