Heterozercon Berlese 1892

Heterozercon Berlese 1892

Heterozercon Berlese 1888: 206 [type species: Heterozercon degeneratus Berlese 1888, by monotypy].

Heterozercon.— Fain 1989, 148; Krantz & de Moraes 2011, 26; Di Palma et al. 2015, 640.

Diagnosis. Spermatodactyl shape flaccid (7); distance from setae hyp3 to sc distinctly smaller than distance from hyp3 to hyp2 (21.0, reversed in some species); anterior dorsal setae j1 minute (<5 µm) (28.2, few exceptions); female with a distinct curved, sclerotized ridge on anterior margin of female genitiventral shield (46; shared with Al. (Philippinozercon)); sclerotized areas near sternal setae st 2 in male forming isolated platelets (50); marginal opisthosomal setae hook-like spines (78, shared with Maracazercon); coxae I setae in male distinct spines (102, shared with Narceoheterozercon ex Alabama-C and a few Afroheterozercon species); femora II setae al, pl, and av in male spines (105–107, shared with Maracazercon and Allozercon); setae pl1 on tarsi II spine-like (111, shared with Ecuazercon, Amheterozercon, Maracazercon).

Remarks. Available descriptions for the three described species are incomplete, a situation that is problematic especially given that Heterozercon is the type genus of the family. It suggests a need for a more complete description. We have examined specimens of undescribed populations that belong to the genus Heterozercon from Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Belize, and Mexico. The specimens from Cuba and Venezuela stand apart because of the heavy cuticular patterning on the venter (Fig. 51) and population Costa Rica 2 is unusual because of the extremely small opisthogastral suckers (much smaller than in H. microsuctus Fain). For this reason, we selected specimens from Campeche state in Mexico for description. This population is considered more representative for the genus. A more extensive revision of the Heterozercon species of Mexico is in progress (Martinez et al., in prep.).

The female genital system of an undescribed Heterozercon species from Brazil was described by Di Palma et al. (2015). These authors noted the presence of secondary genital openings (solenostomes) in females on the axial side of the opisthogastral suckers. This observation was confirmed in four different species examined in this study (H. calakmulensis n. sp., unidentified populations from Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba). The openings are not very distinct and may be associated with small, sclerotized patches (Fig. 61, arrow).

Nymphs that probably belong to this genus have been described by Krantz & de Moraes (2011) from Brazil, although definitive associations with adults could not be made.

Included species –