A new genus of mites of the subfamily Platyseiinae associated with Azteca ant galleries in Cecropia trees in Costa Rica (Acari: Mesostigmata: Blattisociidae)

E.E Lindquist,M.L Moraza

doi:10.1051/acarologia/20162242

Abstract

The genus Calyptoseius gen. nov. of the subfamily Platyseiinae Evans is described, based on adults and nymphs of one newly described species associated with ants of the genus Azteca occupying hollow stems of Cecropia in lowland rainforests of Costa Rica. Several unusual morphological attributes are noted, particularly the autapomorphic presence of four elongated setae on each of telotarsi II to IV. Some perspectives of these mites in the Cecropia-Azteca association are discussed, including a possible dispersal link via nematoceran flies to gain access to such an unusual habitat. The definition of the previously monobasic genus Cheiroseiulus is augmented, and also modified in view of an undescribed species at hand, and the subfamily definition is modified to account for morphological aspects of the new genus. A key to the genera of the Platyseiinae is given.

Highlights

This presentation continues a series of papers centered on description of highly distinctive and biologically interesting new taxa of gamasine mites found to exist in one small area of lowland tropical rainforest of the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica (Lindquist and Moraza 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014; Moraza and Lindquist 2011, 2015, 2016)
The mites were collected from a funnel-extraction of one field-collection of Azteca ant colony material at the La Selva Biological Station, Heredia Province, Lindquist E.E. and Moraza M.L
Taxonomic concepts of the superfamilies of mesostigmatic mites, especially the Phytoseioidea and its component families, and the genera of Blattisociidae, follow those presented by Lindquist et al (2009) and Lindquist & Moraza (2010, 2012)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

This presentation continues a series of papers centered on description of highly distinctive and biologically interesting new taxa of gamasine mites found to exist in one small area of lowland tropical rainforest of the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica (Lindquist and Moraza 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014; Moraza and Lindquist 2011, 2015, 2016). We describe a new genus and species of platyseiine mite that is unusual in having a life history perhaps confined to association with Azteca ants which are mutualistic occupants of the stem hollows of Cecropia trees (Longino 1991a). Other platyseiine mites are known as freely living occupants http://www1.montpellier.inra.fr/CBGP/acarologia/ ISSN 0044-586-X (print). ISSN 2107-7207 (electronic) of a variety of soil and litter substrates worldwide, and are especially abundant in moist habitats, such as along stream and lake margins, in mosses submerged in running water, and seasonally wet substrates. Some Cheiroseius occur in bracket fungi on damp decaying wood in tropical regions (Lindquist 2003), while others occur in drier forms of leaf litter and arable soils (Karg 1993)

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DISCUSSION