Bee Mites : Acari : Acariformes : Sarcoptiformes : Chaetodactylidae : Roubikia
Roubikia imberba Klimov and OConnor, 2007
Roubikia imberba Klimov & OConnor, 2007: 819, Figs. 7,8,9D; Klimov & OConnor, 2008: 103 (included in key)
Material (show database records). Holotype: HDN - ARGENTINA: Tucumán, 8 km W Lules, ex Tetrapedia sp., on 1st metasomal tergite, 17 Nov 1993, J. G & B. L. Rozen, AMNH, BMOC 04-0508-252. Paratypes: 22 HDNs – same data as holotype; 5 HDNs - San Miguel de Tucumán, ex Coelioxoides waltheriae Ducke, 1908, on 1st metasomal tergite, 18 Nov 1993, J. G & B. L. Rozen, AMNH, BMOC 04-0508-246; 6 HDNs - Salta, La Viña, ex Coelioxoides exulans (Holmberg, 1887), on mesosoma and 1st metasomal tergite, 1 Dec 1992, Fritz, AMNH, BMOC 04-0508-251; 2 HDNs - Rosario de Lerma, ex Tetrapedia sp., on 1st metasomal tergite, 21 Dec 1983, M. Wasbauer, USDA, BMOC 96-0510-212. Holotype in AMNH, paratypes in AMNH, OSAL, UMMZ.
Diagnostic description (unique character states underlined). Phoretic deutonymph. Dorsal extensions of apodemes I-II usually completely surround setae scx. Gnathosomal setae often absent, if present may be unpaired. Setae si usually slightly exceed distance from lateral edge of prodorsal shield to base of si + distance between si, ratio 0.8-1.6 (1.1±0.16, n=23). Setae si less than 2 times longer than se, ratio si/se 1.1-1.8 (1.5±0.14, n=23). Setae mG I slightly pectinate. Setae mG II equal or exceeding length of legs II (with claw), ratio 1.0-1.4 (1.1±0.11, n=19). Other characters as in R. panamensis. Other instars. unknown.
Distribution (show map). Argentina: Tucumán (type locality), Salta.
Hosts. Tetrapedia sp. (type host); also phoretic on Coelioxoides waltheriae Ducke, 1908 and Coelioxoides exulans (Holmberg, 1887), both known cleptoparasites of Tetrapedia species (Apidae: Tetrapediini) (Alves-dos-Santos et al. 2002).
Etymology. Imberbus (= beardless) is a Latin adjective. The name refers to the trend in the reduction of the gnathosomal setae in the new species.
Variation and abnormalities. In one small (293) specimen, scx is not completely surrounded by the dorsal extensions of apodemes I-II (BMOC 04-0508-252#7). The number of gnathosomal setae is 0, 1, or 2 (in 12, 8, and 3 specimens out of 23 examined, respectively). There are two solenidia (ω1 and ω2) on tarsus II: 13.0 and 18.0 long (BMOC 04-0508-251#1) (on one tarsus); 11.5-12.0, 18.0-18.5 (BMOC 05-0408-246#1) (on two tarsi). The usual parallel-striated pattern on the hysterosomal shield is irregular in two specimens (BMOC 04-0508-251#3,4). Tarsal setae p IV may be distinctly longer than q IV (usually they are subequal).
References
Klimov, P. B. & B. M. OConnor. 2007. Ancestral area analysis of chaetodactylid mites (Acari: Chaetodactylidae), with description of new early derivative genus and six new species from the Neotropics. Annals of the Entomological Society of America.100: 810-829.
Klimov, P. B. & B. M. OConnor. 2008. Morphology, evolution, and host associations of bee-associated mites of the family Chaetodactylidae (Acari: Astigmata), with a monographic revision of North American taxa. Miscellaneous Publications Museum of Zoology University of Michigan.199: 1-243.
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B. OConnor and P. Klimov ©
Created: Jun 14, 2011
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