Bee Mites : Acari : Acariformes : Sarcoptiformes : Chaetodactylidae : Sennertia : Sennertia species
Sennertia ratiocinator Klimov and OConnor, 2007
Sennertia ratiocinator Klimov & OConnor in Klimov et al., 2007b: 128; Klimov & OConnor, 2008: 234
Material (show database records). Holotype: HDN - SRI LANKA: North Western, Kur, Kurunegala, Badagamuwa Jungle, ex f Xylocopa (Zonohirsuta) bhowara Maa, 1938 (groove between scutellum and metanotum), 24-27.i.1975, K. V. Krombein, P. V. Karunaratne, P. Fernando & N.V.T.A. Weragoda, AMNH, BMOC 05-0420-066. Paratypes: 16 HDNs - same data as holotype; 9HDNs - Southern, Mata, Enselwatte, ex m X. bhowara (dorsal mesosoma, mostly scutum), 25.v.1975, S. L. Wood & J. L. Petty, AMNH, BMOC 05-0420-067; 11 HDNs - Udugama, Kanneliya Jungle, 400 ft., ex m Xylocopa dejeanii (scutum) 6-12.xii.1973, K. V. Krombein, P. B. Karunaratine, P. Fernando, J. Ferdinando, AMNH, BMOC 05-0420-137; 4 HDNs - North Eastern, Lahugala Tank (reservoir), ex f X. bhowara (axillar cavities), 2-30.xii.1969 P. B. Karunaratine, AMNH, BMOC 05-0420-138; 7 HDNs - Province unknown, Badulla, ex f Xylocopa (Nodula) amethystina (Fabricius, 1793), no date, Penther, CUIC, HK 85-0102-004. Holotype in AMNH, paratypes in AMNH, HNHM, OSU, UMMZ.
Diagnosis. The new species is closely related to Sennertia lauta but differs by thicker setae 1a and shorter setae si, se, cp, and e2 (Table 3). None of the measurements alone can be used for a complete discrimination between the two species. The sum of ratios width of 1a/width of se and length of idiosoma/length of si is it is 3.8-4.9 (4.2±0.25, n=36), whereas in S. lauta it is 2.7-3.3 (3.0±0.15, n=54). A canonical variates analysis based on these four, size-corrected, variables resulted in 100% classification accuracy (not reported here).
Variation. In three specimens (BMOC 05-0420-066#2, -067#2,#3), a vestigial e IV was observed.
Hosts. Xylocopa (Zonohirsuta) bhowara Maa, 1938 (type host); Xylocopa (Nodula) amethystina (Fabricius, 1793); Xylocopa (Zonohirsuta) dejeanii Lepeletier, 1841.
Distribution (Show map). Sri Lanka.
Etymology. Ratiocinator (reckoner) is a Latin noun in apposition.
Biology. On female hosts, mites attach to the groove between scutellum and metanotum, whereas on males they are situated on the anterior scutum.
References
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.
Klimov, P. B., S. B. Vinson & B. M. OConnor. 2007. Acarinaria in associations of apid bees and chaetodactylid mites. Invertebrate Systematics.21: 109-136.
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Created: May 26, 2011
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