Especie nueva del género Mononychellus (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae), sobre Desmodium Uncinatum (Papilionaceae) en Venezuela

Abstract

A NEW SPECIES OF PHYTOPHAGOUS MITE IS DESCRIBED AND NAMED AS MONONYCHELLUS HOFFMANNAE SP. NOV. (PROSTIGMATA: TETRANYCHIDAE). THIS SPECIES FEEDS UPON THE LEAVES OF DESMODIUM UNCINATUM JACK. (PAPILIONACEAE), WICH GROWS AS A WILD PLANT AT THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF MARACAIBO. THIS BOTANICAL GARDEN IS CONSIDERED PART OF THE TROPICAL DRY FOREST IN ZULIA STATE, AT THE NORTHWESTERN REGION OF VENEZUELA. BOTH SEXES HAVE VERY STRONG, SERRATE, AND POINTED DORSAL BODY SETAE, WITH SETAL SOCKETS ON STRONG CONICAL TUBERCLES. THE FEMALE HAS THE BASES OF TUBERCLES OF DORSOCENTRAL OPISTHOSOMAL SETAE C1 CONTIGUOUS. THE AEDEAGUS HAED CURVES VENTRALLY AND RESEMBLES A FISH TAIL, WITH ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR ANGULATIONS ACUTE, OF SIMILAR SIZE.