Additional contributions to the knowledge of Philippine predatory mites mainly of the subfamilies Cunaxinae and Cunaxoidinae (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae)

Abstract

A new species of cunaxid mite belonging to the subfamily Cunaxinae, Cunaxa minidiscondyla sp. nov., is described from the Philippines. This species is distinctive by the presence of a small disc-shaped apophysis dorsodistally on the palp telofemur, two spine-like setae on the palp genu, a long spine-like seta on the palp tibiotarsus, an ill-defined propodosomal shield, the absence of a median hysterosomal shield, long hysterosomal setae, and basifemoral and telofemoral chaetotaxy of 4-4-3-1 and 5-5-4-4, respectively. The previously unknown female of Lupaeus longisetus (Cunaxoidinae) and unknown male of Dactyloscirus trifidus (Cunaxinae) are described. A supplementary description is provided for Scutopalus clavatus (Cunaxoidinae) which is recorded for the first time in the Philippines on coconut leaves infested with the scale insect, Aspidiotus rigidus. New locality and habitat data are given for some species of the aforementioned subfamilies, as well as the subfamilies Bonzinae and Orangescirulinae.

The Unique Cauda-Liked Structure Represents a New Subfamily of Cunaxidae: Description of New Taxa and Discussion on Functional Morphology

“…According to the recent literature, there are six subfamilies, 30 genera and more than 450 species described as Cunaxidae in the world [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. In this work, with unique hysterosoma, a new subfamily with two new genera and three new species is described in Mohan Port in Mengla county, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, China.…”