The family Opilioacaridae (Acari: Parasitiformes) in Argentina, with description of two new species

Abstract

Two new species of Neocarus, N. entrerios n.sp. and N. misiones n.sp., are described for both adult instars, with locality data for a few additional records of unidentified specimens. Most Argentinean records are from the Northern and Eastern border regions. Even so, current results suggest that opilioacarid diversity in Argentina, while modest, is likely to include several more species.

The family Opilioacaridae (Parasitiformes: Opilioacarida) in Mexico, description of two new species, new records, and geographical distribution

“…N. queretanus sp. nov. differs from all other Mexican Neocarus by having 6 d-setae on the palp of the male versus 5 d setae on the palp of male N. bajacalifornicus bajacalifornicus (Vázquez & Klompen, 2002), N. bajacalifornicous chamelaensis (Vázquez & Klompen, 2009), N. calakmulensis Vázquez & Klompen, 2009, N. comalensis Vázquez & Klompen, 2015, N. siankaanensis (Vázquez & Klompen, 2002, N. texanus Chamberlin &Mulaik, 1942, andN. veracrucensis Vázquez &Klompen, 2009. Males also differ in the number of setae on the pregenital and genital area: 8/10 in N. queretanus sp.…”

“…Most specimens were examined as slide-mounts although others were examined using temporary preparations in cavity slides. Terminology for the palp tarsal sensilla follows Grandjean (1936) as modified by Vázquez & Klompen (2002). Terminology for the palp tarsal sensilla follows Grandjean (1936) as modified by Vázquez and Klompen (2002), for the sternitogenital region we follow Klompen et al (2015), and for the leg sensory structures Grandjean (1936), Van der Hammen (1966), and Araújo et al (2018).…”

“…nov. versus 4-6 and 5-7 setae in all other Mexican species (Table 3). Males of some Brazilian species have a similar number of setae in this area, i.e., N. caipora (Bernardi et al 2014), N. entrerios (Vázquez et al 2020), N. platensis (Silvestri, 1905, N. simmonsi (Bernardi et al 2018) and N. spelaion (Bernardi et al 2018), and also the single p -seta on the palp genu (versus more than 1 in all other species). The other Brazilian species, N. proteus, has fewer pregenital and genital setae (Bernardi et al 2013).…”

“…The Opilioacaridae were first collected in Mexico in 1986 in a pine-oak forest at 2000 m asl in Sierra de la Laguna Reserve Biosphere, later described as N. bajacalifornicus (Vázquez & Klompen, 2002). Since this time, opilioacarid mites have been found in an extraordinary variety of habitats from sea level to mountainous regions (Table 2).…”

“…At a global level, Neocarus is the most diverse genus with 22 species (Araújo et al 2021). In Mexico, Neocarus is represented by seven species and one subspecies: N. bajacalifornicus (Vázquez & Klompen, 2002); N. bajacalifornicus chamelaensis Vázquez & Klompen, 2009; N. nohbecanus (Vázquez & Klompen, 2002); N. veracruzensis Vázquez & Klompen, 2009;N. calakmulensis Vázquez & Klompen, 2009; N. siankaanensis (Vázquez & Klompen, 2002); N. chactemalensis and N. comalensis Vázquez & Klompen, 2015. These species inhabit a variety of terrestrial habitats, from dunes at sea level to pine-oak forest at altitudes of 2,200 m, and in several biotopes such as litter, sand, under rocks, in mangrove soils and in logs (Vázquez & Klompen 2002, 2009.…”