Endopodoseius xerophilus Barros & Castilho, 2025

Endopodoseius xerophilus Barros & Castilho sp. nov.

Diagnosis (adult female). Inner and outer palp trochanter setae of similar lengths; palp femur with five setae. Podonotal and opisthonotal shields fused, with deep lateral incisions at the line of fusion; setae j 1, j 5, s 5, r 2, J 2 and J 5 present, and s 1, J 3, Jv 3, Zv 3 and Zv 4 absent. Sternal shield smooth, micro-punctate, distinctly less sclerotized in the anterior region of the shield, bearing two pairs of setae ( st 1 and st 2), and two pairs of lyrifissures ( iv 1 and iv 2) at the margin of the shield. Leg chaetotaxy typical for the genus, but genu I with three posterodorsal and two anteroventral setae, and tibiae I and III with three posterodorsal and two posterolateral setae, respectively.

Description – Adult female ( eight specimens measured).

Gnathosoma. Fixed cheliceral digit 12 (12–13) long, apparently with four teeth in addition to the apical tooth and a pilus dentilis modified into an antiaxial hyaline lobe ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1-4 ); movable cheliceral digit 21 (20–22) long, with one tooth in addition to the apical tooth; antiaxial and dorsal lyrifissures as well as dorsal seta distinct [7 (6–8) long]; arthrodial process of chelicera not visible. Epistome conspicuous, rounded and smooth ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 1-4 ). Number of setae on palp trochanter-tarsus: 2-5-6-14-15; setae aciculate and smooth, except femur al and d 1 as well as genu d 2, slightly serrate, and genu al 2, spatulate and smooth ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 1-4 ); apotele 3-tined. Deutosternum delimited by lateral lines, with 8–9 irregularly transverse lines, each with 0–5 tiny, irregularly distributed denticles ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 1-4 ); basal section without rows of denticles extending outside the groove. Internal malae subtriangular-shaped, outer margin slightly fimbriate. Corniculi converging apically, blade-shaped, 21 (21–23) long and 12 (11–14) wide at the base. Salivary stylets distinct. Setae h 3 posteriad and slightly laterad h 1 and slightly posteriad and mediad h 2. Measurements of setae: h 1 11 (10–12), h 2 12 (11–14), h 3 24 (23–26), pc 13 (12–16); palp setae: trochanter v 1 11 (10-12) and v 2 11 (11-12); femur d 1 24 (23–25), genu al 2 11 (10–12).

Idiosoma. 421 (412–430) long and 276 (272–282) wide.

Dorsum of idiosoma ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ). Podonotal and opisthonotal shields fused, with deep lateral incisions at the line of fusion. Podonotal region of dorsal shield micro-punctate, with narrow thicker marginal band; 232 (225–242) long and 245 (225–257) wide; with 15 pairs of setae ( j 1– j 6, z 2, z 4– z 6, s 4– s 6, r 2 and r 3), five pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures and two pairs of distinguishable pores. Opisthonotal region of dorsal shield micro-punctate, with narrow thicker marginal band; 185 (180–190) long and 245 (225–257) wide; with seven pairs of setae ( J 1, J 2, J 5, Z 4, Z 5, S 2 and S 3) and ten pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Unsclerotised cuticle along lateral margins of opisthonotal region with a pair of setae ( R 1) and a pair of lyrifissures ( Rp). Measurements of setae: j 1 13 (11–15), j 2 15 (15–17), j 3 46 (35–50), j 4 45 (41–49), j 5 3 (2–6); j 6 6 (5–7), z 2 34 (30–39), z 4 57 (55–59), z 5 55 (53–59), z 6 60 (57–63), s 4 58 (52–60), s 5 24 (22–26), s 6 33 (30–36), r 2 31 (29–34), r 3 19 (17–22), J 1 6 (5–8), J 2 6 (5–8), J 5 22 (20–24), Z 4 62 (60–70), Z 5 55 (50–60), S 2 60 (58–61), S 3 62 (60–66), R 1 33 (32–35); setae distally serrate, except j 5, j 6, J 1 and J 2, smooth.

Venter of idiosoma ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6-8 ). Base of tritosternum 10 (11–12) long and 15 (15–18) wide at medium level; laciniae 57 (55–59) long, separate for about 55% of their total length. With a pair of slender presternal platelets, micro-punctate. Sternal shield micro-punctate; 80 (76–83) long and 62 (60–65) wide at widest level (next to st 2); with two pairs of setae ( st 1and st 2) and two pairs of marginal lyrifissures ( iv 1 and iv 2). Setae st 3 and st 4, and lyrifissure iv 3 on unsclerotized cuticle posteriad sternal shield. Endopodal strip totally separate from sternal shield, entire, extending along coxae II–IV. Epigynal shield drop-shaped but with irregular margins, micro-punctate; 114 (110–118) long, including hyaline flap, and 33 (28–40) wide at widest region posteriorly; posterior margin convex. Seta st 5 and lyrifissure iv 5 on unsclerotised cuticle laterad epigynal shield; distance st 5– st 5 46 (45–47). With a curved platelet between epigynal shield and setae Jv 1– Zv 1, subparallel to shield margin. Anal shield obovate and micro-punctate; 58 (56–62) long and 45 (44–46) wide at widest level; anal opening 21 (20–21) long, including frame, and 18 (15–20) wide at widest level; cribrum composed of irregular lines of denticles along posterior margin of the anal shield. Unsclerotized cuticle around anal shield with seven pairs of setae ( Jv 1, Jv 2, Jv 4, Jv 5, Zv 1, Zv 2 and Zv 5; some specimens with one extra or one missing opisthogastric seta on one side; most often, Zv 1 missing or Jv 4 duplicate); with six pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures and two pairs of gland pores ( gv 2 and gv 3), the last two of which respectively behind coxa IV and anteromesad Jv 5. With two triangular fragments of the exopodal plate between coxae II–III and another between coxae III–IV, extending behind coxae IV ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 6-8 ). With one pair of elongate metapodal plates, with irregular margins. Measurements of setae: st 1 18 (16–19), st 2 17 (16–18), st 3 17 (16–18), st 4 11 (11–12), st 5 15 (15–16), Jv 1 20 (19–20), Jv 2 24 (22–26), Jv 4 34 (31–37), Jv 5 39 (36–43), Zv 1 18 (16–21), Zv 2 30 (29–30), Zv 5 36 (35–39); para-anal 19 (18–21) and post-anal 22 (20–23); setae st 1 –st 5 and para-anals, aciculate and smooth; Jv 2, Jv 4, Jv 5, Zv 2, Zv 5 and post-anal setae distally serrate; in some specimens, Jv 2 totally smooth.

Peritreme and peritrematic shield ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 6-8 ). Peritreme extending anteriorly to the level to level of id 1. Peritrematic plate fused anteriorly with dorsal shield at level of z 2 and not fused posteriorly to exopodal plate.

Spermathecal apparatus ( Fig. 8 View FIGURE 6-8 ). A tubular and lightly sclerotised section, 6 (5–7) long and 4 (3–4) in diameter.

Legs ( Figs. 9–12 View FIGURE 9-12 ). Leg lengths: I – 335 (307–355), II – 284 (262–297), III – 279 (260–292) and IV – 370 (337–392). Chaetotaxy: coxae: I 0-0/1, 0/1-0, II 0-0/1, 0/1-0, III 0-0/1, 0/1-0, IV 0-0/1, 0/0-0; trochanters I 1-0/1, 1/2-1, II 1-0/1, 0/2-1, III 1-1/1, 0/2-0, IV 1-1/1, 0/2-0; femora I 2-3/1, 2/2-2, II 2-3/1, 2/2-1, III 1-2/1, 2/0-0, IV 1- 2/1, 1/0-1; genua I 2-3/2, 3/1-2, II 2-3/1, 2/1-2, III 2-2/1, 2/0-1, IV 2-2/1, 3/0-1; tibiae I 2-3/2, 3/1-2, II 2,-2/1, 2/1-2, III 2-1/1, 2/1-2, IV 2-1/1, 2/1-2; tarsi I not counted, II-IV 18 setae each. Pretarsi I–IV similar to each other in shape and length, each consisting of an elongate ambulacral stalk, a pair of strongly sclerotised claws and three rounded pulvillar lobes.

Adult male. Not found.

Type specimens. Holotype and seven paratype females from litter/soil of a pasture at Olho d’Água das Flores (9°32'02.9"S, 37°16'33.0"W), Alagoas state, Brazil, in December 2018. These specimens were cited as “New Family” in the study of Barros et al. (2021). All types collected by A. R. A. Barros and deposited in the Mite Reference Collection of Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” ( ESALQ), Universidade de São Paulo ( USP), Piracicaba, São Paulo state, Brazil.

Etymology. The specific designation of this species ( xerophilus ) refers to the relatively low rainfall (annual average nearly 300–600 mm) that prevails in its type locality.

Remark s. Endopodoseius xerophilus Barros & Castilho sp. nov. is most similar to E. edmilsoni , but the latter has dorsal shield totally fused, without lateral incisions; J 3 and Zv 4 present; j 2, s 5 and r 2 absent; sternal shield reticulate; genu I with two posterodorsal and one anteroventral setae; tibia I with two posterodorsal setae; tibia III with one posterolateral seta; and tibia IV with three posterodorsal setae.