Endopodoseius hydrophilus González-Cano & Castilho, 2025

Endopodoseius hydrophilus González-Cano & Castilho sp. nov.

Diagnosis (adult female). Inner palp trochanter seta much longer than outer palp trochanter seta; palp femur with four setae (lacking d 3). Podonotal and opisthonotal shields totally separate; setae s 1, r 2, Zv 2 and Zv 3 present, and j 2, J 3, J 5 and S 5 absent. Sternal shield reticulate and micro-punctate, much longer than wide, slightly less sclerotized in the anterior fifth of the shield, with two pairs of setae ( st 1 and st 2) and two pairs of lyrifissures ( iv 1 and iv 2). Epigynal shield micro-punctate. Endopodal strip represented by two fragments. Leg chaetotaxy typical for the genus, but genu I and tibia I with one anteroventral seta each.

Description – Adult female ( eight specimens measured).

Gnathosoma. Fixed cheliceral digit 12 (11–12) long, apparently with four teeth in addition to the apical tooth and a pilus dentilis modified into an antiaxial hyaline lobe ( Fig. 13 View FIGURE 13-18 ); movable cheliceral digit 15 (15–16) long, with one tooth in addition to the apical tooth; antiaxial and dorsal lyrifissures as well as dorsal seta distinct [8 (7–8)]; arthrodial process of chelicera not visible. Epistome conspicuous, rounded and smooth ( Fig. 14 View FIGURE 13-18 ). Number of setae on palp trochanter-tarsus: 2-4-6-14-15; setae aciculate, and smooth or slightly serrated ( Fig. 15 View FIGURE 13-18 ); apotele 3-tined ( Figures 16 and 17 View FIGURE 13-18 ). Deutosternum delimited by lateral lines, with eight roughly transverse lines, without denticles ( Fig. 18 View FIGURE 13-18 ). Internal malae positioned between the corniculi, subtriangular-shaped and smooth. Corniculi horn-like and convergent, 16 (12–19) long and 11 (9–15) at the base. Salivary stylets distinct. Setae h 3 posteriad and slightly laterad h 1 and about in transversal line and mediad h 2. Measurements of setae: h 1 9 (8–11), h 2 8 (7–10), h 3 21 (17–24), pc 11 (9–12); palp trochanter v 2 14 (13–15) and v 1 7 (6–8).

Idiosoma. 330 (322–339) long and 196 (185–213) wide.

Dorsum of idiosoma ( Fig. 19 View FIGURE 19 ). Podonotal and opisthonotal shields totally separate. Podonotal shield micro-punctate and reticulate laterally; 188 (180–193) long and 196 (185–213) wide; with 13 pairs of setae ( j 1, j 3– j 6, z 2, z 4– z 6, s 1, s 4, s 6 and r 2), four pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures and three pairs of distinguishable pores. Unsclerotised cuticle along margins of podonotal shield with a pair of setae ( r 3). Opisthonotal shield micro-punctate and almost totally reticulate, except for a central longitudinal band; 142 (130–155) long and 164 (155–175) wide; with six pairs of setae ( J 1, J 2, Z 4, Z 5, S 2 and S 3) and seven pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures. Unsclerotised cuticle along lateral margins of opisthonotal shield with a pair of setae ( R 1) and a pair of lyrifissures ( Rp). Measurements of setae: j 1 9 (7–11), j 3 32 (27–34), j 4 15 (13–16), j 5 16 (15–18); j 6 15 (13–17), z 2 28 (25–32), z 4 42 (38–45), z 5 34 (33–37), z 6 38 (34–42), s 1 12 (11–13), s 4 42 (39–44), s 6 25 (23–27), r 2 33 (30–35), r 3 22 (21–24), J 1 14 (12–15), J 2 15 (13–17), Z 4 37 (35–40), Z 5 40 (37–42), S 2 35 (32–38), S 3 37 (35–40), R 1 41 (39–43); setae distally serrate, except j 1, j 4, j 5, s 1, J 1 and J 2, totally smooth.

Venter of idiosoma ( Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 ). Base of tritosternum 10 (9–11) long and 14 (13–15) wide at medium level; laciniae 37 (35-38) long, separate for about 35% of their total length; with 1–2 additional transverse lines in fused section. Presternal region sclerotised, reticulated and consolidated with sternal shield. The latter 88 (85–90) long at midlevel, including the presternal region, and 58 (52–61) wide at widest level (next to st 2); sternal shield reticulate anteriad iv 2, with punctation superimposed to the reticulate pattern in region between iv 1 and iv 2 and smooth elsewhere; with pronounced constrictions between st 1 and st 2 and toward posterior end; with two pairs of setae ( st 1 and st 2) and two pairs of lyrifissures ( iv 1 and iv 2). Setae st 3 and st 4 and lyrifissure iv 3 on unsclerotized cuticle laterad sternal and epigynal shields. Endopodal strip represented by two fragments (between coxae I and II, and between coxae II and IV), totally separate from sternal shield, extending along coxae II–IV. Epigynal shield drop-shaped, micro-punctate; 53 (49–56) long, including the hyaline flap, and 33 (32–38) 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 27 (26–30). With a slim and curved platelet between epigynal and anal shields. Anal shield obovate and micro-punctate; 53 (45-56) long and 33 (30-38) wide at widest level; with anterior and lateral margins bearing a narrow, more sclerotized frame; anal opening 11 (10–12) long, including frame, and 12 (11–12) wide at widest level; cribrum composed of 3–4 irregular lines of denticles along posterior margin. Unsclerotized cuticle around anal shield with ten pairs of setae ( Jv 1– Jv 5 and Zv 1– Zv 5; some specimens without Jv 3 on one or both sides; one specimen without Zv 2 on one side), three 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 posteromesad Jv 4. Remnants of exopodal plate distinguishable as tri-radiate platelets between coxae I-II, II-III and III-IV, connected by slim extensions, which may be interrupted. Without metapodal plates. Measurements of setae: st 1 15 (13–16), st 2 16 (15–17), st 3 18 (16–20), st 4 15 (13–15), st 5 17 (16–20), Jv 1 24 (21–26), Jv 2 29 (24–33), Jv 3 38 (34–40), Jv 4 40 (36–43), Jv 5 42 (40–44), Zv 1 22 (21–24), Zv 2 35 (33–36), Zv 3 38 (35–41); Zv 4 39 (37–42); Zv 5 39 (36–41); para-anal 20 (17–24); and post-anal 22 (20–24); setae st 1 –st 5, Jv 1, Jv 2, Zv 1 e Zv 2, para-anal and post-anal, aciculate and smooth; setae Jv 3– Jv 5 and Zv 3– Zv 5, distally serrate.

Peritreme and peritrematic shield ( Fig. 21 View FIGURE 21-23 ). Peritreme extending anteriorly to level of id 1. Peritrematic plate fused anteriorly with dorsal shield at level between z 2 and s 1, and not fused posteriorly to exopodal plate.

Spermathecal apparatus ( Figures 22 and 23 View FIGURE 21-23 ). A tubular and lightly sclerotised section, 14 (13–15) long and 3 (3–4) in diameter.

Legs ( Figs. 24–27 View FIGURE 24-27 ). Leg lengths: I – 280 (268–288), II – 236 (225–245), III – 218 (178–235) and IV – 283 (263–300). 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 2-2/1, 2/2-2, II 2-2/1, 2/2-1, III 1-2/1, 2/0-0, IV 1- 2/1, 1/0-1; genua I 2-3/1, 2/1-2, II 2-3/1, 2/1-2, III 2-2/1, 2/0-1, IV 2-2/1, 3/0-1; tibiae I 2-3/1, 2/1-2, II 2-2/1, 2/1-2, III 2-1/1, 2/1-1, 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 Vicinal 19 (00° 51' 31"S, 60° 21' 49"W; 107 m above sea level), Rorainópolis, Roraima state, Brazil, in February 2022. All types collected by Lina M. González-Cano. 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 ( hydrophilus ) refers to the relatively high rainfall (annual average nearly 2,000 –2,800 mm) that prevails in its type locality.

Remarks. Endopodoseius hydrophilus sp. nov. is most similar to E. erikae and E. zaheri , but the latter two have podonotal and opisthonotal shields without reticulation; setae s 1, Jv 3, Zv 3 and Zv 4 absent, and j 2, s 5 and J 5 present; sternal shield without lyrifissure iv 1.