A new genus and species of tarsonemid mite (Acari : Tarsonemidae) associated with a neotropical curculionid beetle (Coleoptera)

Abstract

Flechtmannus homalinotus, gen. nov., sp. nov. (Tarsonemidae : Tarsoneminae : Tarsonemini) is described from larvae, adult females and males collected under the elytra of Homalinotus coriaceus (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera : Curculionidae) from Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The phylogenetic relationships of Flechtmannus among other genera of Tarsonemidae are considered and the reduction of the prodorsal bothridial setae in adult females of this and other taxa of Tarsonemidae is discussed.