Leopoldo Ferreira de Oliveira Bernardi

Description of a New Species of Bat-Associated Argasid Tick (Acari: Argasidae) from Brazil

abstract:  A new species of argasid tick (Acari: Argasidae) is described from immature and adult specimens collected from several localities in Brazil. A complete morphological account is provided for all postembryonic life stages, i.e., larva, nymph, female, and male. Ornithodoros cavernicolous n. sp. is the 113th in the genus. Morphologically, the new species shares common features, e.g., presence of well-developed cheeks and legs with micromammillate cuticle, with other bat-associated argasid ticks included in the subgenus Alectorobius. In particular, the new species is morphologically related to Ornithodoros azteci Matheson, with which it forms a species group. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences supports the placement of the new species within a large clade that includes other New World bat-associated argasids. However, the new species seems to represent an independent lineage within the genus Ornithodoros.

Phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis of the genus Caribeacarus (Acari : Opilioacarida), with description of a new South American species

Abstract. The mite order Opilioacarida is widely distributed in the tropical and sub-tropical zones of the world, where it is rare and poorly known. On the American continent only two genera, 14 species and one subspecies are known. This work aimed to describe a new species of Caribeacarus from the state of Pará, in the eastern part of the Brazilian Amazon. A phylogenetic analysis of the species in this genus is also presented, and interpreted along with the historical biogeography of this genus in Central and South America. A key to the species of Caribeacarus is provided.

Bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae, Nycteribiidae) and mites (Acari) associated with bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in a high-altitude region in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil

A total of 71 bat flies belonging to families Nycteribiidae and Streblidae, and 37 mites were collected on 12 species of bats (Phyllostomidae and Vespertilionidae) from the Chapada do Abanador (Minas Gerais, Brazil), between July 2009 and April 2010. Two new occurrences of ectoparasites were recorded on Histiotus velatus (bat fly Basilia producta) and on Carollia perspicillata (mite Parichoronyssus bakeri). Five new occurrences were recorded for the state of Minas Gerais, increasing the range for bat flies Anatrichobius passosi, Paraeuctenodes similis, Basilia juquiensis, Basilia producta and for mite Periglischrus vargasi. Moreover, two new species of mites were recorded for Brazil (P. bakeri and Macronyssus aff. leislerianus). With regard to infracommunities, the most frequent association was between Anastrebla modestini and Exastinion clovisi on bat Anoura geoffroyi. This study contributed to characterize the fauna of bat ectoparasites in representative but poorly-sampled environments of the Atlantic Forest, the campos de altitude (high altitude grasslands) and cloud forests of southern Minas Gerais.

New records of Ixodes paranaensis (Acari: Ixodidae) from Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil

Abstract Ixodes paranaensis is a little-known tick species recently described from specimens collected in Quatro Barras, State of Paraná, southern Brazil. The present report describes the collection of three males and three females of I. paranaensis from a quartzite cave (Gruta dos Fugitivos) in the municipality of Santa Rita de Ibitipoca, State of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. This new record extends the known distribution of I. paranaensis and clarifies our knowledge of the male, which was originally described from a single deformed specimen.

Post-embryonic development in the mite suborder Opilioacarida, with notes on segmental homology in Parasitiformes (Arachnida)

In order to study homology among the major lineages of the mite (super)order Parasitiformes, developmental patterns in Opilioacarida are documented, emphasizing morphology of the earliest, post-embryonic instars. Developmental patterns are summarized for all external body structures, based on examination of material in four different genera. Development includes an egg, a 6-legged prelarva and larva, three 8-legged nymphal instars, and the adults, for the most complete ontogenetic sequence in Parasitiformes. The prelarva and larva appear to be non-feeding. Examination of cuticular structures over ontogeny allows development of an updated model for body segmentation and sensillar distribution patterns in Opilioacarida. This model includes a body made up of a well-developed ocular segment plus at most 17 additional segments. In the larvae and protonymphs each segment may carry up to six pairs of sensilla (setae or lyrifissures) arranged is distinct series (J, Z, S, Sv, Zv, Jv). The post-protonymphal instars add two more series (R and Rv) but no extra segments. This basic model is compatible with sensillar patterns in other Parasitiformes, leading to the hypothesis that all taxa in that (super)order may have the same segmental ground plan. The substantial segmental distortion implied in the model can be explained using a single process involving differential growth in the coxal regions of all appendage-bearing segments.

A new species of Neocarus Chamberlin & Mulaik, 1942 (Opilioacarida, Opilioacaridae) from Brazil, with remarks on its postlarval development

Abstract Neocarus proteus sp. n., is described from caves and the surrounding epigean environment of ferruginous outcrops (Cangas) in Minas Gerais, Brazil. In addition, some notes about development in this species are presented. Neocarus proteus is the only species in the genus that has smooth or barbed genital setae and that carries coronidia on the basitarsi, tibiae and genua of legs II–III. Females carry additional setae with rounded tips on the subcapitulum, and are, on average, larger than males. This distinct sexual dimorphism appears in the tritonymphal instar and is maintained in the adults.

New species of Neoteneriffiola (Acari: Trombidiformes: Teneriffiidae) from Brazilian caves: geographical distribution and ecological traits

This work presents a description of a new species of the genus Neoteneriffiola Hirst found in the Brazilian caves. Individuals were collected in 22 caves located in Bahia, Goiás, Minas Gerais and Tocantins states.

Snout mites from caves in Brazil, with description of a new species (Acari: Trombidiformes: Bdellidae)

In this paper we describe the first species of the genus Cyta from Brazil, Cyta troglodyta sp. nov., with a key to the world species of the genus. New records of mites of the family Bdellidae are reported from caves in Brazil.

Description of a new species of Oplitis Berlese, 1884, and the first record of a phoretic uropodid mite (Acari: Oplitidae) on a Neotropical solitary wasp (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

The association of an uropodid mite with a solitary eumenine wasp is reported for the first time. Five mite specimens were found on a specimen of the wasp Zethus pallidus Smith, 1857, collected in southeastern Brazil. The mites are described as a new species, Oplitis ticumbi Kontschán & Bernardi sp. nov. In addition some notes on the biology of these mite specimens associated with Z. pallidus are presented.

A new species of Ameroseius Berlese from Brazil, redescriptions of Ameroseius plumosus (Oudemans) and Ameroseius plumigera (Oudemans) (Acari: Mesostigmata: Ameroseiidae) based on the examination of type material

Ameroseius Berlese is the most numerous genus of family Ameroseiidae Evans (in Hughes 1961). Species of this genus have been reported from many regions around the world. A few species of this genus are known from Brazil. Ameroseius mineiro Narita, Bernardi and Moraes, sp. nov. is described based on the morphology of adult females and males collected from guano in caves of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. This is the second Ameroseius species described from Brazil. The holotypes of Ameroseius plumosus (Oudemans) and Ameroseius plumigera (Oudemans) were examined, given their close similarity with the species described in this paper, and they are here redescribed. A key is provided to separate these and other most similar species. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:17A7D831-EC49-4D65-B06B-5E13EF52C696