A new species of Neocarus (Opilioacaridae) from a Brazilian ferruginous geosystem and notes on natural history

Abstract

A new species ofNeocarusis described from adult female and male specimens collected from an epigean and hypogean ferruginous geosystem located in southeast Brazil. The new species,Neocarus simmonsisp. nov., possesses 15–17ch-type palp setae, nude female pregenital Sternitogenital region, cylindrical ovipositor without setae, and a peculiar variation of setae in the genital and pregenital Sternitogenital region of the male, with smooth and tapering setae and/or barbed and tapering setae and/or stout and ribbed setae. Female genital setae are barbed, tapering and with a thin tip. Aspects of the ecology and life history of these mites are also presented.