First multi-instar descriptions of cave-dwelling Whartonia Ewing, 1944 (Parasitengona, Leeuwenhoekiidae) from Brazil through integrative taxonomy

Abstract

For the first time deutonymphs and adults (females and males) of species belonging to Whartonia, a genus with post-larval stages commonly found in caves and larvae as ectoparasites of bats, are described. Two species from new localities in states of Pará (Eastern Amazon) and Minas Gerais (southeastern Brazil) are reported. Post-larval cave dwelling mites could be unambiguously associated with W. (W). pachywhartoni and W. (W.) nudosetosa larvae using mitochondrial COI and nuclear ribosomal 28S sequence data, despite apparent oversplitting by species delimitation methods. They are distinguished from closely related Albeckia senase, a species with described deutonymphs, by having eyes and by the shape of idiosomal setae. They are very similar to each other, being distinguished mainly by the distribution of special setae on legs, and shape of idiosomal setae. Detailed redescriptions of the two larvae are presented based on individuals found on bats belonging to nine species, with six new host species association: Anoura caudifer, Diphylla ecaudata, Mimon bennettii, Platyrrhinus lineatus, Sturnira lilium (Phyllostomidae) and Peropteryx trinitatis (Emballonuridae).