Diagnosis. The new species is readily distinguished by its aedeagus being ensheathed in between two curved, elongate, laminar stylets (Fig. 8) and by the palpal tarsus tactile a seta being flattened, isodiametric throughout its length, and deeply incised distally resulting in two prongs, giving the structure the aspect of a short two-tined carving fork; and tactile seta b is sinuous with a thickened base; dorsal setae short. Ratio of idiosomal length to width is greater than two.

Female. (n = 10). Body length 311–431, including gnathosoma 390–506, width 172–206. Idiosoma elongate (Fig. 1), length : width ratio is greater than 2. Dorsal setae short (12–14), equal or less than one fourth of the distance to bases of consecutive setae, except for f2 (23–25), and h1 (24– 27), which are about half the distance to base of consecutive setae. Propodosoma dorsum longitudinally striate, opisthosoma transversally striate (Fig. 2). Venter: transversally striate. Genital flap with transversally to weakly arched striae; pregenital striae transverse, flanked by longitudinal striae.

Gnathosoma: stylophore rounded anteriorly. Peritremes with short hook, ending in a conical, pointed chamber (Figs. 1, 12). Palp tibia with 3 setae in 9 specimens and 4 setae in 1 specimen. Palp tarsus with seta a flattened, of uniform width throughout its entire length, and deeply incised distally, resulting in an element resembling a short, two-pronged carving fork. Palp tarsus seta b sinuous with a thickened base; palp tarsus seta c setiform (Fig. 10). Spinneret well developed, twice as long as broad (Fig. 10).

Legs (Figs. 3, 4) : distribution of tactile setae and solenidia (in parentheses):

Alternative leg segment setal counts observed:

Empodia split into 2 uncinate claws. (Fig. 11).

Male. (holotype + 3 paratypes). Measurements of holotype and range from 3 paratypes in parentheses. Body length 334 (281–360), including gnathosoma 409 (356–435).

Palp tarsus spinneret reduced to a small tubercle; setae a and b as in female.(Fig. 9). Palp tibia with 3 setae.

Legs (Figs. 5, 6): distribution of setae and solenidia (in parentheses):

Alternative leg segment setal counts observed:

Aedeagus (Figs. 7, 8) sigmoid, turned upwards, with finely pointed posterior projection. Shaft is flanked by 2 curved laminar structures or stylets.

Deutonymph. (n = 3). Body length 375–386, including gnathosoma 431–432, width 296–213.

Alternative leg segment setal counts observed:

Type material. Male holotype, 3 male, 10 female and 3 deutonymph paratypes, on 5 microscopic preparations, from leaves of papyrus sedge or papyrus reed, Cyperus involucratus Rottb. (Cyperaceae), cultivated in greenhouses, Quillota, Comuna de Hijuelas, Valparaiso, Chile, L. E. Peralta A., UTM East 300298, North 6371215, Datum WGS84, Zone 19, August 2010. Deposited in the Acarological Collection of Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, ESALQ, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.

Etymology. The specific designation tegophallos is derived from the Latin tego, cover, sheath, and from the Greek phallos, penis, aedeagus, and refers to the ensheathed aedeagus of the male.

Biological observations. Populations of this spider mite are found under distinct “nests”, on the upper side of leaves. When the population builds up, the mites are also found on the leaf lower surface. The “nests” themselves are whitish and the orange coloured female mites (males are yellowish) can be seen through the webbing.