Atropacarus terrapene (Jacot) Kamill, B. W. & Baker, A. S., 1980

Kamill, B. W. & Baker, A. S., 1980, The genus Atropacarus Ewing (Acari: Cryptostigmata), Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History (Zoology series) 39, pp. 189-204 : 200-201

Atropacarus terrapene (Jacot) comb. nov.

(Figs 27-29)

Steganacarus terrapene Jacot , 1937: 165. 'Cotypes', Buncombe County, N. Carolina (MCZ, Cambridge, Mass., no. 35F6.2-36). [Examined.]

Aspis (Fig. 29): 164-208 µm in length. All the dorsal setae are short, stout and apparently simple. Setae (il) and (ro) are more or less equal in length and about twice as long as the lamellars (la). The sensilli are expanded and serrated distally, while the basal portion is smooth, slender and distinctly cranked. In front of the il-la row there is a pronounced and rather truncated median keel. The prodorsal integument is sculptured in a rugose pattern.

Notogaster (Figs 27-28): The notogaster ranges in length from 276-352 µm with a greatest depth of 184-240 µm. There are 16 pairs of setae all of which are very short (less than c1-d1), stout and apparently simple. Anteriorly there is a well defined cowl bearing setae c1-3. The vestiges of setae f1, and f2 are present. The integument is rugose.

Ano-genital region: There are four pairs of marginal anal setae (an1-4) and a single pair of adanals (ad) located submarginally and rather far forward. Setae an1-4 are more or less equal in length and distinctly longer than the adanals. On the genital plates the setal bases are difficult to discern owing to the rather opaque nature of the integument. However, there appear to be eight pairs of genital setae arranged in a pattern of 4 + 4 along the paraxial borders. The integument is rugose.

Legs: The setal and solenidial formulae for the legs are as in A. striculus . All the solenidia are long and straight. On tarsus I the seta coupled with solenidion omega2 is very short. Seta a" is almost as long as the famulus and located on a level with solenidion omega2. Setae (tc) and (w) on tarsus I and (tc), (u), (p) and 5 on tarsi II-IV are ribbon-like, hooked distally and bear whorls of sharply pointed spicules in the middle third.

Material: Eight 'cotypes' from oak litter, Bent Creek Experimental Forest, N. Carolina, U.S.A. The material was collected by Dr A. P. Jacot, 15 July 1935.

Remarks: The eight 'cotypes' examined are in good condition and mounted in Canada Balsam. They are undissected and although only partially cleared, most of the chaetotactic characters can be discerned.

A. terrapene shows an overall similarity to A. phyllophorus . In both species the aspal keel is markedly truncated and the notogaster bears a well-developed cowl.