Conoppia palmicinctum

Luxton, M., 1990, A Redescription of Conoppia palmicinctum (Michael, 1880) (Acari, Cryptostigmata), Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 126, pp. 163-166 : 164-165

Conoppia palmicinctum (Michael, 1880: 184) (Fig. 1A, B)

The lectotype designated is an adult on the slide in the Michael Collection of the British Museum (Natural History) labelled " 1930.8.25.380. Bred. Porth Gwarra . Sept. 1879 ". The slide also contains a nymph. Since the adult specimen is newly emerged, it displays features of the notogastral integument which are not, or barely, apparent on the darker specimens taken from the field. Thus, the setal alveoli seen in the lectotype are not readily visible in other specimens. It is probable that with hardening of the newly sclerotized integument of the adult the notogastral pores close up.

Dimensions of available specimens (see locality data): Mean length 1107 µm (range 1000-1250) (n=9); mean width 937 µm (range 800-1080) (n=9). There is a certain sexually related size difference: mean length of female 1153 µm (range 1080-1250) (n=3); mean width of female 1000 µm (range 950-1050) (n=3). Mean length of males 1083 µm (range 1000-1200) (n=6); mean width of males 905 µm (range 800-1080) (n = 6).

Prodorsum: Rostrum rounded; rostral setae projecting straight forwards, slightly setose, pointed, and set on small tubercles. Lamellae at lateral edges of prodorsum, cusps somewhat raised from the surface, not quite reaching tip of rostrum, and joined by a translamella. Lamellar setae faintly setose and inserted in the tips of the cusps. Space between both lamellae and cusps with some faint horizontal lines. Tutoria well developed, both they and the lamellae patterned with interlaced ridges. Interlamellar setae inserted just anterior of the dorsosejugal region, long, pointed and faintly setose. Bothridia simple, cup-shaped, partly concealed by anterior region of notogaster and linked with the posterior region of the lamellae. Exobothridial setae long, fine, smooth, and arising posteriorly of bothridia. Sensilli with a fusiform capitulum Coming to a distinct point and with sparse, minute setulae which are occasionally evident on the pedicel also.

Notogaster: Smooth, most specimens apparently bearing only two pairs of setae at the posterior rim. The lectotype has two possible setal insertion points laterally, and 5 pores, some with a short, fine seta, others with a slight peg-like structure, yet others represented merely as insertion points in the integument. Humeral processes slight, with one or two small fissures. Dorsosejugal suture complete, straight and strong.

Venter: Apodemata strong, with some tuberculation. Genital region encompassed anteriorly by epimera 3; genital plates patterned with some vertical lines. Epimeral setal formula 3-2-4-0; epimera 2 and 3 with some areolation. Genital setae number 6 pairs, aggenital setae 1 pair, anal setae 2 pairs, adanal setae 3 pairs.

Legs: Tridactylous; each claw equally strong and only slightly curved. Femora with ventral flanges. Trochantera and femora III and IV with blunt posterior points.

New records: Cornwall: gorse litter, Reskajeage Downs , 17.vii.86 (M. Luxton) ; bark and moss on oak trunk, near Scorrier , 18.vii.86 (M. and A.J. Luxton) ; Dyfed: moss and lichen on rock, Nevern , 6.iv.87 (A.J. Luxton) . The Dyfed record considerably extends the range northwards in the United Kingdom. There is also a nymph in the Warburton Collection at the British Museum (Natural History) from " Camelford . April 1906 " (Cornwall).

Remarks: There are 6 eggs in each of two Nevern specimens and 3 in another.