Crossipalpus raveni Beard and Seeman

Beard, Jennifer J., Seeman, Owen D. & Bauchan, Gary R., 2014, Tenuipalpidae (Acari: Trombidiformes) from Casuarinaceae (Fagales), Zootaxa 3778 (1), pp. 1-157 : 44-51

Crossipalpus raveni Beard and Seeman sp. nov.

( Figs 32–37 )

Type material examined. Holotype female ex. Woolly Oak Allocasuarina inophloia (Casuarinaceae) , AUSTRALIA: Queensland, Moonie Highway, 90 km W Moonie, 27°56’57” S 149°31’19” E, 0 5 May 2007, coll. J.J. Beard and P.I. Forster (QM; BRI voucher PIF32483). Paratypes. 9 females, 5 males, and 4 larvae, same data as holotype (QM, ANIC, USNM).

Diagnosis. Dorsal setae lanceolate, strongly barbed; setae e1 shortest. Palpal segments as wide as long. Genua I–II with seta d, without l′′; tarsi I–IV without tc′′. Solenidia of male much thicker and longer than in female.

FEMALE (n = 10). Dorsum. ( Fig. 32 a) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 310–365 in 9 paratypes [355]; sc2-sc2 100–110 [110]; other measurements: v2-v 2 22–24 [24], sc1-sc1 86–98 [98], c1-c 1 15–22 [22], c2-c2 100–115 [115], c3-c3 125–145 [135], d1-d 1 14–21 [21], d2-d2 85–95 [94], d3-d3 110–120 [120], e1- e 1 14–18 [16], e2-e2 100–110 [110], e3- e3 89–100 [95], f3-f3 70–80 [73], h1-h 1 12–17 [13], h2-h2 35–54 [48]. Gnathosoma completely concealed beneath prodorsum. Anterior margin of prodorsum rounded. Prodorsal shield weakly developed with oblique grooves laterally, longitudinal grooves medially. Opisthosomal shield weakly developed with oblique-longitudinal lineate grooves, becoming transverse between setae d1-e1. Lateral cuticle surrounding shields smooth. Dorsal setae lanceolate, barbed; setae e1 shorter than other setae. Setal lengths: v 2 21– 25 [22], sc 1 20–25 [20], sc 2 20–22 [20], c 1 15–19 [15], c 2 14–20 [16], c 3 17–21 [18], d 1 12–19 [15], d 2 14–21 [18], d 3 17–21 [18], e1 7 –9 [8], e 2 17 –24 [19], e 3 17 –24 [20], f 3 18–23 [21], h 1 9–12 [11], h 2 21–24 [21]. Palps. ( Fig. 32 b) Setal formula 0, 0, 0, 1, 3 (1s+2e). Tibial seta 9–11 [9] long; tarsal eupathidia 6 [6], 5 [5] long; solenidion 4–5 [4] long. Venter. ( Fig. 33 a) Cuticle with fine transverse striae between setae 1a -3a, longitudinal between setae 3a -4a, then convex for 20–30 Μm, striae longitudinal posterior to setae 4a; fine striae become coarse lateral to genital area. Genital setae inserted in more-or-less transverse row, g1 inserted slightly posterior to level of g2. Genital shield smooth, poorly developed; anal setae ps1–2 inserted medially on anal plates in longitudinal line; seta ps3 absent. Coxal setae fine, 2c barbed; setae ag1, g1–2, ps1–2 fine, with few barbs. Setal lengths: 1a 64–83 [64], 1b 18–30 [21], 2b 18–25 [18], 2c 18–21 [19], 3a 35–66 [35], 3b 16–22 [17], 4a 42–92 [45], 4b 14–26 [15], ag 1 14–18 [14], g 1 20–24 [21], g 2 18–23 [19], ps 1 11–16 [14], ps 2 10–13 [13]. Spermatheca. ( Fig. 33 b) Spermathecal tube long, becoming narrow and sometimes convoluted distally, maximum 2 wide, ca. 80 long. Spermatheca vesicle not oval-shaped, 4 long, 2 wide. Genital opening between setae ps2. Legs. ( Fig. 34 ) Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi) 1-1-3-1-4-8(1), 2-1-3-1-4-8(1), 1-2-2-0-3-4, 1-1-1-0-3-4. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (5–6 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (7–8 [7] long). Leg setation as in Table 1 except: coxae I without 1c; genua I–II with d, without l′′; tarsi I–IV without tc′′. Setae v' added to tr IV.

MALE (5 paratypes). Dorsum. ( Fig. 35 ) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 245–265, sc2-sc2 83–91; other measurements: v2-v 2 13–17, sc1-sc1 69–74, c1-c 1 12–17, c2-c2 85–94, c3-c3 96–112, d1-d 1 11–13, d2-d2 69–74, d3-d3 78–87, e1- e 1 11–17, e2- e2 73–81, e3- e3 69–77, f3-f3 57–66, h1-h 1 7–10, h2-h2 35–43. Gnathosoma not concealed beneath prodorsum. Anterior margin of prodorsum smooth, weakly convex. Prodorsal shield weakly developed. Opisthosoma with mesonotal shield (appearing as a pair of shields) on which at least setae c1, d1 and d2 inserted, with weak rugose-lineate pattern; and pygidial shield with at least setae e1, e3, f3, h2 inserted, with oblique-longitudinal weakly lineate pattern; setae h1 often under posterior overhang of pygidial shield; shields separated by transverse striae; cuticle laterad mesonotal shield smooth with few papillations; several minute pores visible on shields. Setal lengths: v 2 19–24, sc 1 16–19, sc 2 15–20, c 1 9–14, c 2 11–16, c 3 15–17, d 1 7– 13, d 2 9–15, d 3 12–18, e1 6 –8, e 2 14 –17, e 3 15 –18, f 3 15–19, h 1 7–10, h 2 15–19. Palps. Palps similar to female. Tibial seta 8–10 long; tarsal eupathidia 6–7, 5–6 long; solenidion 7–8 long, swollen. Venter. ( Fig. 36 a) All striae transverse, becoming coarse posteriorly and weak around setae ag1. Coxal setae fine, except 2c barbed. Setae ag1 barbed; g1, g2, ps2 fine; setae ps1 modified to form thick blades (sexually dimorphic). Setal lengths: 1a 47–52, 1 b 19–27, 2 b 19–24, 2 c 13–21, 3 a 46–60, 3 b 17–21, 4 a 37–48, 4 b 15–18, ag 1 13–16, g 1 11–15, g 2 15–20, ps 1 15–16, ps 2 8–11. Aedeagus. ( Fig. 36 b) Narrow, sclerotised, tapering to a point, 67–70 long. Membranous duct runs from inside aedeagus, becoming indistinguishable. Legs. ( Fig. 35 ) Setal formula same as female. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (ta I 9–11 long, ta II 9–10 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (ta I 6–7, 5–6; ta II 7, 7–8). Solenidia much thicker and longer than those in female.

DEUTONYMPH and PROTONYMPH. Unknown.

LARVA (4 paratypes). Dorsum. ( Fig. 37 ) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 170–180, sc2-sc2 61–64; other measurements: v2-v 2 15–16, sc1-sc1 51–55, c1-c1 8–9, c2-c2 58–60, c3-c3 84–87, d1-d 1 11–13, e1- e1 5–6, e2- e2 53–54, e3- e3 40–44, f3-f3 34–35, h1-h1 5–7, h2-h 2 13–17. Prodorsal shield obsolete. Opisthosomal shields absent; sparse irregular transverse striae anteriorly. Setal lengths: v 2 24–27, sc 1 12–16, sc 2 15–17, c 1 17– 22, c 2 15–17, c 3 10–11, d 1 15–20, d 2 14–18, d 3 11–12, e1 4 –8, e 2 15 –17, e 3 14 –17, f 3 16–19, h1 5–6, h 2 18–19. Palps. Palps same as adult. Tibial seta 6–7 long; tarsal eupathidia 3, 4 long, solenidion 2 long. Venter. Transverse striae, becoming oblique around anal region. All setae fine. Setal lengths: 1a 21–28, 1 b 13–16, 3 a 16–30, ps1 4–6, ps2 4–6. Legs. ( Fig. 37 ) Setal formula for legs I–III (coxae to tarsi) 1-0-3-0-4-7(1), 0-0-3-0-4-7(1), 0-0-2-0-3-3. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (3 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (4–5 long). Leg setation as in Table 1 except genua I–III without l ′. Trochanters I–III nude.

Etymology. It is with great pleasure that we name this species for our colleague and friend Dr Robert Raven, in recognition of his support for our work and his immense contribution to Arachnology.

Remarks. Crossipalpus raveni sp. nov. is similar to Cr. gersoni sp. nov., as they both have seta d present on ge I–II, but Cr. raveni has lanceolate setae d on femora and genua I–II (spatulate in Cr. gersoni ), and posterior ventral setae are thin, setiform and weakly barbed (broadly lanceolate and strongly barbed in Cr. gersoni ).

Figures

FIGURE 32. Crossipalpus raveni Beard and Seeman, adult female, a. dorsum; b. detail of palp (scale bar for palp = 25 Μm).

FIGURE 33. Crossipalpus raveni Beard and Seeman, adult female, a. posterior venter; b. spermatheca.

FIGURE 34. Crossipalpus raveni Beard and Seeman, adult female, legs (left side), solenidion ω " and eupathidia (pζ ′ - pζ ′′) not labelled on legs I – II.

FIGURE 35. Crossipalpus raveni Beard and Seeman, adult male, dorsum with details of legs.

FIGURE 36. Crossipalpus raveni Beard and Seeman, adult male, a. posterior venter, with genital opening retracted; b. aedeagus.

FIGURE 37. Crossipalpus raveni Beard and Seeman, larva, dorsum with detail of legs.