Chaudhripalpus costacola 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: 15-18

Chaudhripalpus costacola Beard and Seeman  Edit sp. nov.

( Figs 7–12)

Type material examined. Holotype female ex. Belah  Edit Casuarina cristata  Edit ( Casuarinaceae  Edit ), AUSTRALIA: New South Wales, 86 km S Goondiwindi, approx. 15 km N Moree, Newell Highway, 29 ° 21 ’ 20 ” S 150 °00’ 24 ” E, 21 August 2007, coll. J.J. Beard (QM). Paratypes. 4 females, 2 pharate females, 2 pharate deutonymphs, 1 protonymph, and 1 larva, same data as holotype (QM, ANIC).

Non-type material examined. 8 females, 7 pharate females, 4 deutonymphs, 11 protonymphs, 3 pharate protonymphs, and 11 larvae ex. Ca. cristata  Edit , AUSTRALIA: Queensland, 17 km west of Dalby on Moonie Highway, 27 ° 14 ’ 13 ” S 151 °08’ 52 ” E, 0 5 May 2007, coll. J.J. Beard and P.I. Forster (QM, USNM; BRI voucher PIF 32479); 8 females, 2 protonymphs, and 4 larvae ex same host, AUSTRALIA: Queensland, 45 km south of Hebel along Castlereagh Highway, near Lightning Ridge, 28 ° 44 ’ 43 ” S 148 °09’ 12 ” E, 0 6 May 2007, coll. J.J. Beard and P.I. Forster (QM; BRI voucher PIF 32488).

Diagnosis. Prodorsal shield with coarse, longitudinally lineate sculpturing. Dorsal opisthosomal cuticle with longitudinal striate sculpturing posteriorly; smooth cuticle between setae c 1 -d 1; longitudinal folding between setae d 1 -e 1; oblique folds and striate sculpturing laterally. Ventral setae ps 1–2 thin, barbed, seta ps 3 smooth. Trochanters I –IV 0- 0-1 -0 (v ′ absent on tr I –IV; l' present on tr III, added in protonymph). Spermathecal tube long, narrow, ca. 95 long before balloon-like membranous vesicle 4 long, 3 wide.

FEMALE (n = 21). Dorsum. ( Fig. 7) Body measurements: distance between setae v 2 -h 1 265–300 [300]; sc 2 - sc 2 91–93 [91]; other measurements: v 2 -v 2 38 –40 [38], sc 1 -sc 1 82–85 [83], c 1 -c 1 24–28 [28], c 3 -c 3 116–125 [125], d 1 -d 1 20–25 [25], d 3 -d 3 99–110 [108], e 1 - e 1 22–26 [23], e 3 - e 3 97–110 [110], f 3 -f 3 88–99 [99], h 1 -h 1 21– 24 [24], h 2 -h 2 63–74 [74]. Gnathosoma completely concealed beneath prodorsum. Anterior margin of prodorsum with 1 pair of blunt membranous triangular lobes originating from beneath prodorsal margin, notch formed between lobes 10–15 deep. Prodorsal shield weakly developed with coarse, longitudinal lineate pattern. Opisthosomal shield weakly developed with smooth cuticle medially, coarse, longitudinal-oblique lineate pattern laterally and posteriorly. Lateral cuticle surrounding shields weakly striated. All dorsal setae broadly lanceolate, barbed; medial opisthosomal setae shorter than lateral setae. Setal lengths: v 2 17–18 [18], sc 1 14–15 [15], sc 2 17– 20 [17], c 1 13–16 [16], c 3 18–19 [18], d 1 10–11 [10], d 3 16–19 [16], e 1 9 –10 [10], e 3 16 –18 [17], f 3 17–18 [18], h 1 12–13 [13], h 2 15–17 [17]. Palps. ( Fig. 8 a) Setal formula 0, 0, 0, 2 (1 s+ 1 e). Tarsal eupathidium 6 long; solenidion 7 long. Vent er. ( Fig. 8 b) Cuticle with fine transverse striae between setae 1 a - 3 a, longitudinal between setae 3 a - 4 a, transverse striae to midway between 4 a and ag, then longitudinal striae becoming coarse around genital area. Genital setae inserted in more-or-less transverse row, g 1 inserted slightly posterior to level of g 2. Genital area smooth, membranous, 20–25 [25] long, 35–40 [35] wide; anal setae ps 1–3 inserted medially on weakly defined anal plates in longitudinal line. Coxal setae 1 a, 1 b, 2 b, 2 c, 3 a, 3 b, 4 a, 4 b fine; setae g 1–2 lanceolate, setae ag 1, ps 1–2 narrowly lanceolate, barbed, ps 3 fine. Setal lengths: 1a 40 – 45 [broken], 1 b 20–25 [broken], 2 b 12–15 [12], 2 c 12–16 [13], 3a 25 – 40 [25], 3 b 12–15 [12], 4a 30 – 36 [35], 4 b 11–15 [15], ag 1 9–11 [9], g 1 9–11 [11], g 2 10 [10], ps 1 6–7 [7], ps 2 6–7 [7], ps 3 5–6 [6]. Spermatheca. ( Fig. 8 c) Spermathecal tube long, narrow, becoming convoluted distally, maximum width 1, ca. 95 long before balloon-like spermatheca 4 long, 3 wide. Genital opening just anterior to setae ps 3. Legs. ( Fig. 9) Setal formula for legs I –IV (coxae to tarsi) 1 - 0-3 - 0- 4 - 8 (1), 2 - 0-3 - 0-4 - 8 (1), 1 - 1-2 - 0-3 - 4, 1 - 0-1 - 0-3 - 4. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (ta I 9 [9] long, ta II 8 [8] long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (6 long). Leg setation as in Table 1 except: cx I without 1 c; tr I –IV without v ′; ge I –III without l ′, ge I –II without d, l′′; ta I –IV without tc′′.

MALE. Unknown.

DEUTONYMPH (n = 5). Dorsum. ( Fig. 10) Body measurements: distance between setae v 2 -h 1 235–250, sc 2 - sc 2 90–96; other measurements: v 2 -v 2 25–29, sc 1 -sc 1 83–88, c 1 -c 1 22–25, c 3 -c 3 114–122, d 1 -d 1 20–23, d 3 -d 3 88–96, e 1 - e 1 18–20, e 3 - e 3 88–97, f 3 -f 3 79–85, h 1 -h 1 18–22, h 2 -h 2 48–56. Anterior prodorsal lobes not developed. Prodorsal shield smoothly rounded. Opisthosoma with setae c 1 on weak, irregular plate, d 1 on paired, weak, irregular platelets; otherwise coarse transverse striae between areas of smooth cuticle. Setal lengths: v 2 13–15, sc 1 13–15, sc 2 15–16, c 1 14–16, c 3 14–17, d 1 13–15, d 3 15–17, e 1 11 –13, e 3 12 –14, f 3 12–15, h 1 10, h 2 12–15. Palps. Palps similar to adult. Solenidion 4 long, eupathidium 4–5 long. Venter. ( Fig. 11 b) Cuticle with transverse striae becoming longitudinal posteriorly. Coxal setae fine. Setae ps 1–2 barbed, ps 3 smooth. Setal lengths: 1a 22 – 25, 1 b 12–13, 2 b 9–11, 2 c 10–13, 3 a 17–20, 3 b 9–10, 4 a 16–22, 4 b 8–10, ag 1 8–10, g 1 10–11, ps 1 4–5, ps 2 5, ps 3 5. Legs. Setal formula for legs I –IV same as adult. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (5 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (5 long).

PROTONYMPH (n = 3). Dorsum. Body measurements: distance between setae v 2 -h 1 190–225, sc 2 -sc 2 81– 84; other measurements: v 2 -v 2 23–25, sc 1 -sc 1 68–70, c 1 -c 1 21–22, c 3 -c 3 110–113, d 1 -d 1 19–23, d 3 -d 3 82–85, e 1 - e 1 16–19, e 3 - e 3 76–79, f 3 -f 3 67–69, h 1 -h 1 17–25, h 2 -h 2 36–43. Anterior prodorsal lobes not developed. Prodorsal shield weakly developed, smooth. Opisthosoma with setae c 1 and d 1 on paired, weak, irregular platelets; otherwise sparse striae between areas of smooth cuticle. Setal length: v 2 12–15, sc 1 10–12, sc 2 14, c 1 15, c 3 14–16, d 1 10– 13, d 3 11–15, e 1 8 –10, e 3 13, f 3 11, h 1 7, h 2 9–11. Palps. Palps similar to adult. Solenidion 3–4 long, eupathidium 4 long. Venter. Cuticle with transverse striae becoming longitudinal posteriorly. Coxal setae fine. Setal lengths: 1a 25 – 30, 1 b 8–10, 2 b 8–10, 3 a 17–20, 3 b 6–9, ag 1 7–12, ps 1 3–4, ps 2 3–4, ps 3 3–4. Legs. Setal formula for legs I –IV (coxae to tarsi) 1 - 0-3 - 0-4 - 8 (1), 1 - 0-3 - 0-4 - 8 (1), 1 - 1-2 - 0-3 - 4, 0- 0-1 - 0-3 - 3. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (4 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (5, 4 – 5 long). Leg setation as in deutonymph except: seta 1 c absent; seta 4 b absent; tarsi IV without tc′′. Setae l' added to tr III.

LARVA (n = 16). Dorsum. ( Fig. 12) Body measurements: distance between setae v 2 -h 1 130–160, sc 2 -sc 2 64– 69; other measurements: v 2 -v 2 20–21, sc 1 -sc 1 55–60, c 1 -c 1 17–18, c 3 -c 3 87–96, d 1 -d 1 18–19, d 3 -d 3 58–61, e 1 - e 1 8–11, e 3 - e 3 46–57, f 3 -f 3 33–41, h 1 -h 1 8, h 2 -h 2 14–22. Anterior prodorsal lobes not developed. Prodorsal shield weakly developed, smooth. Opisthosoma without platelets, with coarse transverse wrinkled striae, becoming oblique posteriorly. Setal lengths: v 2 12–13, sc 1 7–8, sc 2 10–11, c 1 9–10, c 3 8–10, d 1 8–9, d 3 9–10, e 1 6 –8, e 3 9 – 11, f 3 9–10, h 1 5–6, h 2 9. Palps. Palps similar to adult except solenidion 3 long and eupathidium 5–6 long. Venter. ( Fig. 11 a) Cuticle with transverse striae becoming longitudinal posteriorly. Coxal setae fine. Setal lengths: 1a 16 – 21, 1 b 11–12, 3 a 14–23, ps 1 3–4, ps 2 3–4, ps 3 3–4. Legs. ( Fig. 12) 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 long). Leg setation as in protonymph except: seta 2 b absent; seta 3 b absent; tr I –III nude; tarsi I –III without seta tc ′.

Hosts and distribution. This species was collected from Belah  Edit , Ca. cristata  Edit from northwestern New South Wales and southwestern Queensland.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from costa (rib) and cola (dweller), alluding to the habit of these mites to lodge in between the ribs on stems of she-oaks.

Remarks. This species was a darkish matt red colour in life and was found on the stems, with Pentamerismus sititoris  Edit and Philippipalpus belah  Edit .

Chaudhripalpus costacola  Edit can be separated from Ch. creelae  Edit by the absence of v' on trochanters I –IV (present on tr I –II in Ch. creelae  Edit ) and the presence of narrow setiform setae ps 1–2 (broadly lanceolate in Ch. creelae  Edit ).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Chaudhripalpus costacola Beard and Seeman, adult female, a. detail of palps and dorsal gnathosoma (scale bar = 25 Μm); b. posterior venter (scale bar = 50 Μm); c. spermatheca.

FIGURE 9. Chaudhripalpus costacola Beard and Seeman, adult female, legs (left side ventral view; claws not illustrated on legs I – II; solenidion ω " and eupathidia (pζ ′ - pζ ′′) not labelled).

FIGURE 10. Chaudhripalpus costacola Beard and Seeman, deutonymph, dorsal opisthosoma.

FIGURE 11. Chaudhripalpus costacola Beard and Seeman, immatures, a. larva posterior venter; b. deutonymph posterior venter.

FIGURE 12. Chaudhripalpus costacola Beard and Seeman, larva, dorsum, with detail of legs.