Armascirus primigenius Skvarla and Dowling

Skvarla, Michael J. & Dowling, Ashley P. G., 2012, Some new armascirine cunaxids (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae) from the Eastern United States, Zootaxa 3194, pp. 1-34 : 13-16

Armascirus primigenius Skvarla and Dowling sp. nov.

( Figs. 8–10 )

Diagnosis. Armascirus prigimeus most closely resembles A. taurus in that it has a small hysterosomal (median) shield that is complemented with a single pair of setae (d1), has lateral platelets and 6 pairs of ventral setae caudally from coxae II (excluding coxal, genital and anal setae). It can be distinguished from A. taurus by differences in leg chaetotaxy, specifically genua II with 2 asl + 5 sts instead of 1 asl + 5 sts, and genua IV with 1 asl + 4 sts instead of 2 asl + 5 sts.

Female. Idiosoma 400–725 (556, n=15) long, 290–500 (394) wide.

Gnathasoma ( Fig. 8 ). Subcapitulum ( Fig. 8 a) approximately ½ the length of the idiosoma, 250–295 (274). Two pairs of adoral setae present. Four pairs of setae (hg1–4); hg1,2,3 longer than hg4 and increasing in size (19, 28, 75, 12). Palp ( Fig. 8 b) 325–475 (381). Chaetotaxy: trochanter - 0; basifemur - 1 sts; telofemur - 1 spls, 1 apophysis; genu - 1 sts, 3 spls, 1 apophysis adjoining genu and tibiotarsus; tibiotarsus - 1 spls, 1 dtsl, 3 sts. Tibiotarsus ends in a claw. Chelicera ( Fig. 8 c) 210–255 (227), elongate and base three times width of apex.

Dorsum ( Fig. 9 a). Proterosomal shield present, with reticulate sculpturing. Two setose trichobothria (ap and pt) present on shield; 310–425 (357) and 410–550 (486), respectively. Two setae (lps and mps) also present on shield; 10–20 (16) and 10–18 (15), respectively. Hysterosomal (median) shield present, with reticulate sculpturing. Lateral platelets present, also with reticulate sculpturing. Setae c1, e1–h1, c2 on minute sclerotized plates barely larger than the setal socket; seta d1 present on the hysterosomal shield. Setae c1–h1, c 2 11, 14, 18, 33, 38, and 12 respectively. Cupule im present and laterad to e1. Integument striated.

Venter ( Fig. 9 b). Coxal plates I and II fused but retaining suture, with reticulate sculpturing. Coxal plates III and IV also fused but retaining suture, with reticulate sculpturing. Coxae I-IV setal formula 3-2-3-3. 6 pairs of dorsal setae after coxae II (not including coxal, genital and anal setae). Genital plates weakly sclerotized, with 4 pairs of setae (g1–4) and two pairs of papillae. Three pairs of setae on or adjacent to anal plates: two pseudanal setae (ps1– 2) and h2. Cupule ih present laterad to ps2.

Legs ( Fig. 10 a–d). Legs I, II and III shorter than body; leg IV subequal. Leg I 375–500 (448), leg II 365–515 (431), leg III 430–525 (495), leg IV 485–650 (559). Chaetotaxy: trochanters I–IV, 1-1-2-1; basifemora I–IV, 5-5-4- 2; telofemora I–IV, 4-4-4-4; genua I with 1 mst, 4 asl, 4 sts; genua II with 2 asl, 5 sts; genua III with 1 asl, 5 sts; genua IV with 1 asl, 4 sts; tibiae I with 1 mst, 2 asl, 4 sts; tibiae II with 1 asl, 5 sts; tibiae III with 1 asl, 5 sts; tibiae IV with 1 T, 4 sts; tarsi I with 4 asl, 2 tsl, 1 fam, 1 mst, 17 sts; tarsi II with 1 bsl, 1 tsl, 17 sts; tarsi III with 1 tsl, 16 sts; tarsi IV with 18 sts.

Male and developmental stages. Unknown.

Etymology. Two Armascirus , A. taurus and A. bison , are named after bovines. As this new species appears closely related to A. taurus the authors thought it appropriate to borrow the name of another bovid, specifically the aurochs, Bos primigenius .

Material examined (15 individuals on slides). Female holotype, ex. cedar litter in rocky area, USA, Missouri, Taney Co, Mark Twain National Forest (36° 41.199 N, 092° 58.274 W), 23 May 2010, coll. J. R. Fisher and D. M. Keeler. APGD 10-0523-010 ● 1 female paratype ( APGD 10-0523-011), ex. leaf litter under chinkapin oak, same locality, 23 May 2010, coll. J. R. Fisher and D. M. Keeler ● 5 female paratypes ( APGD 09-1016-001), ex. old growth leaf litter, USA, Arkansas, Washington Co., Ozark National Forest, Weddington, 16 October 2009, coll. J. R. Fisher ● 1 female paratype ( APGD 09-0830-003), ex. leaf litter, USA, Arkansas, Washington Co., Devil’s Den State Park (35° 46.835 N, 094° 14.765W), 30 August 2009, coll. J. R. Fisher ● 1 female paratype ( APGD 09-0830- 004), same data ● 1 female paratype ( APGD 10-0919-010), ex. mixed cedar and deciduous litter drifted against logs and rocks, USA, Arkansas, Newton Co., Buffalo National River, Boen Gulf (36° 02.381 N, 093° 20.394 W), 19 September 2010, coll. M. J. Skvarla. ● 1 female paratype ( APGD 09-0821-010), ex. cedar litter, same locality (36° 01.924 N, 093° 20.040 W), 21 August 2009, coll. J. R. Fisher and M. J. Skvarla ● 1 female paratype ( APGD 09-0829-004), ex. dense litter drift by log, same locality, 29 August 2009, coll. J. R. Fisher and M. J. Skvarla ● 1 female paratype ( APGD 09-0918-004), ex. mixed cedar and deciduous litter by log, same locality, 18 September 2009, by J. R. Fisher and M. J. Skvarla ● 1 female paratype ( APGD 10-0730-004), same locality, 30 July 2010, coll. M. J. Skvarla ● 1 female paratype ( APGD 09-0821-004), ex. low bush blueberry litter on top of bluff, same locality, 21 August 2009, coll. J. R. Fisher.

Type deposition. Holotype and 12 female paratypes — ACUA; 1 female paratype — USNM; 1 female paratype — OSAL.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Armascirus primigenius sp. nov. Gnathosoma. a — Subcapitulum. b — Chelicera, dorsal. c— Palp, dorsal. Polygonal sculpturing illustrated on basifemur present on all segments.

FIGURE 10. Armascirus primigenius sp. nov. Legs, dorsal. Polygonal sculpturing illustrated on leg I basifemur present on all segments of all legs. a— Leg I. b — Leg II. c — Leg III. d — Leg IV.