Dactyloscirus Berlese, 1916

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 : 25-26

Dactyloscirus Berlese, 1916

Historical review. Trägårdh (1905) described Scirus inermis . Berlese (1916) erected Dactyloscirus as a subgenus of Scirus to accommodate Scirus (Dactyloscirus) eupaloides . He also described Scirus dorcas but failed to recognize that they were congeneric. Oudemans (1922) described Rosenhofia machairodus . Halbert (1923) redescribed and figured S. inermis from Ireland. Sellnick (1926) transferred S. inermis to Cunaxa . Vitzthum (1931) raised Dactyloscirus to full generic status but later (1940-43) treated it as a subgenus. Thor & Willmann (1941) again elevated Dactyloscirus to generic status and designated Dactyloscirus eupaloides as the type specimen; they also transferred C. inermis and S. dorcas to Dactyloscirus . Baker & Hoffmann (1948) regarded Dactyloscirus as a senior synonym of Cunaxa . Smiley (1975) synonymized Rosenhofia with Dactyloscirus . Zaher et al. (1975) reported D. inermis from Egypt (though they called it Cunaxa inermis ). Chaudhri (1977) described D. fuscus . Den Heyer (1978 b) split Armascirus from Dactyloscirus and Cunaxa and raised the subfamily Cunaxinae to accommodate them, thus refining the definitions of all three genera. Den Heyer (1979a) described D. condylus and D.

dolichosetosus . Den Heyer (1980) erected the tribe Armascirini and made Dactyloscirus and Armascirus the sole representatives. Gupta and Ghosh (1980) described Cunaxoides nicobarensis . Dactyloscirus pataliputraensis was described by Gupta (1981). Goff (1983) recorded D. inermis from Hawaii. Liang (1986) described D. humuli from China. Michocka (1987) reported D. inermis from Poland. Smiley (1992) transferred Cunaxoides nicobarensis to Dactyloscirus and described D. mansoni , D. johnstoni , and D. poppi . Corpuz-Raros (1995) described D. philippinensis , D. rosarioae , and D. agricolus . Inayatullah and Shahid (1996) described D. illutus , D. minys , and D. orsi . Swift (1996) described D. hoffmannae and D. smileyi from the Hawaiian Islands. Hu (1997) reported D. inermis and D. humuli from China. Corpuz-Raros (2008) described D. apoensis , D. discocondylus , and D. trifidus .

Generic diagnosis. Palpi five segmented, extend beyond the subcapitulum by at least the last segment. They end in a strong claw, though the claw may be bifid or trifid. The palps are often adorned with an apophysis between the genua and tibiotarsi. Palp genual apophysis can be long or short and generally ends in a bulbous, hyaline tip; it can however end in a tapering point as in Armascirus . This apophysis can be approximately equal between males and females or can be shorter in males. Basifemora and telofemora are complemented with spine-like setae; these two segments are fused though a line remains visible and they can thus be differentiated.

Subcapitulum is complemented with six pairs of setae (hg1–4 and two pairs of adoral setae). It can be covered by integumental papillae that are either randomly distributed or form a polygonal, reticulated pattern.

Female dorsal idiosoma has at least one sclerotized plate that bears two pairs of setose sensillae (ap and pt) and two pairs of simple setae (lps and mps). 0–4 other major plates and platelets may also be present. All plates, if present, are covered by integumental papillae that form a reticulated pattern. The integument between the plates is striated. Seven pairs of setae (c1–2, d1–h1) are present. Each seta, when not on a major plate or platelet, is born by a minute platelet that is only slightly larger than the setal socket. Cupule im is present, laterad or in the proximity of e1. Dorsal idiosoma of males is similar except a single large plate usually complemented with c1–2, d1–e1 present (male D. inermis do not have c2 on the plate).

Female ventral idiosoma complemented by coxal, genital and anal plates. Coxal plates reticulated in the same manner as the dorsal plates. Coxae I and II often fused; coxae III and IV often fused. Setal formula for coxae I–IV usually 3-3-3-3. Genital plates each bear four setae; two pairs of genital papillae visible underneath the plates. Anal plates bear one pair of setae (ps1). Two pairs of setae (ps2 and h2) associated with, but do not occur on, the anal plates. Cupule ih present in close proximity to h2. Integument between plates striated and bears 5–7 pairs of additional setae. Ventral idiosoma of males similar, except coxal plates much more extensive. Sclerotized aedeagus sometimes visible in association with the genital plates.

Legs comparatively short, generally not exceeding ¾ the length of the body. Famulus on tarsi I enlarged and ends in a tri-tipped prong. Tarsi constricted apically, resulting in large tarsal lobes.