Morelacarus

Stekolnikov, Alexandr A. & González-Acuña, Daniel, 2015, A review of Chilean chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae), with the description of a new genus and ten new species, Zootaxa 3964 (1), pp. 1-43 : 39

Morelacarus sp. 4

Diagnosis. SIF = 5B-B-3-2000.1(?)000; fsp = 6.6.6; fCx = 2.1.1; fSt = 0.2; fPp = B/B/B(b)Nb(N); fD = 2H-[(10– 13)-6(8)]-(8–10)-8(7)-4(5)-2. Cheliceral blade with ventral row of 2 teeth and dorsal row of 5 teeth; sensilla with 8 branches in distal half; SB posterior or at level of PLs; presence of mastitarsala unclear. Standard measurements (range, mean in parentheses, n = 3): AW 49–54 (51), PW 62–66 (64), SB 20–24 (22), ASB 22–23 (22), PSB 18–19 (18), SD 40–41 (41), P-PL 18–21 (20), AP 18–20 (19), AM 23–26 (24), AL 23–27 (26), PL 27–32 (29), H 29–32 (30), D min 20–22 (21), D max 27–29 (28), V min 20–24 (22), V max 27, pa 247–256 (253), pm 214–225 (219), pp 232–238 (235), Ip 693–718 (707), DS 40–44 (42), VS 25–29 (27), NDV 68–71 (69), TaIIIL 63–65 (64), TaIIIW 12–14 (13).

Hosts. Liolaemus fuscus Boulenger , L. lemniscatus Gravenhorst , L. nitidus (Wiegmann) , L. tenuis (Dumeril and Bibron) .

Distribution. Chile, Valparaíso Region, Quillota Province, La Campana National Park.

Material examined. Two specimens ( ZIN collection Nos. 8507 and 8508) ex L. fuscus No. 52, CHILE: La Campana, 5 March 2013, coll. D. González-Acuña; 2 specimens (8512 and 8513) ex L. lemniscatus No. 44, La Campana, 25 March 2013, coll. D. González-Acuña; 7 specimens (8516–8522) ex L. nitidus Nos. 58 and 60, other data same; 1 specimen (8523) ex L. tenuis No. 51, other data same.

Remarks. Palpal setation is variable (fPp = B/B/bNN, B/B/BNb). Presence of mastitarsala could not be established with confidence. Arrangement of dorsal idiosomal setae is variable (2H-[6-4]-6- 10 -8-5-2, 2H-[9-4]-6- 9-8-4-2, 2H-[8-5]-6-8-7-4). Scutum is somewhat larger than in M. jorgei and M. camanchaca , AM and AL longer, legs much longer (Ip = 693–718 vs. 581–643).

One specimen (8518) has somewhat longer scutum and setae, much longer legs and more numerous idiosomal setae, than other specimens. Its traits are as follows: fPp = B/B/bbb, fD = 2H-[8-8]-12- 10-9-6-4, S1 = 12, S2 = 18, AW 49, PW 64, SB 22, ASB 25, PSB 20, SD 45, P-PL 25, AP 18, AL 28, PL 31, S 64, H 36, D min 23, D max 31, V min 22, V max 32, pa 279, pm 245, pp 270, Ip 794, DS 59, VS 39 NDV 98, TaIIIL 72, TaIIIW 13.