Podapolipid mites (Acari: Heterostigmata): key to genera, biogeographical history and description of four new Australian species of Eutarsopolipus Seeman, Owen D. Katlav, Alihan Zootaxa 2024 2024-05-13 5448 3 301 347 Seeman & Katlav, 2024 Seeman & Katlav 2024 [151,511,151,178] Arachnida Podapolipidae Eutarsopolipus GBIF Animalia Actinedida 14 315 Arthropoda species ampullaceous sp. nov.  ( Figs 2–10)   Diagnosis.All life stages: solenidion present on tarsus II, well developed. Female and larva: legs I–III femora 3-0-0; genua 1-1-1 (lacking l″on genu I). Female: Plate H absent. Male: opisthonotal setae minute; leg setation reduced: femora 2-0-0 (lacking v″on femur I); genua lacking setae; seta tc′absent on tarsi II–III. Larva: seta h2slightly thickened, stiff, length 16–23.   Type material.All ex  Lecanomerus niger( Darlington).  Holotype female( QMS 117000). Lambs Head( East End), 17°01′46″S, 145°39′20″E,  29 Nov 1993, G. Monteith, H. Janetzki& D. Cook, HR# T22039.  Paratypes. 10 females, 1 male, 11 larvae, as follows: 1 female( QMS 117001), 2 larvae( QMS 117010-11), same data as holotype.  1 female( QMS 117008), 1 male( QMS 117009), Bellenden Ker, Summit TV Station, 17°15′53″S, 145°51′29″E,  30 Nov–2 Dec 1998, G. Monteith, P. Bouchard, D. Cook, HR# T69236.  1 female( QMS 117002), 1 larva( QMS 117012), Lambs Head,  10 kmW Edmonton, 17°01′ 23″S, 145°38′33″E,  8–9 Jan 1990, G. & S. Monteith, HR# T22022.  3 females( QMS 117006-7, ANIC), 4 larvae( QMS 117015-16, ANIC), Mt Fisher,  7kmSW Millaa Millaa, Kjellberg Rd, 17°32′34″S, 145°33′31″E,  27 Apr–29 Apr 1982, G. Monteith, D. Yeates& D. Cook, HR# T21973.  4 females( QMS 117003-5, ZMH), 1 larva( QMS 117014), same data as #T21973 except HR# T21975;  2 larvae( QMS 117013, ZMH), Massey Range,  7 kmNW Centre Bellenden Ker, 17° 13′ 51″S 145° 48′ 13″E,  11–12 Oct 1991, G. Monteith, H. Janetzki& D. Cook, HR# T22036.  1 larva( QMS 117017), Millaa Millaa Falls, 17°29′53″S, 145°36′32″E,  12 Aug 1968, B. Cantrell, HR# T21949. Allin QMexcept 1 femaleand 1 larvain each of ANICand ZMH.  Other material examined.  1 female( QMS 117018), Bellenden Ker, Summit TV Station, 17°15′53″S, 145°51′29″E,  30 Nov–2 Dec 1998, G. Monteith, P. Bouchard, D. Cook, HR# T69236.  1 female( QMS 117019), Bellenden Ker, Cable Tower 3(  1000 m), 17°16′22″S, 145°52′16″ E, Earthwatch, QM, HR# T21965.   Description.FEMALE ( Figs 2–4; n = 11).  Gnathosoma.Length 70 (70–76), width 55 (51–61). Palp with minute dorsal femoral seta. Cheliceral stylets 72 (66–78), dorsal gnathosomal setae ( ch) 44 (44–55), ventral setae ( su) 33 (23–33).  Idiosoma( Figs 2–3). Length 450 (320–700), width 340 (280–420), larger specimens moderately physogastric, body bulging conspicuously at plate C. Dorsum: prodorsal plate (PrS) with setae v127 (23–26), v2alveolar remnant, sc132 (28–37), sc285 (65–85). Distance between setae v1–v147 (44–53), sc1–sc193 (71–93), v1–sc129 (24–36), v2–v279 (54–75), sc2–sc2120 (110–130), sc1–sc224 (25–39); one specimenwith asymmetrical expression of v2and sc 1in reversed position. Plate C setae c112 (11–15), setae c219 (15–22), distance between setae c1–c169 (69–71). Plate D setae d13 (13–18), d–d140 (115–145), cupuli iaanteromesad d. Plate EF setae f16 (16–19), f–f130 (100–135), cupuli imanteromesad f. Plate H absent. Plates usually smooth, one specimen(#8, ex T21975) with weak imbricate ornamentation. Venter ( Fig. 3A–B): membranous cuticle extensive, coxisterna 1–2 weakly defined; apodemes 1, 2 and appr well defined, apodemes 2 almost reaching appr, sejugal apodeme absent, apodemes 3–4 weakly defined; coxal setae ( Fig. 3B) slender, 1a4 (4–5), 2a5 (4–6), 3a5 (4–6), 3b5 (5–8). Alveoli of 1b, 2bpresent.  Legs( Fig. 4). Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 3-1-6(+ φ)-8(+ ω), 0-1-4-6(+ ω), 0-1-4-6. Leg I. Femur, d1 (m–1), l′minute (m–1), v″21 (17–18); genu, l′minute (m); tibia, d75 (55–64), l′2 (m– 2, 7 inspecimen #5, 7 asymmetrically in specimen #4), l″2 (m‒2), v′9 (7–12, 4 inspecimen #5), v″9 (8–13), k6 (5–8), ϕ7 (6–8) baculiform; tarsus, tc′16 (17–18), tc″16 (15–19), pl′15 (12–15), pl″23 (18–23), pv′2 (2–3), pv″3 (3), ω6 (6–7) baculiform, s6 (6–7), u′′minute (m–1), p′absent. Leg II. Genu, l′2 (2–3); tibia, d52 (45–58), l′5 (5–7), v′17 (16– 18), v″36 (30–34); tarsus, tc′11 (9), tc″ 5 (4–5), pl″ 27 (23–28), pvʹminute (m), pv″8 (7–8), ω5 (5–6) digitiform, u′7 (7–9), u′′minute. Leg III. Genu, l′1 (m–1); tibia, d15 (11–13, 43 inspecimen #3), l′3 (4–7), v′15 (8–15), v″30 (24–28); tarsus, tc′11 (10–12), tc″ 5 (4–5), pl″ 19 (19–25), u′7 (6–8), pvʹminute (m), pv″8 (7–10), u′′minute. Setae u′′on tarsi II–III extremely small, often not visible. Legs modified setae: tarsus I setae (pv), u″, tarsi II–III setae pv′small, blunt, thorn-like; tarsus I seta sand tarsi II–III setae tcʺand u′thickened, large, spine-like (tips not bifid). MALE ( Figs 5–7; n = 1).  Gnathosoma. Length 40, width 39. Palp with minute dorsal tibial seta. Cheliceral stylets 30, ch3, su6.   FIGURE 2.  Eutarsopolipus ampullaceous  sp. nov.Female, dorsum. Membranous idiosomal cuticle is shaded grey.   FIGURE 3.Female  Eutarsopolipus.(A)  E. ampullaceous  sp. nov.venter, showing apodemes and (B) coxal setae; (C)  E. tripodus, coxal setae; (D)  E. vepreculus, coxal setae; (E)  E. walteri, coxal setae. Membranous idiosomal cuticle is shaded grey.   FIGURE 4.  Eutarsopolipus ampullaceous  sp. nov.Female, legs I–III (A–C). Tarsi II–III with minute seta u″present but obscured.  Idiosoma( Figs 5–6). Length 210, width 150. Dorsum: prodorsal plate with setae v11, v2alveolar remnant, sc11, sc241. Distance between setae v1–v123, sc1–sc145, v1–sc115–20 (asymmetry in position), v2–v234, sc2–sc267, sc1–sc224–29 (asymmetry in position). Plate CD setae c1, c2, dvestigial, distance between setae c1–c146, c1–c229, d–d41; cupuli iaanteriad or anterolaterad setae d. Plate EF with setae fvestigial, distance f–f20; cupuli imanterolaterad setae f. Genital capsule length 35, width 41, setae hvestigial. Venter ( Fig. 6): apodemes 1, 2 and appr well defined, apodemes 2 reaching appr, sejugal apodeme absent, apodemes 3–4 well defined. Coxal setae ( Fig. 6B) slender, 1a2, 2a3, 3aminute, 3b5.  Legs( Fig. 7). Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 2-0-6(+φ)-8(+ω), 0-0-4-5(+ω), 0-0-4-5. Compared to female: lacking seta v″on femur I, all genual setae, and tc′on tarsi II–III. Leg I. Femur, dminute, l′minute; tibia, d35, l′minute, l″minute, v′ 3, v″ 12, k6, φ8 baculiform; tarsus, tc′12, tc″13, pl′7, pl″12, pv′ 2, pv″2, ω 6 digitiform, s5, u′′ minute. Leg II. Tibia, d21, l′minute, v′10, v″ 15; tarsus, tc″ 5, pl″ 11, pvʹ2, pv″3, ω 4 digitiform, u′ 6. Leg III. Tibia, dminute, l′2, v′12, v″14; tarsus, tc″ 5, pl″ 13, pvʹminute, pv″minute, u′ 5. Tibia I with tiny supernumerary seta expressed asymmetrically (denoted x on figure). Modified setae: same as female except—tibia I seta l′and v′small, pointed, spine-like; tibiae II–III seta l′small, blunt, peg-like; seta pv″not spine-like. LARVAL FEMALE ( Figs 8–10; n = 11).  Gnathosoma.Length 50–55, width 39–48. Palp with minute dorsal tibial seta. Cheliceral stylets 55–65, ch27–28, su10–11.  Idiosoma( Figs 8–9). Length 215–400, width 155–250; larger specimens swollen around plate C. Prodorsal plate with setae v118–24, v2alveolar remnant, sc18–16, sc270–95. Distance between setae v1–v133–36, sc1–sc174–79, v1–sc126–33, v2–v257–60, sc2–sc282–91, sc1–sc232–37. Plates C and D fused medially (sometimes broken apart at C–D). Plate C setae c18–12, setae c211–15, distance between setae c1–c134–41. Plate D setae d7–9, d–d52–69, cupuli iaanteromesad d. Plate EF setae f7–9, f–f53–60, cupuli imanteriad f. Plate H poorly expressed, caudal cone 22–28 wide, 12–18 long, bearing setae h1> 70 (ca. 120 insome specimens), h216–23, stiff. Venter ( Fig. 9): membranous cuticle extensive, coxisterna 1–2 weakly defined; apodemes similar to female but all weakly defined. Coxal setae ( Fig. 9B) slender, 1a4–5, 2a4–5, 3a2–4, 3b5–6. Alveoli of 1b, 2bnot visible.   FIGURE 5.  Eutarsopolipus ampullaceous  sp. nov.Male, dorsum. Membranous idiosomal cuticle is shaded grey.   FIGURE 6.Male  Eutarsopolipus.(A)  E. ampullaceous  sp. nov.venter, showing apodemes and (B) coxal setae; (C)  E. tripodus, coxal setae; (D)  E. vepreculus, coxal setae; (E)  E. walteri, coxal setae. Membranous idiosomal cuticle is shaded grey.   FIGURE 7.  Eutarsopolipus ampullaceous  sp. nov.Male, legs I–III (A–C). Femur I with asymmetrical supernumerary seta (x); tarsi II–III with minute seta u″present on tarsi II–III.  Legs( Fig. 10). Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 3-1-6(+ φ)-8(+ ω), 0-1-4-5(+ ω), 0-1-4-5 (setae pv′absent on tarsi II–III). Leg I. Femur, dminute, l′2–3, v″10–15; genu, l′2–3; tibia, d47–53, l′7–11, l″4–5, v′5–6, v″9–13, k6–8, φ6–8 baculiform; tarsus, tc′11–13, tc″13–14, pl′8–11, pl″14–15, pv′2, pv″3, ω5–6 digitiform, s5–6, u′′minute, p′absent. Leg II. Genu, l′2; tibia, d26–33, l′6–7, v′9–13, v″18–22; tarsus, tc′7–9, tc″ 4–5, pl″ 14–16, pv″6–7, ω4–5 digitiform, u′5–6, u′′absent. Leg III. Genu, l′2; tibia, d14–16, l′5–7, v′10–13, v″18–24; tarsus, tc′7–10, tc″ 5–6, pl″ 19–26, u′6–7, pv″5–6, u′′absent. Legs I–III with two claws. Modified setae: tarsus I seta sand tarsi II–III setae tc′and u′thickened, large, spine-like (tips not bifid); compared to female, several modified setae are slender instead.   Differential diagnosis.  Eutarsopolipus ampullaceous  sp. nov.is unique in  Eutarsopolipusby the combination of having a solenidion on tarsus II, lacking seta l″on genu I; females with an elongate gnathosoma (length 50–55, width 39–48) and without plate H; and larvae with strong setae h2. The loss of genual seta l″was used to define the  brettaespecies group, subsumed into the  ochoaigroup by Seeman (2019a). This loss is present in  E. brettae, E. divisus, E. lambkinae, E. obrieni, E. olszanowskiiand  E. ampullaceous  sp. nov.The loss of ambulacral claws in  E. divisusand  E. olszanowskiiimmediately distinguish them from  E. ampullaceous, and the presence of plate H distinguishes  E. lambkinaefrom  E. ampullaceous.Thus, the most similar species are  E. brettaeand  E. obrienifound on different continents in the Neotropical region and from different host subfamilies.  Eutarsopolipus ampullaceousdiffers from  E. brettaeby having females with a smaller, more elongate gnathosoma (70–76 × 51–61 versus 62–69 × 60–67 in  E. brettae) along with shorter cheliceral stylets (55–65 versus 85 in  E. brettae), and larvae with strong and longer setae h2(16–23) versus thin and shorter setae in  E. brettae(5–7).  Eutarsopolipus ampullaceousdiffers from  E. obrieniby retaining setae l′on femur I (absent in  E. obrieni), retaining coxal setae 3a(absent in  E. obrieni), and having larvae with longer setae h2(16–23 versus 5) and an almost fully separated or fully separated shield CD (almost fully fused C–D in  E. obrieni).   Etymology.The specific name  ampullaceous(L., big-bellied) refers to the bulging plate C of adult females.   Remarks.Many specimens had large amounts of crystalline waste matter that obscured features of the opisthosoma. Later, more specimens were collected and these were cleared in 10% KOH until the crystalline matter dissolved; they were then soaked in ethanol and mounted in Hoyer’s medium.  Two non-type female specimens (ex T69236, T21965) have their idiosomal plates with distinct imbricate ornamentation and may represent another species. These specimens have some longer opisthosomal setae ( c120–22 versus 11–15; d19–21 versus 13–18) and, on tibia III, seta dis long (ca. 35). However, one specimen(female #8, ex T21975) also expressed some weak imbrication, and another specimen (female #3, ex T69236) had a long seta don tibia III(length 43). Therefore, these two femalesmay be unusual variants, and are tentatively regarded under the same species. The single male specimen was found with the female with a long seta d(female #3) and a non-type female with imbricate patterning ( QMS 117018) (i.e. the same host individual, T69236). Thus, should the imbricate form later prove to be a separate species, then the male could belong to either species. The loss of leg setae in males is commonly reported in the  ochoaispecies group (e.g., Katlav et al.2020; Seeman 2021). This is usually restricted to the femora and genua, yet the loss of seta tc′on tarsi II–III is unique to  E. ampullaceous. A further anomaly is the addition of seta pv′on tarsi II–III in the male, which usually appears in the adult female only, although the recently described males of the  leyteigroup species  E. biuncatusand  E. janusalso possess this seta ( Seeman 2021). Also noteworthy is the variation in fusion of plates C–D in larvae. In smaller and presumably younger larvae these plates were fused medially, but the plates tended to be separate in larger, swollen and presumably older specimens. 4868213307 1993-11-29 QMS G. Monteith & H. Janetzki & D. Cook -17.029444 East End 21 145.65555 Lambs Head 14 315 QMS 117000 1 1 holotype 4868213320 1993-11-29 QMS G. Monteith & H. Janetzki & D. Cook -17.029444 East End 21 145.65555 Lambs Head 14 315 QMS 117001, QMS 117010-11 3 1 2 paratype 4868213315 1998-11-30 1998-12-02 1998-11-30 QMS G. Monteith & P. Bouchard & D. Cook -17.264723 Summit TV Station 21 145.85806 Bellenden Ker 14 315 QMS 117008, QMS 117009 2 1 1 4868213316 1990-01-08 1990-01-09 1990-01-08 QMS G. & S. Monteith -17.023056 Lambs Head 21 145.6425 14 315 QMS 117002, QMS 117012 2 1 1 4868213306 1982-04-27 1982-04-29 1982-04-27 ANIC G. Monteith & D. Yeates & D. Cook -17.542778 Kjellberg Rd 21 145.55861 Mt Fisher 14 315 QMS 117006-7, QMS 117015-16 7 3 4 4868213314 1982-04-27 1982-04-29 1982-04-27 ZMH G. Monteith & D. Yeates & D. Cook -17.542778 Kjellberg Rd 21 145.55861 Mt Fisher 14 315 QMS 117003-5, QMS 117014 5 4 1 4868213310 1991-10-11 1991-10-12 1991-10-11 ZMH G. Monteith & H. Janetzki & D. Cook -17.230833 Massey Range 21 145.80362 14 315 QMS 117013 2 2 4868213317 1968-08-12 QMS B. Cantrell -17.498056 Millaa Millaa Falls 21 145.6089 14 315 QMS 117017 1 1 4868213304 1998-11-30 1998-12-02 1998-11-30 QMS G. Monteith & P. Bouchard & D. Cook -17.264723 Summit TV Station 21 145.85806 Bellenden Ker 14 315 QMS 117018 1 1 4868213301 QMS Earthwatch, QM 1000 -17.272778 Cable Tower 3 21 145.87111 Bellenden Ker 14 315 QMS 117019 1 1 4868212302 III 23 324 T69236, T21965, T21975, QMS 117018 3 2