Afrotrombicula (Tauffliebicula) sciuri ( Taufflieb, 1966 )

Stekolnikov, Alexandr A., 2023, A revision of the chigger genus Afrotrombicula (Acariformes: Trombiculidae), Zootaxa 5323 (1), pp. 27-55 : 50-51

Afrotrombicula (Tauffliebicula) sciuri ( Taufflieb, 1966)

( Figs. 17 , 18 )

Neotrombicula (Neotrombicula) sciuri Taufflieb, 1966: 299 , fig. 2.

Afrotrombicula (Tauffliebicula) sciuri: Kolebinova & Vercammen-Grandjean 1978: 129 .

Afrotrombicula sciuri: Stekolnikov 2018: 124 .

Diagnosis. SIF = 7BS-B-3-3111.0000; fPp = B/B/NNB; PL> AM> AL; fD = 2H-6-6-4-4-5-4-2, anterior rows also can be counted as 6-6-2-6; DS = 33–34; V = 46–47; NDV = 80–87; scutal and idiosomal setae with well-developed barbs; palpal femur with puncta; palpal femoral seta heavily barbed; palpal genual seta with few branches; scutum nearly pentagonal, with moderate puncta; posterior scutal margin moderately prominent, evenly arquate; f 1 at level of S 1; f 2 behind S 2; Ip = 979–1012. Standard measurements are in Table 6 .

Type deposition. Holotype (58H 7) and five paratypes (58H 8–12) in MNHN; two paratypes in MRAC (128389); three paratypes were stored in the personal collection of Taufflieb.

Distribution and hosts. This species was described from Cameroon (Yaoundé) ex Funisciurus isabella (Gray) ( Rodentia : Sciuridae ).

Type material examined. Paratype ( MNHN 58 H 11) ex Funisciurus isabella , Cameroun-[19]55 .

Remarks. Kolebinova & Vercammen-Grandjean (1978) definitely placed this species in Afrotrombicula (Tauffliebicula) , but erroneously used the combination “ Neotrombicula (Tauffliebicula) sciuri ”.

Figures

FIGURE 17. Afrotrombicula sciuri (Taufflieb, 1966), paratype. A, dorsal aspect of idiosoma; B, ventral aspect of idiosoma (anus invisible); C, dorsal idiosomal seta; D, preanal seta. Abbreviations as in Fig. 5. Solid circles—setae counted among those of opposite side of body; circles encircled by dashed line—setae situated on opposite side, but counted among those of figured side. Scale bars: 100 µm (A, B), 20 µm (C, D).

FIGURE 18. Afrotrombicula sciuri (Taufflieb, 1966), paratype. A, scutum (eyes not shown, one sensillum lost); B, dorsal aspect of gnathosoma; C, ventral aspect of gnathosoma; D, leg I, genu–tarsus; E, leg I, trochanter–telofemur; F, leg II, trochanter– tarsus; G, leg III, trochanter–telofemur; H, leg III, genu–tarsus. Abbreviations as in Fig. 6. Scale bars: 50 µm (A, D–H), 20 µm (B, C).