Holoparasitus aquilinus, Ilinca Juvara-Bals, 2017

Ilinca Juvara-Bals, 2017, New and rare species of Holoparasitus Oudemans, 1936 (Acari, Gamasida, Parasitidae) from the Athias-Henriot Collection, Revue suisse de Zoologie 124 (2), pp. 225-239 : 230

Holoparasitus aquilinus sp. nov.

Fig. 3

Holotype: Male; Morocco, Monte Lachab (Lechhab) near Beni Bajale (Beni Bejalle)-Beni Bouchaib, west Rif, near a spring, alt. 1700 m, leaf litter from Quercus ilex L.; 2.04. 1959 (Sp. 656).

Paratype: 1 female; same data as for holotype.

Diagnosis: Chelicera of male apex with movable digit hooked; fixed digit slightly curved, with 6-7 denticles, spermatodactyl arched. Epigynium with a long triangular apex and 2 spine-like lateral prongs; subapical epigynial structure a large slightly denticulate strip.

Etymology: The species name is a Latin cognomen derived from “ aquila ” = eagle, meaning “the eaglelike”, and refers to the shape of the apex of the movable digit of the male chelicera being hooked like the beak of an eagle.

Description of male: Length of squashed idiosoma 600-624. Dimensions of some podonatal setae: j1 = 30 others 24; opisthonatal setae very short, 6-7 long. Length of peritrematal shield 192-204.

Ventral idiosoma: Sternogenital shield reticulated. Genital lamina with anterior margin rounded and with subgenital sclerite rectangular ( Fig. 3C ). Length of st1 = 36. Distance between setae: st1-st1’ = 72, st2-st2’ = 84, st3-st3’ = 96, st4-st4’ = 66. Gland pore gv1 and gv2 simple.

Gnathosoma: Gnathotectum trispinate, with a large triangular central prong, with rounded apex and two tiny lateral spines ( Fig. 3E ). Corniculi conical, with small, sharp protuberance situated medially ( Fig. 3B ). Palptrochanter without protuberance, setae v1 and v2 pilose. Hypognathal groove with 4 large, non-denticulate rows. Chelicera ( Fig. 3A ): straight fixed digit with 1 denticle above pilus dentilis and 6 more below it; movable digit (96 long) with hooked apex, 4 denticles and a tooth on internal margin; arm of spermatodactyl arched; arthrodial membrane with short brush-like process.

Legs: Coxa II with a fan-shaped ridge of 7-9 tiny denticles located anterolaterally ( Fig. 3F ). Leg II armed as follows ( Fig. 3D ): rounded femoral apophysis and oval, inward bent axillary process, their apices at same level; between them a small protuberance. Triangular genual spur located near distal margin of the segment. Rectangular tibial apophysis 30 long, its apex slightly concave. Measurements: tarsus I = 156; tarsus IV =144.

Description of female: Length of squashed dorsal idiosoma 672. Length of some setae: on podonotum j1 = 25, r1 = 12, others 36; opisthonotum with tiny setae, their length 6-12. Length of peritrematal shield 221. Ventral idiosoma: Presternal plate serrated. Sternal shield reticulated, gland pore gv1 under seta st3 on posterior margin; length of sternal setae 48-50 ( Fig. 3G ). Paragynial shield with small rounded posterior protrusions and metagynial sclerite ellipsoidal ( Fig. 3I ). Epigynium: anterior margin with two lateral spines and long median apex (90 long); subapical structure a basal slightly denticulate strip ( Fig. 3H ). Gland pore gv2 simple. Endogynium: a simple oval cup covered by a hyaline membrane and two rounded protrusions ( Fig. 3J ). Measurements: epigynium: height =180, basal width = 192; h/b = 0.94;

Gnathosoma: Only the following character discernible: palptrochanter without protuberance between simple v1 and pilose. v2

Legs: Length of tarsus I and IV = 180 long.

Remarks: I examined only a female and a male, both not in very good condition, but the main features which distinguish the new species from others in the mallorcae- group could be properly observed. The female of H. aquilinus sp. nov. can be distinguished by the long triangular apex on the anterior margin of the epigynium and by the endogynium being a simple, oval cup. The male is easily recognizable by the shape of the chelicera. More material will be necessary in order to discern other characters especially those of the endogynium.

Figures

Fig 3. Holoparasitus aquilinus sp. nov., male (A-F), female (G-J). (A) Chelicera, antiaxial view. (B) Corniculus. (C) Genital lamina. (D) Femur, genu, tibia of leg II. (E) Gnathotectum. (F) Group of denticles on coxa II. (G) Presternal plate and sternal shield. (H) Epigynium. (I) Paragynium. (J) Endogynium.