Caribeacarus armasi Vázquez & Klompen, 2009

Vázquez, Magdalena & Klompen, Hans, 2009, New species of New World Opilioacaridae (Acari: Parasitiformes) with the description of a new genus from the Caribbean region., Zootaxa 2061, pp. 23-44 : 36-41

Caribeacarus armasi Vázquez & Klompen n. sp.

( Figs. 34–39 , 42–44 , 46–48 , 50–51, 53–55 )

Diagnosis. Male with 4–6 setae on fixed digit of chelicera. Palp in adults with 8 leaf-like setae (9 in C. panamensis ; 10 (female) or 12 (male) in C. vanderhammeni ). Number of subcapitular setae in female and males subequal (male with distinctly more setae (21) than female (15) in C. vanderhammeni ). Pregenital and genital setae in the male blunt (pregenital blunt, genital pointed in C. vanderhammen i; both pregenital and genital pointed in C. panamensis ). Female with a pair of small seta-like structures on the ovipositor (absent in C. vanderhammeni and C. panamensis ).

Description. Based on observations on 8 females, 11 males, 6 tritonymphs, 1 deutonymph, 2 protonymphs. Larva unknown.

Gnathosoma . Chelicera ( Fig. 34 ). Basal segment in protonymph without setae, deuto- and tritonymphs and females with 1 seta, males with 2–5 setae; fixed digit with 3 setae in most nymphs and females (one TN (OSAL0003093) with 4 setae on right chelicera, 3 on left), male with 4–6 setae on fixed digit. Some setae lightly barbed. Dorsal and antiaxial lyrifissure generally well developed. Movable digit with 2 teeth and a terminal hook, fixed digit with one well developed tooth and two ridges in addition to terminal hook. Movable digit with at most one small denticle on ventral surface in female and nymphs, 0–2 minute denticles in male.

Subcapitulum ( Figs. 35–37 ). Adults with 4 pairs of paralabial setae: pl1 small conical; With's organ (pl2) membranous; rutella (pl3) each with 1 row of 5 teeth, inserted dorso-laterally; pl4 very small, inserted dorsal on subcapitulum. In addition, 4 circumbuccal (cb), and 9–13 median and subcapitular setae (includes vm [in part], lvm, ldm, vp, and lvp setae). Sexual dimorphism indistinct or absent. States similar in immatures, but proto-, deuto-, and tritonymphs ( Figs. 35–36 ), with, respectively, 1, 4, and 5–8 median and subcapitular setae. Lateral lips with distinct canals (dl1 and/or dl2 ( Grandjean, 1936); Fig. 37 : arrow).

Palp ( Figs. 38–39 , 42–44 ). Trochanter in adults with 5–7 ribbed, tapering (r-type) setae; femur with 7–14 papilliform (p-type), and 9–18 r setae; genu with 1–6 p setae, and about 24–31 r setae in the female, 32–48 in the male. Number of p setae on femur quite variable among individuals (compare Fig. 38 with 39), but always relatively high. Tibia with 24–30 thin, smooth (s-type) and 46–49 r setae. No lyrifissure observed on either genu or femur. Tibia and genu with a few dorsal or antero-dorsal small glands. Palp tarsus with lyrifissures i π and i α and a small basal gland in all instars examined. Setation in adult including 3 s, 8 d (leaf-like), and, usually, 8 v, 25 ch, and 9 sm setae (no sm3 type setae (Vázquez & Klompen 2002)). Pretarsus in the shape of a pair of well developed sessile claws. Sexual differentiation indistinct or absent. Palp trochanter in immatures with 0 setae in the protonymph, 1 in the deutonymph, and 2–5 in the tritonymph. Femur and genu with, respectively, 0 and 0, 1 and 0, and 4–8 and 1–3 p setae in the proto-, deuto-, and tritonymphs. Number of r setae on the femur and genu of the nymphs 5, 5, 5–9 and 7, 7, 11–19, respectively. The number of v, ch, and sm setae on the tarsus is variable both among and within instars; number of d setae in the proto-, deuto-, and tritonymphs is, respectively 2, 4 and 6 ( Figs. 42–43 ).

Idiosoma. Color. Generally blue and purple with the usual banding pattern on the legs and idiosoma. This assessment is based on specimens stored in alcohol, and colors might be distorted.

Dorsum. Anterior dorsal shield in adults with two pairs of eyes, and 108 (96–120) stout, ribbed setae. Numbers of setae for proto- and tritonymphs 27–28 and 64–83, respectively (condition could not be scored in the deutonymph). Lyrifissures absent. Dorsal idiosoma between anterior shield and preanal segment without setae, but with numerous lyrifissures arranged in transverse rows. Preanal segment with 1 dorsal and 2 ventral setae; anal valves in adults with 5–7 stout, ribbed setae. Anal valves in proto-, deuto-, and tritonymphs with, respectively, 2, 4–5, and 5–6 stout ribbed setae.

Sternitogenital region ( Figs. 46–48 , 50–51, 53 ). Sternal verrucae in tritonymphs and adults with 2 long, barbed, tapering setae (only 1 in protonymph). Remaining sternal area with 1 pair of long tapering and 3 pairs of stout ribbed setae, plus 2 pairs of large and 1 pair of small lyrifissures; all different in shape and size from "standard" opisthosomal lyrifissures. Only 1 pair of stout ribbed setae in protonymph ( Fig. 46 ). Pregenital capsules each with 1 long tapering and 3 stout ribbed setae in adults. Immatures with varying numbers of stout ribbed setae, 0 in protonymph, 2–3 in tritonymph (deutonymph could not be scored). Pregenital and genital areas in male with, respectively, 2 and 5 short, stout, ribbed setae ( Fig. 48 ). Pregenital area in female without setae; genital area with 5 short, stout, ribbed setae ( Fig. 50 ). Pregenital and genital areas without setae in protonymph, genital area with 4 short, stout, ribbed setae in tritonymph. Ovipositor terminating in three lobes; without long terminal setae; but with 1 pair of small seta-like structures inserted median (not terminal) (arrows in Figs 50–51 ). Male glands include one small and one very large pair ( Fig. 53 ).

Legs. Ratio of legs I to idiosoma about 2.1; legs IV to idiosoma 1.4. No obvious sexual differentiation in leg length. Tarsus I without an acrotarsus but with a large, distinct basitarsus. Broad sensillum with "crownlike" tip ( Fig. 1 S in Vázquez & Klompen 2002) distal to main sensillar field in all instars ( Figs. 54–55 ). Pretarsi I with well developed sessile claws; without setae. Legs II with dorsal bifurcate seta and two smooth sensilla resembling solenidia (as in N. calakmulensis ). Pretarsi with two pairs of setae and a pair of claws. Acrotarsus of leg IV first appears in deutonymph, acrotarsi of legs II–III appear in tritonymph. Divided trochanters of legs III–IV present in tritonymph; trochanter III in deutonymph undivided, condition of trochanter IV in that instar could not be studied.

Collection information. Multiple specimen numbers refer to multiple slides representing a single, dissected, individual. Holotype female (OSAL0007916, 8112, 8113), CUBA: La Habana prov., Cojimar, 6km NE of, Boca de Cojimar, 23°09'57"N 082°17'35"W, coll. Prieto, D., 17 Jun 2004, ex dry litter microphyll pine forest, coll. no. AL013312. Paratypes. Same collection data as holotype, M (OSAL0007931–7932), (M) (OSAL0007933), TN (OSAL0008093), TN (OSAL0008091, 8092), TN (OSAL0008088, 8089), DN (OSAL0008090); same locality and collector, 12 Jun 2003, ex humid litter microphyll pine forest, AL013268: M (OSAL0007936); TN/F (OSAL0007934); same locality and collector, 10 Jun 2004, ex dry litter microphyll pine forest, AL013267: M (OSAL0007930, 7935, 7938), (M) (OSAL0007939); F (OSAL0008086), TN (OSAL0007937), TN (OSAL0008087), PN (OSAL0008084), PN (OSAL0008085); CUBA: Matanzas prov., Bahia de Matanzas, Rio Bacunayagua estuary, 400m E rock formation, elev. 7m, 23°02'N 081°30'W, coll. de Armas , L.F., 17 Mar 2003, ex litter; close to beach, collection code AL013271: F (OSAL0008101–8103); same locality and collector, 23 Feb 2004, ex under rocks, AL013313: F (OSAL0008094–8096, 8104); same locality and collector, 29 Feb 2004, ex under stones, AL0 13272: M (OSAL0 0 0 8110–8111), M (OSA0008108–8109), M (OSAL0008105–8107), M (OSAL0008106), F (OSAL0008097–8100); CUBA: Holguin prov., Loma Alta, 4km NE of, Velazco, 20°56'N 075°52'W, coll. Prieto, D., 20 Jan 2004, ex litter, AL013270: M (OSAL0007921–7924), F (OSAL0007917–7918), F (OSAL0007919–07920); CUBA: La Coca reserve, close to La Habana, coll. Prieto, D., 16 Feb 2004, ex litter, A L0 13274: M (OSAL0007928–7929); CUBA: Bacu, coll. Prieto, D., 18 Aug 2004, ex litter, AL013273: F (OSAL0008083).

Additional material (not paratypes). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, coll. de Armas , L.F., 23 Mar 2003, ex shrub and xerophylic vegetation, semi-desert area, AL0 13269: M (OSAL0 0 0 7940–7941), M (OSAL0007943), TN (OSAL0007942).

Deposition of types. Holotype female (slide numbers OSAL0007916, 8113, 8112), and one paratype male (slides OSAL0007931–7932), deposited at IES. Other paratypes at OSAL, UQROO. Etymology. The species is named in honor of Dr. Luis F. de Armas , who collected much of the material for this species.

Figures

FIGURES 34 – 37. Caribeacarus armasi n. sp., gnathosoma. 34, Chelicera male, axial view (OSAL 0007930); 35 – 37, Subcapitulum, ventral view. 35, Protonymph (OSAL 8084); 36, Tritonymph (OSAL 0 0 0 8091); 37, Female (OSAL 0008101). Arrow: canal in lateral lips.

FIGURES 38 – 41. Palp morphology. 38, Caribeacarus armasi n. sp., male (OSAL 0008105); 39, C. armasi, male (OSAL 0007922); 40, C. panamensis n. sp., male (OSAL 0007885); 41, Neocarus siankaanensis Vázquez & Klompen, female (OSAL 0000565).

FIGURES 42 – 45. Palp tarsus. 42 – 44, Caribeacarus armasi n. sp.; 45, C. panamensis n. sp. 42, Protonymph (OSAL 8084); 43, Tritonymph (OSAL 0008093); 44, Male (OSAL 0007932); 45, Male (OSAL 0007885)

FIGURES 46 – 49. Sternitogenital region. 46 – 48, Caribeacarus armasi n. sp.; 49, C. panamensis n. sp. 46, Protonymph (OSAL 0008084); 47, Tritonymph (OSAL 0008092); 48, Male (OSAL 0007931); 49, Male (OSAL 0007884).

FIGURES 50 – 53. Genital structures. 50 – 52, Ovipositor. 50. Caribeacarus armasi n. sp., lateral view, evaginated (OSAL 0008098); 51, C. armasi, frontal view, invaginated (OSAL 0008104); 52, C. panamensis, invaginated (OSAL 0007883). 53. Internal gland structure male Caribeacarus armas i (OSAL 0008111). Arrows in 50 – 52: seta-like or unknown structures.

FIGURES 54 – 56. Tarsus leg I. 54, Caribeacarus armasi n. sp., protonymph (OSAL 0008084); 55, C. armasi female (OSAL 0008102); 56, Neocarus siankaanensis, female (OSAL 000565). Arrows in 55 – 56: sensillum with " crown-like " tip.

FIGURES 1 – 4. Neocarus calakmulensis n. sp., adult. 1, Chelicera, female (OSAL 0007616); 2, Subcapitulum, female (OSAL 0007619); 3, Palp, dorsal (left) and ventral (right) view, female (OSAL 0007619); 4, Palp tarsus, dorsal (top) and ventral (bottom) view, female (OSAL 0007619). Arrow in A: ventral denticles. Abbreviations. Fig. 2: pl 2 = With's organ, pl 3 = rutellum, cb = circumbuccal setae. Fig. 3, setal types: p = papillate; r = simple; s = smooth.