Pedrocortesella truncata, Hunt, 1996

Hunt, Glenn S., 1996, A review of the genus Hexachaetoniella Paschoal in Australia (Acarina: Cryptostigmata: Pedrocortesellidae), Records of the Australian Museum 48 (3), pp. 223-286 : 282-285

Pedrocortesella truncata n.sp.

Figs l3A, 46, 47

Type material. New South Wales: HOLOTYPE adult, AM KS46548 , SEM stub no. SI133 (ill.), beside Pacific Highway, IS km S. of Kempsey, 32°12'S 151°49'E, dry sclerophyll, berlese extraction leaf and bark litter at base of tree, G.S.Hunt, 18 July 1992.

Diagnosis. Body medium, length about 500-550 flm; scalps rarely (if at all) carried by adult; sensillus not long flattened blade, distally truncate and covered with a reticulate pattern, not tuberculate; notogaster strongly reticulate-alveolate; 5 pairs of notogastral setae, arising from pits; genitoanal chaetotaxy 7:1:2:3, genital setae essentially in straight file, level of insertion of seta ad3 at about 0.5 anal valve length; claw stalk very short.

Description

ADULT: Body: brown; length 520 flm. Cerotegument: body with conspicuous network of cerotegument reflecting underlying reticulate pattern of integument ( Fig. 46A,D ). Setae ro and le and notogastral setae without obvious cerotegument. Prodorsum: integument reticulate, carina between le and ro absent; le dorsolateral and close to anterior of prodorsum, distance between them about 0.6 distance between ro, not arising from large pit, ro ventrolateral. Pedotectal tooth similar to P propinqua ( Fig. 46A,B ). Bothridium strongly adpressed to notogaster ( Fig. 46C ), wall semicircular in dorsal view, strongly depressed anterolaterally and largely missing posteriorly, posterolateral carina strong, situated close to notogaster ( Fig. 46B ); sensillus length about 0.7 interbothridial distance, cuneiform with truncated lamina and reticulate surface ornamentation ( Fig. 46B,C ), posterior margin of prodorsum forming a smooth arc between bothridia. in small, set close bothridial wall, at edge of dorsosejugal furrow, spiniform ( Fig. 46C ). Exuvial scalps: none seen. Notogaster: oval, length:width 330:250. Intramarginal depression oval. Notogaster reticulate-alveolate, not perforated by pores ( Fig. 46D ); posterior margin not invaginate when viewed from above, with a strong carina between setae pi when viewed posteriorly (Fig. 460). Fissura ia and im subparallel-oblique, ip perpendicular to sagittal plane; 5 pairs of short notogastral setae arising from small pits, hi moderately close, each located just inside posterior margin; pi with slightly wider spacing than hi; lpx, p2x and p3x arise just inside posterolateral flank, their insertions visible from above, lpx closest to fissura ip, inserted posterior to it ( Fig. 46F ). Gnathosoma : rutella basally with strong concave flexure and a pair of strong buttresses laterally, small pointed mesad processes present, transverse striations absent (Fig. 47E). Pedipalp tarsus setae (vt) and I" with long barbs, cm short; apophysis supporting acm moderately strong; solenidion not reaching base of acm (Fig. 47C). Epimeral region: strongly convex a small distance anterior to genital valves and not tending to overhang them. Genitoanal region: separation of anal and genital vestibules relatively broad but with interruption to ventral plate microsculpture, wide mesal isthmus without strong transverse grooves between the vestibules (Fig. 47A). Ventral plate reticulate-alveolate. Genitoanal chaetotaxy 7:1:2:3; genital setae essentially in straight file, g] at anterior corner in marginal notch; g5 situated at about 0.5 valve length, g7 inserted well anterior to inner posterior corner in marginal notch; setae ag inserted at similar level to g7; setae ad] postanal, ad3 level at about 0.5 anal valve length (Fig. 47D). Legs. Distal apophysis of tibia overlaps about 40% of tarsus (Fig. l3A). Tarsal cluster of leg I placed distodorsally on apophysis, slightly proximodorsal to setae tc; ft", omega] and 2 enclosed in well-developed almost circular common rim, no partition separating fi" from omega] and 2; terminal setae tend to be flattened with barbs lining their margins; tarsus with slight distal recess for receiving retracted unguinal complex, stalk very short.

Comments. This species is very closely related to P bithongabela , on the basis of integumental sculpturing and the presence of flattened terminal leg setae. It differs principally in having a truncated sensillus.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the unusual truncated sensillus.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality, central eastern New South Wales.

Figures

Fig. 46. Pedrocortesella tmncata n.sp. A, body, dorsal; B, prodorsum, lateral; C, bothridium, sensillus and seta in, dorsal; D, notogastral integument; E, prodorsum, dorsal; F, part of posterior of notogaster, dorsal, arrows right to left label setae hI, pI, ipx, p2x, p3x; Cl, notogastral setae hI and pI, posterior view. Scale bars: A,E = 100 /-lm; B,C,F,G = 50 /-lm; D 20 /-lm.