Scutacarus novaezealandicus, Khaustov & Minor, 2018

Khaustov, Alexander A. & Minor, Maria A., 2018, New species and a new record of the mite family Scutacaridae (Acari: Heterostigmata) from alpine New Zealand, Zootaxa 4508 (4), pp. 507-550 : 539-543

Scutacarus novaezealandicus sp. nov.

( Figs 32–37 )

Description. FEMALE ( Figs 32–37 ). Length of idiosoma 215 (180–215), width 170 (150–170).

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 33 ). Length of gnathosoma 22 (21–22), width 18 (17–18). Gnathosoma completely covered by tergite C. Dorsal median apodeme well developed. Setae cha and chb with several large barbs, other gnathosomal setae smooth. Postpalpal setae needle-like, weakly blunt-ended, situated anterolaterally to setae cha. Other gnathosomal setae pointed. Setae cha 16 (15–16), chb 19 (18–19). Setae dFe slightly shorter than dGe. Pits n present in posterior part of subcapitulum. Ass well-developed, tiny palpal solenidion present. Setae m 9 (9–10). Pharyngeal pumps separated and striated. Pharyngeal pump 1 oval, situated inside gnathosomal capsule; pharyngeal pumps 2 and 3 elongate-oval, about 1.5 times longer than pump 1.

Idiosomal dorsum ( Figs 32A , 36A , 37A, B ). Free margins of tergite C striated (not illustrated on Fig. 32A ). All dorsal shields with numerous large round dimples ( Figs 37A, B ). Prodorsum completely covered by tergite C. Lateral propodosomal spine present. Stigmata elongate, located dorsally. Anterior corners of prodorsum with hornlike projections. Posterior parts of tergites C, D and EF with row of u-shaped elevations. Posterior margins of tergites C, D, and EF weakly undulate. Setae c 2 with short alveolar canal. Setae v 2 and sc 2 smooth, other dorsal setae barbed. Setae e, and h 2 pointed, other dorsal setae blunt-ended. Trichobothria with long stem, clavate, sparsely barbed, with rounded apex. Cupules ia on tergite D and ih on tergite H small, round. Posterior margin of tergite H with short tongue-like projection. Lengths of dorsal setae: v 2 11 (10–11), sc 2 9 (7–9), c 1 27 (24–28), c 2 26 (23–26), d 32 (32–33), e 42 (38–42), f 43 (40–44), h 1 44 (39–44), h 2 32 (32–33). Distances between setae: v 2 –v 2 42 (41–42), sc 2 –sc 2 38 (37–38), c 1 – c 1 47 (45–52), c 1 – c 2 38 (33–38), d–d 120 (120–125), e–f 33 (29–34), f–f 84 (73–88), h 1 – h 1 47 (45–47), h 1 – h 2 22 (22–23).

Idiosomal venter ( Figs 32B , 36B , 37C, D ). Ventral plates with dimples as on dorsal shields ( Figs 37C, D ). Setae 2 b blunt-ended, other ventral setae pointed. Setae 2 b and 4 a smooth; setae 3 a with few minute barbs, other ventral setae distinctly barbed. Posterior margin of aggenital plate straight. Secondary transverse apodeme absent. Ap1, ap2 and apsej well developed and joined with appr; ap3 very thin, straight, ap4 short; ap5 absent. Ags and pgs triangular. Setae 4 a located anteriorly to 4 b. Posterior parts of posterior sternal and aggenital plates with u-shaped elevations. Lengths of ventral setae: 1 a 30 (29–30), 1 b 28 (26–28), 2 a 22 (20–22), 2 b 22 (22–24), 3 a 19 (19–23), 3 b 33 (33–34), 3 c 37 (36–37), 4 a 33 (33–35), 4 b 86 (83–86), 4 c 49 (49–53), ps 1 14 (13–14), ps 2 13 (12–13), ps 3 26 (23–26).

Legs ( Figs 34 , 35 ). Leg I ( Fig. 34 ). Leg setation: Tr 1, Fe 3, Ge 4, TiTa 16(4). Tibiotarsus without pretarsus and claw. Tibiotarsus cylindrical, with pinnaculum bearing seta tc”. Lengths of solenidia ω 1 14 (14), ω 2 10 (10), φ 1 8 (8), φ 2 8 (8); φ 1 clavate, ω 1 finger-shaped, ω 2 and φ 2 uniformly thin. Setae d, l’, v” of femur, (l), and v’ of genu bluntended; other leg setae (except eupathidia) pointed. Setae l’, v” of femur smooth; other leg setae (except eupathidia) barbed. Leg II ( Fig. 34B ). Leg setation: Tr 1, Fe 3, Ge 3, Ti 4(1), Ta 6(1). Tarsus with symmetrical hooked claws and flipper-like empodium. Solenidion ω 11 (11–12) finger-shaped, solenidion φ 4 (4) weakly clavate. Seta pl” spine-like, with several barbs; setae l’ and v” of femur blunt-ended, other leg setae pointed. Setae v” of femur, tc” and u’ of tarsus smooth, other leg setae barbed. Leg III ( Fig.35A ). Leg setation: Tr 1, Fe 2, Ge 2, Ti 4(1), Ta 6. Claws and empodium as on tarsus II. Solenidion φ 4 (4–5) weakly clavate. Seta pl” spine-like, with few barbs; other leg setae pointed. Setae u’ of tarsus smooth, tc” of tarsus with one minute barb, other leg setae distinctly barbed. Leg IV ( Fig. 35B ). Leg setation: Tr 1, Fe 2, Ge 1, TiTa 7. Tibiotarsus short, slightly longer than its wide. All leg setae barbed and pointed.

MALE and LARVA unknown.

Type material. Female holotype: New Zealand, Central Otago, The Remarkables, 45° 3' 37.88"S, 168° 48' 43.50"E, 1867 m a.s.l., in bare soil between cushion plants, 19 February 2014 (M. Minor). Paratypes: 11 females, New Zealand, Central Otago, The Remarkables, 45° 3' 37.88"S, 168° 48' 43.50"E, 1867 m a.s.l., in bare soil between cushion plants, 19 February 2014 (M. Minor).

Type deposition. The holotype and 2 paratypes are deposited in the New Zealand National Arthropod Collection, Auckland, New Zealand ; 9 paratypes are deposited in the mite collection of the Tyumen State University Museum of Zoology , Tyumen, Russia .

Differential diagnosis. The new species is most similar to Scutacarus baloghi Mahunka, 1967 , described from Australia ( Mahunka 1967), by the absence of the claw on tibiotarsus I, blunt-ended setae c 1, 2 and setae ps 3 distinctly longer than ps 1, 2. It can be distinguished from the latter by distinctly shorter setae f and h 1, which are almost twice shorter than 4 b (vs. setae f and h 1 subequal to 4 b in S. baloghi ), by setae h 1 shorter than distance h 1 - h 1 (vs. h 1 distinctly longer than distance h 1 - h 1 in S. baloghi ), by setae e subequal to distance e-f (vs. e distinctly shorter than ef n S. baloghi ), and by longer setae h 2, which are longer than distance h 1 - h 2 (vs. h 2 shorter than distance h 1 - h 2 in S. baloghi ).

Etymology. The name of the new species refers to its distribution in New Zealand.

Figures

FIGURE 32. Scutacarus novaezealandicus sp. nov., female: A—dorsum of the body, B—venter of the body. Legs omitted.

FIGURE 33. Scutacarus novaezealandicus sp. nov., female: A—gnathosoma and left part of prodorsum in dorsal view, Bgnathosoma and pharyngeal pumps in ventral view.

FIGURE 34. Scutacarus novaezealandicus sp. nov., female: A—right leg I in dorsal view, B—right leg II in dorsal view.

FIGURE 35. Scutacarus novaezealandicus sp. nov., female: A—right leg III in dorsal view, B—right leg IV in ventral view.

FIGURE 36. DIC micrographs of Scutacarus novaezealandicus sp. nov., female: A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 37. DIC micrographs of Scutacarus novaezealandicus sp. nov., female: A—anterior half of the body in dorsal view, B—posterior half of the body in dorsal view, C—anterior half of the body in ventral view, D—posterior sternal plate.