Pterygosoma triangulare Lawrence, 1936

Fajfer, Monika, 2020, A systematic revision of the scale mite genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae), Zootaxa 4805 (1), pp. 1-147 : 138-139

Pterygosoma triangulare Lawrence, 1936 ( Figs 130 and 131 )

Pterygosoma triangulare Lawrence, 1936: 28 , fig. 21; Jack 1962: 266, fig. 5

Type host: Agama hispida (Sauria: Agamidae ). Type locality: South Africa [Bitterfontein].

Redescription. FEMALE (based on neotype and 6 specimens from type host species, Agama hispida ). Gnathosoma . Chelicerae 170–180 long; swollen cheliceral part 80–85 long, slender distal part 90–95 long. Fixed cheliceral digit 30–40 long, with slender hair-like process. Setae dF and dG subequal in length, 45–55 long. Palpal tibia with short claw; palpal tarsi with 3 setae. Subcapitulum with filiform setae n, 30–35 long. Peritremes about 145 long. Hypostome 125–135 long. Idiosoma 495–855 long and 930–1480 wide. Dorsum with about 100 pairs of serrate antero-lateral setae, about 50 long; 2–6 pairs of serrate or apically expanded postero-lateral setae, 150–235 long, and 2 pairs of dorso-median setae dm1 and dm2. Setae dm1 filiform or with barely discernible serration, 55–60 long, setae dm2 serrate and slightly apically expanded, 80–110 long. Peripheral series represented by 26–33 pairs of setae of 2 types: apically expanded setae, 185–200 long, situated medially (10–12 pairs of these setae always inserted in 3 rows near genital area) and filiform setae, 275–335 long, situated laterally. Small eyes present. Venter. Setae vm1 filiform, vm2 and vm3 with barely discernible serration. Genital slit situated terminally. Genital series represented by 1 pair of spine-like conspicuous setae g1, about 50 long, situated ventrally and 2 pairs of barely discernible minute setae g2 and g3, about 5 long, situated terminally. Pseudanal series represented by 6 pairs of apically expanded setae ps1–ps6, 95–220 long (in 1 specimen 5 setae ps present). Setae ps3–ps6 1.4–1.8 times longer than ps1 and ps2. Legs chaetotaxy as in persicum group i.e. setae of trochanters I–IV (1–1–1–1), femora I–IV (3–1–1–1), genua I–IV (3–1–1–1), tibiae I–IV (5–3–3–3). Setae d’TiI in 3 specimens minute, about 5 long, in remaining specimens only alveolae visible. All setae on each podomere smooth, except for serrate setae d’FI–IV. Setation of tarsi I−IV as in group B: I 12 setae (ft, tc’, tc”, p’, p”, a’, a”, it’, it”, u’, u”, vs’) and solenidion ω1; II 8 setae (tc’, p’, p”, a’, a”, u’, u”, vs’) and ω1; III and IV with 8 setae each (tc’, p’, p”, a’, a”, u’, u”, vs’). Setae tc’ of legs II–IV and a’, a”, u’, u”, vs’ of legs I–IV smooth.

MALE (based on description presented in Jack 1962b, amended). Gnathosoma as in female, but fixed cheliceral spinous, without hair-like process. Idiosoma 350–460 long and 680–780 wide. Dorsum with 30–35 pairs of short antero-lateral serrate setae, about 45 long; 5–7 pairs of longer postero-lateral serrate setae, 75–115 long; 3 pairs of dorso-median setae dm1–dm3, 50–60 long, and 5 pairs of smooth peripheral setae, 160–200 long. Eyes present. Venter as in female. Aedeagus 200–230 long, directed forward. Genito-anal opening with 3 pairs of filiform setae. Venter as in female. Legs I–IV as in female.

Type material (not examined). Thirty syntypes from Agama hispida (Kaup) (Sauria: Agamidae ), SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape province, Bitterfontein.

Type material deposition. All type material deposited in the SAM is lost (Dawn Larsen, personal communication) .

Neotype (examined). One female neotype ( NHM no. 1966.2.22.84) from Agama hispida ( NHM no. 1930.12.3.7– 8), SOUTH AFRICA, 3 December 1930, coll. J. H. Powell.

Non-type material (examined). Two females ( NHM no. 1966.2.22.84–93) from Agama hispida ( NHM no. 1930.12.3.7–8), SOUTH AFRICA, 3 December 1930, coll. J. H. Powell; 4 females ( NHM no. 1966.2.22.96–105) from same host species ( NHM no. 1910.6.18.3), SOUTH AFRICA: Little Namaqualand , 18 June 1910, coll. unknown .

Hosts and distribution. This species is recorded from Agama hispida from South Africa [Western Cape province, Bitterfontein; Namaqualand region, Port Nolloth; Transvaal Province, Pretoria; Cape Province, Kimberley] ( Lawrence 1936, 1951; Jack 1962b) and Agama mozambica from Mozambique ( Loveridge 1953).

Remarks. In accordance with Article 75.3 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999, 2012) I designate one of the female specimens from NHM as a neotype of Pterygosoma triangulare Lawrence, 1936 with the purpose of clarifying the taxonomic status of the species. P. triangulare was originally described and illustrated by Lawrence (1936). To my knowleadge, none of the original type series of Lawrence’s collection are extant. However, based on Lawrence’s type material and newly collected mites Jack (1962b) redescribed the species, described male and provided data about new locality. For these reasons I designate one of the specimens from Jack’s collection as a neotype.

Figures

FIGURE 130. Pterygosoma triangulare Lawrence, 1936; female. A, dorsal view; B, tarsi I in ventro-lateral view; C, tarsi II in dorso-lateral view.

FIGURE 131. Pterygosoma triangulare Lawrence, 1936, female in ventral view.