Pterygosoma transvaalense Lawrence, 1936

Fajfer, Monika, 2020, A systematic revision of the scale mite genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae), Zootaxa 4805 (1), pp. 1-147 : 134-136

Pterygosoma transvaalense Lawrence, 1936 ( Figs 127–129 )

Pterygosoma transvaalense Lawrence, 1936: 28 , fig. 22; Jack 1962: 265, figs 3–4

Type host: Acanthocercus atricollis (Sauria: Agamidae ). Type locality: South Africa (Mariepskop).

Redescription. FEMALE (based on 11 specimens from type host species, Acanthocercus atricollis ). Gnathosoma . Chelicerae 145–170 long; swollen cheliceral part 55–90 long, slender distal part 85–100 long. Fixed cheliceral digit spinous, 15 long. Setae dF and dG 20–40 and 30–50 long, respectively. Palpal tibia with short claw; palpal tarsi with 3 setae. Subcapitulum with filiform setae n, 15–20 long. Peritremes 105–115 long. Hypostome with rounded apex, 125–130 long. Idiosoma 355–465 long and 850–1170 wide. Dorsum with about 55 pairs of antero-lateral serrate setae, 15–50 long; 4–5 pairs of paddle-shaped setae, 70–120 long, inserted laterally; 18–25 pairs of paddle-shaped setae situated peripherally, 100–205 long; and 2 pairs of dorso-median setae dm1 and dm2. Setae dm1 serrate, 30–55 long, dm2 paddle-shaped. Eyes present. Venter. Setae vm1 filiform, vm2 and vm3 smooth or with barely discernible serration. Genital slit situated dorsally. Genital series represented by 3 pairs of spine-like setae g1–g3. Setae g1 and g2 minute, 5–10 long; setae g3 conspicuous, 35–50 long. Pseudanal series represented by 7 pairs of paddle-shaped setae, 65–100 long. Legs chaetotaxy as in transvalense group i.e. setae of trochanters I–IV (1–1–1–1), femora I–IV (3–1–1–1), genua I–IV (2–0–0–0), tibiae I–IV (5–3–3–3). All setae on each podomere smooth, except for slightly 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, modified). Gnathosoma as in female. Idiosoma 230–260 long and 455–505 wide. Dorsum with about 23 pairs of serrate antero-lateral setae, 10–25 long; 3 or 4 pairs of slightly serrate postero-lateral setae, 65–110 long; 2 pairs of dorso-median setae: dm1 and dm2, about 20 and 10 long, respectively; 4–6 pairs of peripheral setae, 200–220 long. Eyes present. Venter as in female. Aedeagus 90–130 long, directed forward. Genito-anal opening with 3 pairs of filiform setae. Venter as in female. Legs I–IV as in female.

DEUTONYMPH (based on 1 specimen from type host species). Gnathosoma as in female. Chelicerae 130 long; swollen cheliceral part and slender distal part subequal in length, about 65 long. Fixed cheliceral digit 10 long. Setae dF 20 long, setae dG 40 long. Subcapitular setae n 15 long. Peritremes about 105 long. Idiosoma 305 long and 570 wide. Dorsum with 42 pairs of serrate antero-lateral setae, 10–35 long; 3–4 pairs of paddle-shaped setae, 60–95 long, situated laterally; 16–17 pairs of peripheral paddle-shaped setae, 130–165 long, and 2 pairs of dorso-median setae dm1 and dm2. Setae dm1 slightly serrate, 45 long, dm2 serrate and slightly apically expanded, 50 long. Eyes absent. Venter. Setae vm1 filiform, vm2 slightly serrate, vm3 with barely discernible serration. Genital slit situated terminally. Genital series represented by 1 pair of spine-like setae g1. Pseudanal series represented by 6 pairs of paddle-shaped setae, 80–95 long. Setae ps1–ps3 situated dorsally, setae ps4–ps6 ventrally. Setae ps1 and ps2 more apically expanded than ps3–ps6. Legs as in female.

PROTONYMPH (based on description presented in Jack 1962b, modified). Gnathosoma as in female. Chelicerae about 70 long; swollen cheliceral part about 40 long, slender distal part about 30 long. Setae dF and dG about 15 long. Peritremes about 75 long. Idiosoma 265–325 long and 499–573 wide. Dorsum with about 18 pairs of serrate antero-lateral setae, 10–20 long; 3–4 pairs of paddle-shaped setae, 30–55 long, situated laterally; 15–20 pairs of peripheral paddle-shaped setae, 60–75 long, and 2 pairs of dorso-median setae: dm1 15 long and fine-pointed; dm2 35long and slightly apically expanded. Eyes present. Venter. Setae vm1 filiform, vm2 and vm3 smooth or with barely discernible serration. Genital slit situated terminally. Genital series represented by 1 pair of spine-like setae g1. Pseudanal series represented by 7 pairs of paddle-shaped setae, 35–70 long. Legs as in female.

Type material (not examined). Thirty specimens from Acanthocercus atricollis (Smith) (Sauria: Agamidae ), SOUTH AFRICA: Mpumalanga province, Mariepskop.

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

Non-type material (examined). Three females ( NHM no.1966.2.22.128–134) from Acanthocercus atricollis (Smith) ( NHM no. 1929.7.5.4–5), MALAWI: Mzimba; 5 July 1929, coll. Dr Turner; 5 females ( NHM no. 1966.2.22.121–127) from same host species ( NHM no. 1935.10.10.399–404), UGANDA: Toro district, Mubuku , 10 October 1935, coll. C. R. S. Pitman; 3 females and 1 deutonymph ( NHM no. 1966.2.22.141–150) from same host species ( NHM no.1952.1.6.9–16) and location; 6 January 1952, coll. R. C. Percy.

Hosts and distribution. This species is known from Acanthocercus atricollis from South Africa [Mpumalanga province, Mariepskop ( Lawrence 1936); KwaZulu-Natal province; Limpopo province, Waterberg], Uganda, [Bundibugyo District, Bwamba County, Semuliki National Park], Angola [Cuanza Norte Province, Banga], Zambia, Bostwana [Lake Ngami], Malawi [Mzimba district, Mzimba], Uganda [Toro District, Mubuku], Ethiopia [Harari Region] and Acanthocercus cyanogaster from Ethiopia [Hareri Province, Harar] ( Jack 1962b).

Figures

FIGURE 127. Pterygosoma transvaalense Lawrence, 1935, female. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 128. Pterygosoma transvaalense Lawrence, 1935, female, details. A, gnathosoma in dorsal view; B, tarsus I in lateral view; C, tarsus II in lateral view.

FIGURE 129. Pterygosoma transvaalense Lawrence, 1935, deutonymph. A, dorsal view, B, ventral view.