Pterygosoma agamae Peters, 1849

Fajfer, Monika, 2020, A systematic revision of the scale mite genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae), Zootaxa 4805 (1), pp. 1-147 : 96-99

Pterygosoma agamae Peters, 1849 ( Figs 86–88 )

Pterygosoma agamae Peters, 1849: 336 , fig. 9; Hirst 1926: 194, fig. 14; Lawrence 1936: 25; Jack 1962: 281, fig. 18 Pterygosoma rubicundum Lawrence, 1959: 569 , fig.1

Type host: Agama montana (Sauria: Agamidae ). Type locality: Mozambique.

Redescription. FEMALE (based on 8 specimens from type host species, Agama montana ). Gnathosoma . Chelicerae 220–235 long; swollen cheliceral part 80–90 long, slender distal part 130–145 long. Fixed cheliceral digit with long tine at top, 25 long. Setae dF and dG 50–55 and 60–65 long, respectively. Palpal tibia with short claw; palpal tarsi with 3 setae. Subcapitulum with filiform setae n, 25 long. Peritremes 135–150 long. Hypostome about 150 long, with small depression at apex. Idiosoma 395–665 long and 920–1170 wide. Dorsum with 75–90 pairs of antero-lateral serrate setae, 35–50 long; 3–5 pairs of apically expanded postero-lateral setae, 75–110 long and 2 pairs of dorso-median setae dm1 and dm2. Setae dm1 filiform or slightly serrate, 45–65 long; setae dm2 apically expanded, 90–110 long. Peripheral series represented by 30–41 pairs of setae of 2 types: tapered or apically expanded, 160–225 long. Eyes present. Venter with filiform setae vm1–vm3 (in 1 specimen setae vm2 with barely discernible serration). Genital slit situated dorsally. Genital series represented by 3 pairs of spine-like conspicuous setae g1–g3 40, 35 and 25 long, respectively. Pseudanal series represented by 5 pairs of paddle-shaped setae ps1–ps5, 85–100 long, with minute spicules on apical margin. Setae ps4 and ps5 much broader than ps1–ps3. Legs chaetotaxy as in agamae group i.e. setae of trochanters I–IV (1–1–1–1), femora I–IV (3–1–1–1), genua I–IV (2–1–1–1), tibiae I–IV (5–3–3–3). All setae on each podomere filiform, 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, amended). Gnathosoma as in female. Swollen cheliceral part and slender distal part subequal in length. Idiosoma 265–410 long and 265–600 wide. Dorsum with about 19–21 pairs of antero-lateral serrate setae, 30–45 long; 5 pairs of smooth setae situated postero-laterally, 110–190 long; 3 pairs of dorso-median setae dm1–dm3: setae dm1 and dm2 serrate and 45–55 long, setae dm3 smooth and 20 long; 6–8 pairs of smooth fine-pointed setae, 190–245 long. Eyes present. Aedeagus about 170 long, directed forward. Genito-anal opening with 2 pairs of filiform setae. Venter. Setae vm1 filiform, setae vm2 and vm3 apically expanded. Legs I–IV as in female.

PROTONYMPH (based on description presented in Jack 1962b, amended). Gnathosoma as in female. Chelicerae about 90 long; swollen cheliceral part and slender distal part subequal in length, about 45 long. Idiosoma 265 long and 455–530 wide. Dorsum with 35 pairs of short antero-lateral serrate setae, 30–40 long; 5 pairs of longer posterolateral serrate setae, 60–110 long; 2 pairs of dorso-median serrate setae: dm1 and dm2 45 and 60 long, respectively; and 25–33 pairs of serrate blunt-pointed peripheral setae, 135–155 long. Venter with filiform setae vm1 and slightly serrate setae vm2 and vm3. Genital series represented by 1 pair of spine-like setae g1. Pseudanal series represented by 3 pairs of pseudanal setae ps1–ps3. Setae ps1 and ps2 situated ventrally, setae ps3 dorsally. Legs as in female.

LARVA (based on description presented in Jack 1962b, amended). Gnathosoma as in female. Chelicerae about 50 long; swollen cheliceral part and slender distal part subequal in length, about 25 long. Idiosoma 190 long and 325 wide. Dorsum with 12 pairs of setae, 10–25 long, arranged as in Fig. 32A . Eyes present. Pseudanal series represented by 1 pair of pseudanal setae ps1.

Type material (not examined). Female holotype from Agama montana (Barbour and Loveridge) (Sauria: Agamidae ), MOZAMBIQUE, 1849, no other data.

Type material deposition. Unknown.

Non-type material (examined). Two females ( ZMUC no. R36886) from Agama montana ( ZMUC no. R36886) [head], TANZANIA: Usambara Mountains; August 1974, coll. unknown; 5 females (AMU-PTE23.1) from same host species ( ZMUC no. 36887) [ventral surface], TANZANIA: 4 August 1974, coll. unknown ; 1 female from same host species ( NHM no. 1926.XII.31.73), MOZAMBIQUE: Sofala Province, Beira , 31 December 1926, coll. unknown .

Hosts and distribution. This species was recorded from Agama montana from Mozambique [Sofala province, Beira] ( Peters 1849; Hirst 1926) and Tanzania [Liwale; Usambara Mountains] ( Lawrence 1951; Jack 1962b); Agama kirkii from Zimbabwe [Chishawash; Mazoe], Malawi, and Mazambique [Lake Shirwa] ( Lawrence 1936; Jack 1962b); Agama armata armata from Mozambique [Great African Rift Valley, Mount Gorongoza] (Lawrence 1959) and Angola [Benguela and Caconda] (Jack 1962); Agama mossambica from Tanzania [Tendaguru and Kilwa] and Mozambique [Lake Shirwa and Malawi] ( Jack 1962b); Agama agama from Tanzania and Congo, and Agama sankaranica from West Africa ( Jack 1962b).

Remarks. This study shows that setae vs ” on tarsi I and setae v’GI are absent vs. presence of these setae in Jack’s (1964) description of leg chaetotaxy. In Jack’s description of nymph 2 pairs of pseudanal setae are mentioned whereas the figures (fig. 19, p. 282 in Jack 1962a) shows 3 pairs.

Figures

FIGURE 32. Pterygosoma parasiniatum Fajfer, Melnikov and Dabert, 2016, larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, gnathosoma in dorsal view (after Fajfer et al. 2016).

FIGURE 86. Pterygosoma agamae Peters, 1849, female in dorsal view.

FIGURE 87. Pterygosoma agamae Peters, 1849, female in ventral view.

FIGURE 88. Pterygosoma agamae Peters, 1849, female; details. A, gnathosoma in dorsal view; B, tarsus I in lateral view; C, tarsus II in dorso-lateral view.