Pterygosoma problematica Jack, 1962

Fajfer, Monika, 2020, A systematic revision of the scale mite genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae), Zootaxa 4805 (1), pp. 1-147 : 83-85

Pterygosoma problematica Jack, 1962 ( Figs. 71 and 72 ) new status

Pterygosoma fimbriata problematica Jack : 1962, 271 fig. 8

Type host: Agama planiceps (Sauria: Agamidae ). Type locality: Angola (Chiyaka district). Redescription. FEMALE (based on holotype and 1 paratype from Agama planiceps ). Gnathosoma . Chelicerae 195–200 long; basal swollen part 70–75 long, slender distal part 125–130 long. Fixed cheliceral digit spinous, 15 long. Setae dF and dG subequal in length, about 35 long. Palpal tibia with short claw; palpal tarsi with 3 setae. Subcapitulum with filiform setae n, 15 long. Peritremes about 170 long. Hypostome 155–170 long, with small depression present at apex. Idiosoma 470–500 long and 820–950 wide. Dorsum with about 40 pairs of serrate anterolateral setae, 25–55 long; 3–5 pairs of paddle-shaped postero-lateral setae, 65–80 long; 1 pair of slightly apically expanded dorso-median setae dm, 50–60 long; 9–11 pairs of peripheral setae, 115–215 long, situated posteriorly. Eyes absent. Venter. Setae vm1 filiform, vm2 and vm3 with barely discernible serration. Genital slit situated mainly dorsally. Genital series represented by 1 pair of spine-like conspicuous setae g1, about 35 long, and 3 pairs of minute setae g3–g4, about 5 long. Pseudanal series represented by 3 pairs of setae ps1–ps3: 20–35, 60 and 45–55 long, respectively. Setae ps1 as in Fig. 71B , setae ps2 and ps3 paddle-shaped. 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’, vs” of legs I–IV smooth.

MALE. Unknown.

Type material (examined). Holotype and 1 female paratype ( NHM no. 1966.2.22.780–781) from Agama planiceps Peters (Sauria: Agamidae ) ( NHM no. 1904.5.15.14–15), ANGOLA: Chiyaka district, 15 May 1908, coll. Dr Wellmann.

Type material deposition. All type material deposited in the NHM .

Host and distribution. This species is known only from Agama planiceps from Angola [Chiyaka district] ( Jack 1962b).

Remarks This species was considered as a subspecies of Pterygosoma fimbriata Lawrence, 1951 i.e. P. fimbriata problematica Lawrence, 1951 ( Lawrence 1951) . However, the morphological differences found among specimens of P. fimbriata and P. fimbriata problematica allow the elevation of this subspecies to the species rank.

In P. problematica about 40 pairs of the antero-lateral setae are present (vs. about 70 pairs of these setae in P. fimbriata ), one pair of apically expanded dorso-median setae dm1 is present (vs. three pairs of tapered setae dm1–dm3) and three pairs of the pseudanal setae are present (vs. four pairs).

Figures

FIGURE 71. Pterygosoma problematica Jack, 1962, female. A, dorsal view; B, shape of pseudanal setae ps1.

FIGURE 72. Pterygosoma problematica Jack, 1962, female. A, ventral view; B, tarsus II in ventro-lateral view; C, tarsus IV in ventral view.