Spatulaphorus madagascariensis, Khaustov & Frolov & Akhmetova, 2024

Khaustov, Alexander A., Frolov, Andrey V. & Akhmetova, Lilia A., 2024, Seven new species of Spatulaphorus Rack (Acari: Pygmephoridae) phoretic on scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Zootaxa 5497 (3), pp. 337-368 : 361-365

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5497.3.2
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C107D617-5F70-42C5-8FD4-E5C2DE0E48B1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13630073
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EB878F-FFBE-744F-81B4-38B7FB10FF16
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Spatulaphorus madagascariensis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Spatulaphorus madagascariensis sp. nov.

( Figs 25–28 View FIGURE 25 View FIGURE 26 View FIGURE 27 View FIGURE 28 )

Description. FEMALE. Body weakly sclerotized. Length of idiosoma 185 (170–190), width 110 (105–115).

Gnathosoma. Gnathosomal capsule, excluding palps, subrectangular, length 21 (20–21), width 21 (20–21). Dorsum with one pair of needle-like cheliceral setae (cha) 6 (6). Dorsal median apodeme absent. Postpalpal setae (pp) 2 (2) spiniform, situated laterad setae cha. Ventral gnathosoma with one pair of smooth, pointed subcapitular setae m 8 (8–9) and round pits n situated posteriad m. Palps with smooth and pointed setae dFe 6 (6–7) and dGe 12 (11–13) dorsolaterally. Palps ventrally each with mushroom-like accessory setigenous structure (ass) and tiny solenidion ω. Palps terminated with small blunt-tipped tibial claw and tiny eupathid-like seta. Pharyngeal pumps poorly visible.

Idiosomal dorsum ( Figs 25A View FIGURE 25 , 28A View FIGURE 28 ). All dorsal shields with large puncta as illustrated in Fig. 25A View FIGURE 25 . Prodorsal shield with three pairs of setae (v1, v2, sc2), one pair of weakly barbed capitate trichobothria (sc1) and one pair of round stigmata. Stigmata associated with well-developed tracheal trunks. Setae v1, v2, sc2 and c2 pointed; other dorsal setae blunt-tipped; setae e and h2 smooth; other dorsal setae barbed. Alveoli of setae e and f distinctly separated. Cupules ia on tergite D, im on tergite EF and ih on tergite H large, round, subequal. Lengths of dorsal setae: v1 29 (26–29), v2 21 (18–22), sc2 43 (43–57), c1 30 (27–34), c2 43 (40–49), d 32 (32–40), e 16 (15–16), f 36 (34–44), h1 43 (39–44), h2 12 (12–14). Distances between setae: v1–v1 20 (20–21), v2–v2 33 (33–36), sc2–sc2 38 (37–38), c1–c1 31 (31–37), c1–c2 24 (22–24), d–d 56 (53–57), e–f 5 (5–6), f–f 51 (47–52), h1–h1 41 (37–42), h1–h2 6 (6–8).

Idiosomal venter ( Figs 25B View FIGURE 25 , 28B View FIGURE 28 ). Anterior and posterior sternal plates with very small, hardly discernible puncta; aggenital and pseudanal plates with slightly larger puncta. Setae 1b, 2c, 4b, and ps1-2 pointed; other setae weakly blunt-tipped; setae 1b weakly barbed, other ventral setae smooth. Bases of setae ps3 situated slightly anteriad bases of setae ps1-2; setae ps1 usually shorter than ps2; setae ps1-2 subequal in some specimens. Ap1 and ap2 well-developed and joined with thick appr; apsej absent; ap3 very thin, hardly discernible; ap4 well developed, exceeding beyond bases of setae 3b; ap5 well developed and exceeding bases of trochanter IV. Ags small, cup-like; pgs small, oval. Posterior margin of posterior sternal plate weakly concave in middle part. Posterior margin of aggenital plate with short tongue-like elongation. Lengths of ventral setae: 1a 10 (9–11), 1b 19 (17–19), 1с 12 (9–12), 2a 11 (11), 2с 13 (13–15), 3a 13 (12–13), 3b 11 (10–11), 3c 12 (12–13), 4a 10 (10–11), 4b 16 (15–20), 4c 14 (12–15), ps1 12 (11–12), ps2 15 (13–15), ps3 16 (16–17).

Legs ( Figs 26 View FIGURE 26 , 27 View FIGURE 27 ). Setation of legs as in S. brevisetosus except presence of solenidion φ on tibia II. Leg I ( Fig. 26A View FIGURE 26 ). Tibiotarsus enlarged, with large, thick and strongly curved claw; tibiotarsus internally without oval strongly sclerotized structure. Setae (u) consolidated into a bifid horn-like structure opposing claw. Tarsal claw blunt-tipped. Seta d of femur spatulate, with short subterminal projection. Setae l’ of femur and k of tibiotarsus smooth, other leg setae (except eupathidia p’, p”, tc’, tc”, ft’, ft”) barbed. Setae l’ of femur and k of tibiotarsus weakly blunt-tipped; other leg setae (except eupathidia) pointed. Lengths of solenidia ω1 8 (8), ω2 5 (5), φ1 8 (8), φ2 6 (5–6); solenidia ω1 and φ1 thick, clavate; other solenidia weakly clavate. Leg II ( Fig. 26B View FIGURE 26 ). Tarsus with simple claws and pad-like empodium. Solenidion ω 7 (7) weakly clavate, solenidion φ 2 (2) very short. Seta u’ of tarsus smooth; other setae leg setae barbed; seta d of femur blunt-tipped; tips of setae (pv) of tarsus slightly foliate; other leg setae pointed. Leg III ( Fig. 27A View FIGURE 27 ). Femur divided into basi- and telofemur. Claws and empodium of same shape as on tarsus II. Seta u’ of tarsus smooth; other leg setae barbed; setae d of femur and l’ of genu blunt-tipped; tips of setae (pv) of tarsus slightly flattened; other leg setae pointed; external part of solenidion φ absent, but subcuticular very small cup-shaped structure situated at typical insertion point of solenidion. Leg IV ( Fig 27B View FIGURE 27 ). Femur divided into basiand telofemur. Claws and empodium as on tarsi II and III. Seta pl” of tarsus smooth; other leg setae barbed; setae d of femur, v” of tibia, pl” and tc” of tarsus blunt-tipped; setae (pv) of tarsus slightly foliate distally; other leg setae pointed; external part of solenidion φ absent, but subcuticular very small cup-shaped structure situated at typical insertion point of solenidion.

MALE unknown.

Type material. Female holotype, slide ZISP T-Pygm-016, Madagascar, Adringitra Range , Andohariana, 9- XI/ 10-XII.1979 ( ZIN), on Helictopleurus corruscus Orbigny ; paratypes: 75 females, same data .

Type deposition. The holotype and nine paratypes are deposited in the collection of Zoological Institute of RAS, Saint Petersburg, Russia ; other paratypes are deposited in the collection of the Tyumen State University Museum of Zoology , Tyumen, Russia .

Differential diagnosis. The new species is most similar to S. incisus sp, nov. in having an enlarged tibiotarsus I, simple claws on tarsi II and III and presence of solenidion φ on tibia II. The new species differs from S. incisus in having well developed ap5 exceeding trochanters IV (vs. ap5 very short and thin in S. incisus ); posterior margin of posterior sternal plate almost straight medially (vs. posterior margin of posterior sternal plate deeply incised in S. incisus ); and setae ps1-3 smooth (vs. setae ps1-3 barbed in S. incisus ).

Etymology. The name of the new species refers to geographical distribution in Madagascar.