Eutarsopolipus despoticus, Seeman, 2021

Seeman, Owen D., 2021, Contrasting species diversification of Eutarsopolipus (Acariformes: Podapolipidae) on Castelnaudia and Notonomus (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Zootaxa 4971 (1), pp. 1-74 : 37-39

Eutarsopolipus despoticus sp. nov.

( Figs 24–27 )

Diagnosis. Adult female: Gnathosomal length 45–51, width 47–51, cheliceral stylets 50–55; tarsi II-III setae tc′′ 2–3. Larval female: Gnathosomal length 42–45, width 43–45, cheliceral stylets 45–52; tarsi II-III setae tc′′ m–2.

Material examined. Holotype female, ex Castelnaudia porphyriaca . Conondale Range, 27 Nov. 1974, G. Monteith, unregistered specimen ( QMS 113508 ) . Paratypes. All ex C. porphyriaca . 6 females, 2 larvae, as follows: 3 females, 2 larvae, same data as holotype ( QMS 113509–10 , 13–4 , ANIC 52-003963 ); 3 females, 1.5 km from Mt Cabinet, via Jimna , Sunday Ck , 26° 42ʹ 39ʺ S 152° 33ʹ 49ʺE, 9 Sep-30 Nov 1974, G. & S. Monteith, pitfall trap, HR# T 57070 ( QMS 113515–16 , ZMH-A0015193 ). All in QM except 1 female in ANIC and ZMH .

Note: two females from Mt Cabinet have fully developed larvae in their body; measurements from these larvae are included where features could be measured.

Description. FEMALE ( Figs 24–26 ; n = 4).

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 25A ). Length 46 (45–51), width 50 (47–51). Cheliceral stylets 53 (50–55), setae ch 27 (28–34), su 12 (9–16).

Idiosoma ( Fig. 24 ). Length 285 (245–325), width 255 (230–300). Prodorsal plate not eroded anteriorly; setae slender, v1 11 (9–12), v2 alveolar remnant, sc1 10 (9–10), sc2 85 (65–80). Distance between setae v1–v1 60 (55–59), sc1–sc1 98 (87–97), v1–sc1 35 (32–37; asymmetrically 27 in one specimen), v2–v2 67 (61–68), sc2–sc2 125 (125– 130), sc1–sc2 32 (31–35). Opisthosomal setae slender. Plate C setae c1 9 (7–9), c2 15 (12–14), distance between setae c1–c1 100 (105–120). Plate D setae d 11 (9–11), d–d 130 (125–140), cupuli ia close to and anterolaterad d. Plate EF setae f 12 (10–11), f–f 74 (70–77), cupuli im distant from and anterolaterad f. Plate H entire, seta h minute. Venter: coxisterna 1-2 moderately well defined, coxisterna 3 somewhat less defined; coxal setae slender, 1a 3 (2–3), 2a 5 (4–5), 3a 9 (7–9), 3b 6 (5–6). Alveoli of 1b, 2b present.

Legs ( Figs 26 A-C). Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 3-2-6(+ φ)-8(+ ω), 0-1-4-6, 0-1-4-6. Leg I. Femur I, d minute, l’ 2 (2–4), v″ 6 (5–7); genu I, l′ 2 (2–3), l″ 3 (2–3); tibia I, d 50 (50–56), lʹ 11 (8–10), lʺ 12 (11–12), v’ 6 (6–7), v’’ 18 (13–20), k 5 (4), φ 10 (9-10); tarsus I, tc’ 18 (16–18), tcʺ 17 (16–17), pl’ 15 (12–15), plʺ 19 (16–17), pv′ minute, pvʺ 2 (2), ω 4 (4–5), s 5 (5–6), u′′ m (m). Leg II. Genu II, l′ 4 (3–4); tibia II, d 35 (31–37), l’ 9 (8–10), v’ 20 (16–25), vʺ 26 (22–29); tarsus II, tc′ 8 (5–9), tc″ 3 (2–3), pl″ 50 (43–52), pvʺ 2 (2), u’ 5 (5–6), u′′ m (m). Leg III. Genu III, l′ 3 (2–3); tibia III, d 30 (28–37), l’ 7 (7–9), v’ 23 (18–25), vʺ 26 (18–28); tarsus III, tc’ 4 (4–5), tc″ 3 (2–3), pl″ 50 (36–50), pvʺ 2 (2), u’ 5 (5–6), u′′ m (m).

LARVIFORM MALE. Unknown.

LARVAL FEMALE ( Fig. 27 ; n = 4).

Gnathosoma . Length 42–45, width 43–45. Cheliceral stylets 45–52, setae ch 24–27, su 9–10.

Idiosoma ( Fig. 27 ). Length 195–205, width 145–165. Prodorsal plate with setae v1 7–9, v2 alveolar remnant, sc1 6–8, sc2 90–100. Distance between setae v1–v1 34–36, sc1–sc1 65–70, v1–sc1 26–27, v2–v2 45–48, sc2–sc2 74–81, sc1–sc2 29–35. Plate C setae c1 4–8, c2 10, distance between setae c1–c1 62–71. Plate D setae d 8–10, d–d 58–61, cupuli ia distant from setae d, anterolaterad d. Plate EF setae f 9–10, f–f 42–45, cupuli im distant to setae f, anteriad f (not seen in drawn specimen). Plate H broad, 25–31 wide, ca. 34–35 long bearing setae h1 ca. 180, h2 6–7. Venter: coxisterna 1-2 well defined, coxisterna 3 with some membranous folds; coxal setae slender, 1a 3, 2a 4–5, 3a 6–9, 3b 5–6. Alveoli of 1b, 2b present.

Legs. Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 3-2-6(+ φ)-8(+ ω), 0-1-4-6, 0-1-4-6. Leg I. Femur I, d minute, l′ 2, v″ 3–4; genu I, l′ 2, l″ 2; tibia I, d 60–65, l’ 11–12, l’’ 10–12, v’ 4–5, v’’ 14–17, k 3–4, φ 10; tarsus I, tc’ 16–18, tc’’ 18, pl’ 14–17, pl’’ 19–25, pv′ minute, pv’’ m–2, ω 4–5, s 5, u′′ minute. Leg II. Genu II, l′ 2–3; tibia II, d 40–45, l’ 8–9, v’ 17–18, v’’ 22; tarsus II, tc′ 3–4, tc ″ m–2, pl ″ 32–38, pv’’ m–2, u’ 4–5, u′′ m–2. Leg III. Genu III, l′ 2; tibia III, d 35–39, l’ 6–7, v’ 20–22, v’’ 23–29; tarsus III, tc’ 3–5, tc ″ m–2, pl ″ 35–43, pv’’ m–2, u’ 4–5, u′′ minute.

Differential diagnosis. Eutarsopolipus despoticus sp. nov. is most similar to E. hebronae sp. nov., but differs by having a smaller gnathosoma , cheliceral stylets and setae tc″ on tarsi II-III. See below the Differential diagnosis of E. hebronae sp. nov. for further details.

Etymology. The host’s specific name porphyriaca refers to its purple wings, and as the colour purple was associated with rulers, the name despoticus (a despot, a tyrant) alludes to this species living beneath the purple wings of its host while engaged in a parasitic life style.

Figures

FIGURE 24. Eutarsopolipus despoticus sp. nov. Female, dorsum.

FIGURE 25. Female, gnathosomas, of Eutarsopolipus despoticus sp. nov. (A) and Eutarsopolipus hebronae sp. nov. (B).

FIGURE 26. Female, legs I-III of Eutarsopolipus despoticus sp. nov. (A-C) and legs II-III of Eutarsopolipus hebronae sp. nov. (D-E). Left side, dorsal view.

FIGURE 27. Eutarsopolipus despoticus sp. nov. Larva, dorsum (cupule im not visible).