Neocarus calakmulensis Vázquez & Klompen, 2009

Vázquez, Magdalena & Klompen, Hans, 2009, New species of New World Opilioacaridae (Acari: Parasitiformes) with the description of a new genus from the Caribbean region., Zootaxa 2061, pp. 23-44 : 25-29

Neocarus calakmulensis Vázquez & Klompen n. sp.

( Figs. 1–19 )

Diagnosis. Palp tarsus with 5 pairs of foliate setae (4 in N. orghidani and N. nohbecanus ). Area between sternal and genital verrucae with 0–1 pairs of long, tapering setae (1–2 pairs in all other Neocarus spp.). Female with 2 setae in pregenital area, male with stout, blunt setae in genital area. Ovipositor without terminal setae.

Description. Based on observations on 5 females, 4 males, 5 tritonymphs, 3 deutonymphs, 5 protonymphs, 1 larva.

Gnathosoma . Chelicera ( Fig. 1 ). Basal segment without setae in larva, protonymphs, and most deutonymphs. One seta present in one deutonymph, and in all tritonymphs and adults, fixed digit with 3 setae in all instars. Some setae lightly barbed, more obviously so in later instars. Dorsal and antiaxial lyrifissure well developed in nymphs and adults, unclear in larva. Fixed digit with 1 tooth, movable digit with 1–2 teeth and a well developed terminal hook in nymphs and adults, digits poorly developed in larva. Movable digit with 1 small denticle on ventral margin in nymphs and adults, none observed in larva.

Subcapitulum ( Figs. 2 , 5–8 ). All 4 pairs of paralabial setae present in adults: pl1 small, conical; With's organ (pl2) membranous, discoid; rutellum (pl3) with 1 row of 5 teeth, inserted dorso-laterally; pl4 small but distinct, inserted dorsal on subcapitulum. In addition, 4 circumbuccal (cb), and 8–10 median and subcapitular (vm (in part), lvm, ldm, vp, lvp) setae. No sexual dimorphism observed. Larva, proto-, deuto-, and tritonymphs similar, but pl4 minute in early instars, only 2 cb setae in larva, and number of median and subcapitular setae smaller, 0, 2, 3, and 5–6, respectively. Lateral lips in all instars with distinct canals in all instars (dl1 and/or dl2 of Grandjean (1936)).

Palp. Adults ( Figs. 3–4 ). Trochanter with 2 to 5 ribbed, tapering setae (= r-type) setae; femur with 6–8 papilliform (= p-type) and 9–18 (most 10–12) r-type setae (detail of structure of r and p-type setae in Fig. 39 ); genu with 2–5 p and 17–34 (most 21–29) r setae. Tibia and tarsus partially fused. Tibia with 8 smooth (= s type) and 51 r-type setae. Palp tarsus with lyrifissures i π and i α. Setation includes 3 s, 5 d, 6 v, 17 ch, and 10–11 sm setae. Pretarsus in shape of a pair of well developed sessile claws. No distinct sexual differentiation observed; males generally with fewer trochanteral setae, but ranges overlapping. Palp setation immatures ( Figs. 9–16 ). Trochanter: larva and protonymph 0; deutonymph 1; tritonymph 2 (rarely 3); femur: larva 6 rtype setae; protonymph 5 r and 1 p-type seta(e); deutonymph 5–6 r plus 2–3 p; tritonymph 7–10 r plus 4 (rarely 5) p; genu: larva and protonymph 7 r; deutonymph 7–8 r; tritonymph 12–15 r plus 0– 2 p. Tarsus of larva and protonymph with 2, deuto- and tritonymph with 3 s setae; larva, proto-, deuto-, and tritonymphs with, respectively, 0, 2, 3, and 4 d setae. Setation of tibiae as well as the number of tarsal v, ch, and sm setae not scored for immatures.

Idiosoma. Color. Dark blue and violet stripes on both body and legs. Body often with brownish background reflecting ingested food.

Dorsum. Anterior dorsal shield in adults with two pairs of eyes, and 59–100 stout, ribbed setae; lyrifissures absent. Larva, proto-, deuto-, and tritonymphs similar, with, respectively, 32, 28–32, 39–46, and 58–70 shield setae. Dorsal idiosoma between the shield and the preanal segment without setae, but with numerous lyrifissures arranged in transverse rows. Preanal segment with 1 dorsal and 2 ventral setae; anal plates in adults each with 6–9 (usually 7–8) stout, ribbed setae. Anal plates of larva, proto-, deuto-, and tritonymphs each with, respectively, 2, 2, 4–6, and 6–8 setae.

Sternitogenital region ( Figs. 17–18 ). Sternal verrucae in adults each with 1 long, barbed and tapering and 1–3 smaller setae. Remaining sternal area with 0–1 pairs of long, tapering setae, 5–7 pairs of stout, ribbed setae, and 3 pairs of lyrifissures (two pairs very large, the third smaller; all different in shape and size from "standard" opisthosomal lyrifissures). Pregenital capsules each with 1 long tapering and 3–4 (rarely 5) stout, ribbed setae. Pregenital and genital areas in male with, respectively, 2–6 and 3–8 short stout, ribbed setae. Pregenital area in female with 2 (rarely 3) short, stout ribbed setae; genital area without setae. Immatures, larva, proto-, deuto-, and tritonymph, with respectively, 0, 0, 1, and 2 smaller setae on sternal verrucae, and 0, 0, 1–2, and 2–3 stout ribbed setae on the genital verrucae. None of the immatures carried setae in the pregenital or genital region. Ovipositor ( Fig. 19 ) simple, without terminal setae, but with a single pair of gland-like structures. Number of lobes could not be determined as the ovipositor in all specimens examined was invaginated.

Legs. Legs relatively long. Ratio of legs I to idiosoma approximately 2.5, legs IV to idiosoma about 2.1. No obvious sexual dimorphism observed. Tarsi I without distinct acrotarsus but, starting with protonymph, with a distinct basitarsus. Broad sensillum with "crown-like" tip ( Fig. 1 S in Vázquez and Klompen (2003)) in main sensillar field. Pretarsi I with well developed sessile claws; without setae. Tarsi II in nymphs and adults each with a distinct dorsal bifurcate seta and two smooth sensilla, the basal (shorter) one of which resembling a solenidion (both sensilla inserted on acrotarsus in tritonymphs and adults). Pretarsi II–IV each with two pairs of setae and a pair of claws. Acrotarsus on tarsi II–III appears in tritonymphs and adult, on tarsi IV in deutonymph. Distinct divided trochanter on legs IV first observed in deutonymph, on legs III in tritonymph.

Collection information. Multiple specimen numbers refer to multiple slides representing a single, dissected, individual. Holotype female (OSAL0007618–7620), MEXICO: Campeche, Calakmul Biosphere Res. (18°6'30"N 89°48'W), zona nucleo, km34, high tropical forest, coll. Vázquez, M., 16 Jun 2005, ex litter between stones, coll. no. AL013456. Paratypes (all from Calakmul Biosphere Res. and collected by M. Vázquez). Same collection data as holotype, PN (OSAL0007592), M (OSAL0007628–07629); same locality, 7 Feb 2001, ex litter & bark with moss, AL013285: DN (OSAL0007595); 7 Feb 2001, ex litter on stones, AL013287: PN (OSAL0007587); 7 Feb 2001, ex litter, AL013288, TN (OSAL0007599); 10 Jul 2001, ex decomposing bark, AL013283: PN (OSAL0007588), DN (OSAL0007594), F (OSAL0007611–7612); 2 Jul 2002, ex unknown, AL013289: PN (OSAL0007591), PN (OSAL0007593), F (OSAL0007613–7614), F (OSAL0007615–7616); 20 Jun 2003, ex detritus on tree trunk, AL013300: TN (OSAL0007606); 20 Aug 2003, ex litter on tree trunk; high tropical forest, AL013284: TN (OSAL0007608), M (OSAL0007623); 1 Oct 2003, ex litter, AL013286: DN (OSAL0007598); Bel-Ha, medium high tropical forest, 5 Jul 2005, ex litter on slope, AL013282: L (OSAL0007586), TN (OSAL0007600–7601), TN (OSAL0007602–7603), TN (OSAL0007604–7605), M (OSAL0007627); restoration area, medium high tropical forest, km34, 17 Jan 2002, ex litter on slope; AL013293: TN (OSAL0007610); same locality, 20 Aug 2003, ex litter on tree trunk nr. seaside lagoon, AL013292: PN (OSAL0007590), TN (OSAL0007597), TN (OSAL0007607); 20 Aug 2003, ex detritus on decomposing bark, AL013294: PN (OSAL0007589), DN (OSAL0007596), TN (OSAL0007609), F (OSAL0007617), M (OSAL0007624); high tropical forest, 17 Jan 2002, ex litter under and between stones, AL013295: M (OSAL0007621–7622); same locality, 7 Oct 2003, ex litter on stones, AL013297: M (OSAL0007625–7626).

Additional material (non-paratype): MEXICO: Quintana Roo, La Union, Cenote Cocodrilo Dorado, 17°54'N 88°53'W, coll. Vázquez, M., 7 Mar 2002, ex slope cenote; very humid medium high tropical forest, AL013276: PN ( OSAL 0007631); same locality and collector, 21 Nov 2002, AL013277: TN ( OSAL 0007633); 6 Nov 2001 ex litter slope cenote, AL013278: DN ( OSAL 0007632), M ( OSAL 0007634), F ( OSAL 0007635), F ( OSAL 0007636–7637), M ( OSAL 0007638–7639), M ( OSAL 0007640).

Deposition of types. Holotype female (slides OSAL 0007618–7620) and one paratype male (slides OSAL 0007621–7622) at UNAM. Other paratypes at OSAL, UQROO.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the primary collection locality, the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Neocarus calakmulensis n. sp., adult. 1, Chelicera, female (OSAL 0007616); 2, Subcapitulum, female (OSAL 0007619); 3, Palp, dorsal (left) and ventral (right) view, female (OSAL 0007619); 4, Palp tarsus, dorsal (top) and ventral (bottom) view, female (OSAL 0007619). Arrow in A: ventral denticles. Abbreviations. Fig. 2: pl 2 = With's organ, pl 3 = rutellum, cb = circumbuccal setae. Fig. 3, setal types: p = papillate; r = simple; s = smooth.

FIGURES 5 – 16. Neocarus calakmulensi s n. sp., immatures. 5 – 8, Subcapitulum; 9 – 12, Palp, dorsal (left) and ventral (right) view; 13 – 16, Palp tarsus, dorsal (top) and ventral (bottom) view. 5, 9, 13, Larva (OSAL 0007586); 6, 10, 14, Protonymph (OSAL 0007591); 7, 11, 15, Deutonymph (OSAL 7594; 7596); 8, 12, 16, Tritonymph (OSAL 7605).

FIGURES 17 – 18. Neocarus calakmulensis n. sp., sternitogenital region. 17, Female (OSAL 0007818); 18, Male (OSAL 0007622).

FIGURES 19 – 20. Ovipositor. 19, Neocarus calakmulensis n. sp. (OSAL 0007618), inset detail gland-like structures; 20, N. bajacalifornicus chamelaensis n. subsp. (OSAL 0007672).

FIGURES 38 – 41. Palp morphology. 38, Caribeacarus armasi n. sp., male (OSAL 0008105); 39, C. armasi, male (OSAL 0007922); 40, C. panamensis n. sp., male (OSAL 0007885); 41, Neocarus siankaanensis Vázquez & Klompen, female (OSAL 0000565).