Crossipalpus verticillatae Smiley, Frost and Gerson, 1996

Beard, Jennifer J., Seeman, Owen D. & Bauchan, Gary R., 2014, Tenuipalpidae (Acari: Trombidiformes) from Casuarinaceae (Fagales), Zootaxa 3778 (1), pp. 1-157 : 29-36

Crossipalpus verticillatae Smiley, Frost and Gerson, 1996

( Figs 19–24 )

Crossipalpus verticillatae Smiley, Frost and Gerson, 1996: 174 , figs 16–18.

Type material examined. Holotype female ex. Drooping She-Oak Allocasuarina verticillata (Casuarinaceae) , AUSTRALIA: South Australia, 10 km WNW Nairne, 0 9 September 1995, coll. W.E. Frost ( WINC; 1 male paratype, deutonymph on same slide). Paratypes. 1 male, 1 deutonymph, same slide as holotype ( WINC); 1 female, same data as holotype ( WINC); 3 females, 1 male, and 1 deutonymph, ex. same host (tree #258) [feeding on bark of branchlets], AUSTRALIA: South Australia, Glen Osmond, Waite Institute Arboretum, 11 January 1996, coll. W.E. Frost ( WINC; 1 slide); 1 female, 1 deutonymph, 4 protonymphs, and 3 larvae ex. same host [feeding on bark of branchlets], AUSTRALIA: South Australia, 8 km south of Harrogate, 34.57 S 139.01 E, 10 November 1995, W.E. Frost ( WINC; one slide); 1 pharate female, 1 male, 3 deutonymphs, and 1 protonymph, same data (except 5 km south of Harrogate) ( WINC; one slide).

Non-type material examined. 12 females, 1 male, 1 pharate male, 1 deutonymph, and 1 protonymph ex. A. verticillata , AUSTRALIA: South Australia, Adelaide, Athelston, Maryvale Road, Wadmore Park, 34°52’51” S 138°42’09” E, 21 April 2009, coll. J.J. Beard and C.J. Burwell (QM, USNM) ( BRI voucher BRI [AQ818801]).

Diagnosis. Dorsal setae all broadly lanceolate, strongly barbed and subequal in length except c1, d1, e1, h1 distinctly short; prodorsal setae v2 subequal in length with sc1. Palpal segments as wide as long. Genua I–II with seta l′′, without d; tarsi I–IV without seta tc′′.

FEMALE (n = 18). Dorsum. ( Fig. 19 a) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 310–330 [330]; sc2- sc2 105–110 [110]; other measurements: v2-v 2 20–25 [20], sc1-sc1 87–93 [90], c1-c 1 15–25 [19], c2-c2 120–130 [125], c3-c3 140–150 [140], d1-d 1 17–19 [19], d2-d2 95–105 [95], d3-d3 120–130 [120], e1- e 1 13–25 [21], e2-e2 110–115 [110], e3- e3 98–105 [98], f3-f3 78–89 [78], h1-h 1 12–19 [12], h2-h2 52–61 [52]. Gnathosoma completely concealed beneath prodorsum; anterior margin of prodorsum rounded; setae v2 often inserted ventrally under anterior margin of prodorsum (similar to Fig. 14 ). Prodorsal shield weakly developed with broadly separated longitudinal central folds and oblique lateral folds; cuticle with fine network of folds laterally. Narrow band of fine transverse striae anterior to c1-c1. Opisthosoma with pair of weakly developed mesonotal shields capturing setae c1, c2, d1, d2; weakly developed pygidial shield capturing e1, e3, f2–3 and h1–2 setae, with weak oblique folds; band of transverse folds between d1-d1 and e1-e1; paired minute pores present between c1-c2, d1-d2, laterad e1. Lateral cuticle surrounding shields wrinkled. Most dorsal setae broadly lanceolate and barbed; setae c1, d1, e1, h1 much shorter than other dorsal setae. Setal lengths: v 2 15–20 [15, 19], sc 1 17–20 [19, 20], sc 2 19–22 [21, 22], c1 6–7 [6, 7], c 2 13–17 [13, 16], c 3 19–21 [19. 21], d1 6–8 [7, 8], d 2 14–18 [14, 15], d 3 19–24 [20, 21], e1 6 –8 [6, 7], e 2 17 –22 [20, 21], e 3 20 –23 [20, 21], f 3 20–22 [20, 22], h 1 7–10 [7, 8], h 2 19–22 [19, 22]. Palps. ( Fig. 19 b) Setal formula 0, 0, 0, 1, 3 (1s+2e). Tibial seta 8–10 [10] long; tarsal eupathidia 4–5 [5] long (thin, tapered), 5–6 [6] long (blunt); solenidion 5–6 [5]. Vent er. ( Fig. 20 ) Ventral cuticle of gnathosoma to setae 1a transverse; striae longitudinal between 1a-1a; striae between 1a-3a transverse, between 3a-4a longitudinal; transverse striae 4a to just posterior 4a, becoming longitudinal to g1–2; longitudinal striae laterad genital region. Genital setae not widely separated (25), inserted in more-or-less transverse row, g1 inserted slightly posterior to level of g2. Genital shield weakly developed, cuticle on genital flap between g setae with longitudinal to oblique striae; anal setae ps1–2 inserted in longitudinal line along inner edge of anal plates; seta ps3 absent. Coxal, genital and anal setae fine and weakly barbed, except 2c thicker and more strongly barbed; setae 1a, 3a, 4a long, finely tapered, often broken and difficult to determine full length. Setal lengths: 1a 52–59 [54, 58], 1b 22–25 [22, 24], 2b 21–25 [22, 24], 2c 15–19 [15, 16], 3a 45–68 [65, 68], 3b 21–24 [21, 23], 4a 46–52 [48, 51], 4b 20–24 [22, 24], ag 1 14–17 [14, 16], g 1 21–25 [22, 23], g 2 18–22 [20, 21], ps 1 12–13 [12, 13], ps 2 11–14 [11, 14]. Spermatheca. Spermatheca with a long coiled tube, with some granular texture along its length; tightly coiled and multi-branched distally. Distal vesicle not visible. Legs. ( Fig. 21 ) Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi) 1-1-3-1-4-8(1), 2-1-3-1-4-8(1), 1-2-2-0-3-4, 1-1- 1-0-3-4. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (6–7 [6] long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (7–8 long). Leg setation as in Table 1 except: coxae I without 1c; genua I–II with l", without d; tarsi I–IV without tc′′. Setae v' added to tr IV.

MALE (n = 5). Dorsum. ( Fig. 22 ) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 230–250, sc2-sc2 87–91; other measurements: v2-v 2 12–18, sc1-sc1 61–66, c1-c 1 14–21, c2-c2 96–105, c3-c3 110–117, d1-d 1 8–12, d2-d2 74–79, d3-d3 90–96, e1- e 1 11–13, e2- e2 77–80, e3- e3 74–77, f3-f3 61–67, h1-h 1 6–10, h2-h2 38–42. Gnathosoma fully exposed, not concealed by anterior margin of prodorsum ( Fig. 22 ). Four weak dorsal shields developed, separated by bands of transversely striate soft cuticle. Prodorsal shield similar to female. Mesonotal shield with 2 weak shields, weakly wrinkled or folded. Pygidial shield with weak longitudinal-oblique wrinkles or folds. Lateral cuticle surrounding shields with some weak papillae. Most dorsal setae short, lanceolate, barbed; setae c1, d1 and e1 much smaller than other setae. Setal lengths: v 2 14–18, sc 1 13–15, sc 2 16–20, c1 5–6, c 2 9–12, c 3 12–14, d1 5– 7, d 2 9–13, d 3 13–15, e1 5 –8, e 2 10 –15, e 3 14 –16, f 3 14–16, h1 7, h 2 14–15. Palps. ( Fig. 22 ) Palps similar to female, except solenidion greatly swollen; solenidion 7–8 long, eupathidia 6–8 long (blunt), 5–6 long (thin, tapered). Venter. ( Fig. 23 a) Cuticle with mostly transverse striae, with band of broadly separated transverse folds just posterior to leg IV; broadly separated transverse folds between ag and g1–2. Pair of large rounded, weakly developed shields laterad setae ag. Coxal setae fine. Setae 1a, 3a, 4a elongate, finely tapered, often broken. Setae ag1, g1–2, ps2 weakly barbed; setae ps1 modified, obviously thicker and stronger than ps2. Setal lengths: 1a 37– 49, 1 b 16–22, 2 b 15–22, 2 c 15–20, 3 a 34–68, 3 b 16–23, 4 a 31–63, 4 b 13–21, ag 1 11–13, g 1 11–14, g 2 12–17, ps 1 15–17, ps 2 7–10. Aedeagus. ( Fig. 23 a) Narrow, sclerotised, finely tapered distally, 81–92. Membranous duct runs from inside aedeagus for about 40 then disappearing. Legs. ( Fig. 23 b) Legs similar to female, except solenidia obviously swollen. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (10–11 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (7–9, 7– 8 long).

DEUTONYMPH (n = 8). Dorsum. Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 250–295, sc2-sc2 84– 100; other measurements: v2-v 2 17–23, sc1-sc1 70–87, c1-c 1 17–23, c2-c2 91–112, c3-c3 119–136, d1-d 1 15–22, d2-d2 70–93, d3-d3 86–106, e1- e 1 12–14, e2- e2 79–99, e3- e3 72–90, f3-f3 65–76, h1-h 1 14–16, h2-h2 41–52. Dorsal shields with patterns similar to adult female. Setal lengths: v 2 21–26, sc 1 17–22, sc 2 19–24, c1 5–7, c 2 14– 19, c 3 16–22, d1 5–6, d 2 16–21, d 3 18–22, e1 5 –7, e 2 19 –25, e 3 20 –24, f 3 19–24, h1 6–8, h 2 16–23. Palps. Palps same as adult. Tibial seta 8–9 long; tarsal eupathidia 4–5 long (thin, tapered), 5–7 long (thick, blunt); solenidion 3– 4 long. Venter. Cuticle with longitudinal striae between 1a-1a; transverse striae between 1a-4a, with mixed striae 4a-4a; transverse striae just posterior to 4a becoming longitudinal to setae g1; transverse striae between g1-ps1, with longitudinal striae laterad genital region. Coxal setae fine and finely barbed, except setae 2c thicker and more heavily barbed. Setal lengths: 1a 31–52, 1 b 12–22, 2 b 12–21, 2 c 19–22, 3 a 32–57, 3 b 13–16, 4 a 20–42, 4 b 12–18, ag 1 13–16, g 1 12–19, ps 1 9–13, ps 2 10–15. Legs. Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi) same as adult female except tr IV nude: 1-1-3-1-4-8(1), 2-1-3-1-4-8(1), 1-2-2-0-3-4, 1-0-1-0-3-4. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (4 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (ta I 6, 6 long; ta II 5–6, 5–6 long). Leg setation as in adult except: tr IV without seta v ′. Setae v' added to tr I–III.

PROTONYMPH (n = 6). Dorsum. Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 190–250, sc2-sc2 75– 91; other measurements: v2-v 2 13–17, sc1-sc1 60–76, c1-c 1 5–15, c2-c2 85–105, c3-c3 101–130, d1-d 1 10–12, d2- d2 61–77, d3-d3 66–97, e1- e 1 7–12, e2- e2 68–88, e3- e3 51–71, f3-f3 41–54, h1-h 1 8–12, h2-h 2 22–30. Prodorsal shield weakly developed, with similar cuticle pattern to female. Anterior opisthosoma with 2 pairs of weakly developed platelets, between c1-c2 and d1-d2; platelets with few transverse folds. Setae in rows E, F, H inserted on weakly formed pygidial shield, with few oblique folds. Striae of idiosoma similar to deutonymph. Setal lengths: v 2 22–24, sc 1 14–18, sc 2 17–20, c1 5–6, c 2 12–17, c 3 13–16, d1 4–5, d 2 17–18, d 3 15–19, e1 4 –7, e 2 19 –22, e 3 16 – 19, f 3 16–19, h1 5–7, h 2 17–18. Palps. Palps similar to deutonymph except tibial seta 6–8 long; tarsal eupathidia 3–4 long (thin, tapered), 4–5 long (thick, blunt); solenidion 3–4 long. Venter. Cuticle between 1a-1a with longitudinal striae; striae 1a and leg III with transverse striae; cuticle between leg III to IV with longitudinal striae; cuticle between legs IV transverse to oblique near ag; cuticle between ag-ag mixed; cuticle laterad genital-anal region longitudinal. Setal lengths: 1a 25–54, 1 b 13–24, 2 b 15–16, 3 a 22–49, 3 b 10–14, ag 1 9–13, ps1 7–9, ps2 7– 9. Setae 2c, 4a, 4b, g1, g2 absent. Legs. Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi) 1-0-3-0-4-8(1), 1-0-3-0-4-8(1), 1-1-2-0-3-4, 0-0-1-0-3-3. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (3–4 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (ta I with both 5–6 long; ta II 5–6, 4–6 long). Leg setation as in deutonymph except: seta 2c absent; seta 4b absent; tr I– III without seta v ′; ge I–II without seta l′′; ta IV without setae tc ′. Setae l' added to tr III.

LARVA (n = 3). Dorsum. ( Fig. 24 a) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 135–180, sc2-sc2 74– 79; other measurements: v2-v 2 13–15, sc1-sc1 56–60, c1-c 1 8–10, c2-c2 72–80, c3-c3 104–108, d1-d 1 9–10, d2-d2 49–51, d3-d3 70–71, e1- e1 7–8, e2- e2 62–65, e3- e3 49–65, f3-f3 33–41, h1-h1 6–9, h2-h 2 18–28. Dorsal shields not developed; dorsal cuticle with few weak transverse folds. Lateral setae lanceolate, obviously barbed; central setae short, weakly barbed. Setal lengths: v 2 22–25, sc 1 14–16, sc 2 19–21, c1 4–6, c 2 12–14, c 3 13–14, d1 4–7, d 2 14–16, d 3 15–19, e1 5, e 2 13 –19, e 3 15 –18, f 3 16–19, h1 5–6, h 2 15–20. Palps. ( Fig. 24 a) Palps same as deutonymph. Tibial seta 5–6 long; tarsal eupathidia 3, 4 long; solenidion 2–3 long. Venter. All setae fine. Setal lengths: 1a 23–33, 1 b 11–19, 3 a 20–26, ps1 4–7, ps2 4–6. Legs. ( Fig. 24 b) Setal formula for legs I–III (coxae to tarsi) 1-0-3-0-4-7(1), 0-0-3-0-4-7(1), 0-0-2-0-3-3. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (2–3 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (5 long). Leg setation as in protonymph except: seta 2b absent; seta 3b absent; tr I–III nude; ta I–III without seta tc ′.

Remarks. This species is very similar to Cr. muellerianae but can be readily distinguished by lacking setae tc'' on tarsi I–IV (present in Cr. muellerianae ), the stouter palpal segments (finer in Cr. muellerianae ), lanceolate setae h1 (more palmate in Cr. muellerianae ), and irregular dorsal reticulation (linear in Cr. muellerianae ).

Figures

FIGURE 14. Crossipalpus muellerianae Smiley, Frost and Gerson, adult female, ventral view of anterior margin of prodorsum, with detail of palps.

FIGURE 19. Crossipalpus verticillatae Smiley, Frost and Gerson, adult female, a. dorsum; b. detail of palp (scale bar for palp = 25 Μm).

FIGURE 20. Crossipalpus verticillatae Smiley, Frost and Gerson, adult female, posterior venter.

FIGURE 21. Crossipalpus verticillatae Smiley, Frost and Gerson, adult female, legs (left side), solenidion ω " and eupathidia (pζ ′ - pζ ′′) not labelled on leg I.

FIGURE 22. Crossipalpus verticillatae Smiley, Frost and Gerson, adult male dorsum, with detail of palps.

FIGURE 23. Crossipalpus verticillatae Smiley, Frost and Gerson, adult male, a. posterior venter, with detail of aedeagus; b. leg I (left side); eupathidia (pζ ′ - pζ ′′) not labelled.

FIGURE 24. Crossipalpus verticillatae Smiley, Frost and Gerson, larva, a. dorsum, with details of palps; b. leg I.