Philippipalpus belah Beard and Seeman

Beard, Jennifer J., Seeman, Owen D. & Bauchan, Gary R., 2014, Tenuipalpidae (Acari: Trombidiformes) from Casuarinaceae (Fagales), Zootaxa 3778 (1), pp. 1-157 : 121-124

Philippipalpus belah Beard and Seeman sp. nov.

( Figs 103–104 )

Type material examined. Holotype female ex. Belah Casuarina cristata (Casuarinaceae) . AUSTRALIA: New South Wales, Newell Highway, approx. 15 km N Moree, 86 km S Goondiwindi, 29°21’20” S 150°00’24” E, 21 August.2007, coll. J.J. Beard (QM). Paratypes. 2 females, same data as holotype (QM).

Diagnosis. Distance between setae v2 -h1 305–315. Distance between e2-e2 115–120. Prodorsal shield laterally with irregular weak folded sculpturing in a longitudinal-oblique pattern, medially with weak folded to reticulate sculpturing; without depressions. Cuticle between prodorsal and opisthosomal shields (sejugal region) weakly striate. Opisthosomal shield with indistinct paired mesonotal regions and pygidial region; mesonotal regions indistinctly separated from each other by irregular folded cuticle; mesonotal and pygidial region not noticeably demarcated. Lateral cuticle with <40 weak papillae primarily lateral to opisthosomal shield; cuticle lateral to prodorsal shield mostly smooth. Cuticle between 3a-4a entirely transverse. Spermatheca round, 2 x 2, without grainy appearance.

FEMALE (n = 3). Dorsum. ( Fig. 103 a) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 307–315 [315], sc2- sc2 105–105 [105]; other measurements: v2-v 2 27–30 [29], sc1-sc1 80–82 [82], c1-c 1 28–32 [31], c3-c3 135–140 [140], d1-d 1 17–19 [18], d3-d3 125–130 [125], e1- e 1 17–20 [18], e2-e2 115–120 [115], e3-e3 100–105 [100], f3-f3 80–82 [82], h1-h 1 20–26 [26], h2-h2 51–55 [55]. Gnathosoma concealed beneath the prodorsum. Anterior margin of prodorsum with a deep medial notch (internal depth 21–23 [23]) forming 1 pair of broad fleshy lobes, each bearing v2 (inserted dorsally). Prodorsal shield laterally with irregular weak folded sculpturing in a longitudinaloblique pattern, medially with weak folded to reticulate sculpturing; without depressions. Cuticle between prodorsal and opisthosomal shields (sejugal region) weakly striate. Opisthosomal shield with indistinct paired mesonotal regions and pygidial region; mesonotal regions indistinctly separated from each other by irregular folded cuticle; mesonotal and pygidial region not noticeably demarcated; pair of strong longitudinal folds laterad d1-d1; irregular transverse folds between d1-e1; longitudinal folds to weak reticulation between e1-h1. Lateral cuticle with <40 weak papillae primarily lateral to opisthosomal shield; cuticle lateral to prodorsal shield mostly smooth. All dorsal shield setae short, barbed, with longitudinal barbed ridges, thick, triangular in cross-section; medial setae only slightly broader than lateral setae: v2 15 [15], sc1 14 [14], sc 2 17–18 [18], c 1 17–19 [19], c 3 15– 16 [16], d 1 15–16 [15], d 3 16–17 [17], e 1 13 –14 [13], e 2 15 –17 [16], e 3 15 –17 [15], f 3 16–19 [17], h 1 12–14 [13], h 2 16–18 [18]. Palps. ( Fig. 103 b) Setal formula 0, 0, 0, 2, 3(1s+2e). Tibial setae, dorsal 6–7 [6] long, ventral 8–10 [10] long; tarsal eupathidia 5 [5], 5–7 [6] long; solenidion 6 [6] long. Venter. ( Fig. 104 a) Cuticle anterolaterad 1a with granular appearance; 1b -1a with longitudinal striae; 1a -4a with transverse striae; cuticle posterior to cx IV transverse, abruptly becoming longitudinal to genital area; fine striae become coarse lateral to genital area. Genital setae inserted in more-or-less transverse row along posterior margin of genital shield, setae g1 inserted slightly posterior to g2. Genital shield smooth, weakly developed, membranous. All coxal setae fine. Setal lengths: 1a 34– 44 [44], 1b 17–18 [17], 2b 12–13 [13], 2c 16–18 [16], 3a 40–48 [48], 3b 16 [16], 4a 29–38 [29], 4b 13–16 [16], ag1 15 [15], g 1 17–19 [19], g 2 16–18 [18], ps 1 14–16 [16], ps 2 15–17 [15], ps 3 13–14 [14]. Spermatheca. ( Fig. 104 b) Spermathecal tube long and narrow, 95–110 [95] long, ending in small rounded membranous vesicle (2 x 2), subtended by 1 pair of minute circular accessory structures. Genital opening anteromedad anal setae ps3. Legs. ( Figs 103 a, 104c) Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi) 1-0-3-1-4-8(1), 2-0-3-1-4-8(1), 1-1-2-0-2-4, 1-0-1-0- 2-4. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (9–10 [9] long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (ta I 7–8 [7] long; ta II 6 [6] long). Leg setation as in Table 1 except: cx I without 1c; tr I–IV without v ′ (l' present on tr III); ge I–III without l ′, ge I–II without v ′; ti III–IV without d; ta I–IV without tc ′′.

OTHER STAGES. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the common name of the host “ Belah ”.

Remarks. Philippipalpus belah lacks the extensive papillation on the soft cuticle around both dorsal shields that is present in Philippipalpus agohoi and Ph. flumaquercus . Philippipalpus belah females have smoother cuticle lateral to the opisthosomal shields, and more medial wrinkles and folds between setae c1-h1 than do females of Ph. nigraquercus . This species was found in association with Pentamerismus sititoris and Chaudhripalpus costacola .

Figures

FIGURE 103. Philippipalpus belah Beard and Seeman, adult female, a. dorsum, with details of legs I – II; b. detail of palp (scale bar for palp = 25 Μm); solenidion ω " and eupathidia (pζ ′ - pζ ′′) not labelled on leg I.

FIGURE 104. Philippipalpus belah Beard and Seeman, adult female, a. posterior venter; b. spermatheca; c. legs III – IV (right side).