Scutopalus tomentosus Rocha, Skvarla and Ferla

Rocha, Matheus Dos Santos, Skvarla, Michael Joseph & Ferla, Noeli Juarez, 2013, A new species of Scutopalus (Acari: Cunaxidae: Cunaxoidinae) from Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil with a key to world species, Zootaxa 3734 (1) : -

Scutopalus tomentosus Rocha, Skvarla and Ferla sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CE02A765-7921-43BC-B6A8-1F9FF9B0BF1F ( Figs.1–3 )

Diagnosis. Scutopalus tomentosus sp. nov differs from all species of this genus by having: dorsal shield reticulate and well defined; less sclerotized sclerites posteriolaterally to dorsal shield; and presence of a small sclerite near to posterior edge of genital shield. In Scutopalus , three species have additional sclerites posterior to the dorsal shield: S. philippinensis and S. rugosus have a narrow transverse sclerite whereas Scutopalus clavatus has a pair of small sclerites. Nevertheless, no known species of Scutopalus have no lateral sclerites. These sclerites are uncommon in Cunaxidae ; similar structures can be found in the genus Scutascirus Den Heyer 1976 . Ventral sclerites are present in some species: Scutopalus philippinensis , S. rugosus and S. unguianalis have a pair of small fusiform sclerites lateral to genital plate whereas in the new species these sclerites are located near to the posterior edge of genital shield.

Thus, this new species resembles S. philippinensis and S. rugosus by having a simple, narrow structure after the dorsal shield and ventral sclerites near to the genital plates. It can be distinguished from S. philippinensis by having the dorsal shield with well-defined reticulation, a circular platelet near to the posterior edge of the genital shield, and two setae on coxae II, five setae on basifemora II and three setae on telofemora IV. It can be distinguished from S. rugosus by having the dorsal shield reticulated, setae f1 and h1 on small platelets, dorsal setae broad and serrate except c2 and h2, two setae on coxae II, four and five setae on basifemora I and II, respectively, and four and three setae on telofemora I and IV, respectively.

Female. (n=2) Idiosoma 353 (350–356) long, 249 (245–253) wide.

Gnathosoma. ( Fig. 1 A–C) Subcapitulum. ( Fig. 1 A) 120 long, two pairs of adoral setae present. Four pairs of setae (hg1 – 4); hg4 longer than the others. Ventral region with longitudinal striae. Palp ( Fig. 1 B) 82 (80–84) long, 3- segmented. Chaetotaxy: trochanter 0; femurogenu 4 outer and 1 inner sts; tibiotarsus 2 pointed process and 6 sts. The tibiotarsus ends in a claw. Chelicera ( Fig. 1 C) 110 (108–112) long, slender, integument granulated dorsally, each with a narrow claw and dorsal setae present.

Dorsum. ( Fig. 2 A) Partially covered by a single reticulate shield 230 long. Reticles with dotted lines, possessing some central granulation. Propodosomal setae, trichobothria (ap, pt) and simple tactile setae c1, d1, e1 and c2 present on shield. Setae f1 and h1 on minute sclerites barely larger than setal socket. Setae h2 located laterad anal region. Setae lps, mps, c1, d1, e1, f1, h1 broad and serrate while c2 and h2 simple. Setal lengths are as follows: ap 126 (125–127), pt 120 (118–122) lps 44 (42–46), mps 29 (28–30), c1 24, d1 24 (23–25), e1 25 (23–27), f1 30 (28–32), h1 28, c2 14 (12–16), and h2 11 (10–12). Sclerites present laterad and behind dorsal shield. Integument striated. Cupule im present, between e1 and f1.

Venter ( Fig. 2 B). Partially covered by clearly demarcated plates. Coxal plates I and II fused with six pairs of setae; coxal plates III and IV fused, posterior edge extending beyond anterior edge of genital plates and with six pairs of setae. Coxal plates with dense, fine striae. Coxae I–IV setal formula 3-2-3-3. Genital plates weakly sclerotized with four pairs of setae (g1 – g4) and two pairs of papillae. Four pairs of setae on integument between coxal and genital shields. Anal region with one pair of anal setae and one pair of paranal setae. Cupule ih laterad small plate located on posterior edge of genital shield.

Legs ( Fig. 3 A–D). Leg I 240 (237–242), leg II 216 (215–218), leg III 240 (235–245), leg IV 259 (257–262). Chaetotaxy: trochanters I–IV, 1-1-2-1; basifemora I–IV, 4-5-3-1; telofemora I–IV, 4-4-3-3; genua I with 4 ats, 5 sts; genua II 4 ats, 3 sts; genua III with 1 ats, 5 sts; genua IV with 2 ats, 5 sts; tibiae I with 1 mst, 1 ats, 5 sts; tibiae II with 1 bsl, 5 sts; tibiae III with 1 bsl, 5 sts; tibiae IV with 1 smooth T, 4 sts; tarsi I with 2 lbls, 1 bsl, 1 dep (depression with peg-like setae), 1 dtsl, 1 tsl, 13 sts; tarsi II with 1 lbsl, 1 dtsl, 1 tsl, 15 sts; tarsi III with 1 dtsl, 11 sts; tarsi IV with 1 ltsts, 11 sts.

Male and developmental stages. Unknown.

Etymology. The name tomentosus refers to tomentosa , specific epithet of the plant substrate from which the type specimens were collected.

Material examined. Holotype female, Dois Lajeados, Rio Grande do Sul, Plantago tomentosa , 04/XI/2006 deposited at Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Agricultural Zoology, Superior School of Agriculture “Luiz de Queiroz”, University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. One paratype female, Dois Lajeados, Rio Grande do Sul, Plantago tomentosa , III/2006 deposited at Museu de Ciências Naturais (ZAUMCN), UNIVATES—Centro Universitário, Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Scutopalus tomentosus n. sp. Female, Gnathosoma. A. Subcapitulum; B. Palp, dorsal; C. Chelicera, dorsal.

FIGURE 2. Scutopalus tomentosus n. sp. Female, Idiosoma. A. Dorsal; B. Ventral.

FIGURE 3. Scutopalus tomentosus n. sp. Female, Legs. A. Leg I; B. Leg II; C. Leg III; D. Leg IV.