Neoscirula Den Heyer, 1977

Skvarla, Michael J., Fisher, J. Ray & Dowling, Ashley P. G., 2014, A review of Cunaxidae (Acariformes, Trombidiformes): Histories and diagnoses of subfamilies and genera, keys to world species, and some new locality records, ZooKeys 418, pp. 1-103 : 73-76

Neoscirula Den Heyer, 1977

Historical review.

Den Heyer (1977a) erected Neoscirula for three African cunaxids, Neoscirula theroni , Neoscirula natalensis , and Neoscirula sevidi . Shiba (1978) described the first Neoscirula outside of Africa, Coleoscirus ogawai . Den Heyer (1978b) erected the subfamily Coleoscirinae , tribus Neoscirulini and assigned Neoscirula to it. Den Heyer (1980b) described another African Neoscirula , Neoscirula delareyi . Neoscirula vitulus was described from Ukraine by Barilo (1991). Smiley (1992) transferred Neoscirula from Coleoscirinae to Bonziinae as he thought setae g1 were geniculate; he also described Neoscirula luxtoni , Neoscirula proctorae , Neoscirula kenworthyi , moved Neoscirula ogawai from Coleoscirus , and provided a key to known world species. Neoscirula abraensis , Neoscirula aspirasi , Neoscirula imperata , Neoscirula makilingica , Neoscirula puntiglupa were described by Corpuz-Raros (1996e) from the Philippines. Lin and Zhang (1998) described Neoscirula miaofengensis and Neoscirula bidens . Neoscirula saitoi was described by Lin and Zhang (2002). Corpuz-Raros (2007) described two more Philippine Neoscirula : Neoscirula laboensis , Neoscirula taclobanensis . Mejía-Recamier and Palacios-Vargas (2007) described Neoscirula aliciae , Neoscirula baloghi , and Neoscirula hoffmannae . Den Heyer and Castro (2008c) described Neoscirula flechtmanni , Neoscirula oliveirai , and Neoscirula queirozi . Skvarla, Fisher, and Dowling (2011) described Neoscirula reticulata . Den Heyer (2011c) described Neoscirula sepasgosariani .

Diagnosis.

Gnathosoma. Pedipalps 5-segmented and end in a strong claw, which is complemented with a tooth in some species; they extend to the tip of the hypognathum or slightly beyond. Basifemur and telofemur are fused but retain the suture; each has a dorsolateral simple or spine-like seta. Pedipalp tibiotarsus short and cone-like. Subcapitulum with 4 pairs of setae (hg1 - 4). Seta hg1 longest and in some species bent at 90 degrees, though not geniculate as in Bonziinae . Adoral setae present or absent. Chelicera with seta present or absent.

Idiosoma, dorsal. Proterosomal shield weakly sclerotized and ill-defined, granulated or papillated; some species possess subcuticular reticulations.

Idiosoma, ventral. Coxae I-II separate or fused medially into a single sternal shield. Coxae III-IV contiguous on either side, restricted to area around trochantral bases. Dorsal cupules im present laterad to e1; ventral cupules ih present near h2, anal plates. Legs shorter than body. Tarsi never constricted apically so as to end in lobes. Apices of solenidia cylindrical, not swollen as in Coleoscirus and Scutascirus . Trichobothrium on leg tibia IV present. Ambulacral claws smooth and occur on either side of a 4-rayed empodium.

Key to adult female Neoscirula .

Neoscirula hoffmannae Mejía-Recamier & Palacios-Vargas, 2007 is excluded from the following key as it is only known from the male.

1	Coxae I-II fused to form a sternal shield	2
-	Coxae I-II separated	6
2 (1)	Cheliceral seta present	3
-	Cheliceral seta absent	5
3 (2)	Pedipalp basifemoral dorsal seta spine-like ( Fig. 77a ); Luzon Is., Philippines	Neoscirula makilingica Corpuz-Raros, 1996
-	Pedipalp basifemoral dorsal seta simple ( Fig. 77b )	4
4 (3)	Proterosomal shield with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing present ( Fig. 78a ); posteromedial portion of sternal shield V-shaped, polygonal subcuticular sculpturing absent ( Fig. 79a ); 6 pairs of setae between coxae III-IV (excluding genital setae); Luzon Is., Philippines	Neoscirula aspirasi Corpuz-Raros, 1996
-	Proterosomal shield with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing absent ( Fig. 78b ); posteromedial portion of sternal shield rounded, polygonal subcuticular sculpturing present ( Fig. 79b ); 4 pairs of setae between coxae III-IV (excluding genital setae); Malaysia; Philippines	Neoscirula ogawai (Shiba, 1978)
5 (2)	Chelicerae with dorsomedial reticulations present ( Fig. 80a ); genua II with 5 setae and 2 solenidia; genua IV with 5 setae and 1 solenidion; Interior Highlands, USA	Neoscirula reticulata Skvarla, 2011
-	Chelicerae dorsomedial reticulations absent ( Fig. 80b ); genua II with 4 setae and 2 solenidia; genua IV with 4 setae and 1 solenidion; Jalisco, Mexico	Neoscirula baloghi Mejía-Recamier & Palacios-Vargas, 2007
6 (1)	Pedipalp genua hook-like apophysis present ( Fig. 81a ); South Africa	Neoscirula natalensis Den Heyer, 1977
-	Pedipalp genua hook-like apophysis absent ( Fig. 81b )	7
7 (6)	Pedipalp tibiotarsal claw a tooth present, giving bifid appearance ( Fig. 82a )	8
-	Pedipalp tibiotarsal claw a tooth absent ( Fig. 82b )	13
8 (7)	Cheliceral seta present; pedipalp tibiotarsal tubercle present ( Fig. 83a )	9
-	Cheliceral seta absent; pedipalp tibiotarsal tubercle absent ( Fig. 83b ); São Paulo, Brazil	Neoscirula oliveirai Den Heyer & Castro, 2008
9 (8)	Basifemora II with 4 setae; telofemora I-II 4-4 setae; hypognathum with ventroapical shield-like process present ( Fig. 84a ); New Zealand; Philippines	Neoscirula luxtoni Smiley, 1992
-	Basifemora II with 5 or 6 setae; telofemora I-II 5-5 setae; hypognathum with ventroapical shield-like process absent ( Fig. 84b )	10
10 (9)	Basifemora II with 5 setae	11
-	Basifemora II with 6 setae	12
11 (10)	Basifemora I with 4 setae; telofemora III with 4 setae; 7 pairs of setae between coxae III-IV (excluding genital setae); Jalisco, Mexico	Neoscirula aliciae Mejía-Recamier & Palacios-Vargas, 2007
-	Basifemora I with 5 setae; telofemora III with 3 setae; 5 pairs of setae between coxae III-IV (excluding genital setae); Luzon Is., Philippines	Neoscirula laboensis Corpuz-Raros, 2007
12 (10)	Chelicerae tapering gradually ( Fig. 85a ); Fujian, China	Neoscirula bidens Lin & Zhang, 1988
-	Chelicerae tapering suddenly ( Fig. 85b ); São Paulo, Brazil	Neoscirula flechtmanni Den Heyer & Castro, 2008
13 (7)	Pedipalp basifemoral dorsal seta spine-like ( Fig. 77a )	14
-	Pedipalp basifemoral dorsal seta simple ( Fig. 77b )	18
14 (13)	Telofemora I-II with 4-4 setae; New Zealand	Neoscirula proctorae Smiley, 1992
-	Telofemora I-II with 5-5 setae	15
15 (14)	Proterosomal shield with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing present ( Fig. 86a ); Fujian, China	Neoscirula saitoi
-	Proterosomal shield with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing absent ( Fig. 86b )	16
16 (15)	Cheliceral seta short, less than half the length of movable digit; South Africa	Neoscirula sevidi Den Heyer, 1977
-	Cheliceral seta long, nearly as long or longer than movable digit	17
17 (16)	Basifemora I-IV setal formula 5-5-4-3; Iran	Neoscirula sepasgosariani Den Heyer, 2011
-	Basifemora I-IV setal formula 4-4-3-1; Brazil	Neoscirula queirozi Den Heyer & Castro, 2008
18 (13)	Coxae I-II with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing present (as in Fig. 79a )	19
-	Coxae I-II with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing absent (as in Fig. 79b )	23
19 (18)	Proterosomal shield with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing present ( Fig. 78a )	20
-	Proterosomal shield with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing absent ( Fig. 78b )	21
20 (19)	Basifemora II with 4 setae; telofemora I-II 4-4 setae; Maryland, USA	Neoscirula kenworthyi Smiley, 1992
-	Basifemora II with 5 setae; telofemora I-II with 5-5 setae; Leyte Is., Philippines	Neoscirula taclobanensis Corpuz-Raros, 2007
21 (19)	Hypognathal setae hg1 more than two times as long as setae hg2-4; coxae II with 4 setae; Fujian, China	Neoscirula miaofengensis Lin & Zhang, 1988
-	Hypognathal setae hg1 no more than two times as long as setae hg2-4; coxae II with 3 setae	22
22 (21)	Chelicerae basally narrow, less than three times the width of the distal end; hypognathum narrow, nearly twice as long as wide; Uzbekistan	Neoscirula vitulus Barilo, 1991
-	Chelicerae basally broad, four times the width of the distal end; hypognathum wide, nearly as wide as long; South Africa	Neoscirula delareyi Den Heyer, 1980
23 (18)	Proterosomal shield with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing present	24
-	Proterosomal shield with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing absent; Luzon Is., Philippines	Neoscirula imperata Corpuz-Raros, 1996
24 (23)	Subcapitulum with row of basal polygonal subcuticular sculpturing present ( Fig. 87a ); ventrally with 7 pairs of simple setae between coxae III-IV	25
-	Subcapitulum with row of basal polygonal subcuticular sculpturing absent ( Fig. 87b ); ventrally with 6 pairs of simple setae between coxae III-IV; Luzon Is., Philippines	Neoscirula abraensis Corpuz-Raros, 1996
25 (24)	Basifemora II with 4 setae; telofemora I-II with 4-4 setae; Western Transvaal, South Africa	Neoscirula theroni Den Heyer, 1977
-	Basifemora II with 5 setae; telofemora I-II with 5-5 setae; Luzon Is., Philippines	Neoscirula puntiglupa Corpuz-Raros, 1996

Figures

Figures 77 - 87. Neoscirula key illustrations 77 a Pedipalp basifemoral dorsal seta spine-like 77 b Pedipalp basifemoral dorsal seta simple 78 a Proterosomal shield with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing present 78 b Proterosomal shield with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing absent 79 a Sternal shield v-shaped posteriomedially, with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing absent 79 b Sternal shield rounded posteriomedially, with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing present 80 a Chelicera with dorsomedial reticulations present 80 b Chelicera with dorsomedial reticulations absent 81 a Pedipalp genua with hook-like apophysis present 81 b Pedipalp genua with hook-like apophysis absent 82 a Pedipalp tibiotarsal claw with tooth present 82 b Pedipalp tibiotarsal claw with tooth absent 83 a Pedipalp tibiotarsus with tubercle present 83 b Pedipalp tibiotarsus with tubercle absent 84 a Hypognathum with ventroapical shield-like process present 84 b Hypognathum with ventroapical shield-like process absent 85 a Chelicera tapering gradually 85 b Chelicera tapering suddenly 86 a Proterosomal shield with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing present 86 b Proterosomal shield with polygonal subcuticular sculpturing absent 87 a Subcapitulum with row of basal subcuticular sculpturing present 87 b Subcapitulum with row of basal subcuticular sculpturing absent.