Eutarsopolipus biuncatus, Seeman, 2021

Seeman, Owen D., 2021, Contrasting species diversification of Eutarsopolipus (Acariformes: Podapolipidae) on Castelnaudia and Notonomus (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Zootaxa 4971 (1), pp. 1-74 : 59-63

Eutarsopolipus biuncatus sp. nov.

( Figs 41–43 )

Diagnosis. Adult female: leg I with two claws; v1 8–10, sc2 15–20; genu I with two setae (l″ present); tarsus II setae tc″ 5–6, u′ 6–7. Adult male: setae sc2 2–3. Larval female: sc2 51–55.

Material examined. Holotype female, ex. Notonomus transitus . Blue Mt, 0.6 km SE, 21° 36ʹ 19ʺ S 148° 58ʹ 21ʺ E, 3–4 Oct 1999, G. Monteith, D. Cook, C. Burwell, S. Evans, rainforest, IN7801, HR# T 89396 ( QMS 113608 ) . Paratypes. All ex. Notonomus transitus . 5 females, 5 males, 14 larvae, as follows: 2 females, 2 males, 10 larvae, same data as holotype ( QMS 113609–18 , ANIC 52-003975 – 77 , ZMH-A0015201 ); 1 female, 1 male, 1 larva, 50 mi. W of Mackay, 21° 08ʹ 12ʺ S 148° 29ʹ 30ʺ E, 6 Jan 1973, J. Hammond, IN7864, HR# T 81753 ( QMS 113621–23 ); 2 females, 2 males, 1 larva, Broken River, Eungella , 21° 10ʹ 5ʺ S 148° 30ʹ 30ʺ E, 4 Dec 1992 – 30 Apr 1993, P. Lawless, M. Shaw, R. Raven, IN 9781, HR# T110084 ( QMS 113624–26 , ZMH-A0015202–03 ); 2 larvae, Dalrymple Rd , Eungella NP, 21° 1ʹ 44ʺ S 148° 35ʹ 7ʺ E, 9 Nov 1991 – 29 Jul 1992, P. Lawless, R. Raven, M. Shaw, rainforest, IN7768, HR# T 81768 ( QMS 113627–28 ). All in QM except 1 female, 1 male, 1 larva in ANIC and ZMH .

Other material examined. 2 larvae, same data as holotype, in poor condition ( QMS 113619–20 ) .

Description. FEMALE ( Fig. 41 ; n = 6).

Gnathosoma . Length 45 (44–46), width 39 (34–37). Palp with alveolar remnant of femoral seta. Cheliceral stylets 38 (35–36), setae ch 22 (14–16), su 11 (8–12).

Idiosoma ( Fig. 41A ). Length ca. 500 (270–430), width ca. 300 (215–310), bigger specimens swollen, distorted. Stigmata apparent, large, in soft cuticle anteriad setae v1 to posterolaterad gnathosoma (varies according to mount), respiratory system weakly developed, tracheae not extending past small atrium, tracheae and atrium sometimes not visible. Prodorsal plate with setae v1 10 (8–9), v2 alveolar remnant, sc1 9 (7–8), sc2 20 (15–17). Distance between setae v1–v1 44 (39–51), sc1–sc1 69 (64–72), v1–sc1 22 (23–25), v2–v2 52 (53–57), sc2–sc2 84 (83–110), sc1–sc2 34 (24–32). Plate C appearing divided, each plate bearing its slender setae at their margins, c1 6 (5–7), c2 6 (4–5). Plate D setae d 5 (4–5), d–d 92 (85–95), cupuli ia anteriad d. Plate EF setae f 4 (4–5), f–f broken (49–60), cupuli im anterolaterad f. Plate H absent. Venter: coxisterna 1-3 well defined; coxal setae slender, 1a 5 (5–6), 2a 5 (4–5), 3a 6 (5–6), 3b 5 (4–5). Alveoli of 1b, 2b present.

Legs ( Figs 41 B-C). Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 3-2-6(+ φ)-9(+ ω), 0-1-4-7(+ ω), 0-1-4-7. Leg I. Femur I, d 1 (1–3), l’ 5 (4–5), v″ 8 (9–10); genu I, l’ 3 (2–3), l″ 2 (2–3); tibia I, d 16 (14–19), l’ 3 (2–3), l’’ 5 (5–6), v’ 3 (3–5), v’’ 9 (8–14), k 3 (3–4), φ 6 (6–7); tarsus I, tc’ 9 (9–10), tc’’ 9 (9–10), pl’ 8 (8–10), pl’’ 10 (8–12), pv′ 2 (2–3), pv’’ 2 (2–3), ω 3 (3–4), s 6 (5–6), u′′ minute (m–2), p′ m (m–2). Leg II. Genu II, l’ 3 (2–3); tibia II, d 9 (7–9), l’ 5 (3–5), v’ 8 (8–11), v’’ 14 (13–16); tarsus II, tc′ 8 (6–8), tc ″ 5 (5–6), pl ″ 10 (7–9), pv′ 3 (3–4), pv’’ 4 (4–5), ω 3 (2–3), u’ 7 (6–7), u″ 2 (2). Leg III. Genu III, l’ 3 (2–3); tibia III, d 4 (5–6), l’ 4 (3–4), v’ 8 (6–9), v’’ 11 (13–15); tarsus III, tc’ 6 (6–7), tc ″ 5 (5–6), pl ″ 8 (9–10), pv′ 3 (2–3), pv’’ 2 (2–3), u’ 6 (6–7), u″ 2 (2). Claws on legs I-III well developed and paired.

LARVIFORM ADULT MALE ( Fig. 42 ; n = 5).

Gnathosoma . Length 28–31, width 28–29. Palp with alveolar remnant of femoral seta. Cheliceral stylets 17–18, setae ch 1–2, su 4–6.

Idiosoma . Length 155–165, width 110–120. Prodorsal plate with setae v 1 m–2, v2 alveolar remnant, sc1 minute, sc2 2–3, thickened. Distance between setae v1–v1 19–22, sc1–sc1 45–48, v1–sc1 19–21, v2–v2 34–36, sc2–sc2 54–56, sc1–sc2 22–23. Plate CD incised posterolaterally, setae c1, c2, d minute, distance between setae c1–c1 44–46, c1–c2 26–35, d–d 31–32; cupuli ia laterad to anterolaterad setae d. Plate EF with setae f minute, distance f–f 21–23; cupuli im anterolaterad setae f. Genital capsule length 22–25, width 34–36, setae h minute. Venter: coxal setae slender, 1a 2–3, 2a 2–3, 3a 2, 3b 2–3.

Legs. Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 2-0-6(+ φ)-8(+ ω), 0-0-4-7(+ ω), 0-0-4-7. Compared to female: Femur I seta v″ absent, genu I l′ absent, genua I-III l″ absent; tarsus I p′ absent. Leg I. Femur I, d minute, l’ 2; genu I, l′ minute; tibia I, d 4–5, l’ minute, l’’ m–2, v ’ 2, v ’’ 6–7, k minute, φ 4–5; tarsus I, tc’ 7–8, tc’’ 8–9, pl’ 4–6, pl’’ 6–9, pv ′ 2, pv’’ 2–3, ω 3, s 4–5, u ′′ 1–2. Leg II. Tibia II, d 3–5, l’ 2–3, v’ 6–7, v’’ 7–8; tarsus II, tc′ 3, tc ″ 4, pl ″ 5–6, pv ′ 2, pv’’ 2–3, ω 2–3, u’ 5–6, u″ minute. Leg III. Tibia III, d 2, l’ 2, v’ 6–8, vʺ 7–9; tarsus III, tc′ 2–3, tc ″ 4, pl ″ 4–5, pv ′ 2, pv’’ 2, u ’ 5, u″ minute. Claws on leg II-III present. Setal form similar to that in female, but with tibia I setae l′, l″, v′ as tiny spines.

LARVAL FEMALE ( Fig. 43 ; n = 14).

Gnathosoma . Length 30–34, width 27–30. Palp with alveolar remnant of femoral seta. Cheliceral stylets 25–27, setae ch 19–23, su 8–10.

Idiosoma ( Fig. 43 ). Length 165–225, width 105–185; larger specimens swollen laterally between prodorsal shield and plate CD. Prodorsal plate with setae v1 12–14, v2 alveolar remnant, sc1 5–6, sc2 51–55. Distance between setae v1–v1 20–23, sc1–sc1 48–51, v1–sc1 25–28, v2–v2 29–35, sc2–sc2 49–54, sc1–sc2 27–33. Plates C and D fused medially; line of fusion visible. Plate CD setae c1 5–6, c2 3–4, d 4–5, cupuli ia anteriad to anteromesad d, distance between setae c1–c1 26–27, d–d 24–28. Plate EF setae f 4–5, f–f 23–26, cupuli im anteriad f. Plate H poorly expressed, caudal cone 22–30 wide, 8–13 long, bearing setae h1 ca. 65–70, h2 3–4. Venter: coxisterna 1-3 well-defined; coxal setae slender, 1a 2–3, 2a 3–4, 3a 4–5, 3b 3–4. Alveoli of 1b, 2b present.

Legs. Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 3-2-6(+ φ)-8(+ ω), 0-1-4-6(+ ω), 0-1-4-6 (setae pv′ absent on tarsi II- III). Leg I. Femur I, d minute, l’ 2–3, v’’ 5–7; genu I, l’ 2–3, l″ m–2; tibia I, d 17–21, l’ 6–7, l’’ 5–7, v’ 3–4, v’’ 7–9, k 2–3, φ 6–7; tarsus I, tc’ 8–9, tc’’ 9–10, pl’ 5–6, pl’’ 9–10, pv′ 2, pv’’ 2, ω 3–4, s 4–5, u′′ minute. Leg II. Genu II, l’ 2–3; tibia II, d 10–12, l’ 4–5, v’ 7–9, v’’ 11–13; tarsus II, tc′ 3–4, tc ″ 4–5, pl ″ 7–9, pv’’ 3–4, ω 3–4, u’ 5–6, u′′ minute. Leg III. Genu III, l’ 2; tibia III, d 10–11, l’ 4–5, v’ 7–8, v’’ 11–12; tarsus III, tc’ 4–5, tc ″ 4–5, pl ″ 8–10, u’ 5–6, pv’’ 5–6, u′′ minute.

Differential diagnosis. Eutarsopolipus biuncatus sp. nov. and E. janus sp. nov. are the only members of the leytei species group to retain paired claws on tarsus I in females. The only other species of Eutarsopolipus with females retaining two claws on tarsus I is Eutarsopolipus diunculosus Eidelberg, 1994 , a member of the pterostichi species group (lacking both a respiratory system and setae on genua II-III).

In addition to the diagnostic features mentioned for E. janus , female specimens appear to have divided plate C. None of these specimens are of sufficient quality to be sure—they may have split when mounted—but the division of dorsal plates occurs elsewhere in Eutarsopolipus (e.g., Regenfuss 1968; Husband 2000).

Etymology. The specific name biuncatus (two-hooked) refers to the two claws on tarsus I of females.

Remarks. All females had waste matter that obscured morphological features. This was partially removed by clearing some specimens in 5% KOH, but no female was of high quality. The holotype was chosen on the basis of having the best quality prodorsum and legs I-II, where most diagnostic features occur.

Both E. biuncatus sp. nov. and E. janus sp. nov. are unusual in retaining setae pv′ on tarsi II-III in the male, a seta usually absent in Tarsonemoidea ( Lindquist 1986; Seeman 2019a).

Another specimen of N. transitus from the type locality (HR# T95636) had an unusual male of another species of Eutarsopolipus (lacking all genual setae, large, blunt-tipped Y-shaped claws). Males are difficult to place in species groups as they always lack respiratory systems and sometimes lack genual setae that are present in the female.

Figures

FIGURE 41. Eutarsopolipus biuncatus sp. nov. Female, prodorsum (A), legs I-III (B-D), left side, dorsal view.

FIGURE 42. Eutarsopolipus biuncatus sp. nov. Male, dorsum. Note: tiny seta pvʹ on tarsus II present but concealed.

FIGURE 43. Eutarsopolipus biuncatus sp. nov. Larva, dorsum. Note: minute seta u′′ present but obscured (tarsus III) or not labelled (tarsus I-II).