Eutarsopolipus nahmani, 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 : 24-29

Eutarsopolipus nahmani sp. nov.

( Figs 12–16 )

Diagnosis. Adult female: Gnathosomal length 67–70, width 69–72; anterior margin of prodorsal shield not eroded medially; v1 6–7, sc1 10–12, c1 17–19, c2 14–19, d 15–19, f 15–18, h 3–6, v1-v1 54–64, d-d 200–230, f-f 150–170; genua II-III setae l′ 5–7, tibia I seta l′ 9–11, tarsi II-III setae tc′′ 5–6, pv′′ 2–3. Larval female: Gnathosomal length 57–59, width 57–60; idiosomal length 335–400; c1 (10–11) and c2 (12) subequal, v1–v1 47–59, sc1–sc1 100–125, c1–c1 105–120, d–d 130–135; genua II-III setae l′ 3–5, tibia I seta l′ 12–13, tarsi II-III setae tc′ 3–4, tc′′ 5–6, pv′′ 2–3.

Material examined. Holotype female, ex. Castelnaudia septemcostata . O’Reilly’s Guesthouse, 28° 14ʹ 08ʺ S 152° 08ʹ 12ʺ E, 1-31 Dec 1909, H. Hacker, IN7977, HR# T 88472 ( QMS 113011 ). In QM . Paratypes. All ex. C. septemcostata . 5 females, 2 males, 2 larvae, as follows: 1 larva, same data as holotype ( QMS 113017 ); 3 females, Mt Cougal, shelf, 28° 14ʹ 10ʺ S 152° 19ʹ 34ʺ E, 19 Nov 1987 - 17 Mar 1988, D. Cook & G. Monteith, pitfall trap, rainforest, IN6062, HR# T 64265 ( QMS 113012 , ANIC 52-003958 , ZMH-A0015190 ); 1 female, 1 male, Bar Mountain, Wiangaree , 28° 27ʹ 37ʺ S 153° 8ʹ 2ʺ E, 11 Oct 1977 - 2 Oct 1978, G. & S. R. Monteith, pitfall trap, rainforest, IN5624, HR# T 57344 ( QMS 113013 , 113016 ); 1 female, 1 male, Tweed Lookout, Wiangaree , 28° 23ʹ 14ʺ S 153° 6ʹ 33ʺ E, 16 Nov-27 Dec 1974, G. & S. R. Monteith, pitfall trap, rainforest, IN5349, HR# T 57316 ( QMS 113014-15 ); 1 larva, Upper Tallebudgera Creek , 28° 14ʹ 10ʺ S 152° 19ʹ 34ʺ E, 19 Nov 1987 - 17 Mar 1988, D. Cook & G. Monteith, pitfall trap, rainforest, IN6062, HR# T 64272 ( QMS 113018 ). All in QM except 1 female in ANIC, 1 female in ZMH .

Description. FEMALE ( Figs 12–13 , n = 6).

Gnathosoma . Length 69 (67–70), width 70 (69–72). Cheliceral stylets 72 (73–82), setae ch 16 (15–24), su 16 (13–19).

Idiosoma ( Fig. 12 ). Length 520 (380–600), width 405 (295–470). Prodorsal plate not eroded anteriorly; setae slender, v1 7 (6–7), v2 alveolar remnant, sc1 10 (10–12), sc2 60 (60–70). Distance between setae v1–v1 68 (54–64), sc1–sc1 135 (135–140), v1–sc1 47 (46–53), v2–v2 74 (70–79), sc2–sc2 205 (200–225), sc1–sc2 55 (52–59). Opisthosomal setae slender. Plate C setae c1 16 (17–19), c2 13 (14–19), distance between setae c1–c1 150 (155–165). Plate D setae d 17 (15–19), d–d 215 (200–230), cupuli ia anteriad to anterolaterad d. Plate EF setae f 17 (15–18), f–f 170 (150–165), cupuli im anterolaterad f. Plate H divided or fused weakly, seta h 3 (3–6). Venter: coxisterna 1 well defined, coxisterna 2-3 well defined but sometimes with some folds; coxal setae slender, 1a 4 (3–4), 2a 5 (5–6), 3a 8 (8–10), 3b 6 (5–6). Alveoli of 1b, 2b present.

Legs ( Fig. 13 ). Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 3-2-6(+ φ)-8(+ ω), 0-1-4-6, 0-1-4-6. Leg I. Femur I, d minute, l’ 3 (2–3), v″ 13 (10–15); genu I, l′ 3 (3–4), l″ 3 (3–4); tibia I, d 63 (60–68), l’ 10 (9–11), l’’ 14 (11–15), v’ 7 (6–8), v’’ 10 (10–15), k 7 (6–8), φ 13 (12–13); tarsus I, tc’ 18 (18–19), tc’’ 18 (18–19), pl’ 13 (12–16), pl’’ 19 (17–20), pv′ 3 (2–3), pv’’ 2 (2–3), ω 4 (3–4), s 7 (6–8), u′′ 2 (2). Leg II. Genu II, l′ 7 (5–7); tibia II, d 50 (40–45), l’ 12 (8–12), v’ 11 (11–15), v’’ 27 (20–26); tarsus II, tc′ 4 (3–4), tc ″ 6 (5–6), pl ″ 62 (42–60), pv’’ 2 (2–3), u’ 8 (7–8), u′′ 2 (2). Leg III. Genu III, l′ 6 (5–6); tibia III, d 35 (28–35), l’ 7 (7), v’ 15 (15–17), v’’ 26 (20–22); tarsus III, tc’ 3 (3), tc ″ 5 (4–5), pl ″ 60 (50–70), pv’’ 2 (2), u’ 8 (7–8), u′′ 2 (m–2).

LARVIFORM ADULT MALE ( Fig. 14 ; n = 2)

Gnathosoma . Length 37–38, width 36. Cheliceral stylets 24–27, setae ch 6–7, su 6.

Idiosoma ( Fig. 14 ). Length 225–235, width 150–170. Prodorsal plate with setae v1 6–7, v2 alveolar remnant, sc1 5, sc2 50–55. Distance between setae v1–v1 23–24, sc1–sc1 49–50, v1–sc1 24–26, v2–v2 28–33, sc2–sc2 67–70, sc1–sc2 34–36. Plate CD setae c1 6–8, c2 7–8, d 7, distance between setae c1–c1 62–65, c1–c2 33–37, d–d 56–63; cupuli ia anterolaterad setae d. Plate EF slightly eroded medially; with setae f 6–7, distance f–f 39–45; cupuli im anteriad to anterolaterad setae f. Genital capsule length 36–39, width 36, setae h m–2. Venter: coxal setae 1a 2, 2a 2–3, 3a 5, 3b 4.

Legs. Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 3-2-6(+ φ)-8(+ ω), 0-1-4-6, 0-1-4-6. Leg I. Femur I, d minute, l′ minute, v″ 5–6; genu I l′ 2, l″ 2; tibia I, d 26–30, l’ 4–5, l’’ 6–7, v ’ 5–7, v ’’ 7–8, k 3–4, φ 7–8; tarsus I, tc’ 15, tc’’ 15, pl’ 6–7, pl’’ 12–15, pv ′ 2, pv’’ 2, ω 2–3, s 4–5, u ′′ m. Leg II. Genu II, l′ 2–3; tibia II, d 15–23, l’ 5–6, v’ 9–11, v’’ 15–19; tarsus II, tc′ m–2, tc ″ 3–4, pl ″ 23–30, pv’’ 2, u ’ 5–6, u″ minute. Leg III. Genu III, l′ 2–3; tibia III, d 13–15, l’ 5–7, v’ 9–11, vʺ 12–16; tarsus III, tc′ 2, tc ″ 3–4, pl ″ 30–35, pv’’ 2, u’ 5–6, u″ minute.

LARVAL FEMALE ( Figs 15–16 ).

Gnathosoma . Length 57–59, width 57–60. Cheliceral stylets 60–62, setae ch 16–25, su 10–11.

Idiosoma ( Fig. 15 ). Length 335–400, width 270–350. Prodorsal plate with setae v1 4–5, v2 alveolar remnant, sc1 6–7, sc2 90–105. Distance between setae v1–v1 47–59, sc1–sc1 100–125, v1–sc1 40–41, v2–v2 61–78, sc2–sc2 140–155, sc1–sc2 52–53. Plate C setae c1 10–11, c2 12, distance between setae c1–c1 105–120. Plate D setae d 9–10, d–d 130–135, cupuli ia anterolaterad setae d. Plate EF setae f 10, f–f 83, cupuli im anterolaterad f. Plate H narrow, 17–20 wide, 23–30 long, bearing setae h1 ca. 130, h2 9–10. Venter: coxisterna 1-2 well defined, coxisterna 3 with some folds; coxal setae slender, 1a 3, 2a 4, 3a 7–8, 3b 5. Alveoli of 1b, 2b present.

Legs ( Fig. 16 ). Setal counts legs I–III, femur-tarsus: 3-2-6(+ φ)-8(+ ω), 0-1-4-6, 0-1-4-6. Leg I. Femur I, d minute, l′ 2, v″ 7–8; genu I, l′ 2, l″ 2; tibia I, d 50–65, l’ 12–13, l’’ 11–13, v’ 6–8, v’’ 10–11, k 5, φ 12; tarsus I, tc’ 19–22, tc’’ 18–21, pl’ 12–14, pl’’ 14–20, pv′ 2, pv’’ 2, ω 2, s 5–6, u′′ m. Leg II. Genu II, l′ 4–5; tibia II, d 25–42, l’ 10–11, v’ 11–17, v’’ 20–22; tarsus II, tc′ 2–3, tc ″ 3–4, pl ″ 44–47, pv’’ 2, u’ 7–8, u′′ minute. Leg III. Genu III, l′ 3–5; tibia III, d 32–35, l’ 10–11, v’ 13–16, v’’ 21–22; tarsus III, tc’ 2–3, tc ″ 3–4, pl ″ 44–50, pv’’ 2–3, u’ 6, u′′ minute.

Differential diagnosis. The nahmani subgroup also includes Eutarsopolipus burwelli Seeman, 2019a (from Nurus medius ) and Eutarsopolipus rutherfordae Constantine & Seeman, 2014 (from Trichosternus subvirens ). Eutarsopolipus burwelli has a large gnathosoma and in this manner is closer to E. nahmani than the other species of this subgroup. Considering their presence on different genera, the species are surprisingly similar. Females differ by: setae v1 smaller in E. nahmani (6–7 versus 9–13), as are setae sc2 (60–70 versus 95–120) and the gnathosomal cheliceral setae (15–24 versus 30–37); plate H also seems more rudimentary in E. burwelli , although this plate is often distorted or obscured, making comparisons difficult. Larvae also have smaller setae: v1 (4–5 versus 8–11), sc2 (90–105 versus 130–140) and ch (16–25 versus 30–38).

Etymology. It is with great pleasure that I name this species for my son Harry Nahman, who was great company during school- and work-from-home periods in 2020, when he also helped by entering measurement data for several species.

Remarks. The paratype females from Bar Mountain and Tweed Lookout have fully developed larvae in their body. No larvae seem to have egg shells, suggestive of vivipary. These larvae are not included as paratypes.

One male (unregistered) from Tweed Lookout is an unknown species of Eutarsopolipus . Its most distinctive features are much larger sc1-sc1 (74 vs 49–50), the reduction of tc″ on tarsi II-III to a minute seta (ca. 1 µm, versus 4–5), and the tiny setae pv″ on tarsi II-III are not spur-like, instead being slender. A larva (unregistered) from Bar Mountain is the same species (setae tcʺ are similarly reduced). These specimens are tentatively considered closest to the despoticus subgroup.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Eutarsopolipus nahmani sp. nov. Female, dorsum.

FIGURE 13. Eutarsopolipus nahmani sp. nov. Female, legs I-III (A-C), left side, dorsal view.

FIGURE 14. Eutarsopolipus nahmani sp. nov. Male, dorsum.

FIGURE 15. Eutarsopolipus nahmani sp. nov. Larva, dorsum.

FIGURE 16. Eutarsopolipus nahmani sp. nov. Larva, legs I-III (A-C), left side, dorsal view.