Diaguitacarus choapensis, Stekolnikov, Alexandr A. & González-Acuña, Daniel, 2015

Stekolnikov, Alexandr A. & González-Acuña, Daniel, 2015, A review of Chilean chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae), with the description of a new genus and ten new species, Zootaxa 3964 (1), pp. 1-43 : 23-26

Diaguitacarus choapensis sp. nov.

(Fig. 15)

Diagnosis. SIF = 6B-N-3-2111.0000; fsp = 7.7.7; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fPp = B/B/BNB; fSc: PL ≥ AL> AM; Ip = 612–675; fD = 2H-8(6)-8(7)-(6–8)-(4–6)-…; DS = 33–41; VS = 25–31; NDV = 60–69. Standard measurements of type series given in Table 5 .

Description (larva). IDIOSOMA. Eyes 2 + 2, on ocular plate. One pair of humeral setae, 31–39 dorsal idiosomal setae covered with large barbs, fD = 2H-8-8-8(6)-4-4(6)-2, with some variation, in holotype 2H-8-8-8-4- 6-2; 4 sternal setae; 25–31 ventral setae; total number of idiosomal setae excluding coxal and sternal 60–69.

GNATHOSOMA. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap; cheliceral base with dense puncta in proximal part; gnathobase sparsely covered with large puncta and bears 1 pair of branched setae; galeala nude; palpal claw with 3 prongs; setae on palpal femur and genu branched; dorsal and ventral palpal tibial setae branched; lateral palpal tibial seta nude; palpal tarsus with 6 branched setae and basal tarsala.

SCUTUM. Pentagonal, with angulated posterior margin, sparsely covered with puncta of different size; AM base slightly posterior to level of ALs; SB clearly anterior to level of PLs (PSB—P-PL = 3–5); PL ≥ AL> AM; sensilla clavate, covered with large barbs.

LEGS. All 7-segmented, with 1 pair of claws and claw-like empodium. Leg I: coxa with 1 non-specialized branched seta (1B); trochanter 1B; basifemur 1B; telofemur 5B; genu 4B, 2 genualae, microgenuala; tibia 8B, 2 tibialae, microtibiala; tarsus 22B, tarsala 13–15 long, microtarsala proximal to tarsala, subterminala, parasubterminala, pretarsala. Leg II: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 4B; genu 3B, genuala; tibia 6B, 2 tibialae; tarsus 16B, tarsala thin, 15–16 long, microtarsala behind tarsala, pretarsala. Leg III: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 3B; genu 3B, genuala; tibia 6B, tibiala; tarsus 15B.

Hosts. Liolaemus fuscus Boulenger , L. nitidus (Wiegmann) , L. pseudolemniscatus (Lamborot and Ortiz) , L. platei Werner.

Type material. Holotype larva ( ZIN collection No. 8442, T-Tr.-72) ex Liolaemus pseudolemniscatus No. II 83 (25), CHILE: Coquimbo Region, Choapa Province, Las Chinchillas Natural Reserve, 13 August 2010, coll. D. González-Acuña & S. Muñoz-Leal; 18 paratypes larvae (Nos. 8425–8443) ex L. pseudolemniscatus , L. fuscus , L. nitidus , and L. platei , 12–13 August 2010, other data same.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to Choapa Province, where the type locality is situated.

FIGURE 15. Diaguitacarus choapensis gen. et sp. nov. A, scutum and eyes (holotype); B, arrangement of dorsal idiosomal setae; C, arrangement of ventral idiosomal setae; D, tarsus, tibia, and genu of leg I; E, tarsus, tibia, and genu of leg II; F, tarsus, tibia, and genu of leg III; G, H, dorsal idiosomal setae of 1st row; I, preanal ventral idiosomal seta; J, dorsal aspect of gnathosoma; K, ventral aspect of gnathosoma. Scale bars: 50 Μm (A, D–F), 100 Μm (B, C), 20 Μm (G–K).

Tables

TABLE 5. Standard measurements of Diaguitacarus choapensis sp. nov.

Variable	Holotype	Range	Mean	Sample size
AW	49	48–53	51	10
PW	67	65–72	69	10
SB	25	21–26	24	10
ASB	23	22–26	24	10
PSB	23	21–24	23	10
SD	47	44–50	47	10
P-PL	19	18–20	19	10
AP	25	22–27	24	10
AM	20	18–22	20	9
AL	20	20–27	24	10
PL	26	26–28	27	10
S	34	34–38	36	4
H	28	24–30	27	10
D min	18	18–22	20	10
D max	25	23–25	24	10
V min	18	12–20	18	8
V max pa	22 245	22–25 218–248	23 232	8 10
pm	205	185–205	195	10
pp	225	203–225	214	10
Ip	675	612–675	641	10
DS	38	33–41	37	10
VS	31	25–31	27	10
NDV	69	60–69	65	10
TaIIIL	54	49–54	52	10
TaIIIW	14	12–14	13	10