Morelacarus

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 : 38

Morelacarus sp. 2

Diagnosis. SIF = 5B-B-3-2000.1000; fsp = 6.6.6; fCx = 2.1.1; fSt = 0.2; fPp = B/B/ BNN. Cheliceral blade with ventral row of 2 teeth and dorsal row of 4–5 teeth; sensilla with 4–5 branches in distal half; SB posterior to level of PLs (in 1 specimen at level); mastitarsala III with 2 cilia in proximal one-third. Standard measurements (range, mean in parentheses, n = 5): AW 50–57 (54), PW 68–69 (68), SB 22–23 (23), ASB 24–26 (25), PSB 17–18 (18), SD 42–44 (43), P-PL 18–22 (20), AP 18–22 (20), AM 23–31 (28), AL 23–28 (26), PL 25–33 (30), S 51–58 (55), H 28–34 (32), D min 20–22 (21), D max 27–30 (29), V min 18–23 (20), V max 25–28 (26), pa 234–250 (242), pm 211–221 (216), pp 227–243 (234), Ip 671–709 (692), DS 43–58 (48), VS 30–42 (34), NDV 74–94 (82), TaIIIL 65, TaIIIW 14.

Hosts. Liolaemus pictus (Dumeril and Bibron) and L. curicensis Müller and Hellmich.

Distribution. Chile, Maule Region, Talca Province, Altos de Lircay Natural Reserve.

Material examined. Ten specimens ( ZIN collection Nos. 8536–8545) ex L. pictus No. 345, CHILE: Altos de Lircay, 6 April 2013, coll. D. González-Acuña; 2 specimens (8546 and 8547) ex L. curicensis No. 276, Altos de Lircay, 4 April 2013, coll. D. González-Acuña.

Remarks. Examined specimens are similar to M. camanchaca by the fPp and presence of mastitarsala, but differ in larger scutum, longer setae, more numerous setae of idiosoma, longer legs, and in lesser number of branches on sensilla.

A difference in the number and arrangement of idiosomal setae is established. In 2 of 5 measured specimens fD = 2H-15-8(9)-11(10)-8-4(8)-2(6), DS = 50–58, VS = 36–42, NDV = 92–94; in other 3 specimens fD = 2H-(10–13)- 8-8-8-(4–6)-2(1), DS = 43–46, VS = 30–33, and NDV = 74–76.