Neofedrizzia helenae Seeman

Seeman, Owen D., 2007, Revision of the Fedrizziidae (Acari: Mesostigmata: Fedrizzioidea), Zootaxa 1480, pp. 1-55 : 39-40

Neofedrizzia helenae Seeman sp. nov.

( Figs 5–8 , 41–43 )

Type specimens. Holotype, F, AUSTRALIA: Queensland: Atherton Tableland, Curtain Fig, 27.i.1996, O. Seeman, on passalid M. australasicus (S74146). Paratypes, Atherton Tableland: 2 F, 2 M, Curtain Fig, 6.iv.1995, D. E. Walter (S74147-50); 2 F, 2 M, Gadgarra, 7.iv.95, D. E. Walter ( S74151 -54); F, M, Mt Baldy, 8.iv.1995, D. E. Walter (S74155-56); F, 2 M, same data as holotype ( S74157 -60); F, M, Road to Mt Bartle- Frere, 28.i.1996, O. Seeman (S74161-62); F, M, 9 km S Ravenshoe, 28.i.1996, O. Seeman ( S74162 -63); F, M, Wright’s Ck, 28.i.1996, O. Seeman (S74164-65). All from M. australasicus and deposited in QM. M, same data as holotype, deposited in ANIC.

Other specimens. M, Atherton Tableland, 28.iii.1945, D. L. Collis, on Megisthanus sp. (N1952363). In SAMA. 3 F, 4 M, Queensland, Eubenangee near Innisfail, 11.xii.1945, J. C. Brooks, on passalid (N1952453- N1952359). In SAMA.

Diagnosis. Both sexes: idiosoma 1450 –1550 long; anterior hyaline projection does not extend past CxI; exopodal patterning between CxII–III striped; pedofossae III present, IV absent; seta h1 with 5–6 barbs; distal spine-like process on palp femur minute; one non-filamentous excrescence ribbon-like, the other a short serrated blade; femur III and IV with large lamellae. Female: sternal shield reticulated; seta st1 68–70, a little shorter than base of tritosternum; setae st2 54–66, st 3 18–30, st4 5–6 long; sternogynial shield smooth, anterior margin straight. Male: tetartosternum absent, presternal processes articulated with sternoventral shield, membranous, asymmetrical, the left process a little larger than the right, tips separate from each other; sternoventral shield (anterior of genital opening) smooth; seta st1 38–39 long; genital opening placed between CxII– III, flanked by 20–28 pores.

Description. Female: Idiosoma 1450 –1520 long, 1080–1130 wide, anterior hyaline projection with 1 pair barbed setae 86–90 long. Tritosternum base 88–90 long, 38–43 wide. Tetartosternum and sternal shield reticulate; tetartosternum crown-shaped; st1 barbed, 68–70 long; st2 barbed, 54–66 long; st 3 18–30 long, st4 5–6 long. Sternogynial shield 146–156 long, 150–164 wide, smooth, numerous pores flank shield. Ventral shield lineate, lightly reticulate medially; 1 pair of large semi-circular pores posteromedially of Cx IV, 1 pair of eyelike pores, ca. 25 pairs of small round pores, and ca. 15 pairs of small (<5 long) setae. Ventrianal shield 290– 330 long, 640–710 wide, with lineate reticulation, paranal setae 102–108 long, other setae minute; anterolateral corner of ventrianal shield not fused with ventral shield. Marginal shields with lineate reticulation. Pedofossae III and CxIV-marginal suture present.

Legs. TrI with seta pv1 slightly thicker than seta av1. FeI with seta pv3 longer and thicker than setae pv1 and pv2. FeII with ventral lamella, seta ad1 barbed and thickened. GeII with seta ad3 and pd3 short, slightly thickened. FeIII with lamella, expanded distal to av1, seta pv1 spine-like. GeIII with seta pd2 spine-like. FeIV with lamella, expanded distal to av1, seta pv1 thick, spine-like, seta ad2 setiform, seta pd 2 in line with seta ad2. TaII–IV with seta av2 spine-like, shorter than seta av3. Legs II–IV with setiform ad and pd setae.

Gnathosoma . Seta h1 curved, with 5–6 large barbs, 76–89 long, distance between h1–h 1 13–15; h2 barbed 60–65 long; h3 minute, posterolaterad h2; palpcoxal seta 27 long. Corniculi not on tubercles. Palp, seta av1 on trochanter with many small barbs, seta av2 with a few small barbs. Chelicera, fixed digit 248–250 long, movable digit 62–65 long; fixed digit with 2 large and 1 minute subapical tooth; excrescences consist of a large brush-like process, a short serrated blade, and a ribbon-like process with a crenate margin that extends well beyond the end of the chelicerae.

Male: Idiosoma 1480 –1550 long, 1110–1150 wide. Tritosternum base broad, 101–113 long, 98–108 wide. Presternal processes membranous, triangular, asymmetrical, left process larger than right. Sternal shield anterior of male genital opening smooth. Seta st1 smooth, 38–39 long. Genital opening 78–83 long, 87–93 wide, with 20–28 large pores laterad the opening. Large lamellae on Cx I. Seta h3 posterolaterad h1, anterior h2.

Remarks. This species is the largest Fedrizziidae and occurs in northern Queensland on M. australasicus . Apart from its size, this species is also distinguished by the males’ membranous presternal processes, but in many slides the presternal processes fold over the sternal shield and are difficult to see. The male specimen from Womersley’s collection (N1952363) was originally considered as N. gayi ; the remainder of Womersley’s collections (N1952453-N1952359) were included with N. tragardhi .

Etymology. It is a pleasure to name this species for my partner, the lovely Helen Nahrung.

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 8. Leg chaetotaxy of adult Neofedrizzia helenae sp. nov. 5, leg I; 6, leg II; 7, leg III, 8, leg IV. Scale bar = 50.

FIGURES 41 – 43. Neofedrizzia helenae sp. nov. 41, venter of female; 42, venter of male; 43, chelicera. Scale bar = 200 for 41, 42; 20 for 43.