Aegyptobia persicae Khosrowshahi and Arbabi, 1997

Khanjani, Masoumeh, Khanjani, Mohammad & Seeman, Owen D., 2012, The false spider mites of the genera Aegyptobia Sayed and Phytoptipalpus Trägårdh (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) from Iran, Zootaxa 3295, pp. 30-58 : 40-43

Aegyptobia persicae Khosrowshahi and Arbabi, 1997

( Figs. 28–36 )

Diagnosis. Hysterosoma with 13 pairs of setae (f2 present). Prodorsum with projections blunt, extending to midfemur I. All dorsal setae simple, smooth, mid-dorsal setae slightly smaller. Prodorsum striate-rugose, almost areolate-rugose laterally; hysterosoma rugose, with areolate-rugose dorsolateral areas posterior to d1–d2. Ventral idiosoma with smooth cuticle between coxae I–II, broken coarse longitudinal striae between coxae III–IV; area between setae la to 3a and posteriad 4a with broad and transverse striae. Ventral and genital plate smooth; setae ps1– 3 arranged along medial margin of anal plates. Palp tibia with 2 setae; palp genu without seta and palp femur with 1 seta. Palp tarsal phaneres directed anteriorly; solenidion 1/2 length of eupathidia. Trochanter III with 2 setae; genu III with 1 seta; legs without spatulate setae. Tarsal claws pad-like, with tenent hairs.

Description

FEMALE (n = 10). Color in life red. Idiosoma oval. Length of body (excluding gnathosoma) 250–283; (including gnathosoma) 276–307; width 147–161; length of leg I 113–125; leg II 102–113; leg III 83 –98; leg IV 86 –105.

Dorsum ( Fig.28 ). Prodorsal shield with projections extending to distal part of femur I and with longitudinal striae. Prodorsum striate-rugose, almost areolate-rugose laterally. Hysterosoma rugose, with areolate-rugose dorsolateral areas posterior to d1–d2. Sejugal furrow with broken transverse striae. Dorsal setae simple, smooth; v2 half of distance v2–v2; lengths of dorsal setae: v 2 12–16, sc 1 12–16, sc 2 10–14, c 1 8–12, c 2 8–15, c 3 9–12, d1 4–6, d2 5– 9, d 3 7–13, e1 4 –6, e2 5 –8, e 3 8 –12, f2 6–9, f 3 9–13, h 1 7–11, h 2 9–12; distances between dorsal setae: v2–v2 38 – 45, v2 – sc 1 29–35, sc1–sc1 81–91, sc2–sc2 110–121, sc1–sc 2 18–31, c1–c1 43–51, c1–c 2 20–33, c2–c 3 17–22, c2–c2 98–109, c3– c3 134–154, c1–d 1 23–34, c2–d 2 27–35, d1–d 1 26–31 d1–d2 33–37, d2–d 3 15–21, d2–d2 93–104, d3–d3 111–121, d1– e 1 41–50, e1– e 1 20–28, e1– e 2 32–44, e2– e 2 88–103, e2– e 3 15–33, e3– e 3 97–112, e3–f 2 11 –17, f2–f2 75–83, f2–f 3 16–26, f3–f3 83–93, f3–h 2 16–22, h1–h 1 18–27, h1–h 2 15–26, h2–h2 53–67, e1–h1 50 –62.

Venter ( Fig. 29 ). Intercoxal area between coxae I–II smooth and III–IV with broken coarse longitudinal striae; area between setae la to 3a and posteriad 4a with broad transverse striae ( Fig. 29 ). Length of setae la 54–66, 1 b 14– 19, 1 c 14–19, 2 b 14–18, 2 c 14–18, 3 a 12–17, 3 b 11–18, 4 a 12–17, and 4b 12–17. Setae 1a more than three times longer than 3a, 4a and 5 times longer than aggenital setae (ag) 9–14. Ventral and genital shields smooth ( Fig. 29 ); aggenital (ag) setae with few tiny barbs and same length as genital setae (g1–2); inner pair (g1) longer and slightly posteriad to outer pair (g2); anal setae (ps1–3) almost as long as genital setae, arranged along medial margin of anal shields; setae g 1 12–16, g 2 10–13, ps 1 12–15, ps 2 10–14, ps 3 6–11. Genital and pseudanal setae smooth. Distances: g1–g 1 18–28, g2–g2 41–49, g1–g 2 6–14. Spermatheca as in Figure 29 .

Gnathosoma ( Figs. 29–32 ). Rostrum reaching mid-femur I ( Fig. 29 ); palp tarsus with solenidion and 2 eupathidia distally, directed anteriorly, solenidion about 1/2 length of eupathidia; palp tibia with 2 setae, palp genu without setae, palp femur with 1 dorsal seta ( Fig. 30 ). Subcapitulum with seta m 7–14, distance m–m 14–20.

Legs ( Figs. 33–36 ). Setal formulae of leg segments as follows (solenidia in parentheses): coxae 2-2-1-1; trochanters 1-1-2-1; femora 4-4-2-1; genua 3-3-1-0; tibiae 4-4-3-3; tarsi 9(1) - 9(1) -5-5. Setation as in Figs. 33–36 . Tarsal claws pad-like with tenent hairs.

MALE and immature stages. Unknown.

Remarks. This species belongs to the A. macswaini group and resembles Pseudoleptus spp. by having long prodorsal projections. Their pad-like claws, longitudinal striae between coxae III–IV, and simple, smooth setae are also like species of Pseudoleptus , although these character states are also found in several species of Aegyptobia . All species of Pseudoleptus are found on grass and, although A. persicae was found on soil, this suggests they may have derived from grasses. However, their fairly broad prodorsal projections, anteriorly-directed palp eupathidia and solenidion, and areolate-rugose sculpturing are unlike any Pseudoleptus , which in contrast have simple setae, acute projections, rayed palp eupathidia and solenidion and mostly striate sculpturing. Nevertheless, species like A. persciae demonstrate the strong likelihood of a close relationship between the A. macswaini species group and Pseudoleptus .

Material examined. Twenty one female specimens, collected from soil beneath Plantago lanceolata L. ( Plantaginaceae ) beneath almond trees, Amygdalus communis (L.) ( Rosaceae ), IRAN, Kerman Province, Rafsanjan (29º58ʹN, 55º53ʹE, altitude 2600 m a.s.l), 19 February 2010, coll. E. Mohammadi. Twenty females – CALBS, 1 female – QMA.

Figures

FIGURES 28 – 32. Aegyptobia persicae Khosrowshahi & Arbabi (female): 28. Dorsum; 29. Venter; 30. Palp; 31. Chelicerae; 32. Subcapitulum.

FIGURES 33 – 36. Aegyptobia persicae Khosrowshahi & Arbabi (female): 33. Leg I (Left); 34. Leg II (Left); 35. Leg III