Pterygosoma aqabensis Fajfer and Melnikov, 2014

Fajfer, Monika, 2020, A systematic revision of the scale mite genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae), Zootaxa 4805 (1), pp. 1-147 : 21-25

Pterygosoma aqabensis Fajfer and Melnikov, 2014 ( Figs 14–16 )

Pterygosoma aqabensis Fajfer and Melnikov, 2014: 402 , figs 1−4, 12

Type host: Pseudotrapelus aqabensis (Sauria: Agamidae ). Type locality: Saudi Arabia (Mecca).

Diagnosis. FEMALE. Gnathosoma . Chelicerae 150–160 long. Swollen cheliceral part and slender distal part subequal in length. Fixed cheliceral digit with spinous process. Palpal femur and genu with setae dF and dG subequal in length. Palpal tibia with short claw. Palpal tarsi with 3 setae. Subcapitulum with filiform setae n. Hypostome with smooth slightly flattened or rounded apex. Idiosoma 420–500 long and 745–965 wide. Dorsum. Anterior half of idiosoma with 14–21 pairs of slightly serrate setae: anterior group consisting of 12–15 setae, lateral group consisting of 2–6 setae. Two smooth setae, present posterior to lateral groups. Medial part of idiosoma with 4 pairs of dorso-median setae dm1–dm4. Setae dm1 and dm2 filiform, setae dm3 and dm4 paddle-shaped with minute spicules on apical margin. Postero-lateral part of idiosoma with 9–10 pairs of setae of 2 types: 2–3 pairs of slightly serrate or apically expanded shorter setae and 6–7 pairs of paddle-shaped longer setae with minute spicules on apical part. Eyes present. Venter. Setae vm1 and vm2 filiform, vm3 slightly serrate. Genital slit situated mainly dorsally. Genital series represented by spine-like setae g1–g4 (in 2 paratypes 5 genital setae present). Pseudanal series represented by 1 pair of smooth or very slightly serrate setae ps1 and 6 pairs of paddle-shaped setae ps2–ps7. Setae ps1–ps3 situated ventrally, setae ps4 terminally, ps5–ps7 dorsally. Legs chaetotaxy as in mutabilis group ( Tab. 1). All setae on each podomere filiform, except for slightly plumose setae d’FI, d’FII, v’TiI–IV, v”TiI–IV and d’TiIII–IV. Setation of tarsi I–IV as in group A ( Table 2). Setae tc’ of legs II–IV and setae a’, a”, u’, u” of legs I–IV smooth, setae vs’, and vs” slightly serrate.

MALE. Unknown.

DEUTONYMPH. Gnathosoma as in female. Idiosoma 250–360 long and 500–555 wide. Dorsum with 14–18 pairs of serrate setae: anterior group of consisting of 10–12 setae, lateral group consisting of 4–6 setae. Two pairs of fine-pointed slightly serrate setae situated posterior to these groups. Medial part of idiosoma with 4 pairs of dorsomedian setae: dm1 and dm2 filiform, dm3 and dm4 paddle-shaped with minute spicules on apical part. Postero-lateral part of idiosoma with 10 pairs of setae of 3 types: 2 pairs of serrate setae, 2 pairs of paddle-shaped setae with minute spicules on apical part and 5 pairs of apically expanded or tapered setae. Venter as in female. Genital series represented by 4 pairs of spine-like setae g1–g4 and 6 pairs of setae ps. Setae ps1 smooth and fine-pointed, ps2–ps5 paddle-shaped. Legs as in female.

PROTONYMPH. Gnathosoma as in female. Idiosoma 320 long and 505 wide. Dorsum. Anterior part of idiosoma with 10–12 pairs of anterior serrate setae arranged in 2 groups: anterior group consisting of 7–9 setae, lateral group consisting of 3–4 setae. Medial part of idiosoma with 4 pairs of dorso-median setae: dm1 and dm2 slightly serrate, dm3 and dm4 slightly expanded apically with minute spicules on apical part. Postero-lateral part of idiosoma with 6 pairs of slightly serrate setae. Venter as in female. Genital series represented by 2 pairs of setae g. Setae g1 slightly serrate and situated ventrally, g2 very minute and situated terminally. Pseudanal series represented by 2–3 pairs of setae ps.

Type material (examined). Female holotype, 12 female, 2 deutonymph, and 1 protonymph paratypes from Pseudotrapelus aqabensis Melnikov et al. (Sauria: Agamidae ) ( CAS no. 149449), SAUDI ARABIA: Mecca, 21º22’N, 39º37’E, 17 April 1979, coll. J. Gasperetti and S. Collenette; 1 female paratype from same host species ( CAS no. 149450) and location, 17 April 1979, coll. J. Gasperetti and S. Collenette.

Type material deposition. Holotype, 6 female, 1 deutonymph and 1 protonymph paratypes in the ZISP, 6 female and 1 deutonymph paratypes in the AMU.

Host and distribution. This species is known only from Pseudotrapelus aqabensis from Saudi Arabia [Mecca] ( Fajfer and Melnikov 2014).

Remarks. In the original description of this species setae a’ and a” of tarsi I are marked incorrectly as eupathidia and it’ and it” of tarsi I as simple setae ( Fajfer and Melnikov 2014) whereas the re-examination of P. aqabensis shows that setae a’ and a ” are filiform and smooth, and setae it’ and it ” of tarsi I are in form of eupathidia.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Pterygosoma aqabensis Fajfer and Melnikov 2014. A, dorsal view; B, gnathosoma in dorsal view; C, genital area in dorsal view; D, tarsus I in dorso-lateral view; E, tarsus II in ventro-lateral view (figs A–C after Fajfer and Melnikov 2014, modified).

FIGURE 15. Pterygosoma aqabensis Fajfer and Melnikov 2014, deutonymph. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view (after Fajfer and Melnikov 2014).

FIGURE 16. Pterygosoma aqabensis Fajfer and Melnikov 2014, protonymph.A, dorsal view; B, ventral view (after Fajfer and Melnikov 2014).