Aplonobia crispipilis, Auger, Philippe, Chaaban, Samah Ben, Grissa, Kaouthar Lebdi, Khoualdia, Othman & Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., 2009

Auger, Philippe, Chaaban, Samah Ben, Grissa, Kaouthar Lebdi, Khoualdia, Othman & Flechtmann, Carlos H. W., 2009, Five new species of Tetranychidae (Acarina, Prostigmata) from south Tunisian oasis areas, Zootaxa 2232, pp. 29-49 : 34-36

Aplonobia crispipilis sp. nov. Auger & Flechtmann

(Figures 14–23)

Type-specimens. Holotype (female), 2 female paratypes on Salsola sp., ( Chenopodiaceae ), El Hamma, Gouvernorat de Tozeur, Tunisia, 04/06/2005. One female and four nymph paratypes on Limoniastrum guyonianum Durieu ex Boissier, 1848 , ( Plumbaginaceae ), Chekmo, Gouvernorat de Tozeur, Tunisia, 04/06/ 2005. One female on Limonium sp., Chekmo, Gouvernorat de Tozeur, Tunisia, 05/06/2005, coll. P. Auger. All the material on 9 microscopic preparations. Holotype and 3 female paratypes and three nymphs deposited in the collection of the CBGP. Remaining paratypes deposited in the type collection of the MNHN.

FIGURES 14, 15. Aplonobia crispipilis sp. nov., female. 14, dorsal aspect; 15, v 2 setae.

Diagnosis. Aplonobia crispipilis is distinctive from all other known species of the genus by the presence of very long and slender dorsal setae. They are longer than those of A. caesariata ( Meyer 1974) and they are inserted in smaller tubercles compared to the latter species. Their setal opisthosomal distribution is also different.

Description. Female: Holotype 405 µm long (without gnathosoma) gnathosoma 150 µm long, width 270 µm. Four paratypes measured, 471–511 µm long, gnathosoma 140–142 µm long, width 471–511 µm.

Dorsum – Dorsum with thirteen pairs of setae which are elongate, slender, tapering and serrate, all far surpassing bases of setae in next row (length of holotype and variations of four paratypes): v 2 66 (63–65); sc 1 106 (84–94); sc 2 84 (65–70); c 1 167 (135–146); c 2 123 (94–104); c 3 82 (82–99); d 1 155 (117–162); d 2 153 (124–129); e 1 175 (178–191); e 2 170 (156–174); f 1 189 (179–196); f 2 157 (137–159); h 1 154 (135–157). Prodorsal and humeral setae shorter than other hysterosomals, v 2 the shortest. Prodorsal and humeral setae inserted on small bulges. Medium tubercles present at bases of first and second pair of dorsohysterosomal setae. Tubercles between third pair of dorsocentral setae obviously narrower. Setae f 1 close to each other, almost contiguous. Humerals more or less in line with the first pair of dorsolateral and dorsocentral setae. Dorsal striation smooth, without lobes. Prodorsal striation consists of small and fine broken longitudinal striae medially and unbroken longitudinal striae laterally. Mediodorsal hysterosomal striation transverse and arched in caudal part. Lateral striation broadly longitudinal or irregular.

Gnathosoma – Stylophore rounded. Distal enlargement of peritreme anastomosed.

Venter – Area immediatly anterior to the genital flap has longitudinal roof-shaped double striae. There are no lobes on striation. Spermatheca sacculus elongated and with a distal surface partially ornamented. Three anal and two para-anal setae are present.

Legs – Length inferior to the body length, leg I 358 (350–370) µm long (length of holotype and variations of four paratypes). Setae and solenidia distributed on leg segments as follow:

I 2 − 1 −4 − 4 − 9 + (1) − 9 [8+(1)] + 2 duplexes;

II 2 − 1 − 4 − 4 − 3 − 9 + 1 duplex;

III 1 − 1 − 3 − 3 − 3 − 9+(1);

IV 1 − 1 − 2 − 3 − 3 − 9+(1).

One female only bears height tactiles and one solenidion on tarsus I of one of its legs I. Associated setae on tarsus III and IV with tactile setae serrate and length slightly inferior to solenidion. Empodial pads bearing two rows of tenent hairs, pads almost twice as long as the pads of the true claws.

Male: Unknown

Etymology. The epithet, crispipilis , is taken from Latin adjective and noun: crispus and pilus. It refers to the shape of the four last rows of dorsohysterosomal setae which are curled when the mites are not mounted on slides.