Amblypalpus iraniensis Farzan, Asadi and Ueckermann

Farzan, Sadegh, Asadi, Mahdieh, Ueckermann, Edward A., Seeman, Owen D. & Beard, Jennifer J., 2013, A review of Amblypalpus and Priscapalpus (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae), including two new species of Amblypalpus from Iran, Zootaxa 3716 (1), pp. 53-64 : 56

Amblypalpus iraniensis Farzan, Asadi and Ueckermann sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–8 , 17–18 )

Type material examined. Holotype female (SBUK) and 3 female paratypes ex wild almond Amygdalus scoparia (Rosaceae) , IRAN: Jiroft-Kerman Province, Dalfard, 28°58’ N 57°37’ E, 26 March 2011, coll. S. Farzan.

Diagnosis. Opisthosoma with 9 pairs of dorsal setae, c1 present, f3 present; anterior prodorsal projection (rostral shield) reduced, extending medially over gnathosoma but not laterally over coxa I; dorsal shields with few weak irregular longitudinal striations; dorsal setae with setae c1 longest (50–54); e1 very short. Genital and ventral shields smooth, fused together, genital setae arranged longitudinally. Three setae present on coxae I (duplication of seta 1b). Palp setation 0-1-2. Trochanter IV with 1 seta; femur IV with 1 seta; genua III-IV bare; tarsi 8(1)-8(1)-4-4 (tc′′ absent).

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Dorsum ( Figs. 1 , 17 ). Distances between setae: v2 -h1 165 (155–165 in 3 paratypes), sc2-sc2 84 (77–84); v2-v2 24 (18–24), sc1 - sc1 53 (50–57), c1 - c1 42 (36–42), c3 - c3 98 (89–98), d1 - d1 24 (24–26), d3 - d3 86 (82–86), e1 - e1 9 (8–9), e3 - e3 58 (55–59), f3 - f3 40 (36–40), h1 - h1 9 (8–9), h2 - h2 22 (17–22). Anterior margin of prodorsum with weak projection, rounded or with small notch. Prodorsal shield 65–68 long with few weak longitudinal folds, forming weak diamond shape medially; setae sc1 about twice as long as v2 and sc2. Opisthosomal shield 93–99 long with curved longitudinal striae laterad d1 and a few striae delimiting a medial quadrangular area; with 1 pair of large pores posteromedad d3; setae c1 much longer than all dorsal setae, setae d3 longer than other opisthosomal setae. Lengths of setae: v2 16 (14–16), sc1 29 (25–29), sc2 17 (17), c1 50 (50–54), c3 11 (9–11), d1 4 (4–5), d3 13 (12–13), e1 6 (5–7), e3 9 (7–9), f3 8 (7–9), h1 6 (5–6), h2 10 (7–10). All dorsal setae barbed. Vent er ( Figs. 2 , 18 ). Cuticle with band of coarse transverse striae immediately posterior to setae 1a, 3a and 4a; with smooth cuticle anterior to 1a, 3a and 4a. Cuticle laterad genitoventral area with coarse longitudinal striae. Genital and ventral plates weakly developed, smooth, fused together; 2 pairs of genital setae (g1 – 2) inserted in more or less transverse row along posterior margin of genitoventral plate; 2 pairs of anal setae (ps1 – 2), inserted longitudinally along medial margin of poorly defined anal plates; three pairs of coxisternal setae (1a, 3a, 4a), with 1a long and 4a longer than 3a. Coxa I with 3 setae (1b1, 1 b 2, 1 c), sockets of setae 1b1 and 1b2 adjacent. Lengths of setae: 1a 71 (71–75), 1b1 9 (9–10), 1b2 61 (61–63), 1c 12 (9–15), 2b 16 (16–16), 2c 16 (16–17), 3a 13 (12–13), 3b 14 (13–14), 4a 27 (25–27), 4b 19 (13–19), ag 11 (11–13), g1 11 (10–11), g2 13 (11–13), ps1 4 (3–4), ps2 2 (1–2). Setae ag, g1 – 2, ps1 – 2 weakly barbed, other ventral setae smooth. Spermatheca ( Fig. 3 ): Spermathecal tube narrow, short, with 4 bulbs. Legs ( Fig. 5–8 ): Setal formula for legs I–IV: coxae 3-2-1-1; trochanters 1-1-2-1; femora 4-4-2- 1; genua 3-3-0-0; tibiae 5-5-3-3; tarsi 8(1)-8(1)-4-4. Chaetotaxy as presented in figures. Tarsus I and II with 1 solenidion each (6 long). Dorsal setae, d, on femora (fe I 16 long, fe II 9–12 long) and genua thin, barbed. Claws pad-like. Gnathosoma ( Fig. 2 ): Infracapitulum elongate, extending to middle of genu I, ventral infracapitular seta, m, present, smooth (12 long); palp tibia with 1 long seta (10–14 long), palp tarsus with 1 solenidion (6–7 long) ( Fig. 4 ).

Male and immature stages. Unknown

Remarks. The new species is closest to A. thomissus but differs as follows: seta f3 present (absent in A. thomissus ; the missing seta could also be considered e3, but is here considered f3 to maintain homology within Amblypalpus ); anterior prodorsal projection reduced (forked and expanded laterally in A. thomissus ); genital shield smooth and fused with the ventral shield (reticulate and separate in A. thomissus ); setae e1 short (long in A. thomissus ).

Setae 1b on coxae I are duplicated in each specimen of this species. The two 1b setae differ in length (1b 1 9–10, 1b2 61–63) and the bases are adjacent to each other. This duplication is unique in the Tenuipalpidae , and their adjacent position and different sizes suggests it could be an aberration specific to this particular population; further collections are required to explore this possibility.

Etymology. This species is named after the country where it was collected.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Amblypalpus iraniensis sp. nov., female: 1. Dorsum; 2. Venter; 3. Spermatheca; 4. Palp.

FIGURES 5 – 8. Amblypalpus iraniensis sp. nov., female: 5. Leg I; 6. Leg II; 7. Leg III; 8. Leg IV.

FIGURES 17 – 20. Photomicrographs of: Amblypalpus iraniensis sp. nov., female, 17. Dorsum; 18. Venter. Amblypalpus thymus sp. nov., female, 19. Dorsum; 20. Venter.