Amblypalpus thymus 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 : 62

Amblypalpus thymus Farzan, Asadi and Ueckermann sp. nov.

( Figs. 9–16 , 19–20 )

Type material examined. Holotype female (SBUK) and 3 female paratypes ex Thymus vulgaris ( Lamiaceae ), IRAN: Kerman Province, Kuhpayeh, 26 October 2010, coll. S. Farzan.

Diagnosis. Opisthosoma with 9 pairs of dorsal setae, c1 present, f3 present; anterior prodorsal projection (rostral shield) not developed, rounded; cuticle on body and legs covered with thin granular skin-like coating; dorsal shields with weak striations; opisthosomal setae of subequal length (11–18), prodorsal setae slightly longer (18–31). Genital and ventral shields poorly defined, striate; genital setae g2 arranged in straight line behind g1. Two setae present on coxae I (1b, 1c). Palp setation 0-1-1. Trochanter IV with 1 seta; femur IV with 2 setae; genua III–IV with 1 seta; tarsi 9(1)-9(1)-5-5 (tc′′ present).

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Dorsum ( Figs. 9 , 19 ). Distances between setae: v2 -h1 175 (175–195 in 3 paratypes), sc2-sc2 89 (89–96), v2-v2 23 (20–25), sc1 - sc1 63 (63–66), sc2 - sc2 89 (89–93), c1 - c1 50 (47–50), c3 - c3 109 (109–113), d1 - d1 34 (34–38), d3 - d3 96 (96–98), e1 - e1 14 (11–16), e3 - e3 74 (74–78), f3 - f3 58 (56–62), h1 - h1 18 (15–22), h2 - h2 29 (26–29). Cuticle with obvious thin granular coating of microplates (sensu Welbourn et al. 2003), forming skin-like layer over body and legs that often becoming detached. Anterior margin of prodorsum with weak projection, rounded or with small notch. Prodorsal shield 75–78 long with longitudinal striations; setae sc2 about twice as long as v2 and sc1. Opisthosomal shield 117–131 long with weak striae, 2 pairs of pores posteromedad d3 and curved striae delimiting medial, depressed quadrangular area ( Fig. 9 ); opisthosomal setae subequal (11–19). Lengths of setae: v2 20 (18–20), sc1 20 (20–24), sc2 29 (29–31), c1 15 (15–18), c3 17 (17–18), d1 13 (13–14), d3 11 (11–14), e1 12 (12), e3 13 (13–16), f3 15 (15–18), h1 12 (12), h2 12 (12–13). All dorsal setae smooth. Vent er ( Figs. 10 , 20 ). Cuticle with fine transverse striae from setae 1a to 4a1 – 2. Cuticle laterad genitoventral area with some weak longitudinal striae. Genital and ventral plates weakly developed, genital plate with irregular or broken transverse striae, ventral plate with transverse striae becoming arched anteriorly; 2 pairs of genital setae (g1 – 2) inserted longitudinally on genital plate (g1 anterior to g2); 2 pairs of anal setae (ps1 – 2), inserted longitudinally along medial margin of weakly developed anal plates; 4 pairs of coxisternal setae (1a, 3a, 4a1-2), with 1a and 4a1 longer than 3a and 4a2. Lengths of setae: 1a 37 (37–62), 1b 10 (10–24), 1c 14 (14–17), 2b 14 (14–27), 2c 21 (19–21), 3a 17 (17–24), 3b 18 (18–19), 4a1 26 (26–50), 4a2 18 (18–28), 4b 17 (17–18), ag 12 (12– 19), g1 14 (13–14), g2 8 (8–10), ps1 10 (10), ps2 11 (11–12). All ventral setae fine, smooth. Spermatheca ( Fig. 11 ): Spermathecal tube narrow, short, with two bulbs, proximal bulb larger than terminal bulb. Legs ( Fig. 13–16 ): Setal formula for legs I–IV: coxae 2-2-1-1; trochanters 1-1-2-1; femora 4-4-2-2; genua 3-3-1-1; tibiae 5-5-3-3; tarsi 9(1)- 9(1)-5-5. Tarsus I and II each with 1 solenidion (4; 4, respectively). Chaetotaxy as presented in figures. Dorsal setae, d, on femora (fe I 20 long; fe II 20 long) and genua thin, smooth. Claws pad-like. Gnathosoma ( Fig. 10 ): Infracapitulum extending just past middle of femur I, ventral infracapitular seta, m, present, with few long barbs (15); palp tibia with weakly barbed dorsal seta (13–16), palp tarsus with single terminal eupathidium (6–7) ( Fig. 12 ).

Remarks. This species has the remarkable absence of a rostral shield, which is present in all other brevipalpine-like mites. It is also unusual in having two setae, d and ev', on femur IV (normally only ev' is present).

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 12. Amblypalpus thymus sp. nov., female: 9. Dorsum; 10. Venter; 11. Spermatheca; 12. Palp.

FIGURES 13 – 16. Amblypalpus thymus sp. nov., female: 13. Leg I; 14. Leg II; 15. Leg III; 16. 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.