Cheladonta deserticola, Stekolnikov & Daniel, 2012

Stekolnikov, Alexandr & Daniel, Milan, 2012, 3216, Zootaxa 3216, pp. 1-104 : 82-85

Cheladonta deserticola sp. nov.

( Figs. 56–59)

Diagnosis. SIF = 4B-N-3-2110.0000; fPp = B/B/BBB; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fSc: PL> AM> AL; Ip = 662–703; fD = 4H-(10–13)-(7–10)-(10–11)-(4–9)-…; DS = 38–50; VS = 24–38; NDV = 69–84. Standard measurements are given in Table 28.

Description (larva). IDIOSOMA. Eyes 1 + 1. Two pairs of humeral setae; 34–46 lanceolate dorsal idiosomal setae, covered with short squamose barbs, fD in holotype 4H-12-9-10-6-3; four sternal setae and 24–38 ventral setae; anterior ventral setae covered with long thin barbs, caudal setae look like dorsal idiosomal setae; total number of idiosomal setae excluding coxal and sternal 69–84.

GNATHOSOMA. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap, ventral serration and one isolated medial spur; gnathobase moderately covered with puncta, with one pair of branched setae; galeala nude; palpal claw with three prongs; seta on palpal femur branched; seta on palpal genu with one or few branches; dorsal and lateral palpal tibial setae with few branches, ventral palpal tibial seta branched; palpal tarsus with four branched setae and tarsala.

SCUTUM. Nearly trapezoidal, with bilobate posterior margin; surface with reticular pattern, without punctae; AM base posterior to level of ALs; SB at level of PLs (PSB–P-PL = –3–3); PL> AM> AL; scutal setae not lanceolate, with moderate barbs, barbs of AL and AM longer; clavate sensilla densely covered with setules.

LEGS. All seven-segmented, with pair of claws and claw-like empodium. Leg I: coxa with one non-specialized branched seta (1B); trochanter 1B; basifemur 1B; telofemur 6B; genu 4B, two genualae (13 and 14 long), microgenuala (2); tibia 8B, two tibialae (11 and 8), microtibiala (2); tarsus 23B, tarsala (14–15) in distal part of tarsus, microtarsala (1) proximad tarsala, subterminala (15), parasubterminala (10), pretarsala (12). Leg II: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 4B; genu 3B, genuala (10); tibia 6B, two tibialae (7 and 7); tarsus 16B, tarsala (14), microtarsala (1) at level of tarsala, pretarsala (11). Leg III: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 3B; genu 3B, genuala (12); tibia 6B, tibiala absent; tarsus 14B.

Hosts. Microtus schidlovskii Argyropulo , Spalax nehringi Satunin.

Type material. Holotype (8067, T-Tr.-53) and 27 paratypes larvae (ZISP) ex Microtus schidlovskii , TURKEY: Antalya Prov., 6 km W from Kizlarsivrisi Mt , 1727 m a.s.l., 25 April 2009, coll. AAS.

Additional material. One larva (previously preserved in the private collection of M. Daniel, now deposited in ZISP) ex Spalax nehringi , TURKEY: Mersin Prov., Çamlıyayla ( Namrun ) (37° 10' 13" N 34° 36' 04" E, 1225 m a.s.l.), May 1963, coll. F.S. Lukoschus.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the semi-desert landscape, where the new species was found.

Remarks. The new species differs from all other Cheladonta species in the lanceolate dorsal idiosomal setae and palpal claw having three prongs vs. 4–12.