Neocarus veracruzensis Vázquez & Klompen, 2009

Vázquez, Magdalena & Klompen, Hans, 2009, New species of New World Opilioacaridae (Acari: Parasitiformes) with the description of a new genus from the Caribbean region., Zootaxa 2061, pp. 23-44 : 33-34

Neocarus veracruzensis Vázquez & Klompen n. sp.

( Figs. 27–33 )

Diagnosis. Palp tarsus with 5 pairs of foliate setae (4 in N. orghidani and N. nohbecanus ). Sternal area between sternal and genital verrucae with 2 (rarely 1) pairs of long, tapering setae (0–1 in N. calakmulensis ). Female with 2 setae in pregenital area, male with stout, blunt setae in genital area. Ovipositor without terminal setae. This species is similar to N. nicaraguensis , but can be differentiated by smaller numbers of setae on the sternal verrucae (2–3 vs. 4–6), and relatively small numbers of ch and sm setae on the palp tarsus (13 and 5 vs. 18–22 and 6–11).

Description. Based on observations on 8 females, 3 males, 3 tritonymphs. Other immatures unknown.

Gnathosoma . Chelicera ( Fig. 27 ). Basal segment with 1, fixed digit with 3 setae. Some setae very lightly barbed. Dorsal and antiaxial lyrifissure well developed. Fixed digit with 1 tooth, movable digit with 1–2 teeth and a well developed terminal hook. Movable digit with 1–2 (rarely 3) denticles on ventral surface.

Subcapitulum ( Fig. 28 ). All 4 pairs of paralabial setae present: pl1 small, conical; With's organ (pl2) membranous; rutella (pl3) with 1 row of 5 teeth, inserted dorso-laterally; pl4 very small, inserted dorsal on subcapitulum. In addition, 4 circumbuccal (cb), and 7–11 median and subcapitular (vm (in part), lvm, ldm, vp, lvp) setae. Distinct sexual dimorphism absent. Lateral lips with distinct canals.

Palp ( Figs. 29–30 ). Trochanter with 3–5 ribbed, tapering (r-type) setae; femur with 7–8 papilliform (ptype) and 12–17 r setae; genu with 4–10 (low in some females) p and 17–31 r setae. Tibia and tarsus partially fused. Tibia with about 4 smooth and 65 r setae. Palp tarsus with lyrifissures i π and i α. Setation including 5 d (leaf-like), 7 v, 3 s, 13 ch, and 5 sm setae. Pretarsus in shape of well developed pair of sessile claws. Sexual differentiation absent

Idiosoma. Color. Violet blue with the usual banding pattern. Color observed on alcohol preserved specimens.

Dorsum. Relatively large species. Anterior dorsal shield with two pairs of eyes, and 108–126 stout, ribbed setae; lyrifissures absent. Dorsal idiosoma between the shield and the preanal segment without setae, but with numerous lyrifissures arranged in transverse rows. Preanal segment with 1 dorsal and 2 ventral setae. Anal plates in adults with 7–10 (14 in one TN). stout, ribbed setae.

Sternitogenital region ( Figs. 31–32 ). Sternal verrucae each with 1 long, barbed tapering and 1–2 smaller setae. Remaining sternal area with 4–6 pairs of stout, ribbed, 2 pairs of long tapering setae, and 2 pairs of large, distinct and 1 pair of smaller lyrifissures; all different in shape and size from "standard" opisthosomal lyrifissures. Pregenital capsules each with 1 long tapering and 3–4 stout ribbed setae. Pregenital area in male with a combination of 6–8 short stout ribbed and 0–1 small smooth setae, genital area with 6–8 short stout ribbed setae. Pregenital area in female with 2 short stout ribbed setae; genital area without setae. Ovipositor ( Figs. 32–33 ) terminating in three lobes. Without long, terminal, or short non-terminal setae. Generally with limited distinguishing features.

Legs. Ratio of legs I to idiosoma about 2.2; for legs IV to idiosoma 1.8. No obvious sexual differentiation. Tarsus I without an acrotarsus but with a large, distinct basitarsus. Broad sensillum with "crown-like" tip in main sensillar field. Pretarsi with well developed sessile claws; without setae. Tarsi II with a distinct dorsal bifurcate seta and two smooth sensilla, as in N. calakmulensi s. Pretarsi II–IV each with two pairs of setae and a pair of claws. Adults and tritonymphs with a distinct acrotarsus on legs II–IV and divided trochanters on legs III–IV.

Collection information. Multiple specimen numbers refer to multiple slides representing a single, dissected, individual. Holotype female (OSAL0007719, 7721), MEXICO: Veracruz, El Morro de La Mancha, coll. Vazquez, I, 25 Feb 1995, ex dune sand, coll. no. AL013279. Paratypes. Same collection data as holotype, TN (OSAL0007708), TN (OSAL0007707), TN (OSAL0007709–7710), F (OSAL0007711–7712), F (OSAL0 0 0 7713–7715), F (OSAL0 0 0 7716–7718), F (OSAL0 0 0 7720), F (OSAL0 0 0 7722), F (OSAL0007723), F (OSAL0007724), M (OSAL0007725), M (OSAL0007726), M (OSAL0007727).

Deposition of type s. Holotype female (slides OSAL0007719, 7721) and one paratype male (slide OSAL0007725) at UNAM. Other paratypes at OSAL, UQROO.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the state of Veracruz, in which these specimens were collected.

Figures

FIGURES 27 – 30. Neocarus veracruzensis n. sp., adult 27, Chelicera, male (OSAL 0007727); 28, Subcapitulum, female (OSAL 0007718); 29, Palp, female, dorsal (left) and ventral (right) view (OSAL 0007719); 30, Palp tarsus, female, dorsal (top) and ventral (bottom) view (OSAL 0007719).

FIGURES 31 – 33. Neocarus veracruzensis n. sp. 31, Sternitogenital region male (OSAL 0007725); 32, invaginated ovipositor (OSAL 0007722); 33, evaginated ovipositor (OSAL 0007717).