Cyperacarus foliatus, Beard, Jennifer J. & Ochoa, Ronald, 2011

Beard, Jennifer J. & Ochoa, Ronald, 2011, New flat mite genera (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) associated with Australian sedges (Cyperaceae), Zootaxa 2941, pp. 1-37 : 29-32

Cyperacarus foliatus sp. nov. Beard & Ochoa

( Figs 20–21 )

Types. Holotype. Ƥ. Australia, Queensland, Hook Point to Dilli Village Road, Great Sandy National Park, Fraser Island, 25°41’46” S 153°04’22” E, 02.ix.2004, ex. red-fruited saw sedge Gahnia sieberiana Kunth. var. sieberiana (Cyperaceae) (BRI voucher PIF30171), J.J. Beard & P.I. Forster (QM, UQIC #59686).

Diagnosis. Adult female ( Figs 20–21 ). As per genus, in addition to: setae c1 and d1 minute, smooth; dorsal lateral opisthosomal setae broad. Male unknown.

Immatures. Unknown.

Adult female. (1 measured)

Dorsum. ( Fig. 20 ) Body measurements: v2 –h1 286 (tip of anterior projection to h1 324), sc2–sc2 91, c3–c3 108, f2–f2 56. Dorsal cuticle mostly smooth, with few transverse grooves and folds between setae sc2 and c1. Dorsal shield or dorsal thickening evident, marked laterally by a change in cuticle. Anterior margin of prodorsum with three projections—a broad, rounded central projection, flanked by two smaller lateral projections each bearing setae v2. Lateral setae sc1, c3, d3, e3, f2 inserted on rounded tubercles. Setae sc1, h2 elongate, barbed with minute distal club; c1, d1, h1 minute; all other dorsal setae broad, dorsoventrally flattened, with strong lateral barbs; dorsal surface of setae finely spiculate, ventral surface smooth: v 2 25 – 27, sc1 242 – 258, sc2 34 – 35, c1 4, c3 32 – 33, d1 4, d3 35 – 37, e3 37, f2 36, h1 2 – 3, h2 173 – 176.

Gnathosoma . ( Fig. 20 ) Gnathosoma extends to middle of genu I. Dorsal cuticle with longitudinal plicae; ventral cuticle finely papillate medially; longitudinal plicae between setae 1b–1a. Ventral setae m absent. Palps 3-segmented; 0, 2, 0(2); tibia with two setae (d 14, v 10 – 11); tarsus with two eupathidia (8 – 9; 4). Cheliceral stylet length from curve of hook to anterior tip 107.

Venter. ( Fig. 21 ) Cuticle completely plicate, covered with fine, transverse plicae between setae 1a–g2; some anterior longitudinal plicae between setae 1b–1a; plicae on genital flap transverse, arching anteriorly around setae g1–g2. Setae g1 inserted in an anterior position to g2 on genital flap. All setae fine, smooth; setae 1a, 1b, 4a1, 4a2 elongate, fine (difficult to consistently determine full length). Setal measurements: 1a 56 – 72, 1 b 50, 2 b 14 – 18, 2 c 17 – 20, 3 a 20 – 24, 3 b 13 – 16, 4 a1 78, 4 a 2 71, 4 b 16 – 18, ag 12 – 17, g 1 14 – 17, g 2 19 – 21, ps 1 9 – 10, ps2 7 – 8.

Spermatheca. ( Fig. 21 ) Cylindrical vesicle (14).

Legs. ( Fig. 20 ) Setal formulae for legs I – IV: 1-0-3-0-5-7(1), 2-0-3-0-5-7(1), 1-0-2-0-3-3, 1-0-2-0-3-3 respectively. Tarsi I and II each with one short antiaxial solenidion ω ’ (4, 3 respectively) and two distal eupathidia p ζ ’- p ζ ’’ (7 – 8, 6 – 7; 7 – 8, 6 – 7 respectively); ta I – IV with u’-u’’ asymmetrically barbed.

Colour. This species is orange with small black spots internally (presumed to be food in gut).

Male. Unknown.

Remarks. As only one specimen is known for this species, the true range and variability of measurements remains unknown. The tip of the spermathecal apparatus is truncate and presumed to be damaged.

Etymology. The masculine Latin word “ foliatus ” means “leafy” and refers to the leaf-like setae on the opisthosoma of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 20. Cyperacarus foliatus sp. nov. adult female—dorsum, with details of legs; detail of setae sc 1, h 2.

FIGURE 21. Cyperacarus foliatus sp. nov. adult female—posterior venter, with detail of spermatheca.