Armascirus harrisoni Smiley, 1992

Skvarla, Michael J. & Dowling, Ashley P. G., 2012, Some new armascirine cunaxids (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae) from the Eastern United States, Zootaxa 3194, pp. 1-34 : 17-20

Armascirus harrisoni Smiley, 1992

( Figs. 14–16 )

Armascirus harrisoni Smiley, 1992: 141 , fig. 71A, B; Kalúz 2009: 37.

Diagnosis. Armascirus harrisoni most closely resembles A. bakeri in that they possess a small median shield that is not complemented with dorsal setae and lacks lateral platelets ( Fig. 15 a). They can be distinguished from A. bakeri based on the palp tibiotarsal formula, which is 1 spls and 4 sts instead of 1 spls and 3 sts. Armascirus harrisoni may also resemble A. makilingensis , but lacks thickened, spiculate ventral setae ( Fig. 15 b), or A. limpopoensis , but has 1 apophysis and 1 spls on the palpal telofemora instead of 2 apophyses and 1 spls ( Fig. 14 b).

Remarks. After examining the type specimens (two individuals) and newly collected specimens (23 individuals), discrepancies between the original description and the specimens concerning the leg setal formula were found.

The following setal formula was observed in the type specimens and specimens collected in the Ozark Highlands: trochanters I–IV, 1-1-2-1; basifemora I–IV, 5-5-4-2; telofemora I–IV, 4-4-4-4; genua I with 4 asl, 1 mst, 4 sts; genua IV with 2 asl, 5 sts; tibiae I with 2 asl, 1 mst, 4 sts; tibiae III with 1 bsl, 5 sts; tarsi I with 4 asl, 1 fam, 2 tsl, 16 sts; tarsi II with 1 bsl, 1 tsl, 18 sts; tarsi III with 1 tsl, 18 sts; tarsi IV with 19 sts. The subcapitulum ( Fig. 14 a), palp ( Fig. 14 b), chelicera ( Fig. 14 c), idiosoma ( Fig. 15 a, b), and legs ( Fig. 16 a–d) have been illustrated to aid in identification.

Material examined (25 individuals on slides). 1 female holotype, ex. outer bark of Loblolly Pine, USA, Louisiana, Livingston Parish, Maurepas, 19 September 1963, coll. J. C. Moser ● 1 female paratype, same data ● 1 female ( APGD 09-0821-004), ex. low bush blueberry litter on top of bluff, USA, Arkansas, Newton Co., Buffalo National River, Steel Creek, 21 August 2009, coll. J. R. Fisher ● 2 females ( APGD 09-0821-010), ex cedar litter, same data ● 1 female (09-0829-002), ex cedar litter, same locality, 29 August 2009, coll. J. R. Fisher ● 1 female ( APGD 09-0907-005), ex leaf litter around boulders, same locality, 0 7 September 2009, coll. J. R. Fisher ● 1 female ( APGD 09-0918-003), same locality, 18 September 2009, coll. J. R. Fisher and M. J. Skvarla ● 2 females ( APGD 10-0528-008), ex wet mixed cedar and oak litter in rock crevice, same locality, 28 May 2010, coll. J. R. Fisher and M. J. Skvarla ● 1 female ( APGD 10-0730-004), ex mixed cedar and deciduous litter, same locality, 30 July 2010, coll. M. J. Skvarla ● 1 female ( APGD 10-0730-005), same data ● 1 female ( APGD 10-1009-003), ex deciduous litter in tall grass near pond, same locality (36° 0 2.289 N, 093° 20.455 W), 0 9 October 2010, coll. M. J. Skvarla ● 1 female ( APGD 10-1010-003), ex deciduous litter drifted along bank of creek flood basin, same locality (36° 02.016 N, 093° 20.137 W), 10 October 2010, coll. M. J. Skvarla ● 1 female ( APGD 10-0426-024), ex thin litter layer in secondary forest next to pulloff, USA, Arkansas, Newton Co., Buffalo National River, Boen Gulf, 26 April 2010, coll. M. J. Skvarla ● 1 female ( APGD 10-0919-006), same locality, 19 September 2010, by M. J. Skvarla ● 1 female ( APGD 10-0531-003), caught in malaise trap, USA, Arkansas, Washington Co., Ozark National Forest, Weddington (36° 06.477 N, 093° 23.446 W), 31 May 2010, coll. J. R. Fisher and M. J. Skvarla ● 1 female ( APGD 10-0523-009), ex cedar litter in rocky area, USA, Missouri, Taney Co. (36° 41.199 N, 092° 58.274 W), 23 May 2010, coll. J. R. Fisher and D. M. Keeler ● 2 females ( APGD 10-0523-007), ex litter in rocky area, USA, Missouri, Taney Co. (36° 41.199 N, 092° 58.274 W), 23 May 2010, coll. J. R. Fisher and D. M. Keeler. ● 5 females ( APGD 10-0701-001), collected in pitfalls in open rocky area with reindeer moss, USA, Missouri, Madison Co, Rockpile Mountain Wilderness, 1 July 2010, coll. J. R. Fisher and D. M. Keeler.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Armascirus harrisoni Smiley. Gnathosoma. a — Subcapitulum. b — Chelicera, dorsal. d— Palp, dorsal. Polygonal sculpturing illustrated on basifemur present on all segments.

FIGURE 16. Armascirus harrisoni Smiley. Legs, dorsal. Polygonal sculpturing illustrated on leg I basifemur present on all segments of all legs. a— Leg I. b — Leg II. c — Leg III. d — Leg IV.