Cunaxa celineae, Barbar, 2015

Barbar, Z., 2015, First record of the family Cunaxidae (Acari: Trombidiformes) from Syria with description of a new species, Acarologia 55 (4), pp. 459-465 : 461-464

Cunaxa celineae n. sp.

Female (n=1) ( Figures 1-3 )

Gnathosoma — ( Figure 1 ). Palps consist of five segments ( Figure 1a ). Surfaces of trochanter, basifemur, telofemur, and in particular genu covered by denticles. Palpal chaetotaxy from trochanter to tibiotarsus: 0-1-1-3-5. Dorsolateral setae on the basi- and telofemora simple. Stout spine-like setae on the genua and tibiotarsi present. Apophysis of telofemur cone-like with slightly pointed apex and closer to the central part of the segment ( Figure 1a ). Proximal segment of chelicerae papillate, second segment has some denticles proximodorsolaterally and followed distally by some "furrow-like" lines in different lengths ( Figure 1b ). Chelicera terminating in a claw-like digit and with one simple seta ( Figure 1b ). The ventral surface of the hypognathum bears four pairs of simple hypognathal setae (hg1-4) and two pairs of adoral setae. Hypognathum with few random papillae and short transverse lines at its base ( Figure 1c ).

Idiosomal dorsum — ( Figure 2a ). Propodosomal plate with two pairs of sensillae (vi, sce) and one pair of simple setae (sci). Setae ve absent. Propodosomal plate generally smooth except for the presence of an oval area of thin broken striae around setae sci. Length of sce about 1.4 times longer than vi. Six pairs of hysterosomal setae (c1, c2, d1, e1, f1, h1) situated on small platelets. Setae f1 and h1 longer than other setae. A transverse regular striae pattern occurs between setae c1 and d1, widely spaced between setae d1-e1, e1-f1 and f1-h1. Thin striae in form of broken lines in the central regions between setae e1-f1 and between setae f1-h1. Cupule im present posteriolateral to e1. Setae h2 occur ventrally.

Idiosomal venter — ( Figure 2b ). Idiosomal venter with one pair of propodogastral, four pairs of hysterogastral, four pairs of subequal in length genital setae (g1-4) and a pair of anal setae. Genital valves with longitudinal striae. Cupule ih present.

Legs — ( Figure 3 ). Leg chaetotaxy: coxae I-IV, 3-1-3-2 sts; trochanters I-IV, 1-1-2-1 sts; basifemora I-IV, 4-4-3-0 sts; telofemora I-IV, 4 sts -4 sts -1 asl, 3 sts -1 asl, 3 sts; genua I-IV, {1 asl, 1 asl},{1 asl, 1 sts}, 1 asl, 4 sts -2 asl, 5 sts -1 asl, 5 sts -1 asl, 5 sts; tibiae I-IV, {1 asl, 1 sts}, 1 asl, 4 sts -1 asl, 5 sts -1 bsl, 5 sts -1 T, 1 bbsl, 4 sts; tarsi I-IV, 3 asl,{1 asl, 1 fam, 1 sts}, 1 dtsl, 2 tsl, 18 sts -1 bsl, 1 dtsl, 1 tsl, 21 sts -1 tsl, 21 sts -18 sts. Surfaces of trochanters and basifemora I-IV with transverse broken striae. Remaining leg segments with papillae which on dorsal side are larger and fewer than on ventral side.

Measurements — Length of idiosoma 540; width 365. Length of hypognathum 168; width 100. Length of palps 225. Chelicerae 153. Legs: I 342; II 330; III 370; IV 380. Length of setae: hg1 15; hg2 20; hg3 20; hg4 30; vi 195; sce 265; sci 22; c1 20; c2 17; d1 20; e1 16; f1 38; h1 38; h2 12; g1-4 12. Distance between setae sci -sci 46.

Male and immature — unknown.

Differential diagnosis — This new species closely resembles C. anomala Khaustov and Kuznetzov (1998) by the absence of setae ve, but differs from the latter species by possessing the following combination of characters: (1) the presence of a very short bulbous solenidion bbsl anterior to the trichobothrium on tibiae IV (absence of this seta in C. anomala ); (2) proximal segment of chelicerae papillate, second segment has some denticles proximally and dorsolaterally and followed distally by some "furrow-like" lines in different lengths (only the proximal segment is papillate in C. anomala ) (3) hypognathum with short transverse lines at its base (smooth in C. anomala ) (4) the presence of an oval area of thin broken striae around setae sci (absence of this area on dorsal propodosomal in C. anomala ) and (5) idiosomal length of C. celineae is 540 µm and about 1.5 times longer than that in C. anomala (363 µm).

Etymology — The name of the species refers to the first name of author’s daughter, Celine Barbar, to whom this species is dedicated.

Type material — Female holotype, Syria, Latakia Governorate, Al-Bahlouliyah , on M. sylvestris , 01 July 2012. (Coll. Barbar, Z.) .

Figures

FIGURE 1: Cunaxa celineae sp. nov., female. Palp (a); chelicera (b); hypognathum (c).

FIGURE 2: Cunaxa celineae sp. nov., female idiosoma. Dorsum (a); venter (b).

FIGURE 3: Cunaxa celineae sp. nov., female. Basifemur, telofemur, genu, tibia and tarsus of: leg I (a), leg II (b); leg III (c) and leg IV (d).