Cunaxa capreolus (Berlese)

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 : 460-461

Cunaxa capreolus (Berlese)

Female (n=2) Gnathosoma — Surface of basifemur, telofemur, and genu of palps dorsally smooth and covered ventrally by a very few number of dots. Tibiotarsus of palps covered proximodorsally 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. Telofemoral apophysis uncinated, with an obtuse angle formed between its proximolateral side and distolateral side of trochanter. Dorsally the coxal region possesses a papillated area anterolaterally. Proximal segment of chelicerae papillate. Chelicera terminating in a claw-like digit and with one dorsolateral simple seta. The ventral surface of the hypognathum bears 4 pairs of simple hypognathal setae (hg1-hg4) and two pairs of adoral setae. Longitudinal lines and papillae extended from the central area of hypognathum to the insertions of setae hg1. Basic area patterned with rough spots.

Idiosomal dorsum — Propodosomal plate with two pairs of sensillae (vi, sce) and two pairs of simple setae (ve, sci). Propodosomal plate smooth except for the presence of papillae in areas laterally to setae sce and striae on anterolateral corners of propodosomal shield. Length of setae sci slightly shorter than half the distance between their bases. Hysterosomal shield smooth, bears four pairs of setae (c1, c2, d1 and e1). Setae f1 and h1 on integument. A transverse regular dorsal striae pattern runs from the posterior side of hysterosomal shield to the end of dorsum. Longitudinal striae dorsolaterally. Cupule im present on integument posteriolateral to e1. Setae h2 occur ventrally.

Idiosomal venter — Idiosomal venter with one pair of propodogastral, four pairs of hysterogastral, four pairs of genital setae (g1-4, subequel in length) and a pair of anal setae. Genital valves with longitudinal striae. A transverse striae anterior to setae g1 and posterior to setae g4.

Legs — Leg chaetotaxy: coxae I-IV, 3-1-3-2 sts; trochanters I-IV, 1-1-2-1 sts; basifemora I-IV, 4-4-3- 1 sts; telofemora I-IV, 4 sts -4 sts -1 asl, 3 sts -1 asl, 3 sts; genua I-IV, 2 asl, 1 very short asl, {1 asl, 1 sts}, 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, 4 sts; tarsi I-IV, 3 asl, {1 asl, 1 fam, 1 sts}, 1 dtsl, 2 tsl, 20 sts -1 bsl, 1 dtsl, 1 tsl, 20 sts -1 tsl, 20 sts -19 sts. Surface 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 392 – 430; width 305 – 310. Length of hypognathum 150; width 100 – 102. Length of palps 180 – 190. Chelicerae 138 – 140. Legs: I 280 – 305; II 275 – 285; III 304 – 312; IV 320 – 338. Length of setae: hg1 17; hg2 17; hg3 18; hg4 34; vi 140 – 170; ve 12 (15); sce 240 – 250; sci 25; c1 38 (33); c2 15; d1 25 (23); e1 25; f1 38 (35); h1 35 (32); h2 10; g1-4 18. Distance between setae: hg4-4 75; sci -sci 52.

Remarks — All morphological characteristics of specimens collected seem to be close to those collected from South Africa and UAE ( den Heyer, 1979, 2009). However, specimens of the three localities differ in number of sts on tarsi I-IV. The specimens collected differ from Iranian specimens in number of sts on coxa IV and on tarsi I-IV ( den Heyer et al., 2011).

Material studied — Two Females , Syria, Latakia Governorate, Al-ya’robiyah on M. sylvestris , 15 February 2014 (Coll. Barbar, Z.)