Lupaeus iranensis Den Heyer, 2013

Heyer, Jacob den, Ueckermann, Edward A. & Khanjani, Mohammad, 2013, Iranian Cunaxidae (Acari: Prostigmata: Bdelloidea). Part III. Subfamily Cunaxoidinae, Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 47 (31 - 32), pp. 2049-2070 : 2061-2063

Lupaeus iranensis Den Heyer sp. nov.

( Figure 7 A–J)

Diagnosis

This species is very closely related to L. martini (Den Heyer) in the following combination of characters: dorsal shield smooth but punctuate; sternal shield completely divided; palp tibiotarsus with a bladder-like apophysis and two pointed processes; setal formula of basifemora: 4-6-3-1 sts. However, it differs from L. martini in that genu I has three solenidia, instead of four, and solenidion on tibia III is short smooth and club-shaped instead of transversely striated.

Material examined

Holotype female, soil, Najafabad, Iran, 30 March 2002, M. Jalaeian; 1 paratype female, soil, Divanddreh , Kurdistan, Iran, 14 November 2003, M. Khanjani (no gnathosoma , poor specimen.).

Female ( Figure 7 A–J)

Dimensions and description Holotype. Idiosoma: length 251; width 92; hypognathum length 116; width 86; lengths: palp 68; chelicera 103; legs I 174; II 157; III 186; IV 203; sensillae vi 87, sce 96.

Dorsum ( Figure 7 A–C). Smooth, punctate, dorsal idiosomal shield with two pairs of sensillae (vi and sce) and six pairs of setae (ve, sci, c1, c2, d1, e1). Setae ve, f1, h1 and e1 longest dorsal setae. Setae f1 and f2 placed on a small non-striate platelet; h1 and h2 occur on integument. Dorsal shield papillate around bases of sensilla vi. Integumental striae almost continuous except for a small area between setae h1. Lyrifissures occur on integument halfway between e1 and f1.

Venter ( Figure 7D ). Sternal shield completely divided medially, each half carrying a propodogastral seta on its posteromedian region. Opisthosomal coxal plates long, extending just beyond the genital valves. Paracoxal setae occur near median edge of coxae IV. Genital opening with two pairs of suckers and valves with four pairs of setae (g1–g4). Paragenital setae present. Anal opening with one pair of anal and one pair of para-anal setae. Hysterosomal setae three pairs.

Gnathosoma ( Figure 7E, F ). Strongly sclerotized.

Hypognathum. Venter with four pairs of hypognathal setae (hg1–hg4); setae hg2 and hg3 are the longest. Ventrally provided with papillae anteriad of hg4; posteriad to latter with lobe-like striae.

Palps ( Figure 7E ). Palps three-jointed; chaetotaxy as follows: trochanter none; femorogenu with 6 sts; tibiotarsus with 5 sts, one bulb-shaped apophysis and one pointed process lateral to apophysis. Tibiotarsus terminates distally into a short claw ( Figure 7E ).

Chelicerae ( Figure 7F ). With one seta subterminally. Proximally covered with broken striae ( Figure 7F ).

Legs ( Figure 7 G–J). Legs papillate except for dorsal surfaces of some podomeres, especially tibiae, genua and telofemora of legs I–II. Leg chaetotaxy: coxae I–IV 3 sts,1 peg – 2 sts,1 ppgs –3 sts –2 sts, 1pcs; trochanters I–IV1-1–2–1; basifemora I–V 4–6–3–1 sts; telofemora I–IV 5–5–3sts, 1ms –2sts,1 ms; genua I–V 2 asl, (1 asl 1sts), 4 sts–2 asl, 5 sts –1 asl, 5 sts–1 asl, 5 sts; tibiae I–IV 2 asl, 5 sts – 1 bsl. 5 sts – 1 bsl, 5 sts –1 T, 4 sts; tarsi I–IV 3 asl, 1 dtsl, 2 tsl, 1 fmls pit, 22 sts–1 striated bsl, 1 dtsl, 1 tsl, 20 sts–1 tsl, 16 sts –14 sts.

Etymology

This species is named after the the country of its origin.

Figures

Figure 7. Lupaeus iranensis Den Heyer sp. nov. female. (A) Dorsum; (B) sensilla vi; (C) sensilla sce; (D) venter; (E) palp; (F) chelicera; (G) leg I; (H) leg II; (I) leg III; (J) leg IV.