Magdalenapalpus forsteri Seeman and Beard

Beard, Jennifer J., Seeman, Owen D. & Bauchan, Gary R., 2014, Tenuipalpidae (Acari: Trombidiformes) from Casuarinaceae (Fagales), Zootaxa 3778 (1), pp. 1-157 : 62-67

Magdalenapalpus forsteri Seeman and Beard sp. nov.

( Figs 48–53 )

Type material examined. Holotype female ex. needles of Forest Oak Allocasuarina torulosa (Casuarinaceae) , AUSTRALIA: SSW Mundubbera, base of Mt Lorna, “Toondahra”, 25º59′15′′ S 151º21′26′′ E, 12 May 2007, coll. J.J. Beard and P.I. Forster (QM). Paratypes. 10 females, 1 male, 1 pharate male, 3 deutonymphs, 7 larvae (QM, ANIC, USNM).

Diagnosis. Dorsal opisthosomal setae f2 absent. Dorsal setae narrowly lanceolate, barbed. Prodorsum with irregular polygonal and folded sculpturing; opisthosomal shield with irregular folds; lateral cuticle weakly papillate. Dorsal opisthosomal setae d1-d 1 11–16, e1- e 1 9–13 apart. Posterior opisthosomal venter with fine barbed setae.

FEMALE (n = 11). Dorsum. ( Fig. 48 a) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 310–325 [325]; sc2- sc2 105–115 [115]; other measurements: v2-v 2 23–32 [32], sc1-sc1 81–89 [89], c1-c 1 27–31 [28], c2-c2 85–92 [92], c3-c3 140–160 [160], d1-d 1 11–16 [11], d2-d2 97–105 [105], d3-d3 120–125 [125], e1- e 1 9–13 [11], e2-e2 105–115 [115], e3- e3 91–98 [96], f3-f3 72–81 [78], h1-h 1 24–30 [27], h2-h2 50–58 [53]. Gnathosoma almost completely concealed beneath prodorsum. Anterior margin of prodorsum with medial notch (internal depth 21–26) forming 1 pair of broad lobes each bearing v2. Prodorsal shield with wrinkled ridge-like sculpturing, forming irregular polygons posteromedially. Opisthosomal shield with sparse irregular rugose sculpturing. Lateral cuticle surrounding shields papillate. All dorsal setae barbed, lanceolate. Setal lengths: v 2 13–19 [13], sc 1 15–19 [16], sc 2 18–22 [22], c 1 19–22 [28], c 2 17–20 [20], c 3 16–19 [17], d 1 13–17 [13], d 2 17–22 [19], d 3 15–21 [20], e 1 12 –16 [12], e 2 17 –21 [19], e 3 18 –21 [21], f 3 19–23 [21], h 1 15–20 [20], h 2 15–21 [16]. Palps. ( Fig. 48 b) Setal formula 0, 0, 0, 2, 3(1s+2e). Tibial setae, dorsal 7–9 [7] long, ventral 10–11 [10] long; tarsal eupathidia 7–8 [7–8] long, 7–9 [8, 9] long; solenidion 7–8 [7, 8] long. Venter. ( Fig. 49 a) Cuticle with transverse striae, becoming longitudinal midway between 4a and ag, extending to genital area; fine striae become coarse lateral to genital area. Setae g1 inserted in more-or-less transverse line with g2, g2 slightly anterior to g1. Genital shield smooth, poorly defined; anal setae ps1–3 inserted in longitudinal row on anal plates. Coxal setae fine; setae ps1–2, ps3, g1-g2, ag weakly barbed. Setal lengths: 1a 62–74 [74], 1b 21–26 [21], 2b 16–21 [18], 2c 20–27 [24], 3a 44–72 [72], 3b 18–21 [18], 4a 46–63 [46], 4b 15–40 [15], ag 1 14–20 [15], g 1 23–26 [24], g 2 21–25 [23], ps 1 16–18 [17], ps 2 16–19 [18], ps 3 10–14 [11]. Spermatheca. ( Fig. 49 b) Spermathecal tube ca. 1 wide, ca. 80 long, terminating in elongate membranous vesicle 6–8 long, 2–3 wide. Genital opening between setae ps2–3. Legs. ( Fig. 50 ) Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi) 1-0-3-1-4-8(1), 2-0-3-1-4-8(1), 1-1-2-0-3-4, 1-0-1-0-3-4. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (ta I 10–12 [12] long, ta II 9–12 [12] long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (7–8 [7] long). Leg setation as in Table 1 except: cx I without 1c; v ′ absent on tr I–IV, l' present on tr III; ge I–II with only d present (l ′ and l′′ absent), ge III–IV nude; ta I–IV without tc′′.

MALE (1 paratype). Dorsum. ( Fig. 51 ) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 220, sc2-sc2 88; other measurements: v2-v2 23, sc1-sc1 68, c1-c1 23, c2-c2 73, c3-c3 107, d1-d1 11, d2-d2 74, d3-d3 86, e1- e1 12, e2- e2 74, e3- e3 64, f3-f3 52, h1-h1 12, h2-h2 33. Gnathosoma partially concealed beneath prodorsum. Anterior margin of prodorsum with median notch (internal depth 20–26). Prodorsal shield lightly punctate, with few striations. Opisthosoma with mesonotal shield bearing c1, c2, d1 and d2, with few striations; and pygidial shield bearing e1, e3, f3, h1, h2, with few striations; shields separated by transverse striae; papillate cuticle laterad prodorsal shield. Setal lengths: v2 17, sc1 14, sc2 17, c1 12, c2 15, c3 16, d1 10, d2 16, d3 16, e1 8, e2 17, e3 16, f3 16, h1 13, h2 16. Palps. ( Fig. 51 ) Palps similar to female, except solenidia greatly swollen. Tibial setae, dorsal 8 long, ventral 10 long; tarsal eupathidia 10, 11 long; solenidion 11 long. Venter. ( Fig. 52 ) All striae transverse, becoming coarse posteriorly and weak around setae ag1. Coxal setae fine. Setae ag1, g1, g2 thin, barbed; ps2, ps3 thin, smooth; setae ps1 modified to form thick blades (sexually dimorphic). Setal lengths: 1a 52, 1 b 20, 2 b 17, 2 c 17, 3a 62, 3 b 13, 4a 42, 4 b 17, ag1 11, g1 11, g2 13, ps1 13, ps2 11, ps3 10. Aedeagus. ( Fig. 52 ) Narrow, sclerotised, tapering to a point, 56 long. Membranous duct runs from inside aedeagus, becoming indistinguishable. Legs. ( Fig. 51 ) Setal formula same as female. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (ta I 12 long, ta II 11 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (ta I 8, 7 long; ta II 7, 7 long). Solenidia much thicker and longer than in female.

DEUTONYMPH (3 paratypes). Dorsum. Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 255–275, sc2-sc2 85–97; other measurements: v2-v 2 21–24, sc1-sc1 70–78, c1-c 1 19–28, c2-c2 70–79, c3-c3 120–130, d1-d 1 13–17, d2-d2 69–78, d3-d3 95–103, e1- e 1 10–13, e2- e2 88–94, e3- e3 77–84, f3-f3 61–64, h1-h 1 15–17, h2-h 2 20–22. Gnathosoma not concealed by prodorsum. Anterior margin of prodorsum with rounded protrusion lacking medial notch. Prodorsal shield smooth, delineated by striae. Opisthosomal shield with c1-c2 and d1-d2 on patches of smooth cuticle, and smooth pygidial shield; all shields surrounded by coarse irregularly transverse to oblique striae. All dorsal setae lanceolate. Setal lengths: v 2 23–26, sc 1 16–17, sc 2 19–26, c 1 19–22, c 2 21–22, c 3 19–22, d 1 12– 16, d 2 16–21, d 3 19–23, e 1 11 –13, e 2 20 –22, e 3 20 –23, f 3 19–23, h 1 15–17, h 2 20–22. Palps. Palps similar to adult. Tibial setae, dorsal6 long, ventral 8 long; tarsal eupathidia 6–7, 5–6 long; solenidion 5 long. Venter. Cuticle with transverse striae to midway between 4a and ag, becoming longitudinal, striae coarse around anal region. Anal setae ps1–3 on weakly defined anal plates. Most ventral setae fine, smooth, except ps1 barbed, ps2 lightly barbed. Setal lengths: 1a 38–51, 1 b 14–18, 2 b 12–14, 2 c 21–22, 3 a 36–44, 3 b 13–15, 4 a 33–38, 4 b 12, ag 1 10–13, g 1 13– 17, ps 1 9–11, ps 2 10–12, ps3 6–8. Legs. Setal formula for legs I–IV same as adult. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (ta I 6–7 long, ta II 6 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (ta I 6 long; ta II 5–6 long).

PROTONYMPH. Unknown.

LARVA (4 paratypes). Dorsum. ( Fig. 53 ) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 145–165, sc2-sc2 64–69; other measurements: v2-v 2 17–22, sc1-sc1 53–60, c1-c 1 15–16, c2-c2 51–57, c3-c3 86–93, d1-d 1 8–10, d2- d2 42–50, d3-d3 57–67, e1- e1 5–7, e2- e2 52–58, e3- e3 45–46, f3-f3 33–37, h1-h1 7–8, h2-h 2 16–23. Gnathosoma not concealed by prodorsum. Anterior margin of prodorsum without medial notch. Prodorsal shield smooth, delineated by striae. Pygidial shield or platelets not apparent; cuticle with irregular transverse lines on soft cuticle. Dorsal setae barbed, thin to narrowly lanceolate. Setal lengths: v 2 16–23, sc 1 10–12, sc 2 15–17, c 1 9–14, c 2 11–13, c 3 13–14, d1 6–9, d 2 11–17, d 3 13–15, e1 6 –7, e 2 12 –14, e 3 12 –14, f 3 14–17, h 1 9–10, h 2 14–16. Palps. ( Fig. 53 ) Palps similar to adult. Tibial setae, dorsal 7–8 long, ventral 5 long; tarsal eupathidia 5, 4 long; solenidion 4 long. Venter. Striation similar to deutonymph. Anal setae ps1–3 on weakly defined anal plates. Coxal setae fine. Setal lengths: 1a 24–36, 1 b 10–13, 3 a 22–26, ps1 4–5, ps2 4, ps3 3–4. Legs. ( Fig. 53 ) Setal formula for legs I–III (coxae to tarsi) 1-0-3-0-4-7(1), 0-0-3-0-4-7(1), 0-0-2-0-3-3. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (ta I 4 long, ta II 3–4 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (5 long). Leg setation as in Table 1 except genua I–III nude.

Etymology. It is with great pleasure that we name this species in honour of Queensland botanist, Paul Forster, for the numerous identifications and host plant collections he has made for us over the years.

Remarks. Our two new species of Magdalenapalpus have identical body and leg setation but are distinguished by the form of the dorsal setae and distance between d1-d1 and e1-e1. These new species were also collected from two different genera of host plant, Allocasuarina and Casuarina .

Magdalenapalpus forsteri is similar to M. caperatus but can be separated by the shape of the dorsal setae which are narrowly lanceolate in M. forsteri (broadly lanceolate in M. caperatus ), the distance between setae d1-d 1 11–16 (in 26– 30 M. caperatus ) and between setae e1- e 1 9–13 (in 23– 25 M. caperatus ).

Figures

FIGURE 48. Magdalenapalpus forsteri Seeman and Beard, adult female, a. dorsum; b. detail of palp.

FIGURE 49. Magdalenapalpus forsteri Seeman and Beard, adult female, a. posterior venter; b. spermatheca.

FIGURE 50. Magdalenapalpus forsteri Seeman and Beard, adult female, legs (right side), solenidion ω " and eupathidia (pζ ′ - pζ ′′) not labelled leg I.

FIGURE 51. Magdalenapalpus forsteri Seeman and Beard, adult male, dorsum, with detail of legs and palp.

FIGURE 52. Magdalenapalpus forsteri Seeman and Beard, adult male, posterior venter, with detail of aedeagus.

FIGURE 53. Magdalenapalpus forsteri Seeman and Beard, larva, dorsum with details of legs and palp.