Philippipalpus belah Beard and Seeman, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Beard, Jennifer J.
name: Seeman, Owen D.
name: Bauchan, Gary R.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Prostigmata
Tenuipalpidae
Philippipalpus
Philippipalpus belah

description: Philippipalpus belah Beard and Seeman sp. nov.
(Figs 103–104)
Type material examined. Holotype female ex. Belah Casuarina cristata (Casuarinaceae). AUSTRALIA: New South Wales, Newell Highway, approx. 15 km N Moree, 86 km S Goondiwindi, 29°21’20” S 150°00’24” E, 21 August.2007, coll. J.J. Beard (QM). Paratypes. 2 females, same data as holotype (QM).
Diagnosis. Distance between setae v2 -h1 305–315. Distance between e2-e2 115–120. Prodorsal shield laterally with irregular weak folded sculpturing in a longitudinal-oblique pattern, medially with weak folded to reticulate sculpturing; without depressions. Cuticle between prodorsal and opisthosomal shields (sejugal region) weakly striate. Opisthosomal shield with indistinct paired mesonotal regions and pygidial region; mesonotal regions indistinctly separated from each other by irregular folded cuticle; mesonotal and pygidial region not noticeably demarcated. Lateral cuticle with <40 weak papillae primarily lateral to opisthosomal shield; cuticle lateral to prodorsal shield mostly smooth. Cuticle between 3a-4a entirely transverse. Spermatheca round, 2 x 2, without grainy appearance.
FEMALE (n = 3). Dorsum. (Fig. 103 a) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 307–315 [315], sc2- sc2 105–105 [105]; other measurements: v2-v 2 27–30 [29], sc1-sc1 80–82 [82], c1-c 1 28–32 [31], c3-c3 135–140 [140], d1-d 1 17–19 [18], d3-d3 125–130 [125], e1- e 1 17–20 [18], e2-e2 115–120 [115], e3-e3 100–105 [100], f3-f3 80–82 [82], h1-h 1 20–26 [26], h2-h2 51–55 [55]. Gnathosoma concealed beneath the prodorsum. Anterior margin of prodorsum with a deep medial notch (internal depth 21–23 [23]) forming 1 pair of broad fleshy lobes, each bearing v2 (inserted dorsally). Prodorsal shield laterally with irregular weak folded sculpturing in a longitudinaloblique pattern, medially with weak folded to reticulate sculpturing; without depressions. Cuticle between prodorsal and opisthosomal shields (sejugal region) weakly striate. Opisthosomal shield with indistinct paired mesonotal regions and pygidial region; mesonotal regions indistinctly separated from each other by irregular folded cuticle; mesonotal and pygidial region not noticeably demarcated; pair of strong longitudinal folds laterad d1-d1; irregular transverse folds between d1-e1; longitudinal folds to weak reticulation between e1-h1. Lateral cuticle with <40 weak papillae primarily lateral to opisthosomal shield; cuticle lateral to prodorsal shield mostly smooth. All dorsal shield setae short, barbed, with longitudinal barbed ridges, thick, triangular in cross-section; medial setae only slightly broader than lateral setae: v2 15 [15], sc1 14 [14], sc 2 17–18 [18], c 1 17–19 [19], c 3 15– 16 [16], d 1 15–16 [15], d 3 16–17 [17], e 1 13 –14 [13], e 2 15 –17 [16], e 3 15 –17 [15], f 3 16–19 [17], h 1 12–14 [13], h 2 16–18 [18]. Palps. (Fig. 103 b) Setal formula 0, 0, 0, 2, 3(1s+2e). Tibial setae, dorsal 6–7 [6] long, ventral 8–10 [10] long; tarsal eupathidia 5 [5], 5–7 [6] long; solenidion 6 [6] long. Venter. (Fig. 104 a) Cuticle anterolaterad 1a with granular appearance; 1b -1a with longitudinal striae; 1a -4a with transverse striae; cuticle posterior to cx IV transverse, abruptly becoming longitudinal to genital area; fine striae become coarse lateral to genital area. Genital setae inserted in more-or-less transverse row along posterior margin of genital shield, setae g1 inserted slightly posterior to g2. Genital shield smooth, weakly developed, membranous. All coxal setae fine. Setal lengths: 1a 34– 44 [44], 1b 17–18 [17], 2b 12–13 [13], 2c 16–18 [16], 3a 40–48 [48], 3b 16 [16], 4a 29–38 [29], 4b 13–16 [16], ag1 15 [15], g 1 17–19 [19], g 2 16–18 [18], ps 1 14–16 [16], ps 2 15–17 [15], ps 3 13–14 [14]. Spermatheca. (Fig. 104 b) Spermathecal tube long and narrow, 95–110 [95] long, ending in small rounded membranous vesicle (2 x 2), subtended by 1 pair of minute circular accessory structures. Genital opening anteromedad anal setae ps3. Legs. (Figs 103 a, 104c) Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi) 1-0-3-1-4-8(1), 2-0-3-1-4-8(1), 1-1-2-0-2-4, 1-0-1-0- 2-4. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (9–10 [9] long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (ta I 7–8 [7] long; ta II 6 [6] long). Leg setation as in Table 1 except: cx I without 1c; tr I–IV without v ′ (l' present on tr III); ge I–III without l ′, ge I–II without v ′; ti III–IV without d; ta I–IV without tc ′′.
OTHER STAGES. Unknown.
Etymology. The specific name refers to the common name of the host “ Belah ”.
Remarks. Philippipalpus belah lacks the extensive papillation on the soft cuticle around both dorsal shields that is present in Philippipalpus agohoi and Ph. flumaquercus. Philippipalpus belah females have smoother cuticle lateral to the opisthosomal shields, and more medial wrinkles and folds between setae c1-h1 than do females of Ph. nigraquercus. This species was found in association with Pentamerismus sititoris and Chaudhripalpus costacola.
description: Published as part of Beard, Jennifer J., Seeman, Owen D. & Bauchan, Gary R., 2014, Tenuipalpidae (Acari: Trombidiformes) from Casuarinaceae (Fagales), pp. 1-157 in Zootaxa 3778 (1) on pages 121-124, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3778.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/251337