Palpipalpus hesperius 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
Trombidiformes
Tenuipalpidae
Palpipalpus
Palpipalpus hesperius

description: Palpipalpus hesperius Beard and Seeman sp. nov.
(Figs 67–74)
Type material examined. Holotype female ex. Allocasuarina sp. (Casuarinaceae), AUSTRALIA: Western Australia, Walpole, Nornalup Inlet, Coalmine Beach, Walpole Yacht Club, 34º59’27” S 116º44’22” E, 0 9 May 2008, coll. J.J. Beard and R. Ochoa (WAM) (BRI voucher). Paratypes. 23 females, 2 males (separate slides); 1 male, 1 pharate deutonymph (same slide); 2 deutonymphs, 7 protonymphs, 5 larvae, same data as holotype (WAM, QM, ANIC, USNM).
Non-type material examined. 2 pharate deutonymphs, 1 pharate protonymph, same data as holotype (QM); 10 females, 1 pharate female, 14 deutonymphs, 2 pharate deutonymphs, 9 protonymphs, 9 larvae ex. stems of Western She-oak Allocasuarina fraseriana (Casuarinaceae) [on ridge], AUSTRALIA: Western Australia, internal road to Wellington Dam, Wellington National Park, 33º20’24’’ S 115º57’22’’ E, 20 April 2009, coll. J.J. Beard (QM) (BRI voucher); 14 females, 3 males, 3 pharate females, 2 deutonymphs, 4 protonymphs, 2 larvae ex. Allocasuarina sp., AUSTRALIA: Western Australia, Wellington National Park, 33º19’18’’ S 115º58’50’’ E, 0 6 May 2008, coll. J.J. Beard and R. Ochoa (QM).
Diagnosis. Dorsal setae short, palmate, heavily barbed. Dorsal opisthosomal setae e2 and f2 inserted close to marginal position. Prodorsum with oblique folds and weakly papillate sculpturing; dorsal opisthosomal shield with transverse to oblique folds laterally, with weak papillate sculpturing anteriorly; lateral cuticle papillate. Setae v ′ added to tr II and IV in the adult (v ′ normally added to tr II in deutonymph).
FEMALE (n = 48). Dorsum. (Fig. 67 a) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 280–325 [325]; sc2- sc2 111–125 [120]; other measurements: v2-v2 35 –42 [42], sc1-sc1 83–96 [91], c1-c 1 26–36 [33], c2-c2 91–110 [100], c3-c3 160–185 [180], d1-d 1 20–25 [22], d2-d2 110–120 [120], d3-d3 140–155 [145], e1- e 1 15–17 [15], e2- e2 125–135 [125], e3-e3 115–135 [125], f2-f2 93–110 [100], f3-f3 81–105 [98], h1-h 1 18–32 [21], h2-h2 53–76 [61]. Gnathosoma partially concealed by prodorsum. Anterior margin of prodorsum with pair of lobes forming a shallow median notch (internal depth 8–13); lobes anterior to setae v2. Prodorsal shield with rugose-lineate sculpturing. Opisthosomal shield mostly with rugose sculpturing, but becoming smooth between d1-e1, three longitudinal ridges between c1-c1 and d1-d1, and several ridges between e1-h1. Lateral cuticle surrounding shields papillate, cuticle between shields papillate to tessellate. All dorsal setae barbed, lanceolate. Setal lengths: v 2 13–19 [17], sc 1 16–18 [16], sc 2 17–19 [17], c 1 18–20 [20], c 2 18–20 [19], c 3 17–18 [18], d 1 14–17 [14], d 2 15–17 [broken], d 3 13–17 [16], e 1 9 –11 [10], e 2 13 –17 [15], e 3 12 –18 [15], f 2 11–17 [13], f 3 14–18 [17], h 1 11–15 [13], h 2 14–17 [16]. Palps. (Fig. 67 b) Setal formula 0, 0, 0, 2, 3(1s+2e). Tibial setae, dorsal 10–11 [11] long, ventral 6–9 [7] long; tarsal eupathidia 5–6 [5] long, 7–9 [8] long; solenidion 7–8 [8] long. Venter. (Fig. 68) 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, ca. 17–26 [22] long, 36–45 [45] wide; anal setae ps1–2 inserted in longitudinal row on anal plates; setae ps1 absent. Coxal setae fine, smooth except 2c with weak barbs; setae ag1, g1–2, ps1 barbed, ps2 smooth. Setal lengths: 1a 42–55 [55], 1b 18–28 [20], 2b 17–22 [21], 2c 20–27 [24], 3a 35– 52 [35], 3b 18–22 [20], 4a 33–43 [40], 4b 16–22 [22], ag 1 17–21 [18], g 1 21–23 [22], g 2 18–23 [22], ps 1 13–17 [14], ps 2 12–14 [13]. Spermatheca. (Fig. 69) Spermathecal tube long, 1 wide, straight for ca. 30, then convoluted for another ca. 100, terminating in membranous sac 7–9 long, 2–3 wide. Genital opening between setae ps2. Legs. (Fig. 70) Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi) 1-1-3-2-4-9(1), 2-1-3-2-4-9(1), 1-2-2-0-3-5, 1-1-1-0-3-5. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (9-10 [10] long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (8–9 [8–9] long). Leg setation as in Table 1 except: coxae I without 1c; genua I–II with d and l" (ge I–II without l ′, ge III–IV nude). Setae v' added to tr II and IV.
MALE (n = 6). Dorsum. (Fig. 71 a) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 215–235, sc2-sc2 92– 98; other measurements: v2-v 2 23–30, sc1-sc1 66–75, c1-c 1 21–29, c2-c2 79–87, c3-c3 114–125, d1-d 1 10–15, d2- d2 85–91, d3-d3 95–110, e1- e 1 12–17, e2- e2 87–92, e3- e3 83–88, f2-f2 70–88, f3-f3 62–75, h1-h 1 9–15, h2-h 2 24– 36. Anterior margin of prodorsum with small lobes forming a shallow median notch (internal depth 9–11). Prodorsal, mesonotal and opisthonotal shields surrounded by striate cuticle medially, papillate cuticle laterally. Shield sculpture and dorsal setae similar to female, but sculpture not as rugose on mesonotal and opisthonotal shield. Setal lengths: v 2 14–18, sc 1 13–15, sc 2 14–17, c 1 15–16, c 2 14–15, c 3 14–17, d 1 11–13, d 2 14–15, d 3 13– 15, e 1 10 –11, e 2 10 –14, e 3 14 –15, f 2 11–13, f 3 14–15, h 1 10–11, h 2 14–15. Palps. (Fig. 71 a) Palps similar to female. Tibial setae, dorsal 9–11 long, ventral 6–7 long, tarsal eupathidia 3–4, 9 long; solenidion 10 long. Venter. Striation similar to female. Coxal setae fine, except 2c with few minute barbs. Seta ag1, g1–2, ps2 smooth. Setae ps1 blade-like, thickened (sexually dimorphic). Setal lengths: 1a 45–55, 1 b 17–27, 2 b 18–27, 2 c 17–20, 3 a 33–47, 3 b 15–22, 4 a 30–45, 4 b 16–23, ag 1 12–17, g 1 9–12, g 2 12–15, ps 1 14–17, ps 2 8–10. Aedeagus. (Fig. 71 b) Narrow, sclerotised, tapering to a point, 55–60 long. Membranous duct runs from inside aedeagus. Legs. (Fig. 72) Setal formula same as female. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (ta I 12–13 long, ta II 11–12 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (ta I 7–8 long; ta II 6–8, 7–8 long). Solenidia swollen, much thicker and longer than in female.
DEUTONYMPH (n = 18). Dorsum. Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 225–275, sc2-sc2 85– 96; other measurements: v2-v 2 22–30, sc1-sc1 68–79, c1-c 1 21–37, c2-c2 78–89, c3-c3 125–145, d1-d 1 16–21, d2- d2 74–84, d3-d3 97–115, e1- e 1 14–20, e2- e2 90–110, e3- e3 86–102, f2-f2 72–84, f3-f3 58–83, h1-h 1 18–27, h2-h 2 31–60. Anterior margin of prodorsum without medial notch. Prodorsal shield with weakly rugose sculpturing and punctate cuticle. Opisthosomal shield covered with patches of weakly rugose sculpturing on punctate cuticle (c1- c2, d1-d2 on irregular plates) interspersed by coarse irregularly transverse striae. Setal lengths: v2 22, sc 1 16–20, sc 2 19–21, c 1 18–22, c 2 16–18, c 3 17–21, d 1 13–18, d 2 16–19, d 3 17–21, e 1 11 –14, e 2 16 –22, e 3 14 –18, f 2 14–17, f 3 16–21, h 1 11–14, h 2 16–20. Palps. Palps similar to adult. Tibial setae, dorsal 6–7 long, ventral 8–9 long; tarsal eupathidia 4, 6–8 long; solenidion 5–7 long. Venter. Cuticle with transverse striae to midway between 4a and ag, becoming longitudinal, striae coarse around anal region. Anal setae ps1–2 on weakly defined anal plates. Coxal setae fine; setae ag1, g1, ps1–2 smooth. Setal lengths: 1a 33–35, 1 b 13–20, 2 b 12–18, 2 c 20–21, 3 a 28–37, 3 b 14, 4a 20–31, 4 b 10–15, ag 1 11–14, g 1 14–18, ps2 6–8, ps3 7–8. Legs. Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi) 1-1- 3-2-4-9(1), 2-0-3-2-4-9(1), 1-2-2-0-3-5, 1-0-1-0-3-5. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (6–7 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (6–8 long). Leg setation as in female, except tr II and tr IV without seta v ′. Setae v' added to tr I and III.
PROTONYMPH (n = 20). Dorsum. Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 175–205, sc2-sc2 72– 87; other measurements: v2-v 2 18–29, sc1-sc1 56–70, c1-c 1 16–22, c2-c2 63–78, c3-c3 100–135, d1-d 1 11–19, d2- d2 59–72, d3-d3 80–110, e1- e 1 8–13, e2- e2 72–87, e3- e3 68–76, f2-f2 52–62, f3-f3 42–53, h1-h 1 12–18, h2-h 2 25– 34. Anterior margin of prodorsum without medial notch. Prodorsal shield with weakly rugose sculpturing and punctate cuticle. Opisthosomal shield with the setae c1-c2 and d1-d2 on separate paired plates, each with weakly rugose sculpturing on punctate cuticle. Irregular pygidial shield bears e1, f2-f3, sculpturing similar to other shields. Setal lengths: v 2 16–21, sc 1 13–18, sc 2 15–20, c 1 15–18, c 2 13–19, c 3 14–18, d 1 11–18, d 2 14–18, d 3 13–19, e 1 9 –13, e 2 13 –18, e 3 14 –20, f 2 12–15, f 3 13–18, h 1 10–13, h 2 14–18. Palps. Palps similar to adult. Tibial seta, dorsal 4–5 long, ventral 7–8 long; tarsal eupathidia 3, 5–6 long; solenidion 5 long. Venter. Striation similar to deutonymph. Anal setae ps2–3 on weakly defined anal plates. Coxal setae fine; setae ag1, g1, ps1–2 smooth. Setal lengths: 1a 33–40, 1 b 14–17, 2 b 15–19, 3 a 25–30, 3 b 8–17, ag 1 11–14, ps1 5–7, ps2 5–7. Legs. Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi) 1-0-3-0-4-9(1), 1-0-3-0-4-9(1), 1-1-2-0-3-5, 0-0-1-0-3-3. Tarsi I and II each with 1 antiaxial solenidion ω" (5–6 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (5–6 long). Leg setation as in deutonymph except: seta 2c absent; seta 4b absent; tr I and III without seta v ′, ge I–II without seta d, l′′; ta IV without setae tc ′, tc′′. Setae l' added to tr III.
LARVA (n = 16). Dorsum. (Fig. 73) Body measurements: distance between setae v2 -h1 155–175, sc2-sc2 67– 74; other measurements: v2-v 2 16–31, sc1-sc1 55–60, c1-c 1 9–16, c2-c2 62–70, c3-c3 96–104, d1-d 1 6–11, d2-d2 58–59, d3-d3 76–81, e1- e1 4–6, e2- e2 67–70, e3- e3 40–67, f2-f2 42–54, f3-f 3 29–40, h1-h1 4–8, h2-h 2 15–23. Anterior margin of prodorsum without medial notch. Prodorsal shield smooth with few creases. Irregular, weakly rugose pygidial shield. Lateral cuticle smooth to striate; cuticle between shields irregular coarse striae. Setal lengths: v 2 14–19, sc 1 11–13, sc 2 16–18, c 1 13–17, c 2 11–16, c 3 12–15, d 1 14–16, d 2 12–14, d 3 12–15, e 1 9 –15, e 2 13 –15, e 3 10 –15, f 2 11–14, f 3 12–15, h1 13, h 2 11–14. Palps. (Fig. 73) Palps similar to adult. Tibial setae, dorsal 6–7 long, ventral 5 long; tarsal eupathidia 3–4, 5–6 long; solenidion 4 long. Venter. (Fig. 74) Striation similar to deutonymph. Anal setae ps1–2 on weakly defined anal plates. Coxal setae fine. Setal lengths: 1a 24–27, 1 b 13–17, 3 a 29–33, ps1 6–8, ps2 5–7. Legs. (Fig. 73) 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" (4 long) and 2 eupathidia pζ'-pζ" (4–5, 4–5 long). Leg setation as in protonymph except: seta 2b absent; seta 3b absent; tr III without l ′; ta I–III without seta tc ′, tc′′.
Etymology. This specific name, hesperius, is a Latin word meaning “western” and alludes to the State where the mites were collected.
Remarks. Palpipalpus hesperius is unusual in the delayed expression of seta v ′ on tr II. This seta is normally expressed in the deutonymph, but in this species it does not appear until the adult. A similar ontogenetic delay occurs in the unrelated species Chaudhripalpus creelae. This mite was red and found on the bark of its host.
Palpipalpus is morphologically similar to Crossipalpus but can be separated from it by the presence of dorsal setae f2 (absent on Crossipalpus), and genua I–II with two setae (one seta on Crossipalpus).
Palpipalpus is also morphologically similar to Phytoptipalpus (most species) and Aegyptobia in that they share a full compliment of setae on the dorsal shield. In addition, Palpipalpus and Phytoptipalpus both have two pairs of ps setae, while Aegyptobia differs in having three pairs of ps setae. Palpipalpus also differs in having the gnathosoma almost entirely covered by the prodorsum, seta 1c is absent, and seta l' is absent on genua I–III.
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 81-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3778.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/251337