Schoengastia monticola Lawrence 1949
Creators: name: Stekolnikov, Alexandr A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Trombidiformes
Trombiculidae
Schoengastia
Schoengastia monticola

description: Schoengastia monticola Lawrence, 1949
(Figs. 12–14)
Schoengastia monticola Lawrence, 1949: 425, fig. 12; Wharton & Fuller 1952: 88; Vercammen-Grandjean 1958b: 658, pl. 9; Stekolnikov 2018: 82.
Schoengastia (Schoengastia) monticola: Zumpt 1961: 157; Vercammen-Grandjean 1965b: 82.
Diagnosis. SIF = 7BS-N-3-3111.1000; fPp = N/N/NNN; AL> PL >> AM; fD = 2H-8(9)-6-6-4+(4–8); DS = 29–35; V = 24–27; NDV = 56–62; scutum pentagonal, with greatly projected evenly arquate posterior margin; sensillary bases at level of PLs; Ip = 889–913. Standard measurements are given in Table 6.
Redescription (holotype, 2 paratypes, and 3 non-type specimens). IDIOSOMA (Figs. 12, 13, 14A–G). Eyes 2 + 2, in ocular plate; 29–35 dorsal idiosomal setae, including one pair of humeral setae, moderately barbed, 8 (9 in one specimen) setae in 1 st posthumeral row (C excluding humeral setae), by 6 setae in next two rows (D and E), four setae in 4 th row (F) plus 4–8 caudal setae; 4 sternal setae; 24–27 ventral setae; NDV = 56–62.
GNATHOSOMA (Fig. 14H, I). Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap and row of 4–5 dorsal teeth; cheliceral base with dense puncta in proximal part and sparse puncta in distal part; gnathobase with dense puncta, transverse cuticular striations, and one pair of branched gnathocoxal (tritorostral) setae; galeal (deutorostral) seta nude; palpal claw with three prongs; palpal femur and genu with sparse puncta and one short nude seta; palpal tibia with long nude dorsal seta and short nude lateral and ventral setae; palpal tarsus with 7 non-specialized setae, including 2 long branched dorsal and 5 short ventral bearing 1–2 branches or nude, subterminala (ζ) and tarsala (ω).
SCUTUM (Figs. 12, 13C, 14F, G). Pentagonal, omorostigmal, densely covered with small puncta, anterior and lateral scutal margins almost straight, posterior margin greatly projected, evenly arquate; AM posterior to level of ALs; sensillary (trichobothrial) bases at level of PLs, slightly anterior or posterior (P-PL – PSB from –4 to 4), with curved anterior ridges; AM uniform with dorsal idiosomal setae, but much shorter, ALs and PLs covered with long thin barbs; AL> PL >> AM; sensilla (trichobothria) globose, covered with setules.
LEGS. All 7-segmented, with 1 pair of claws and claw-like empodium. Leg I: coxa with 1 branched seta (1B); trochanter 1B; basifemur 1B; telofemur 5B; genu 4B, 3 genualae (σ), microgenuala (κ); tibia 8B, 2 tibialae (φ), microtibiala (κ); tarsus 22B, tarsala (ω), microtarsala (ε) distal to tarsala, subterminala (ζ), parasubterminala (z), pretarsala (ζ). Leg II: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 1B; telofemur 4B; genu 3B, genuala (σ); tibia 6B, 2 tibialae (φ); tarsus 16B, tarsala (ω), microtarsala (ε) behind tarsala, pretarsala (ζ). Leg III: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 3B; genu 3B, genuala (σ); tibia 6B, tibiala (φ); tarsus 14B, mastitarsala.
Distribution and hosts. This species was described from South Africa (Drakensberg Mts, Champagne Castle, KwaZulu-Natal Prov.), ex Pseudocordylus subviridis. Here I report it from Dargle, KwaZulu-Natal Prov., ex Trachylepis striata (syn. Mabuya striata) and from Zimbabwe (Vumba), ex T. varia (syn. M. varia) for the first time.
Material examined. Holotype, larva NM 4827, Champagne Castle, Hostel, Natal, ex P. subviridis, collector and date unknown (Fig. 1, 20). One paratype, larva deposited in NHM (1957-8-12 -34), same data (Fig. 1, 21). One larva NM 4827, Vumba, S. Rhodesia (currently Zimbabwe), ex M. varia, February 1948, collector unknown (Fig. 1, 22). Three larvae NM 4810/1–3, Dargle, Natal, ex M. striata, coll. Lawrence, date unknown, prepared by Vercammen-Grandjean (Fig. 1, 23).
Remarks. I was unable to examine characters of gnathosoma and legs in the holotype and paratypes; therefore, these body parts were examined and drawn only in additional specimens NM 4810/1 and 3 (Fig. 14). Schoengastia monticola differs from S. scincicola in the nude palpal femoral seta vs. bearing one branch; much shorter barbs of ALs and PLs; more weakly branched setae of legs; greater palps with puncta on femur and genu; greater scutum (PW 79–94 vs. 77–78, ASB 30–33 vs. 24–27, and P-PL 25–31 vs. 23–25); shorter AM (23–27 vs. 28–31), longer sensilla (S 29–33 vs. 24–29), H (40–47 vs. 32–40), and D max (38–44 vs. 34–38) (Table 5).
description: Published as part of Stekolnikov, Alexandr A., 2024, Revision of South African chiggers (Acariformes: Trombiculidae) originated from the collection of R. F. Lawrence, with redescriptions of nine species, pp. 1-35 in Zootaxa 5493 (1) on pages 23-26, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5493.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/13269183