Microtrombicula (Microtrombicula) zumpti Vercammen-Grandjean 1965
Creators: name: Stekolnikov, Alexandr A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Trombidiformes
Trombiculidae
Microtrombicula
Microtrombicula zumpti

description: Microtrombicula (Microtrombicula) zumpti Vercammen-Grandjean, 1965
(Figs. 15C, 17)
Microtrombicula (Microtrombicula) zumpti Vercammen-Grandjean, 1965a: 112, pl. ZZ.
Microtrombicula zumpti: Vercammen-Grandjean 1965b: 45; Stekolnikov 2018: 176.
Diagnosis. SIF = 6B-N-2-3111.1000; fPp = B/B/BN(B)B; AM = PL> AL; fD = 2H-[4-4]-6-4-4(6)+(4–8); DS = 30–32; V = 36–38; NDV = 68; scutum nearly quadrate, verrucose (scrobiculate), with weakly projected angulate posterior margin and anterolateral shoulders; sensillary bases far anterior to level of PLs; sensilla nude; posterior sternal setae and coxal setae II nude; Ip = 709–736. Standard measurements are given in Table 7.
Note. *—after Vercammen-Grandjean (1965a).
Redescription (two non-type specimens). IDIOSOMA (Fig. 17A–H). Eyes not observed; 30–32 dorsal idiosomal setae, including one pair of humeral setae, covered with small barbs, 8 setae in 1 st posthumeral row (C excluding humeral setae), 2 setae next to marginal shifted posteriad, 6 setae in 2 nd row (D), four setae in 3 rd row (E), four or six setae in 4 th row (F) plus 4–8 caudal setae; in specimen NM 5871/1 fD = 2H-[4-4]-6-4-4-4-4, in NM 5871/2 fD = 2H-[4-4]-6-4-6-2-2; 4 sternal setae, anterior pair with two branches, posterior pair nude; 36–38 ventral setae; NDV = 68.
GNATHOSOMA (Fig. 17M, N). Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap and prominent dorsal tooth; cheliceral base and palpal femur with puncta, gnathobase with sparse puncta and one pair of branched gnathocoxal (tritorostral) setae; galeal (deutorostral) seta nude; palpal claw with two prongs; setae on palpal femur and genu branched; dorsal and ventral setae on palpal tibia branched; lateral palpal tibial seta nude; palpal tarsus with 6 non-specialized setae (dorsal seta thick, heavily branched, two ventral setae nude, other three setae branched) and tarsala (ω).
SCUTUM (Figs. 15C, 17C). Nearly quadrate, verrucose (scrobiculate), with weakly projected angulate posterior margin and anterolateral shoulders, anterior and lateral scutal margins almost straight, slightly concave; AM far anterior to level of ALs; sensillary (trichobothrial) bases far anterior to level of PLs (PSB – P-PL = 13); scutal setae uniform with dorsal idiosomal setae; AM = PL> AL; sensilla (trichobothria) flagelliform, nude.
LEGS (Fig. 17O–Q). All 7-segmented, with 1 pair of claws and claw-like empodium. Leg I: coxa with one seta bearing two branches (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 with one seta bearing one cilium or nude; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 4B; genu 3B, genuala (σ); tibia 6B, 2 tibialae (φ); tarsus 16B, tarsala (ω), microtarsala (ε) behind tarsala, pretarsala (ζ). Leg III: coxa with one seta bearing two branches; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 3B; genu 3B, genuala (σ); tibia 6B, tibiala (φ); tarsus 13B, mastitarsala.
Distribution and hosts. This species was described from Dargle, South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal Prov.), ex Procavia capensis. Here I report it ex Hystrix africaeaustralis Peters (Rodentia: Hystricidae) for the first time.
Material examined. Two larvae, NM 5871/1 and NM 5871/2, L:7256, ex ears of H. africaeaustralis, Matatiele, Natal, South Africa, 7 February 1956, coll. Lawrence, prepared by Vercammen-Grandjean (Fig. 1, 27).
Remarks. This species was described from a single specimen (holotype) originally deposited in MRAC. I did not find the holotype neither in this museum (Stekolnikov 2018), nor in the personal collection of Vercammen-Grandjean (Stekolnikov 2019). Its original description included only a brief diagnosis (diagnostic formulas), measurements, and the drawings of gnathosoma, scutum, idiosomal and coxal setae, tarsalae I and II, tarsus and tibia of leg III. The new material differs from the original description in fPp = B/B/BNB vs. B/B/BBB, sensilla nude vs. ciliated (Vercammen-Grandjean 1965a, pl. ZZ, 9), shorter scutal setae (AM 37–39 vs. 46, AL 25–26 vs. 30, and PL 37–38 vs. 48), and less projected posterior scutal margin (PSB 27 vs. 32; see also pl. ZZ, 9 in the original description). Taking into account a small total number of specimens and a suboptimal quality of slides, I estimate these differences as insufficient to describe a new species.
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 29-31, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5493.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/13269183