Antennocheles punctomarginalis Lindquist & Moraza 2014, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Lindquist, Evert E.
name: Moraza, María L.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Mesostigmata
Antennochelidae
Antennocheles
Antennocheles punctomarginalis

description: Antennocheles punctomarginalis sp. nov.   
(Figures 1–7)   Diagnosis   
 Adult female and male. Anterior area of union of dorsal and peritrematal shields without patch of dense, fine puncta on either side anterior to setae j3 and s1; dorsal shield coarsely punctate anterolaterally, and female with a marginal strip of puncta midlaterally amidst S- series of setae, but weakly punctate posterior to setae J4; peritrematal shield with strip of puncta, dorsal to peritreme, extending to area behind coxa IV; dorsal shield with setae j3 twice as long as j4–j5; setae Z3 at most 1.2 times as long as attenuate Z 4 in female, but about 1.5 times as long in male. Femur of legs II and III with seta al more strongly spine-like than in A. longisternalis; genu and tibia of legs I to IV with seta av not attenuated. Adult female: Sternal shield about 1.5–1.6 longer along mid-line than narrowest width between coxae II; metapodal plates 0.7 times as wide as long. Adult male. Spermatodactyl in lateral view slightly more broadly rounded apically than in A. longisternalis. Deutonymph. Dorsal shield setae Z4 nearly as long as thickened Z3. Anterior margin of anal shield sinuous, broadly concave; setae JV5 inserted closely beside gland pores gv3 on posterolateral corners of anal shield. Protonymph. Pygidial shield with thickened setae Z3 slightly shorter than attenuated Z4. Anterolateral corners of anal shield narrowly rounded.    Description   
 Adult female. Dorsal shield 481–535 long, 307–360 at its greatest width at level of setae S2 (n = 8); shield variably ornamented with sparse circular puncta over much of podonotal and anterior half of opisthonotal surface, without a patch of dense puncta on either side anterior to setae j3 and s1, but with conspicuous sparse puncta along dorsal surface of peritrematal shield lateral to setae s1–s2 and more densely so along marginal area of dorsal shield from level of setae r5 to S4; shield with a pair of transverse costulae in area of consolidation of podonotal and opisthonotal shields behind setae z6, and variably transversely lineate posterolaterally between setae z6 and Z3; shield without a longitudinal marginal strip delineated from level of setae s5 to S3 or S4. Dorsal shield with 34 pairs of setae, r3 and r5 always on shield; setae smooth, except J5 basally barbed, of dissimilar lengths: j1, j2 (11–15), j3 (26–28), j4– j5 (15–16), j6 (22–24), z2 (13–20), z4 (21–25), z5, z6 (13–17), s1 (12–15), s2, s6 (13– 20), s4 (19–25), s5 second longest (34–39), r2–r5 (14–17); J1–J2 (13–16), J3 (16–19), J4 (23–29), J5 (10–14); Z1–Z2 (15–17), Z3 longest (41–43, about 1.1–1.4 longer than Z4), Z4 attenuate (30–40), Z5 (25–28); S1–S2 (16–19), S3 (19–20), S4, S5 (26–28); s5, Z3 and to increasingly lesser extent j3, j6, z4 thicker, more spine-like than other setae (Figure 1A,B). Lateral soft cuticle usually with setae R1–R6, and three or four pairs of UR -setae (11–15). Peritrematal shields broadly united with dorsal shield anteriorly at level between setae s1 and z2, each with strip of puncta, flanking peritreme dorsally, extending to area behind coxa IV; peritremes long, sharply angled subapically, and reaching anteriorly to level of setae j1 (Figure 1A).   
 Tritosternum with base about twice as long (37–39) as basal width (15–24), with laciniae fused for about 75% of total length (145–150 excluding base), their fused length with long, sparse, lateral setules. Presternal area with weak lineation and pair of faint small platelets (Figure 2A,B). Sternal shield moderately elongate, length from anterior margin at level between setae st1 to posterior margin 137–143, narrowest width between legs II 87–100, inconspicuously punctate over nearly entire surface, poorly lineate along lateral margins, and with a pair of concave transverse fissures with well sclerotized anterior margins laterally adjacent to and connecting with poroids iv2; shield with anterior margin lobulate between setae st1, and posterior margin slightly, irregularly convex between setae st3; shield with strong endopodal extensions between coxae I–II broadly fused to exopodal shield, and with strong endopodal extensions between coxae II–III; sternal shield with setae st1–st3 similar in short lengths (10–13). Setae st4 (9–12) together with poroids iv3 on small metasternal plates. Endopodal strips well developed alongside coxae III and IV, their anterior ends sometimes touching but not uniting with posterolateral margins of sternal shield. Epigynal shield 124–133 long, 107–125 at widest region behind genital setae, ornamented with small puncta arranged on reticula, and with truncate posterior margin; setae st5 subequal in length to st4. Paragenital poroids iv5 on soft cuticle well removed from posterolateral margins of epigynal shield. Two pairs of linear postgenital sclerites (transverse length of each 27–34) present in cuticular fold between epigynal and ventrianal shields. Ventrianal shield variably lightly lineated anterolaterally, punctate posteriorly on the anal region, with broadly rounded posterior margin; shield’ s greatest width (237–255) at level of setae ZV2 about 1.6 its midlength (144–157); shield with four pairs of opisthogastric setae (JV1–JV3, ZV2) of similar short length, though JV2 (16–18) slightly longer than others (11–14); shield with two pairs of poroids, gland pores gv3 on margin at level of anal opening, and a pair of weak preanal depressions; postanal seta (27–30) about 2.5 as long as paranal setae (11–13); posterior shield margin with cribrum formed as a wide (111–121) but narrow (c.4) strip embedded in postanal fold of cuticle. Soft cuticle with six pairs of opisthogastric setae of similar short length, ZV1 (11–13) anteriorly and thicker setae JV4, JV5, ZV3–ZV5 (14–18) laterally, flanked variably by R4–R6 and one or two pairs UR -setae (10–15). Peritrematal shield broadly consolidated with exopodal strip curving behind coxa IV, and bearing poroids ip3–ip4 and gland pore gp3 behind stigma (Figure 2A). One pair of large, subtriangular metapodal plates, length 29–38, width 18–23. Spermathecal apparatus with short tubular section (length 43, width 16) discernible within body behind coxa IV (Figure 1C).   
 Gnathotectum (Figure 1D) with dorsal face convex, sparsely punctate, with prominent convex anterior margin projecting into three elongate, pilose/ciliated tines, medial tine (58–67) longer than lateral ones (33–52). Cheliceral shaft, excluding basal section 137–143 long, with moderately small digits (Figure 2C); dorsal face of fixed digit with short blunt dorsal seta; fixed digit with minute (6) pilus dentilis, with bifid apical hook, and with one or two offset subapical teeth; movable digit (43–47) bidentate, with proximal tooth bifid. Corniculi moderately long (31–34), slender (7–8 where inserted), parallel; internal malae wide basally, tapered, strongly curved laterally along mid-length, much longer (52–54) than corniculi, and with lateral margins slightly fimbriated or ciliated. Subcapitulum with seven finely multidenticulate (9–20 to 25–30 teeth) rows of deutosternal denticles, anteriormost row with slightly larger, fewer denticles, sixth row slightly widest and most denticulate, rows not connected by lateral margins. Subcapitulum with setal pairs in slightly convergent longitudinal alignment; hp1 conspicuously thicker and longer (51–53) than others; setae hp2 (20– 25) and pc (22–25) slightly shorter than hp3 (28–31). Palpi (117–122) nearly straight; palptrochanter with inner seta inserted on protuberance, sinuous, longer (30–35) and more attenuated than outer seta (24–26); palpfemoral seta al (15) with bluntly pointed tip; palpgenual setae al-1 and al-2 slightly spatulate, al-2 with more rounded tip; palptarsal claw with two tines spatulate with rounded tips (as in Figure 9B).   
 At level of genu and tibia, respectively, legs I slightly slenderer (width c.24, 26), and legs II slightly thicker (c.35, 45), than legs III (c.31, 40) and IV (c.30, 35); legs I to IV (Figure 5A–H) each clearly shorter than dorsal shield length; leg lengths, excluding pretarsi: I 387–402, II 359–381, III 367–388, IV similarly as long as I, 384– 402. Leg I tarsus (108–126) about 1.6–1.8 longer than each of the similarly long femur (67–77), genu (61–67) and tibia (65–74). Tarsus I with well-developed pedicel (16–18) bearing pretarsus (14–15 to base of claws); tarsus I without markedly elongated setae apically. Legs II–IV with tarsus about 1.8–2.0 times as long as tibia. Tarsi II–IV with pair of apical setal processes ad-1, pd-1 (5–8) inconspicuous, shorter than length of pretarsus to base of claws (14–16); with ventroapical process short (5–8), rounded apically, about half as long as length of pretarsus to base of claws (as in Figure 11B); pretarsi with paradactyli inconspicuous as narrow sclerotized shafts flanking, and about as long as claws (11–15). Tarsi II–IV with ventral setae v-1 spine-like and grooved, pv-1 progressively thinner than av-1 from II to IV (as in Figure 11B,C); v-2 spine-like but slenderer than v-1. Coxae I–IV lineate on ventral surfaces; coxal setae simple, short (6–12) (Figure 5E–H). Legs I–IV with chaetotactic formulae of segments as described for genus. Leg segments with modified spine-like setae (Figure 5A–D): al slightly so on trochanters II–IV; ad-1, pd-1, pd-2, av on femora I–II, plus pv-1 slightly so on femur I and pv-2 on femur II; ad-1, ad-2, pd-1, pl, av on femora III–IV, plus al slightly so on femur III; pv on genu I; ad-2, ad-3 on genua I–II. Seta pd-2 on tibia I longer, slightly thicker, more erect, 1.5–1.8 times longer than pd-1. Seta pv on trochanters II–IV (Figure 5B–D) thin but not markedly elongated (22–27).   
 Adult male. Dorsal shield 434–445 long, 259–267 wide at level of setae s6 (n = 3); shield ornamentation and complement of pore-like structures similar to that of female, but posterolateral margins alongside setae R1–S5 smooth, without puncta. Dorsal shield with 36 to 38 pairs of setae, including R1, R2 and sometimes R 3 in addition to those on female; form and lengths of setae as in female, including greater size and more spine-like form of j3 (21–25), j6 (18–19), z4 (18–24), s5 (28–32) and Z3 (35–38), with Z4 (17–22) clearly shorter than Z3 than on female. Lateral soft cuticle usually with setae R4–R6 (variably one UR seta present). Dorsal shield more broadly consolidated anteriorly with peritrematal shields, uniting at level of setae r3 or z4, with suture of union continuing anteriorly to z2. Peritremes with subapically elbowed form similar to that in female and reaching to level of setae j3; peritrematal shield with extended strip of puncta, dorsally flanking peritreme, as in female.   
 Tritosternum much as in female, with elongate base, and laciniae fused for about 75% of total length. Presternal ornamentation similarly variable as in female (Figure 3B). Anterior margin of holoventral shield bilobed on either side of genital opening (Figure 3B). Sternitigenital shield area length 249–251 of total holoventral shield length 375–385; narrowest sternitigenital shield widths c.83–87 between bases of each of legs II, III, IV; sternitigenital ornamentation limited to endopodal lineation, and variably some arched lines between setae st4 and st5; setae st1–st5 (9–10) similar in short length to opisthogastric setae on ventrianal portion of shield, except JV2 (12–13) slightly longer; area of fusion between sternitigenital and ventrianal shields indicated by arcuate line between poroids iv4. Ventrianal shield region width 226–250 at level of sigilla of incorporated metapodal plates; ornamented as in female, with puncta on anal region; with usually six pairs of opisthogastric setae (JV1–JV4, ZV1–ZV2) similar in length as in female; postanal seta (21–23) about twice as long as paranal setae (10–11); thicker setae JV5, ZV4, ZV5 and sometimes ZV3 and one UR -seta variably present, flanked by R5, R6 (10–12), on soft cuticle. Form of peritrematal and exopodal shields posteriorly as in female, except coalesced to form part of holoventral shield.   
 Gnathotectum similar in form to female, with lateral tines (39–42) shorter than medial tine (c.55). Cheliceral shaft, excluding basal section, 126–140 long; fixed digit with bifid apical hook followed by three moderate sized teeth and then a short masticatory ridge with three small teeth slightly basal to setiform pilus dentilis (4–6); movable digit (42–45) with apical hook and a large tooth; spermatodactyl simple in form, digitiform, extending anteriorly about 13–15 beyond apex of digit (Figure 4A–C). Corniculi slightly flared and more widely spaced basally than in female; internal malae as in female. Subcapitulum (Figure 4D) with rows of deutosternal denticles and form and relative lengths of setae much as in female, e.g. hp1 (50–60) prominent, hp2 and cp shortest (15–18). Palpi (length 103–108) similar in structure as in female.   
 Relative leg thicknesses and lengths, excluding pretarsi, similar to those of female, I 357–364, II 328–335, III 338–342, IV 350–364. Legs with segment length ratios as in female. Tarsus I with well-developed pedicel (15–16) bearing pretarsus (12–15 to base of claws). Tarsi II–IV with pair of apical setal processes ad-1, pd-1 (6–7), ventral spine-like setae v-1 and v-2, ventroapical process and pretarsal structures formed as in female. Male dimorphism discerned among leg setae: femur II av slightly more strongly spine-like (Figure 4E); seta pv-1 on genu and tibia I thicker; pl on femur I spine-like (instead of attenuate); genua II–III av short, spine-like (instead of attenuate) (Figure 4E); tarsus II av-1 asymmetrically more spine-like than pv-1 (Figure 5F); femur III av slightly more strongly spine-like; genu IV av short (c.13), not attenuate.   
 Deutonymph. Dorsal shield 413–415 long, 221–225 wide at level by setae s6 anterior to lateral incisions, and 237 by setae S1 posterior to incisions (n = 2); lateral incisions 17–18 deep, markedly oblique; shield more lightly ornamented than in adult (Figure 6A). Dorsal shield with form and proportionate size of setae as in female, except less expanded anterolaterally, not united with apices of peritrematal shields, and setae s2 and r3–r5 inserted on soft cuticle. Most dorsal shield setae short (8–16), except j3, j6 (21–23), s5 (30), Z3 longest and thicker (34–35, about 1.4 longer than Z4), Z4 and S4 (20–25) attenuated, Z5, S5 (17–18); clunals J5 (5–11) barbed basally. Marginal setae on soft cuticle mostly 6–8 long. Peritremes extending anteriorly to level of setae s1, where not conspicuously bent as in adult.   
 Tritosternum similar in form and extent of laciniae fusion to that of adult female. Presternal area with pair of slender platelets (width 41). Sternal shield (Figure 6B) length c.160, lightly sclerotized, smooth, with convex anterior margin and narrowly rounded posterior margin. Sternal shield with setae st1, st2 (9–11) and poroids iv1, iv2, lacking invaginated structures beside iv2, and not connected with endopodal extensions. Soft intercoxal cuticle with pair of prominent, free endopodal platelets between coxae I and II, with pair of small endopodal fragments alongside coxae II and another pair alongside coxae III, with setae st3, st4 (9–10) and poroids iv3 between coxae III, and st5 (9) between coxae IV. Sclerotized endopodal–exopodal band well formed behind coxa IV. Anal shield well sclerotized, with sparse puncta over most of surface and wide, slender cribrum as on adults; greatest width (147–157) of shield at level of anus over twice its midline length (61–63); posterolateral corners of shield wide enough to capture bases of setae JV5 along with adherent, prominent gland pores gv3 and nearly contiguous poroids ivp; postanal seta (19–22) about twice as long as paranal setae (10–11). Opisthogastric soft cuticle with nine pairs of setae (JV1–JV4, ZV1–ZV5) flanked by a few posteriormost pairs of marginal and submarginal setae; of these, JV2 longest (12–13), JV5, ZV3, ZV5 slightly spine-like, shorter (6–9). Metapodal plates broadly oval (14–15 length, 11–12 width).   
Gnathotectum, chelicerae, ventral gnathosomatic structures and palpi as in adult female.  
 Relative leg lengths, excluding pretarsi, similar to those of female, except leg IV slightly shorter than leg I: I 355–363, II 310–331, III 324–326, IV 330–339. Tarsus I with well-developed pedicel (15) bearing pretarsus (8–10 to base of claws). Tarsi II–IV with pair of apical setal processes ad-1, pd-1 (7–8) shorter than length of pretarsus to base of claws; with ventroapical process short (6–7), spade-shaped. Pretarsi II–IV with paradactyli formed as broad, hyaline lobes flanking claws lateroventrally (like pulvillar extensions). Leg I segment length ratios and legs I–IV coxal structures and relative lengths and form of leg setae as in adult female. Trochanters I–IV with seta pv-2 slightly attenuated (c.15 on I and IV, 17–18 on II and III). Tibia I with setae pd-2 (27–28) and av-1 (17–18) slightly attenuated. Tibiae II–IV with av (c.15) slightly attenuated. Tarsi II–IV with telotarsal seta ad-3 (c.35) longer than adjacent setae, and with al-3 (27–28) longer than other basitarsal setae.   
 Protonymph. Idiosoma 340–375 long, 210–225 wide at level between mid-length of peritremes (n = 2), with moderately sclerotized podonotal and well sclerotized pygidial shields (Figure 7A,B). Podonotal shield 230 long, 170–182 at widest level between setae r5; anterolateral margins excavated between setae z2 and z4; posterior margin with tongue-like protrusion nearly to level of bases of J1. Anterior pair of interscutal platelets notably wide (42–45). Pygidial shield 75–83 along mid-length, 157–173 at widest level near seta S4, with anterior margin slightly concave, and with a small (c.5) tubercle closely beside seta S5, between Z5 and S5; surface sparsely punctate and lineate, and with prominent, sinuous, transverse groove at level of setae J4. Body dorsum with setae on mid-surfaces simple, j1, j2 (7–9) shortest, along with clunals J5 (8–9), which barbed basally, j3, j6, s5 similar in length (19–22), Z3 (26, stouter, slightly shorter than Z4) and Z4 (30, more attenuate) longest, S4, S5, Z5 (12–13, slightly thorn-like); dorsal setae on soft cuticle similar in length to those on middle surface of dorsal shield (9–12). Peritremes (c.40) extending anteriorly to mid-level of coxae III, nearly reaching setae r5; isolated pair of peritrematal plate fragments located anteriorly between levels of setae z2 and z4 (Figure 7A,B).   
 Tritosternum similar in form to that in deutonymph and adult female, with base length (30) over twice as long as width (12), and laciniae fused for about 70–75% of total length (100–115, excluding base). Presternal area with pair of faint platelets (width c.25) similar in form to those of deutonymph. Sternal shield length c.140–150, faintly sclerotized, smooth, with adherent pair of endopodal sigilla between coxae II, and with setae st1–st3 (9–10) and poroids iv1–iv2. Soft cuticle with pair of faint, oval sigilla alongside sternal shield between bases of legs II and III, and with setae st5 minute (3–4) between bases of legs IV (Figure 7B); paragenital poroids absent. Anal shield faintly punctate, more trapezoidal in form than on deutonymph (length 42–45, width 110–113), with anterolateral corners more narrowly rounded than in A. longisternalis; gland pores gv3 on posterolateral corners of shield, but poroids ivp on adjacent soft cuticle; postanal seta (17–18) less than twice as long as paranal setae (11–12). Opisthogastric setae on soft cuticle short, JV2 slightly longest (11–13), ZV2 shortest (5–7), JV5 slightly thorn-like.   
Gnathotectum similar in form to subsequent instars, but dorsal face unornamented; lateral tine lengths 34–37, medial tine 45–50. Cheliceral shaft, excluding basal section, 112–115 long; movable digit (40–42). Cheliceral dentition and other gnathosomatic structures, including poroid at base of corniculus and finely multidenticulate rows of deutosternal groove, similar to those in subsequent instars. Palpi with normal protonymphal complement of setae.  
 Leg lengths, excluding pretarsi, I longest (282–290), II (250–255), III (247–250), IV slightly shortest (238–245). Form of legs and their setae generally as in deutonymph except with normal protonymphal complement of setae; tarsus I apically with clearly defined pedicel (10) bearing pretarsus (10 to base of claws). Tarsi II–IV with apical setal processes ad-1, pd-1 (13–15) slightly longer than length of pretarsi (10–12) to base of claws; with ventroapical process short (3–4), bluntly triangular. Pretarsi with paradactyli evident as narrow sclerotized shafts flanking, and about as long as, claws (8–9). Femur I with setae ad-1, pd-1, pd-2, pv thicker than adjacent setae; femur II with ad-1, pd-1, pd-2 similarly thicker; femora III–IV with ad-1, ad-2, pd-1 thicker than adjacent setae. Trochanters I–IV with seta pv slightly attenuated (c.13 on I and IV, 15 on II and III). Tibia I with setae pd-2 (20–22) and av-1 (14–18) slightly attenuated. Tibiae II–IV with av (c.15) slightly attenuated. Tarsi II–IV with telotarsal seta ad-3 (25–28) longer than adjacent setae, and with al-3 (18–20) longer than other basitarsal setae, less so on IV (15–16).    Type material   
 All material collected from the one locality, with initials of collectors indicating Arthropods of La Selva parataxonomists (ALAS, see Acknowledgments), Derek M Johnson (DMJ), Evert E Lindquist (EEL). COSTA RICA. Heredia Province, La Selva Biological Station (10°26′1″ N, 84°1′2″ W, elevation 50–150 m). HOLOTYPE: adult female, associated with hispine beetles of genera Chelobasis and Cephalolaeia, ex leaves of Heliconia pogonantha, February 1994, coll. EEL. PARATYPES: 10 adult females, 12 adult males, 1 deutonymph, with same data as holotype; 3 adult females, 1 adult male, with Cephalolaeia vicina Baly on leaf of Heliconia pogonantha, February 1994, coll. EEL & ALAS; 2 adult females, 2 adult males, ex Cephalolaeia bella Baly, June 1997, coll. DMJ; 1 adult female, 1 adult male, 1 deutonymph, ex Chrysomelidae (either Chelobasis or Cephalolaeia), 15 April 1994, coll. ALAS; 1 adult female, 3 adult males, 1 protonymph, ex Cephalolaeia vicina Baly on Heliconia pogonantha, June 1997; 6 adult females, 4 adult males, ex Cephalolaeia belti Baly and Cephalolaeia ornatrix Donckier on Heliconia, 12 June 1997, coll. EEL; 1 adult female, 2 adult males, under elytra of Chelobasis perplexa Baly, 8 July 1997, coll. ALAS; 2 adult females, 3 adult males, ex Chelobasis perplexa, 8 July 1997, coll. ALAS; 4 adult females, 1 adult male, 1 protonymph, ex Cephalolaeia ornatrix, June 1997, coll. DMJ; 2 adult females, 3 adult males, ex Chelobasis sp. on leaf of Heliconia pogonantha, February 1994, coll. EEL & ALAS.    Etymology   
 The specific epithet indicates the presence of puncta along the lateral margins of the dorsal shield of adult females and along the dorsal margins of the peritrematal shields of both sexes which, in part, distinguish adults of this species from those of A. longisternalis.    Remarks   
 Among specimens at hand, adults present a consistent dimorphism in dorsal shield ornamentation. Females display a narrow band of conspicuous puncta along the lateral margins, from seta s6 nearly to S4. This band is absent on males.
description: Published as part of Lindquist, Evert E. & Moraza, María L., 2014, Mites coexistent with neotropical hispine beetles in unfurled leaves of Heliconia: a new genus and family of the Ascoidea (Acari: Mesostigmata: Gamasina), pp. 1611-1651 in Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) (J. Nat. Hist.) 48 (27 - 28) on pages 1632-1639, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2013.877995, http://zenodo.org/record/5193844