| abstract | Trombicula tsinghaiensis, sp. nov. (Fig. 1-6)
Color in life white or creamy white. Idiosoma from 209 to 220µ long, and from 157 to 173µ wide.
Gnathosoma. Galeal setae branched. Chelicerae with a subterminal dentical on the ventral side. In addition to the tarsala, the palpal formula is N/N/BNB/6B. Palpal claw with three prongs.
Scutum. Scutum approximately rectangular in shape; wider than deep. Anterior margin of scutum slightly concave, posterior margin broadly rounded or with median part straight. Lateral margins indented, slightly divergent posteriorly. Entire surface with scattered punctations. Sensillary basses situated at about the level of PL’s. Sensillae with 8 to 10 branches on distal half. Base of AM slightly posterior to the level of AL’s. Standard measurements of 6 specimens as follows:
AW PW SB ASB PSB AP AM AL PL Sens
65.1 67.5 27 29 15 25 37.2 39.7 42.1 61.8
Body. Dorsal setae 62 to 66, irregularly arranged. Two pairs of sternal setae, opposite coxae I & III respectively, ventral setae approximately 52, arranged in irregular rows; preanals shorter than sternals, postanals longer, resembling dorsal setae.
Legs. Coxae with scattered punctations. Coxae I & II with single branched setae; Coxae III with three branched setae. Sensory setae of legs summarized as follows:
Leg I: genu with 2 genualae; tibia with 2 tibialae; tarsus with spur, microspur (distal to the base of spur), subterminala, parasubterminala and pretarsala. Leg II: genu with one genuala; tibia with 2 tibialae; tarsus with spur, and pretarsala. Leg III: genu with one genuala; tibia with one tibiala.
Type locality. Holotype and 5 paratypes from Cricetulus longicaudatus, Tsinghai Province, July 1959.
This species is similar to Trombicula hirsuta Schluger in the shape of its scutum,and in having 3 plumose setae on the coxae III; but distinguished from hirsuta by having 2 sternal setae between coxae I and between the coxae II, one genuala on leg III, and by having pretarsala on legs I & II. |