identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
74DDAF7CBF0252A98693D958AEEB5607.text	74DDAF7CBF0252A98693D958AEEB5607.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Cruralonga gracilare (Womersley 1963) Shaw 2025	<div><p>Cruralonga gracilare (Womersley, 1963) comb. nov.</p><p>Neotrombidium gracilare Womersley, 1963 b p. 150; Australia; 1 ♀; Holotype; SAMA J 14200; Fig. Tree Cave, Wombeyan, New South Wales; 21 Aug. 1960; B. Dew leg.</p><p>Type-specimen.</p><p>Holotype adult, mounted on microslide in Hoyer’s medium. Original labels: “ Fig. Tree Cave / Wombeyan / 21-8 - 1960 / Det H. Womersley ”, “ LEEUWENHOEKIIDAE / ♀ / HOLOTYPE / Neotrombidium / gracilare n. sp. / Det H. Womersley ” .</p><p>Discussion.</p><p>Cruralonga gracilare is only known from postlarvae. The type locality is Fig. Tree Cave, New South Wales which is also the type locality for C. gracilipes . As suggested in its original description, C. gracilipes may be a junior synonym of C. gracilare .</p><p>The following characters are reasons for transfer of Neotrombidium gracilare to Cruralonga: anterior sensory area is long, blunt-ended and spade-shaped hence not short, broad and rounded as in typical adult Neotrombidium . The arrangement of setae in this species conforms to Nullarbor Cruralonga . For body setae, the median tine of triradiate setae is subequal to other tines. Coxa I bears a strong, angular, anteriorly-directed process arising from its anterodistal (prolateral) face. Legs of C. gracilare are substantially longer than other Neotrombidiidae, approaching the condition in Nullarbor Cruralonga (Table 2). The holotype was examined at SAMA and conforms to the genus diagnosis. The number of eyes could not be confirmed from the holotype however based on Womersley’s (1963 b) illustrations and description, Cruralonga gracilare comb. nov. supposedly differs from Cruralonga milnerii sp. nov. in retaining a pair of eyes on an ocular plate.</p><p>The species identity of specimens not from the type locality and other specimens recorded from New South Wales and Victoria (Hamilton 1967) will need examination including via recollection. Womersley (1963 b) states “ … South Australia in bat guano ” in a key for Neotrombidium gracilare, but “ South Australia ” is not mentioned elsewhere in publications, nor in Hamilton (1967). This comment is likely a lapsus for southern Australia, but if not, note that essentially all of the hypogean South Australian material described by Womersley is from karst areas of SE South Australia.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/74DDAF7CBF0252A98693D958AEEB5607	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Shaw, Matthew D.	Shaw, Matthew D. (2025): Neotrombidiidae (Acari, Trombidiformes) from Nullarbor caves, southern Australia including the apparently troglomorphic Cruralonga gen. nov. Subterranean Biology 53: 41-71, DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.53.139979
23648E49418A5696948DD2C73258E7E0.text	23648E49418A5696948DD2C73258E7E0.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Cruralonga gracilipes (Womersley 1963) Shaw 2025	<div><p>Cruralonga gracilipes (Womersley, 1963) comb. nov.</p><p>Neotrombidium gracilipes Womersley, 1963 a p. 473, Australia; 1 ♀; Holotype; larva; Fig. Tree Cave, Wombeyan, New South Wales; 21 Aug. 1960; B. Dew leg.; SAMA J 14199.</p><p>Type-specimen.</p><p>Holotype larva, mounted on microslide in Hoyer’s medium. Original labels: “ Fig. Tree Cave / Wombeyan / 21-8 - 1960 / Det H. Womersley ”, “ LEEUWENHOEKIIDAE / Neotrombidium / gracilipes sp. nov. / Det H. Womersley ” .</p><p>Description.</p><p>Sensilla with cilia along most of length. Cheliceral base 91. Coxa I and II, and their setae, obscured except for distalmost, external portions. Coxa III has a typical outline with a single long setae in internal angle. Where coxal cuticle is visible, it is seen through air spaces, and appears apparently, but probably not truly, as fine pitting. Other relevant details obscured. Womersley (1963 a) figure shows 62 dorsal setae.</p><p>Discussion.</p><p>This slide awaits careful remounting due to air spaces obscuring nearly all features (Fig. 23).</p><p>Singer (1971 a) commented on the “ unique palp chaetotaxy ” of N. gracilipes . However, the specimen did not appear to have been observed. Womersley’s (1963 a) figure clearly does not depict all the setae on palp tarsus and tibia. Helpfully, cavers are sampling from this cave and others in an attempt to recollect this species.</p><p>Neotrombidium gracilipes is transferred to Cruralonga gen. nov. based on its description matching details for the diagnosis of Cruralonga larvae given here. Separate names for larval ( N. gracilipes) and postlarval forms of Neotrombidium ( N. gracilare), both with types from Fig. Tree Cave, New South Wales were erected (Womersley 1963 a, b). However, unless reared or sequenced specimens can be matched with types, assessment of variation at the type locality may yet be required to resolve an outstanding question of possible synonymy. This example shows that heterospecificity is not an innocuous assumption when enacted formally without sufficient evidence.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/23648E49418A5696948DD2C73258E7E0	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Shaw, Matthew D.	Shaw, Matthew D. (2025): Neotrombidiidae (Acari, Trombidiformes) from Nullarbor caves, southern Australia including the apparently troglomorphic Cruralonga gen. nov. Subterranean Biology 53: 41-71, DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.53.139979
D2160CF4A6C25244B831D785BB9601A7.text	D2160CF4A6C25244B831D785BB9601A7.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Cruralonga milnerii Shaw 2025	<div><p>Cruralonga milnerii sp. nov.</p><p>Figs 4 - 16, 18 - 22</p><p>Holotype.</p><p>SAMA J 25686.</p><p>Type-locality.</p><p>Australia, South Australia, Cave 5 N-23, Yalata Indigenous Protected Area; 1 Dec. 2021 to 9 Mar. 2022, almost dark zone, ca. 20 m at 110 degrees from southernmost window; unbaited pitfall trap A; S. Milner, A. Stempel, M. D. Shaw leg.</p><p>Type-specimen.</p><p>Holotype • larva; SAMA J 25686; mounted on microslide in Hoyer’s medium; Original labels: “ NEOTROMBIDIIDAE / Cruralonga milnerii sp. nov. / Shaw, 2025 / Holotype / larva SAMA J 25686 ” “ South Australia, Cave 5 N-23 / Yalata Indigenous Protected / Area, almost dark zone / ca. 20 m at 110 degrees from / southernmost window / 1 Dec 2021 to 9 Mar 2022 / S. Milner, A. Stempel, M. Shaw / unbaited pitfall trap A / Yalata Bush Blitz 2021 ” .</p><p>Paratypes • SAMA J 25681; larva; Cave 5 N-12, Yalata Indigenous Protected Area; 30 Nov. 2021 to 10 Mar. 2022; dark zone, trap B, sardine-baited pitfall trap; Steve Milner, Andrew Stempel, Matthew Shaw leg. • SAMA J 25682; larva; Cave 5 N-22, Nullarbor Wilderness Protected Area, LH wall southside, ca 40 m from entrance lip; 29 Nov. 2021 to 6 Mar. 2022; Steve Milner, Andrew Stempel, Matthew Shaw leg.; pitfall trap A, sardine-baited; 19.8 degrees C, 73 % RH • SAMA J 25688; larva; Cave 5 N-111, east creekfed passage, Nullarbor Regional Reserve; 29 Nov. 2021; MSLITTER 287; live extract of sediment in desiccating funnel, Matthew Shaw leg. • specimen E 4; Cave 5 N-23; female, same data as for holotype .</p><p>Mentioned material.</p><p>• SAMA J 25680; morphotype female; Cave 5 N-111, Nullarbor Regional Reserve, twilight zone, SE passage where stream channel occasionally flows; 30 Nov. 2021 to 9 Mar. 2022; Steve Milner, Andrew Stempel, Matthew Shaw leg., unbaited pitfall trap C • SAMA J 25683 morphotype female, Cave 5 N-22, Nullarbor Wilderness Protected Area, 29 Nov. 2021 to 6 Mar. 2022, S. Milner, A. Stempel, M. D. Shaw leg., Pitfall trap A, sardine-baited, LH wall southside, ca. 40 m from entrance lip, 19.8 degrees, 73 % RH • SAMA J 25684 morphotype female, same data as for preceding • SAMA J 25685 morphotype female, same data as for preceding • SAMA J 25687 Cave 5 N-253, Nullarbor Regional Reserve, M. D. Shaw 2 Dec. 2021, MSLITTER 263, live extraction of cave sediment from desiccating funnel.</p><p>Description of larvae.</p><p>Dorsum: Length and width of idiosoma 430 (430–508) × 300 (234–300) (n = 4) in these unfed larva. Colour unknown, all larvae colourless when examined after six months in preserving fluids. Dorsal setation 2.4. 6.6. 6.2. The anterolateral borders of the scutum distinct, straight, lateral edges indistinct in holotype J 25686 (Figs 5, 6). A slightly concave suture clearly delineates the anterior projecting portion (nasus) from remainder of scutum. This region has a well-rounded convex anterior edge. Anterior region superficially appears as a distinct shieldlet in J 25682. Scutum with mild porosity in posterior half. The longitudinal axis of the scutum features a rod or band of subsurface sclerotization. The edges of this rod appear densely pocked and irregular (Fig. 5). AM setae 40, AL setae 55, PL scutal setae 31. Sensilla long, filiform, mostly nude, bearing sparse array of short cilia in distal quarter. Ocular plate separate to scutum, two eyes, posterior eye smaller.</p><p>Gnathosoma: Elongate palp, palp genu approximately twice as long as wide. Minute tibial claw (8) with bifid claw-like tip. Palpal formula (fPp) is B. B. 3 B. 6 BS. Palp tarsus with subterminala, tarsala and 6 long branched setae (ca. 35). Lateral walls of gnathobase with sparse punctations only observed at 1000 ×, medial areas glabrous (Fig. 7). Cheliceral base long, slender, blade barely curved, almost straight (Fig. 8). Galeal setae nude, curved (17).</p><p>Venter: No sclerotized plaques or valves around anal opening. Neotrichy absent.</p><p>Legs (Figs 9 – 14): Coxa I and II with coxal setae emerging antero-distally. Coxa III with setae emerging antero-basally. First sternal setae placed laterally at mid-level between coxa I and II. Ventral surface coxae I (Fig. 9) and posterodistad sections of coxa III (Fig. 10) with foveolate ornamentation composed of irregularly-shaped pores. Coxa II with sparse fine pores, no ornamentation.</p><p>Leg I: Tr (1 n) – bFe (2 n) – bFe (4 θ, 5 n) – Ge (1 κ, 3 σ, 4 n) – Ti [1 κ, 2 φ, 8 n] – Ta (1 ω, 1 ε, 24 n).</p><p>Leg II: Tr (1 n) – Fe (6 θ, 6 n) – Ge (4 σ, 5 n) – Ti (2 φ, 6 n) – Ta (1 ω, 22 n).</p><p>Leg III: Tr (1 n) – Fe (5 θ, 6 n) – Ge (3 σ, 5 n) – Ti (1 φ, 6 n) – Ta (23 n).</p><p>A famulus (ε, 3 µm) on tarsus I was detected on J 25682 (Fig. 13).</p><p>Legs terminate in single smooth falcate claws. Claws lack fine hairs (onychtriches) or remnants of these. Claw III is less hooked than anterior claws, curve shallower (Fig. 14).</p><p>Description of adults.</p><p>Adult female Cruralonga milnerii as per genus diagnosis with following additional features.</p><p>Dorsum: Idiosoma without constriction in sejugal plane in mounted specimens (Fig. 15). Dense covering of triradiate setae each borne on a low tubercle. Medial tine of setae subequal in diameter to lateral branches and slightly longer. Each seta inserts in the middle of a faintly-outlined oval-shaped platelet with fine punctations, observable where the dense covering of body setae removed (Fig. 16). Network of threads lying near the surface level of cuticle observed as an irregular mesh-like ornamentation lying between platelets. Crista elongate (Table 2), 13 wide. Anterior portion of crista a spade-shaped terminus with three pairs of setae laterally (in C. milnerii type series and all other examined Nullarbor Cruralonga, Fig. 17). Setae on crista are triradiate setae, except anteriormost pair are setulae, lacking lateral branches. Posterior eyes absent. Each anterior eye fused posteriorly with a rugose sclerotized area, considered a modified ocular plate (Fig. 18).</p><p>Gnathosoma: Palp claw simple, not bearing accessory setae (Fig. 19). Setulae surrounding claw slightly thickened. Palp tarsus longer than claw. Cheliceral base very long; cheliceral blade almost straight, directed forward.</p><p>Venter: Length of centrovalves similar to epivalves. Genital region of most specimens not observable due to dense obscuring body setae directed over this area. Epivalves densely covered with setulae with length and thickness matching triradiate body setae but lacking lateral branches. J 25680 shows 7 setulae on each centrovalve (Fig. 20). Two pairs of long, narrow oval genital acetabula. Anal valves membranous, each bearing ca. 12 setulae (Fig. 21).</p><p>Legs: Coxa I to IV with foveolate ornamentation. Anterior internal angle of coxa I strongly modified as an angular anteriorly-directed process (Fig. 22). Paired claws smooth, claws reduced on tarsus I. Legs bear setulose setae only. Leg measures in Table 2.</p><p>Etymology.</p><p>For Dr Steve Milner whose knowledge, physical efforts and material inputs were vital to access these caves. The epithet is a noun in the genitive case. (Article 11.9.1.3, International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature 1999).</p><p>Discussion.</p><p>Cruralonga milnerii larvae exhibit distinctive elongate chelicerae and palps. These features were observed in all other Nullarbor Cruralonga too. Three larvae of C. milnerii sp. nov. were recovered from three nearby caves approximately 12 km apart. In two cases, larvae were co-collected with adult Cruralonga specimens indistinguishable from the C. milnerii adult from the type locality. These adults are tentatively identified as morphotype adults of C. milnerii . While conspecificity is suggested here as a preliminary hypothesis to support further investigation, this approach carries significant uncertainty. More data is required to test species limits and requires validation with additional larval specimens or molecular evidence.</p><p>Assuming monospecificity of heteromorphic life stages based on co-occurrence can also be problematic. Southcott (1957) reported adults of the epigean N. barringunense and N. neptunium from eucalypt tree trunks at the same locality, and elsewhere noted assuming monospecificity could be “ perilous ” (Southcott 1954; 1961 p. 502). For related insights, see remarks for Neotrombidium folium sp. nov.</p><p>A distinctive sclerotized rod or band lying beneath the scutum, and marking its longitudinal axis, was observed in C. milnerii (Figs 5, 6) and is also reported for Monunguis streblida . However, this feature is not reported for Neotrombidium species. Larvae retain the posterior eye as do all other known Neotrombidiidae, however mounted adult Nullarbor Cruralonga lack this.</p><p>The tagname “ Neotrombidium YALBB sp 10 ” was used in Shaw (2022) to refer to all Nullarbor cave Neotrombidiidae collected during the Yalata Bush Blitz but is now known to encompass two distinct genera as described herein.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/D2160CF4A6C25244B831D785BB9601A7	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Shaw, Matthew D.	Shaw, Matthew D. (2025): Neotrombidiidae (Acari, Trombidiformes) from Nullarbor caves, southern Australia including the apparently troglomorphic Cruralonga gen. nov. Subterranean Biology 53: 41-71, DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.53.139979
0B0296B5B6C45C8CA881B29A1A0BB055.text	0B0296B5B6C45C8CA881B29A1A0BB055.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Cruralonga Shaw 2025	<div><p>Cruralonga gen. nov.</p><p>Type-species.</p><p>Cruralonga milnerii sp. nov.</p><p>Included species.</p><p>C. milnerii sp. nov., C. gracilipes comb. nov. (Womersley 1963 a), C. gracilare comb. nov. (Womersley 1963 b).</p><p>Larvae diagnosis.</p><p>Scutum with straight anterolateral edges, not concave, edges not concealed by overlapping epicuticle. Anterior region of scutum moderately broad. AL setae longer than AM and PL scutal setae. Long filiform sensilla (90 or greater, up to 168 µm) and bearing only few cilia in distal quarter. Without neotrichy in Cruralonga milnerii and moderate hypertrichy in C. gracilipes (62 dorsal setae). Palps slender, palp genu elongate, more than 1.5 times genu width. Palp tibial claw bifid (and highly reduced in C. milnerii). Basal cheliceral segment long (ca. 90 or more), narrow. Cheliceral blade long, weakly curved. Leg segmentation 7.6. 6. Urstigmata sessile against posterolateral margin of coxa I at least in Nullarbor Cruralonga . Coxa I separated from coxa II by a region of soft epicuticle. Ventral face of coxa I and III with conspicuous foveolate ornamentation. All legs elongate,&gt; 500 µm, slender, with tarsus length to width ratio of 8 to 12 (Table 1). Single claw on all tarsi.</p><p>Adult diagnosis.</p><p>Idiosoma long and narrow with constriction in sejugal plane (between leg II and III), weak or entirely absent. Idiosoma densely clothed in triradiate (also termed trident) body setae. Median branch of body setae not expanded. Crista long to very long. Posterior projection of crista absent. Sensilla filiform, elongate, with short cilia, mostly in distal quarter, anterior area of crista elongate, spade-shaped bearing three or more pairs of tectal setae along lateral edges. Palp claw simple without accessory setae. Basal cheliceral segment elongate&gt; 240. Cheliceral blade long, weakly curved. Genital region with two elongate oval acetabula. Ventral face of all coxa with foveolate ornamentation. Legs long and slender, tarsus I length to width ratio ranges from 3.3 to 6.9 (Table 2).</p><p>Etymology.</p><p>Crura is Latin for legs, specifically shanks, and is neuter in gender. The Latin adjective longa means long with feminine gender. As a whole name, Cruralonga is treated as neuter as per the convention with genus names ending in “ - a ”.</p><p>Discussion.</p><p>For larvae, dorsal setation of Cruralonga spp. is mildly to moderately neotrichous (24–62). Neotrombidium spp . have 40 seta or less, whereas Monunguis is highly neotrichous with an average of 136 dorsal seta. The palp genu of Cruralonga is more elongate (L&gt; 1.5 W) than Monunguis whose length is &lt;1.5 × width. Both Cruralonga and Monunguis, even when unfed, have coxa I and II spaced apart and unlike typical unfed Neotrombidium . Cruralonga and Neotrombidium share 7.6. 6 leg segmentation, whereas Monunguis femur I is not divided (6.6. 6). Legs of Cruralonga larvae are ca. twice the length found in other neotrombidiid larvae. For adults, while the body size of Cruralonga is similar to Neotrombidium spp, the chelicerae, scutal elements, palps and legs are much longer. Previously the ornamentation on coxae, here described as foveolate, has been referred to as mosaic-screened porosity (Lindquist and Vercammen-Grandjean 1971). This phrase is appealing and conveys unusual microsculpturing but the concept of a mosaic screen in this context may not be understood. Foveolate is suggested as a possible alternative, admitting that this ornamentation is less regular than standard examples of foveolate cuticle in entomology and botany.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0B0296B5B6C45C8CA881B29A1A0BB055	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Shaw, Matthew D.	Shaw, Matthew D. (2025): Neotrombidiidae (Acari, Trombidiformes) from Nullarbor caves, southern Australia including the apparently troglomorphic Cruralonga gen. nov. Subterranean Biology 53: 41-71, DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.53.139979
B170D1382A7656ED9A0029EB50611B8A.text	B170D1382A7656ED9A0029EB50611B8A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neotrombidium folium Shaw 2025	<div><p>Neotrombidium folium sp. nov.</p><p>Figs 24 –32</p><p>Holotype.</p><p>SAMA J 25676.</p><p>Type-locality.</p><p>Australia, 1 larva; South Australia, Cave 5 N-257, Nullarbor Regional Reserve; 27 Nov. 2021 to 7 Mar. 2022; Steve Milner, Andrew Stempel, Matthew Shaw leg.; dark zone, on loose flakes and stones fallen from roof; sardine-baited propylene glycol-filled ramp trap, trap A; Bush Blitz 2021 Yalata; in folded wing under elytra of Brises sp.</p><p>Type-specimen.</p><p>Holotype larva, mounted on microslide in Hoyer’s medium. Original label: “ South Australia, Cave 5 N-257 / Nullarbor Regional Reserve / dark zone, on loose flakes &amp; / stones fallen from roof, in / folded wing of Brises sp. / 27 Nov 2021 to 7 Mar 2022 / S. Milner, A. Stempel, M. Shaw / baited ramp trap A / Bush Blitz 2021 Yalata ” .</p><p>Description.</p><p>Dorsum: One engorged larva, idiosoma 713 L × 563 W (Fig. 24). The anterior section of the scutum expanded laterally, hyaline, leaf-like (Fig. 26). Maximum width 93. AM setae 50 long. Sensilla moderately long 77, filiform, with short, distinct cilia along most of length. Dorsal setae in regular rows as 2.4. 6.6. 8.4. Standard measurements are given in Table 1.</p><p>Gnathosoma: Short, broad, palp segments (Fig. 27). Palp genu compact, length (16.9) similar to width (16.7). Hypostomal setae branched, 48 long. Gnathobase wall with fine punctuations on lateral edges. Palpal formula (fPp) is B. N. 3 N. 5 B 2 NS. Palp tibia with 3 setae, all nude, the dorsal seta (near tibial claw), a stout rod 8 long. Palp tarsus bearing 7 branched and 2 nude setae plus subterminala and tarsala. Palpal tibia spur bifid, with subequal broad and somewhat flattened tines, not claw-like, ventral tine broader and rounded.</p><p>Legs: Leg segmentation 7.6. 6, with femur I divided. Coxa I triangular in outline, internal width reduced and heel-like, external width produced (Fig. 28). Coxa I and III ornamented, irregularly foveolate (Figs 28, 29). Coxa II with pitting only (Fig. 28). Coxa I and II setae positioned apically. Coxa II seta a curved pointed spur (27 µm, Fig. 28). Coxa III with seta positioned anterobasally. Coxa I and II separated by their own width in this engorged specimen. Many leg segments with internal ring-like thickening. All tarsal claws borne on stalk-like apices. All claws shaped as shallow curves, not strongly hooked or falcate.</p><p>Leg I: Tr (1 n) – bFe (2 n) – tFe [2 θ (proximodorsal 17, distodorsal 20), 5 n (3 d, 2 v)] – Ge [4 σ, (distodorsal 14, two proximodorsal 14, distoventral 21), 1 κ (thorn-like microgenuala 5), 5 n] – Ti [2 φ (proximodorsal 20, distodorsal 19), 7 n (including distodorsal mastiseta 39)] – Ta [1 ω (mid-dorsal 15), ca 18 n (including fine, mostly smooth mastiseta 33)].</p><p>Leg II: Tr (1 n) – Fe (2 θ, 6 n) – Ge (1 σ, 1 κ, 4 n) – Ti [2 φ, 7 n (including fine, mostly smooth mastiseta 45)] – Ta [1 ω, 1 ε (stout famulus, 4), 20 n].</p><p>Leg III: Tr (1 n) – Fe (2 θ, 6 n) – Ge (1 σ, 4 n) – Ti (1 φ, 6 n) – Ta (16 n).</p><p>Etymology.</p><p>Folium is Latin singular nominative for leaf and refers to the anterior section of the scutum. Gender: neuter, standing in apposition to the generic name (article 11.9.1.2., International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature, 1999).</p><p>Discussion.</p><p>This record is the first neotrombidiid from a troglophilic beetle, and the only known host for an Australian neotrombidiid. This specimen was found easily during a rapid search under the elytra of ca. 20 specimens of the many Brises sp. ( Tenebrionidae) collected during cave pitfall trapping. It was loose in a fold of the wings – so its precise attachment site is unknown, and might be the wing itself, rather than dorsal cuticle. Two Neotrombidium species have been recorded from, and even attached to wings (Lindquist and Vercammen-Grandjean 1971).</p><p>Apart from Monunguis parasitizing streblid flies, most host records for Neotrombidiidae are beetles inhabiting subcortical habitats, including species from families such as Cerambycidae, Cleridae, Elateridae, and Tenebrionidae . Two Neotrombidium species were attached to the tarsi of carabid beetles in Iran (Noei et al. 2017).</p><p>Additional tenebrionid host records are the subcortical Alobates sp. ( Tenebrionidae), parasitized by Neotrombidium tenebrione Lindquist and Vercammen-Grandjean, 1971, from Washington, D. C., and by the highly similar Neotrombidium beeri Singer, 1971 a, from Kansas. Notably, Singer (1971 b) successfully reared N. beeri nymphs to adulthood by feeding with eggs of Tenebrio molitor .</p><p>Coxae I and II being well separated (Fig. 28) might initially argue against the placement of N. folium sp. nov. within Neotrombidium, given the emphasis on this character in early literature. However, in N. khanjanii Noei, Hasanvand, and Saboori (2017), engorged specimens also exhibit well-separated coxae. For N. khanjanii and N. folium, separation might result from the synthesis of new cuticle during engorgement (cf. neosomy, Audy et al. 1972).</p><p>The expanded anterior region of the scutum of Neotrombidium folium appears unique. The form of the scutum highlights and extends the scutal variability known for the Trombidioidea . For Neotrombidiidae, scutal features to consider are to be AM setal insertions on an anterior projection, and in many cases the projection having a discernible posterior border, as a groove or suture, that marks the boundary between the projecting region and the remainder of the scutum, in various Neotrombidium spp and in Cruralonga milnerii sp. nov. (Fig. 5). The anterior projection in Leeuwenhoekiinae have AM setae inserted on the main part of scutum, not on the projection (nasus). I am not aware of Leeuwenhoekiinae where there is a line or groove delineating these two regions. These differences in form and position may not have been considered using homology criteria.</p><p>The distinctive characters of N. folium sp nov., viewed without a phylogenetic perspective, might be assumed to represent a generic novelty. Apparent taxonomic distance does not necessarily translate to robust systematic placement however. A straightforward count of branched setae on the legs closely matches those of Neotrombidium species, for instance the number of branched / normal seta on femora matches 7.6. 6 (Lindquist and Vercammen-Grandjean 1971). The numerous sensory setae (e. g. leg I – III have genualae as 4.2. 1) while an increase compared to Neotrombidium, could even be autapomorphic features evolved as troglomorphic adaptations. If a new genus is proposed now, there is only a single, difficult, specimen which would become the type species. It would be more rewarding for researchers to use the leads provided here and study more material before embarking on further systematic revision.</p><p>The type locality of N. folium sp. nov. is a relatively simple cave of tiny volume and ca. 25 m across in its maximum dimension. Superficially, it seemed lifeless, dry and stony. We considered not placing traps at all. Yet remarkably two genera of Neotrombidiidae co-occur here. In addition to N. folium, the same ramp trap yielded two Cruralonga females (SAMA J 25677, J 25678). Candidates for postlarvae of N. folium remain uncollected.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B170D1382A7656ED9A0029EB50611B8A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Shaw, Matthew D.	Shaw, Matthew D. (2025): Neotrombidiidae (Acari, Trombidiformes) from Nullarbor caves, southern Australia including the apparently troglomorphic Cruralonga gen. nov. Subterranean Biology 53: 41-71, DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.53.139979
