Schoutedenichia nagpurensis Srivastva and Wattal, 1975

Schoutedenichia nagpurensis Srivastva and Wattal, 1975

( Figs. 20C, D View FIGURE 20 , 22 View FIGURE 22 , 23 View FIGURE 23 )

Diagnosis (based on new material). SIF = 4BS-N-3-2110.0000; fPp = B/B/NNB; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fsp = 7.7.7; fD = 4H-[8-4]-10-9-7+16, DS = 58, V = 49, NDV = 107; Ip = 760–806; scutum trapezoidal, with dense very small puncta; posterior scutal margin lightly concave, AM at level of ALs; PLs extrascutal; PL> AM = AL; sensilla widely fusiform; cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap and dorsal tooth; two wide, elongate, transversely striated areas situated between gnathocoxa and leg I coxae; microtarsala I ( ε) proximal to tarsala I ( ω); microtarsala II ( ε) proximal to tarsala II ( ω). Measurements are given in Table 9.

Redescription of larva (based on new material). IDIOSOMA ( Figs. 20C, D View FIGURE 20 , 22A, C, D, G–I View FIGURE 22 ). Eyes 2 + 2, on ocular plate; 58 barbed dorsal idiosomal setae, distribution by rows—4H-[8-4]-10-9-7+16; two sternal setae between coxae I and II and two between coxae III; 49 ventral setae; NDV = 107; two wide, elongate, transversely striated areas situated between gnathocoxa and leg I coxae.

GNATHOSOMA ( Fig. 22B, E, F View FIGURE 22 ). Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap and dorsal tooth; cheliceral base with sparse small puncta; gnathobase (infracapitulum) with sparse small puncta, bears one pair of branched tritorostral setae; galeal (deutorostral) seta nude; palpal claw (odontus) with three prongs; palpal femur with small puncta; palpal femoral and genual setae heavily branched; palpal tibial dorsal and lateral setae nude, ventral branched; palpal tarsus with four branched setae, nude short subterminala ( ζ), and tarsala ( ω).

SCUTUM ( Figs. 20C View FIGURE 20 , 22A View FIGURE 22 ). Trapezoidal, with dense very small puncta; posterior scutal margin lightly concave, anterior margin sinuous; AM at level of ALs; PLs extrascutal; PL> AM = AL; bases of sensilla (trichobothria) situated far anterior to level of PLs and close to lateral scutal margins; sensilla widely fusiform, densely covered by long triangular setules; AM and PLs barbed similarly to dorsal idiosomal setae, ALs covered by slightly longer barbs.

LEGS ( Fig. 23 View FIGURE 23 ). All seven-segmented (with divided femur), with one pair of claws and claw-like empodium. Sensory setae: Leg I: 2 genualae ( σ), microgenuala ( κ), 2 tibialae ( φ) in distal part of segment, microtibiala ( κ) near distal tibiala, tarsala I ( ω), famulus ( ε) proximal to tarsala, subterminala ( ζ), nude parasubterminala ( z), pretarsala ( ζ). Leg II: genuala ( σ), 2 tibialae ( φ) in tandem, tarsala ( ω), famulus ( ε) proximal to tarsala, pretarsala ( ζ). Leg III: genuala ( σ). Unspecialized setae (leg I, II, III): coxa 1, 1, 1; trochanter 1, 1, 1; basifemur 1, 2, 2; telofemur 5, 4, 3; genu 4, 3, 3; tibia 8, 6, 6; tarsus 22, 16, 15.

Distribution and hosts. This species was described from India, Maharashtra, Nagpur, ex Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout, 1769) , R. rattus (L., 1758), Mus musculus L., 1758, and Suncus murinus (L., 1766). Later it was recorded in Maharashtra, Pune district, and Orissa, Belangir district, ex five more species and subspecies of murid rodents and ex S. murinus ( Fernandes & Kulkarni 2003) . Here S. nagpurensis is for the first time reported on the African continent and on Micaelamys namaquensis .

Material examined. Six larvae ( ZIN 18460 View Materials , 18461 View Materials , 18462 View Materials , 18464–18466 View Materials ) ex Micaelamys namaquensis (Nos MgMn9, 16, and 20), South Africa, Western Cape, Muggefontein Farm , between Merweville and Fraserburg, Nama Karoo, 26 February 2024, coll. Alyssa Little.

Remarks. We found no differences between our material and the redescription of S. nagpurensis published by Fernandes & Kulkarni (2003).