Schoutedenichia saturnia Stekolnikov, 2025

Schoutedenichia saturnia Stekolnikov , sp. nov.

( Figs. 24–26 View FIGURE 24 View FIGURE 25 View FIGURE 26 )

Diagnosis. SIF = 4BS-N-3-2110.0000; fPp = B/B/NNB; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fsp = 7.7.7; fD = [(7–9)-8]-10(8)- (8–10)+(14–21), DS = 53–55, V = 32–39, NDV = 87–94; Ip = 743–788; scutum trapezoidal, with dense small puncta; posterior scutal margin bilobate, with deep medial indentation; AM at level of ALs; AL = PL> AM; barbs of AL very long; sensilla globose, covered with setules; cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap; microtarsala I ( ε) proximal to tarsala I ( ω); microtarsala II ( ε) proximal to tarsala II ( ω). Measurements are given in Table 10.

Description of larva. IDIOSOMA ( Figs. 24 View FIGURE 24 , 25A, C–G View FIGURE 25 ). Eyes 2 + 2, on ocular plate; 53–55 barbed dorsal idiosomal setae, distribution by rows—[(7–9)-8]-10(8)-(8–10)+(14–21); two sternal setae between coxae I and II and two between coxae III; 32–39 ventral setae; NDV = 87–94.

GNATHOSOMA ( Fig. 25H–J View FIGURE 25 ). Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap; cheliceral base with sparse puncta; gnathobase (infracapitulum) with sparse puncta, bears one pair of branched tritorostral setae; galeal (deutorostral) seta nude; palpal claw (odontus) with three prongs; palpal femur and genu 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. 24A View FIGURE 24 , 25A, B View FIGURE 25 ). Trapezoidal, with dense small puncta; posterior scutal margin bilobate, with deep medial indentation; AM at level of ALs; sensillary bases anterior to level of PLs (PSB–P-PL = 2–6, mean 5) and closer to lateral scutal margins than to each other, semicircular crests go around them anteriorly; AL = PL> AM; sensilla globose, covered with setules; AM and PLs covered by much longer barbs than dorsal idiosomal setae, ALs covered by extremely long barbs.

LEGS ( Fig. 26 View FIGURE 26 ). 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, distal rod-like, striated, proximal setiform, 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 (distal rod-like, striated, proximal setiform), 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.

Type material. Holotype: larva ( ZIN 18313 View Materials , right lower specimen), ex Rhabdomys pumilio ( No. CsRp 68), South Africa, Western Cape, Stellenbosch, Fynbos , 6 January 2013, coll. Karlien Barnard. Paratypes: four larvae ( ZIN 18313 View Materials , left specimen; 18311; 18312, lower specimen; 18315, middle specimen) ex R. pumilio (Nos CsRp68, CsRp35, CsRp33, and CsRp9), same locality, date, and collector ; one larva ( ZIN 18448 View Materials ) ex Micaelamys namaquensis ( No. WbMn 12), South Africa, Western Cape, Witteberg Private Nature Reserve, near Laingsburg, Fynbos , 11 December 2023, coll. Alyssa Little.

Additional material. One larva ( ZIN 18646 View Materials ), ex Saccostomys campestris ( No. TwSc 2), South Africa, Western Cape, Touwsrivier , 27 January 2025, coll. Inge Raubenheimer.

Etymology. The specific epithet was created from the genus name Saturnia Schrank, 1802 ( Lepidoptera : Saturniidae ) and refers to the resemblance of AL setae in the new species with the wide plumose antennae of these moths.

Differential diagnosis. The new species is similar to Schoutedenichia goffi Fernandes and Kulkarni, 2003 by the very long barbs of ALs, shape of scutum, fPp = B/B/NNB, nude galeal seta, and by almost all morphometric and meristic traits ( Table 10), but differs in the presence of palpal subterminala, one seta on coxa III vs. 4(5), shorter AL (31–37 vs. 48–58; AL = PL vs. AL> PL), and in longer tarsala I (S 1 = 14 vs. 11; S 1 = S 2 vs. S 2 > S 1).