Herpetacarus ( Abonnencia ) oubergensis Stekolnikov, 2025

Herpetacarus ( Abonnencia) oubergensis Stekolnikov , sp. nov.

( Figs. 14–16 View FIGURE 14 View FIGURE 15 View FIGURE 16 )

Diagnosis. SIF = 7B-N-3-2111.1100; fPp = B/B/NNN; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fsp = 7.7.7; fD = 2H-8-6(7)-6-6(7)- 6(4)+(2–6), DS = 34–42, V = 27–31, NDV = 62–73; Ip = 745–783; scutum nearly hexagonal, with small dense puncta, its posterior margin projected, slightly concave in center; sensillary bases at level of PLs or slightly anterior (PSB–P-PL from –1 to 3, mean 1) and much closer to lateral scutal margins than to each other; PL> AL> AM; sensilla clavate, covered with setules; microtarsala I ( ε) at level of tarsala I ( ω); microtarsala II ( ε) behind tarsala II ( ω); genualae II and III very long, definitely longer than genua; mastitarsala III nude or having one basal cilium. Measurements are given in Table 6.

Description of larva. IDIOSOMA ( Figs. 14 View FIGURE 14 , 15A–E View FIGURE 15 ). Eyes 2 + 2, on ocular plate; 34–42 densely barbed dorsal idiosomal setae, distribution by rows in holotype 2H-8-7-6-7-6-4-2, in two paratypes 2H-8-6-6-6-6(4)-2; two sternal setae between coxae I and II and two between coxae III; 27–31 ventral setae; NDV = 62–73.

GNATHOSOMA ( Fig. 15F, G View FIGURE 15 ). Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap and a small pointed medial tooth; cheliceral base with dense puncta in proximal part; gnathobase (infracapitulum) with small puncta, bears one pair of branched tritorostral setae; galeal (deutorostral) seta nude; palpal claw (odontus) with three prongs; palpal femoral and genual setae branched; palpal tibial setae nude; palpal tarsus with 7 unspecialized setae (from heavily branched to having few cilia or apparently nude) and tarsala ( ω).

SCUTUM ( Figs. 14A View FIGURE 14 , 15A View FIGURE 15 ). Nearly hexagonal, with small dense puncta, its posterior margin projected, slightly concave in center; AM slightly posterior to level of ALs; sensillary bases at level of PLs or slightly anterior (PSB–P-PL from –1 to 3, mean 1) and much closer to lateral scutal margins than to each other; PL> AL> AM; sensilla clavate, covered with wide triangular setules; all scutal setae barbed similarly to dorsal idiosomal setae.

LEGS ( Fig. 16 View FIGURE 16 ). 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), distal thicker, and microtibiala ( κ) in distal part of segment, thick tarsala ( ω), famulus ( ε) at level of tarsala, subterminala ( ζ), nude parasubterminala ( z), pretarsala ( ζ). Leg II: very long genuala ( σ); 2 tibialae ( φ) in tandem, very thin tarsala ( ω), famulus ( ε) behind tarsala, pretarsala ( ζ). Leg III: very long genuala ( σ), tibiala ( φ). Unspecialized setae (leg I, II, III): coxa 1, 1, 1; trochanter 1, 1, 1; basifemur 1, 2, 2; telofemur 5, 3, 4; genu 4, 3, 3; tibia 8, 6, 6 (including one nude mastitibiala); tarsus 22, 16, 15 (including one nude mastitarsala).

Type material. Holotype: larva ( ZIN 18383 View Materials ), ex Micaelamys namaquensis ( No. ObMn 02), South Africa, Western Cape, Ouberg Private Nature Reserve, near Montagu, Succulent Karoo , 6 November 2023, coll. Alyssa Little. Paratypes: three larvae ( ZIN 18364 View Materials , 18373 View Materials , and 18374) ex M. namaquensis (Nos ObMn05 and ObMn12), same locality, date, and collector .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality, the Ouberg Private Nature Reserve.

Differential diagnosis. The new species is similar to Herpetacarus ( Abonnencia) alticolus (Lawrence, 1951) , H. ( A.) africanus Vercammen-Grandjean, 1966 , and H. ( A.) octosetosus Stekolnikov and Matthee, 2019 , but differs from all these species in the absence of branched palpal tibial setae (fPp = B/B/NNN vs. B/B/NNB or B/B/BN(b)B). In addition, the new species differs from: 1) H. ( A.) octosetosus and H. ( A.) alticolus —by a wider scutum (AW = 66– 74 and PW = 80–88 vs. 57–60 and 70–76, respectively, in H. ( A.) octosetosus , vs. 48–50 and 67–68, respectively, in H. ( A.) alticolus ) and much longer genualae II and III (their length does not exceed the length of genu in H. ( A.) octosetosus and only slightly exceed it in H. ( A.) alticolus ); 2) from H. ( A.) africanus —by a shorter scutum (SD = 44–46 and AP = 24–27 vs. 55–59 and 29–37, respectively), shorter setae (AL = 37–38, PL = 46–50, and H = 38–40 vs. 51–57, 71–77, and 62–65, respectively), and shorter legs (TaIIIL = 70–77 vs. 83–85) ( Stekolnikov & Matthee 2019; Stekolnikov 2024a).