Neotrombicula (Anamasticula) rhodesiana (Lawrence, 1949)

(Figs. 15D, 18)

Trombicula rhodesiana Lawrence, 1949: 440, fig. 26; Audy & Vercammen-Grandjean 1961: 132; Zumpt 1961: 139. Trombicula (Trombicula) rhodesiana: Wharton & Fuller 1952: 69.

Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) rhodesianum: Vercammen-Grandjean 1965b: 54.

Neotrombicula (Anamasticula) rhodesiana: Vercammen-Grandjean & Kolebinova 1985: 73.

Leptotrombidium rhodesianum: Stekolnikov 2018: 144.

Diagnosis. SIF = 7BS-N-3-3111.0000; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fPp = B/N/NNN; PL> AM> AL; fD = 2H-11-13- 12+13; DS = 51; V = 48; NDV = 99; scutum nearly pentagonal, with rounded posterior margin, without anterolateral shoulders; sensillary bases anterior to level of PLs by 3 µm; Ip = 725. Standard measurements are given in Table 8.

Redescription (holotype). IDIOSOMA (Figs. 15D, 18). Eyes 2 + 2, in ocular plate; 51 dorsal idiosomal setae, including one pair of humeral setae, covered with strong barbs, 11 setae in 1 st posthumeral row (C excluding humeral setae), 13 setae in 2 nd row (D), 12 setae in 3 rd row (E) plus 13 caudal setae; 4 sternal setae; 48 ventral setae; NDV = 99.

GNATHOSOMA. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap; cheliceral base, palpal femur, genu, and tibia with puncta, gnathobase with puncta and one pair of branched gnathocoxal (tritorostral) setae; galeal (deutorostral) seta nude; palpal claw with three prongs; seta on palpal femur branched; setae on palpal genu and tibia nude; palpal tarsus with 7 branched setae, subterminala (ζ) and tarsala (ω).

Note. *—according to worksheets from the personal archive of Vercammen-Grandjean deposited in MHNG; TaIIIL, TaIIIW, S 1

, and S 2

were measured on the drawing using the scale included in it.

SCUTUM (Figs. 15D, 18E). Nearly pentagonal, moderately covered with small puncta, anterior and lateral scutal margins almost straight, posterior scutal margin evenly arquate; AM posterior to level of ALs; sensillary (trichobothrial) bases anterior to level of PLs by 3 µm; scutal setae uniform with dorsal idiosomal setae; PL> AM> AL; sensilla (trichobothria) flagelliform, with ca. six branches in distal half.

LEGS. All 7-segmented, with 1 pair of claws and claw-like empodium. Unspecialized setae not counted completely. Leg I: coxa with one branched seta (1B); genu with 3 genualae (σ) and microgenuala (κ); tibia with 2 tibialae (φ) and microtibiala (κ); tarsus with tarsala (ω), microtarsala (ε) distal to tarsala, subterminala (ζ), parasubterminala (z), and pretarsala (ζ). Leg II: coxa 1B; genu with genuala (σ); tibia with 2 tibialae (φ); tarsus with tarsala (ω), microtarsala (ε) behind tarsala, and pretarsala (ζ). Leg III: coxa 1B; genu with genuala (σ); tibia with tibiala (φ); tarsus without mastitarsala.

Distribution and hosts. This species was described from Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia (currently Zimbabwe), ex Trachylepis margaritifera (syn. Mabuya quinquetaeniata margaritifer).

Material examined. Holotype larva, NM 4871, Matoppo Mts, S. Rhodesia, ex Mabuya 5-taeniata margaritifer, February 1947, collector unknown (Fig. 1, 28).

Remarks. I was unable to examine gnathosoma and legs in the holotype; therefore, their characters are given according to unpublished worksheets from the personal archive of Vercammen-Grandjean deposited in MHNG. As evident from the worksheets, Vercammen-Grandjean examined the holotype 6 August 1969, and he considered T. rhodesiana as a species of Neotrombicula (Neotrombicula) at that time.