The genus Macrocheles Latreille (Acarina: Macrochelidae) in India. A new species associated with dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from Madhya Pradesh

2 Pages·1996·1.1 MB·

by  Ranjit Kumar Roy

576 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURALHIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 93(1996)
THE GENUS MACROCHELES LATREILLE (ACARINA: MACROCHELIDAE) IN INDIA. A
NEW SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH DUNG BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE)
FROM MADHYA PRADESH
1
Ranjit Kumar Roy2
(Withfour text-figures
)
Anewspecies ofMacrocheles(Latreille)namelybucephali, associatedwithHeliocoprisbucephalus(F.)
isdescribedfromJabalpur,MadhyaPradesh.
Introduction chelicera (Fig. 3) unidentate; fixed digit tridentate;
cheliceral dorsal seta thickened and serrated; cheli-
Through the courtesy of Dr. Y.N. Gupta,
ceral brush more than half the length of movable
Central Regional Station, Zoological Survey of
digit.
India, Jabalpur, a number ofHeliocoprisbucephalus
Approximate lengths of legs (excluding
(F.), all collected in Jabalpur, were received during
pretarsi): 1-400; 11-333; HI-303; IV-394. TarsusI(60)
an investigation on the systematics of macrochelid
longer than Tibia I (45). Tarsus II (Fig. 4) 90, Tibia
mites.Four females, lodged deep into thecoxae, were
II (75). Chaetotaxy of legs and palpi normal, genu
recovered from one of the beetles. The material
ofleg IV with six simple setae.
recovered proved to be females of a new species of
male: Unknown.
the genus Macrocheles Latr. This is the first report
Material examined: Holotype: female, India:
ofthe genus from Madhya Pradesh.
Madhya Pradesh: Jabalpur, ex Heliocopris
Types have been deposited in the Zoological
bucephalus (F.), 6. iv. 1985, YN. Gupta coll.;
Survey of India, Calcutta. Measurements given in
Paratypes: 3 females, same data as for holotype.
the text are in micrometres.
Remarks: M. bucephali sp. nov. seems to be
Macrocheles bucephali sp. nov. related toM. uroxysKimXz. The ornamentation ofthe
sternal shield (disposition of Imt.and arc.) in both
female (Figs. 1-4): Dorsal shield (Fig. 1) 727- l.
the species is similar. But the former can be easily
780 long, 379-424 wide, granulated and bearing 28
separated from the latter in the nature of dorsal
pairs of setae. Setae f and plumose distally,
j4 chaetotaxy. Dorsal setae simplein bucephaliexcept
remainder simple and pointed. j}
and with distal plumosity, while most ofthe dorsal
Sternal shield as broad as long and ornamented j4
setae are plumose in uroxys. Interestingly uroxys is
with punctate liniae, l.m.t distinct, other liniae as
. also a phoretic member ofMacrocheles described by
illustrated (Fig. 2); sternal setae simple and pointed.
Krantz (1983) found on sloth (Bradypus tridactylus
Genital shield truncated posteriorly and ornamented
L.) associated scarab beetles (Uroxys besti Ratcliffe)
with punctures; genital setae simple and pointed.
from Brazil. According to Ratcliffe (1980), sloth
Ventrianal shield 227-242 long, 227-242 wide,
(arboreal edentates) - associated scarabs utilise the
ornamented with punctate lines; ventrianal setae
sloth for shelter and dispersal, and feeding on sloth
simple.
dung.
Gnathosoma with six rows of deutosternal
denticles. Tectum not discernible. Movable digit of Acknowledgement
‘Accepted February 1996. — The kind courtesy ofDr. Y.N. Gupta, Central
This is the eighth paper in the series “Studies on Indian me
Regional Station, ZSI, Jabalpur in providing
Macrocheles.”
departmentofZoology, DibrugarhHanumanboxSurajmal Kanoi with the coleopteran material is gratefully
College, Dibrugarh-786 001, Assam, India. acknowledged.
Fig. 1-4. Dorsal shield; 2. Venter; 3. Chelicera; 4. Tarsus II
References
Krantz, G.W. (1983): Three new species of Macrocheles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) taken from
(Acari: Gamasida: Macrochelidae) associated with the pelage ofthree-toed sloths (Bradypus tridactylus
3-toed sloths, Bradypus spp. (Edentata: L.) (Edentata: Bradypodidae) in Central Amazonia
Bradypodidae), in Brazil and Surinam. Acarologia, withabriefcommentary on Scarab-slothrelationship.
24(1): 3-12. Coleop. Bull., 34(4): 337-350.
*Ratcliffe, B.C. (1980): New species of Coprini * not seen in original.