Aegyptobia gahnia Beard & Seeman, 2025, sp. nov.

Aegyptobia gahnia sp. nov. Beard & Seeman (Figs 6–14) Diagnosis. Adult female: as per genus and Aegyptobia macswaini species group, in addition to: body 2 times longer than wide; prodorsal, paired metanotal and pygidial shields developed; dorsal cuticle pattern of strong fine sulci; anterior margin of prodorsum smoothly rounded; dorsal setae not homogeneous in form with short setae centrally and much longer setae laterally and posteriorly; ventral plate not developed, region membranous; anal plates developed but membranous; ps setae inserted in a weak triangle; ps1–2 equal in length to g1–2, ps3 minute; metapodal plates not developed; trochanters 1-1-1-1 (n.b. v′ on tr I–II, IV; l′ on tr III); femora I–II 4-4; tarsi I–IV 9(1)-9(1)-5-5; femora I–III with seta d inserted dorsally, similar in form to posterior dorsal idiosomal setae; tarsal claws pad-like with a ventrally-directed claw-like structure. Material examined. Holotype. Female, Australia, Victoria, Ararat-Hall’s Gap Road, approx. 7 km E Hall’s Gap turn off, ex. thatch saw-sedge Gahnia radula (R.Br.) Benth. (Cyperaceae), 37°09’13.5”S 142°34’30.5”E, 02.iii.2015, J.J. Beard and C.J. Burwell (QM). Paratypes. 18 females, 6 males, 2 deutonymphs, 4 protonymphs, 1 larva, same data as holotype (QM). Description Adult female (8 measured). Dorsum. (Fig. 6) Body measurements: v2–h1 310–348 [332], sc2–sc2 140–161 [160], c3–c3 164–192 [188], f3–f3 111–122 [117]. Prodorsum with widely spaced longitudinal plicae over most of region, with large central area of smooth cuticle; multiple minute pores visible; anterior margin without projections or notches. Opisthosoma with pair of large, rounded, smooth mesonotal shields between setae c1 and c2; anterior margin opisthosoma with band of finely colliculate cuticle; with longitudinal plicae between c1 setae and laterad mesonotal shields; with broad band of widely spaced transverse sulci from d1 to level with e2; cuticle posterior to e2 much smoother, forming a weak pygidial shield with few longitudinal to oblique plicae; 2 pairs small pores present (mesad d2, posteromesad e2) and multiple minute pores visible. Dorsal setae barbed, variable in length, with setae along posterior margin long, thick, barbed. Setal measurements: v2 8–10 [10], sc1 13–16 [13–15], sc2 21–28 [27–28], c1 13–19 [14], c2 10–13 [12], c3 16–27 [16–19], d1 7–9 [8–9], d2 7–11 [10–11], d3 30–43 [37–38–33], e1 7 –9 [-], e2 8 –11 [10], e3 39 –51 [39–51], f2 10–13 [11], f3 49–62 [54–62], h1 38–46 [44–46], h2 42–62 [57–60]. Infracapitulum. (Fig. 6) Cuticle on dorsal infracapitulum with fine longitudinal plicae; infracapitular seta m present (10–12) [12]. Palps 5-segmented; palp tarsus small with solenidion (5–6) [5] and two eupathidia (4–5); femur and tibia each with single barbed dorsal seta (9–12) [10–12] and (11–12) [12] respectively. Venter. (Fig. 7A) Ventral cuticle entirely plicate. Anterior margin of prosternal cuticle between 1b–1b finely colliculate to finely rugose with longitudinal wrinkles laterally; cuticle 1b–1a smooth; cuticle 1a–3a finely colliculate with widely spaced transverse sulci, becoming much more strongly colliculate along lateral margin of body; cuticle between 3a and 4a with widely spaced longitudinal sulci (weak to strong); band of widely spaced transverse sulci posterior to 4a becoming small central region of broadly V-shaped to oblique sulci anterior to ag; ag–ag with fine to widely spaced transverse sulci; setae g1 and g2 long, barbed, inserted along posterior margin of mostly smooth oval genital flap; entire pregenital and genital region flanked by strong, widely spaced longitudinal sulci that form corrugate cuticle over most of posterior ventral opisthosoma. Small pore at anterior limit of coxae III (Fig. 7A, indicated by arrow). Ventral setae 1a, 1b, 2b, 2c, 3a, 4a fine, elongate (often broken and difficult to determine full length); setae g1, g2, ps1, ps2 long, thick, barbed; setae ps3 reduced, short, blunt (can be difficult to see). Setal measurements: 1a 55–80 [-], 1b 22–34 [22–25], 1c 14–16 [14], 2b 38–60 [-], 2c 49–80 [73], 3a 32–56 [32–37], 3b 15–22 [18], 4a 53–78 [78], g1 21–26 [22–25], g2 22–26 [22–23], ps1 19–24 [24], ps2 18–22 [22], ps3 2–3 [3]. Spermathecal apparatus. (Fig. 7B)An elongate, highly coiled, fine membranous duct terminating in a rounded membranous vesicle. Legs. (Fig. 8) Setal formulae for legs I – IV: cx 2-2-1-1, tr 1-1-2-1, fe 4-4-2-1, ge 3-3-1-0, ti 4-4-3-3, ta 9(1)- 9(1)-5-5. Leg chaetotaxy: cx I 1b, 1c; cx II 2b, 2c; cx III 3b; cx IV 4b; fe I–II d, l′, v′, bvʺ; fe III d, ev′, fe IV ev′; ge I–II d, l′, lʺ; ti I–II d, l′, v′, vʺ (lʺ absent); ti III–IV d, v′, vʺ; ta I–II ft′, ft″, tc′, tc″, p′ζ, pʺζ, u′, uʺ, ωʺ; ta III–IV ft′, tc′, tcʺ, u′, uʺ. Aberrations: one individual with l′ absent on one tr III, and a different seta absent on each genua II— d and l″. Tarsi I and II each with one abaxial solenidion ωʺ (5–7 [7], 5–6 [5–6], respectively) associated with a short companion seta ftʺ (12–16) [15], (9–13) [11] respectively; pair proral setae p′ζ, pʺζ inserted on small truncate tubercles (all 6–7). Some long, thick, barbed setae on legs segments: trochanter III seta l′ 22–27 [25]; femur I seta d 31–41 [41]; femur II seta d 25–34 [34], bv″ 32–39 [32]; femur III seta d 28–35 [35]; genu III seta d 23–30 [29]; tibiae seta d —ti I 50–56 [56], ti II 19–21 [20], ti III 18–29 [29], ti IV 25–38 [35]. Tectal setae on tarsi distinctly shaped—basal section broad with cluster of small barbs and single large barb approximately half way along seta after which becomes very fine (Fig. 8). The lateral true claws are pad-like with an acute ventrally-directed claw-like structure distally on pad, difficult to see clearly as obscured by the tenent hairs (Fig. 9B). The pads of the true claws have a finely toothed ventrolateral margin. Adult male (6 measured). Dorsum. (Fig. 10) Body measurements: v2–h1 201–212, sc2–sc2 134–141, c3–c3 147–162, f3–f3 52–66. Prodorsum with widely spaced longitudinal sulci over most of region, with large central area of smooth cuticle (anteriorly with extremely fine plicae, difficult to see); multiple minute pores visible in sublateral longitudinal row; anterior margin without projections or notches. Opisthosoma with large, transversely rectangular, smooth mesonotal shield-like region between setal pairs c2 and d2, with single pair minute pores in each anterolaterad corner; with longitudinal plicae laterad shield; with broad band of fine transverse sulci from d1 to e1; with smooth shield-like region between e1 and h1; with fine transverse plicae posterior to h1; body terminating in projecting anogenital valves that bear short ps1–2 and modified ps3. Dorsal setae barbed, variable in length, with setae along posterior margin long, thick, barbed. Setal measurements: v2 7–10, sc1 8–12, sc2 10–21, c1 9–16, c2 9–11, c3 14–19, d1 7–10, d2 8–13, d3 13–19, e1 7 –10, e2 7 –12, e3 23 –30, f2 9–14, f3 29–43, h1 21–31, h2 27–36. Infracapitulum. (Fig. 10) Cuticle on dorsal infracapitulum with fine longitudinal plicae; infracapitular seta m present (7–8). Palps 5-segmented; palp tarsus small with solenidion (5–6) and two eupathidia (4–5), femur and tibia each with single barbed dorsal seta (7–8) and (10–11) respectively. Venter. (Fig. 11A) Ventral cuticle entirely plicate. Anterior margin of prosternal cuticle between 1b–1b finely granulate with longitudinal plicae; cuticle 1b–1a smooth; cuticle 1a–3a finely colliculate with widely spaced transverse sulci, becoming much more strongly colliculate toward lateral margin of body; cuticle between 3a and 4a with weak fine longitudinal plicae; cuticle posterior to 4a with strong transverse plicae and sulci to genital setae and opening. Setae ps3 modified to form long, thick, blunt accessory genital stylets, inserted distally on short membranous projection flanked by projecting anogenital valves that bear short fine ps1–2 distally. Ventral setae very fine, often difficult to determine full length, especially setae 1a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 4a. Setal measurements: 1a 42–47, 1b 9–10, 1c 8–10, 2b 18–22, 2c 33–58, 3a 29–43, 3b 10–15, 4a 23–48, 4b 11–15, g1 10–12, g2 10–12, ps1 7–9, ps2 7–9, ps3 15–17. Aedeagus. (Fig. 11B) Sclerotised, elongate, narrowly subulate (68–70), with narrow membranous tube emerging from sclerotised section, termination not visible. Legs. (Fig. 12) Setal formulae and chaetotaxy same as adult female. Tarsi I and II each with only a single solenidion ωʺ (both 8), with an associated companion seta ftʺ (8–10, 6–8 respectively), and pair proral setae p′ζ, pʺζ inserted on small truncate tubercles (all 5–6). The proral setae on ta I–II have a distal elongate nipple. Some long, thick, barbed setae on legs segments: trochanter III seta l′ 12–19; femur I seta d 46–50; femur II seta d 31–42, bv″ 12–16; femur III seta d 22–39; genu III seta d 11–14; tibiae seta d —ti I 36–48, ti II 11–15, ti III 17–35, ti IV 22–37. The lateral true claws are pad-like with a broad ventrally-directed claw-like structure on pad, difficult to see clearly as obscured by the tenent hairs (Figs 9C–D, 12). Deutonymph (2 measured). Dorsum. Body measurements: v2–h1 292–301, sc2–sc2 129–134, c3–c3 158, f3–f3 95–111. Prodorsum with widely spaced longitudinal sulci over most of region, with large central area of faintly plicate and granulate cuticle; with transverse plicae between v2 and v2; 2 pairs minute pores visible; anterior margin without projections or notches. Opisthosoma with mostly transverse plicae; with longitudinal plicae laterad c2; cuticle posterior to e1 with arching plicae becoming longitudinal. Setal measurements: v2 7–14, sc1 13–24, sc2 22–29, c1 15–21, c2 12–31, c3 21–33, d1 7–11, d2 8–10, d3 25–27, e1 7 –9, e2 9 –11, e3 31 –42, f2 9–15, f3 33–42, h1 27–30, h2 33–43. Infracapitulum. Cuticle as in adults; infracapitular setae m (9–12). Palps 5-segmented; palp tarsus with solenidion (5–6) and two eupathidia (both 3–4); femur and tibia each with single dorsal barbed seta (both 9–10). Ve