Scleriacarus gilberti Beard & Seeman, 2025, sp. nov.

Scleriacarus gilberti sp. nov. Beard & Seeman (Figs 30–39) Material Examined. Holotype. Female, Australia, Queensland, Rungulla National Park, in a small ravine at the edge of a spinifex plateau, 48.3 km south of the Ranger Station and airstrip, 19°34’13”S 143°29’09”E, ex. Scleria sphacelata F. Muell. (Cyperaceae), 08.v.2022, J.J. Beard. Paratypes. 6 females, 3 males, 1 larva, same data as holotype; 3 females, 4 males, 2 protonymphs, 3 larvae, along a small gully beside a spinifex plateau, Rungulla National Park, 26.1 km SSE of the Ranger Station and airstrip, 19°21’35’’S 143°32’35”E, ex. S. sphacelata (Cyperaceae), 04.v.2022, J.J. Beard; 7 females, 3 males, 2 deutonymphs, open woodland, Rungulla National Park, 28.7 km south of the Ranger Station and airstrip, 19°23’14’’S 143°31’31”E, ex. S. sphacelata (Cyperaceae), 09.v.2022, J.J. Beard, M.D. Barrett & G. Turpin; 2 females, 1 male, 1 deutonymph, 1 protonymph, along a wooded rocky ridgeline near a creek, Rungulla National Park, 32.1 km SSE of the Ranger Station and airstrip, 19°24’21’’S 143°34’32”E, ex. S. sphacelata (Cyperaceae), 11.v.2022, J.J. Beard. Other material examined. 12 females, 8 males, 4 deutonymphs, same data as holotype; 14 females, 3 males, along a small gully beside a spinifex plateau, Rungulla National Park, 26.1 km SSE of the Ranger Station and airstrip, 19°21’35’’S 143°32’35” E, ex. S. sphacelata (Cyperaceae), 04.v.2022, J. J. Beard; 5 females, 2 males, 3 deutonymphs, open woodland, Rungulla National Park, 28.7 km south of the Ranger Station and airstrip, 19°23’14’’S 143°31’31” E, ex. S. sphacelata (Cyperaceae), 09.v.2022, J. J. Beard, M. D. Barrett & G. Turpin. All material in QM. Diagnosis. As per genus, in addition to: dorsal idiosoma mostly smooth with few longitudinal sulci, folds or plicae. Male dorsum with defined metanotal and pygidial regions; solenidion ω′ on tarsi I–II elongate, inserted proximoventrally. Larva with elongate flagellate h2 setae. Description Adult female (19 measured) Dorsum. (Figs 30–31) Body measurements: v2–h1 207–248 [219], sc2–sc2 96–105 [100], c3–c3 96–108 [100], f2–f2 57–69 [57]. Prodorsal and opisthosomal shields weakly developed, with few longitudinal plicae and mostly unornamented cuticle. Anterior margin of prodorsum with median forked projection forming a notch (6–17) [8]. Several pairs of minute pores often visible on opisthosoma (posteromesad c3 and d3, anterolaterad e1, posterolaterad e1). Dorsal setae all short, smooth, thick acicular, with blunt rounded tips. Setal measurements: v2 5–7 [6], sc1 6–8 [6], sc2 5–8 [6], c3 4–7 [4–5], d1 5–8 [5], d3 4–7 [4–5], e1 4 –7 [5], e3 4 –7 [5], f2 5–7 [5], f3 5–8 [5–6], h1 4–8 [4–5], h2 4–10 [6]. Infracapitulum. (Fig. 30) Cuticle appears smooth; infracapitular setae m (8–11) [8–9]. Palps 3-segmented; palp tarsus with two phaneres (both 5–6), femur-genu-tibia with two setae (dorsal 7–10 [7], ventral 5–7 [6]). Venter. (Fig. 32A) Ventral cuticle with weak fine striae and plicae of various patterns: longitudinal plicae between setae 1b–1a and on coxae I–II; transverse plicae between setae 1a–3a; widely spaced longitudinal plicae between setae 3a to 4a1–4a2; region of fine transverse striae between setae 4a–ag; few longitudinal plicae on genital flap. Setae g1 inserted just anterior to g2 on genital flap. Most ventral setae short, fine, smooth; except setae 1a and 4a1–2 elongate, fine, and often broken. Setae 4a secondarily multiplied to 4a1 and 4a2. Setae ps3 often obscured within lateral folds of genital opening; large oval pore on body margin laterad anal opening (if body flattened, pore appears posterolaterad dorsal seta f3 (Fig. 31)). Setal measurements: 1a 74–110 [74], 1b 13–18 [13], 1c 13–19 [15], 2b 15–21 [15], 2c 13–20 [17], 3a 11–17 [11], 3b 14–18 [14], 4a1 46–97 [90], 4a2 47–76 [67], 4b 13–17 [17], ag 8–12 [9], g1 10–17 [10], g2 12–17 [13], ps2 4–7 [5], ps3 5–11 [8–9]. Spermathecal apparatus. (Fig. 32B) Elongate elliptic vesicle visible (9–15 [12] long, 2–3 [2–3] wide). Legs. (Fig. 33) Setal formulae for legs I – IV: cx 2-2-1-1, tr 1-1-1-0, fe 4-4-2-2, ge 2-2-0-0, ti 5-5-3-3, ta 7(1)- 7(1)-5-5 respectively. Leg chaetotaxy: cx I 1b, 1c; cx II 2b, 2c; cx III 3c; cx IV 4b; tr I–III v′, tr IV nude; fe I–II d, l′, v′, bvʺ; fe III–IV d, ev′; ge I–II l′–lʺ, ge III–IV nude; ti I–II d, l′, lʺ, v′, vʺ; ti III–IV d, v′, vʺ; ta I–II ft′, tc′, p′ζ, pʺζ, u′, uʺ, ωʺ; ta III–IV ft′, tc′, tcʺ, u′, uʺ. No setae are added to the legs in this stage. Tarsi I and II each with one abaxial solenidion ωʺ (7–9 [8], 6–8 [7–8], respectively); seta ft′ elongate with minute distal club (25–33 [30], 21–25 [23], respectively); pair proral setae p′ζ, pʺζ inserted on minute cuneiform tubercles (7–8, 6–7, respectively); setae ft″ and tcʺ absent. Setae ft′ inserted on small tubercles. Femora I–II with dorsal seta d broad, barbed; tibiae I–II with an elongate dorsal seta d (22–25 [24], 18–21 [19], respectively). Tarsal claws and empodia all pad-like. Adult male. (11 measured) Dorsum. (Fig. 34) Body measurements: v2–h1 155–181, sc2–sc2 79–92, c3–c3 75–88, f2–f2 37–49. As in female, dorsal cuticle with few longitudinal plicae and mostly unornamented. Anterior margin of prodorsum with median forked projection forming a notch (4–8). Dorsal opisthosoma divided into mesonotal and pygidial shields. Dorsal setae all short, smooth, thick acicular, with blunt rounded tips. Setae h2 can appear inserted ventrally. Setal measurements: v2 5–7, sc1 5–7, sc2 5–7, c3 4–6, d1 5–6, d3 4–6, e1 5 –6, e3 4 –7, f2 5–7, f3 5–7, h1 5–6, h2 7–10. Infracapitulum. (Fig. 34) Cuticle appears smooth; infracapitular setae m (7–9). Palps 3-segmented; palp tarsus with two phaneres (both 5), femur-genu-tibia with two setae (dorsal 6–9, ventral 5–6). Venter. (Fig. 35) Ventral cuticle with some weak fine plicae and smooth regions; with band of widely spaced transverse striae posterior to coxae IV; with few longitudinal plicae surrounding setae ag to anogenital region. Setae g1 inserted just anterior to g2 on anterior margin of anogenital opening. Most ventral setae short, fine, smooth; except setae 1a and 4a1–2 elongate, fine, and often broken. Setae 4a secondarily multiplied to 4a1 and 4a2. Setae ps3 often obscured within lateral folds of anogenital opening; modified into thick, curved accessory genital stylets. Setae ps3 obscured under posterior extension of genital opening. Setal measurements: 1a 66–87, 1b 10–14, 1c 11–14, 2b 13–19, 2c 13–17, 3a 9–13, 3b 11–16, 4a1 56–80, 4a2 47–58, 4b 10–14, ag 8–11, g1 12–15, g2 12–15, ps2 5–7, ps3 6–8. Aedeagus. (Fig. 36) Sclerotised, elongate, subulate (38–45), with narrow membranous tube emerging from sclerotised section and terminating in a cuneiform or cone-shaped membranous vesicle. Legs. (Fig. 37) Setal formulae same as adult female except ta I–IV with solenidion ω′ present, 8(2)-8(2)-6(1)- 6(1); ω′ inserted strongly ventroproximally along adaxial margin of tarsi. Tarsi I and II each with two solenidia (ta I adaxial ω′ 15–17, abaxial ωʺ 6–7; ta II adaxial ω′ 17–19, abaxial ωʺ 6–7); seta ft′ elongate, with minute distal club (24–28, 19–21, respectively); pair proral setae p′ζ, pʺζ inserted on minute cuneiform tubercles (3–4 on both tarsi); setae ft″ and tcʺ absent. Tarsi III and IV each with adaxial solenidion (10–13, 11–14, respectively). Femora I–II with dorsal seta d broad, barbed; tibiae I–II with an elongate dorsal seta d (19–24, 16–19, respectively). Deutonymph. (3 measured) Dorsum. Body measurements: v2–h1 180–212, sc2–sc2 81–92, c3–c3 86–97, f2–f2 37–50. Prodorsal and opisthosomal shields weakly developed, with smooth cuticle; with median notch in anterior margin (4–8). Prodorsum with a few arching striae that form a weak ring; opisthosoma with broad transverse striae to level with setae d1, and with smooth cuticle from setae e1 to h1. Dorsal setae as in adults. Setal measurements: v2 5–6, sc1 5–6, sc2 4–6, c3 4–6, d1 5–6, d3 5–6, e1 4 –5, e3 4 –5, f2 4–5, f3 5–6, h1 4–5, h2 5–7. Infracapitulum. Cuticle as in adults; infracapitular setae m (5–8). Palps 3-segmented; palp tarsus with two phaneres (both 5–5); femur-genu-tibia with two setae (dorsal 7, ventral 5–6). Venter. Ventral cuticle difficult to discern, with patterns of fine plicae; longitudinal plicae between 1b–1a, transverse plicae 1a–ag, and longitudinal plicae ag–ps setae. Ventral setae as in adults. Setal measurements: 1a 57–59, 1b 12–13, 1c 11–13, 2b 12–14, 2c 12–14, 3a 9–11, 3b 10–11, 4a1 32–52, 4b 8–9, ag 7–9, g1 7–8, ps2 4–6, ps3 6–8. Legs. Setal formulae and chaetotaxy for legs I – IV same as adult female. Tarsi I and II each with one abaxial solenidion ωʺ (5–6, 5, respectively); elongate seta ft′ with minute distal club (25–26, 19–20, respectively); pair proral setae p′ζ, pʺζ (5–6 on both tarsi). Tibiae I–II with an elongate dorsal seta (17–20, 14–17, respectively). This is the final stage in which setae are added to the legs: setae 2b are added to coxae II; v′ added to trochanters I–II; l′ added to femora I–II; l″ added to genua I–II; tc′–tc″ added to tarsus IV. Protonymph. (3 measured) Dorsum. Body measurements: v2–h1 156–173, sc2–sc2 79–87, c3–c3 79–85, f2–f2 35–42. Prodorsal and opisthosomal shields weakly developed, with smooth cuticle; with median notch in anterior margin (7–10). Prodorsum with a few arching plicae; opisthosoma with broad transverse plicae to level with setae e1, and with smooth cuticle from setae e1 to h1. Dorsal setae as in adults. Setal measurements: v2 4–6, sc1 4–6, sc2 4–5, c3 3–4, d1 4–5, d3 4, e1 3 –4, e3 3 –4, f2 3–5, f3 4–5, h1 3–5, h2 7–10. Infracapitulum. Cuticle as in deutonymph; infracapitular setae m (5–6). Palps 3-segmented; palp tarsus with two phaneres (both 4); femur-genu-tibia with two setae (dorsal 5–6, ventral 4–5). Venter. Ventral cuticle as in deutonymph. Setal measurements: 1a 41–56, 1b 10–11, 1c 8–9, 2c 9–11, 3a 8–9, 3b 8–10, ag 7–9, ps2 3–5, ps3 4–6. Legs. Setal formulae for legs I – IV: cx 2-1-1-0, tr 0-0-1-0, fe 3-3-2-2, ge 1-1-0-0, ti 5-5-3-3, ta 7(1)-7(1)-5