A new species and a new record of the genus Cunaxa von Heyden (Prostigmata, Cunaxidae) from Saudi Arabia, with a key to the world species

Biodiversity Data Journal 13: e174602 doi: 10.3897/BDJ.13.e174602 Taxonomy & Inventories A new species and a new record of the genus Cunaxa von Heyden (Prostigmata, Cunaxidae) from Saudi Arabia, with a key to the world species Nasreldeen Ahmed Elgoni , Jawwad Hassan Mirza , Fahad Jaber Alatawi ‡ Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Corresponding author: Fahad Jaber Alatawi ([email protected]) Academic editor: Michael Skvarla Received: 11 Oct 2025 | Accepted: 01 Dec 2025 | Published: 15 Dec 2025 Citation: Elgoni N, Mirza J, Alatawi F (2025) A new species and a new record of the genus Cunaxa von Heyden (Prostigmata, Cunaxidae) from Saudi Arabia, with a key to the world species. Biodiversity Data Journal 13: e174602. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.13.e174602 ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E7045298-60A2-4378-8C69-C727B138F045 Abstract Background The members of the genus Cunaxa von Heyden, known as free-living predators, feed on small arthropods and invertebrates in soil. The genus comprises more than 70 described species reported from different regions around the world. In this study, a new species, C. acaciae sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on females, and C. womersleyi Baker and Hoffmann is reported as a new record to the cunaxid mite fauna of Saudi Arabia. New information A new species of the genus Cunaxa von Heyden, C. acaciae sp. nov., is described and illustrated, based on females collected from soil under Acacia sp. (Fabaceae). In addition, C. womersleyi Baker and Hoffmann is reported as new to the cunaxid mite fauna of Saudi Arabia. An updated key to the species of the genus Cunaxa is provided. ‡ ‡ ‡ © Elgoni N et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Keywords Alhasher Mountain, diversity, mites, taxonomy, womersleyi Introduction The species of the genus Cunaxa von Heyden (Prostigmata, Cunaxidae) are cosmopolitan, free-living predators that feed on small arthropods and invertebrates such as nematodes in soil (Skvarla et al. 2014, Laniecka et al. 2021, Chen et al. 2023). Cunaxa is considered amongst the most diverse genera in the subfamily Cunaxinae, represented by more than 70 described species (Skvarla et al. 2014, Kalúz and Ermilov 2023, Khaustov and Khaustov 2024, Mirza et al. 2025). Skvarla et al. (2014) updated the diagnosis of Cunaxa and provided a key to 44 species known till that time. Later, Kalúz and Ermilov (2023) provided the key to 68 Cunaxa species. Since then, five additional species have been described: Chen et al. (2023) described two species from China, two species from Russia by Khaustov and Khaustov (2024) and one species from Saudi Arabia (Mirza et al. 2025). Previously, only seven Cunaxa species were reported from Saudi Arabia (SA): C. arabica Mirza, Kamran and Alataw; C. capreolus (Berlese), C. clusus Bashir and Afzal; C. jatoiensis Bashir and Afzal; C. leuros Bashir, Afzal, Ashfaq, Akbar and Ali; C. pantabanganensis Corpuz-Raros and Garcia; and C. setirostris (Hermann) ( Hermann 1804, Berlese 1887, Corpuz-Raros and Garcia 1995, Bashir and Afzal 2006, Bashir and Afzal 2009, Bashir et al. 2010, Alatawi and Kamran 2017, Mirza et al. 2025). In the present study, a new species, Cunaxa acaciae sp. nov., is described and illustrated, based on females collected from the soil under Acacia sp (Fabaceae). Additionally, C. womersleyi Baker and Hoffmann (Baker and Hoffmann 1948), is reported as new to the cunaxid mite fauna of SA. Subsequently, an updated key to the known species of the genus is provided. Materials and methods Soil debris under Acacia sp. was processed through Berlese-Tullgren funnels to collect mites. The specimens were mounted directly in Hoyer’s medium on glass slides under a stereomicroscope (SZX10, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) and were identified under a phase contrast microscope (DM2500, Leica, Wetzlar, Germany). The species was identified by following the key published by Kalúz and Ermilov (2023) and compared with other species described later. The images of different body parts were captured by using an auto-montage software system (Syncroscopy, Cambridge, UK). These images were used as templates and illustrated by Adobe Illustrator (Adobe System Inc., San Jose, CA, USA). The terminology and setal nomenclature of the venter follows Den Heyer (1981); the dorsal and anal setae follow Skvarla et al. (2014); the palp chaetotaxy follows Khaustov (2020) and the leg chaetotaxy follows Grandjean, overviewed by Norton (1977) and applied to Cunaxidae by Khaustov (2020). The holotype measurements for the 2Elgoni N et al morphological features are provided as a single value followed by those of the paratypes in parentheses as ranges. All measurements are given in micrometres (μm). All specimens of new species and new record have been deposited in the King Saud University Museum of Arthropods (KSMA), Acarology section, Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Abbreviations asl, attenuate solenidion; bsl, blunt-ended solenidion; bbsl, blunt bulbous solenidion; eup eupathidium; sts, simple tactile seta; dt, tibial trichobothrium. Tr, trochanters; BFe, basifemora; TFe, telofemora; Ge, genu; Ti, tibia; Ta, tarsus. Taxon treatments Cunaxa acaciae sp. nov. • ZooBank AE488DA4-9EBC-4D18-A6B3-197538358700 Materials Holotype: a. scientificName: Cunaxa acaciae; kingdom: Animalia; phylum: Arthropoda; class: Arachnida; order: Prostigmata; family: Cunaxidae; genus: Cunaxa; country: Saudi Arabia; stateProvince: Jazan; locality: Alhasher Mountain; verbatimCoordinates: 17°28.252'N 43°2.095'E; decimalLatitude: 17.47087; decimalLongitude: 43.03491; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; samplingProtocol: Soil collection; eventDate: 23/2/2025; habitat: Acacia sp.; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: adult; catalogNumber: KSMAAS25-Cun-Cun-H; recordedBy: E.M. Khan, N.A. Elgoni and H.M.S. Ali; identifiedBy: Nasreldeen Ahmed Elgoni; dateIdentified: 2025; language: en; collectionCode: Mites; basisOfRecord: Slide Mounted Specimen; occurrenceID: C3872FF1-4DB0-55BB-8D66-E6D8E0455FEA Paratypes: a. scientificName: Cunaxa acaciae; kingdom: Animalia; phylum: Arthropoda; class: Arachnida; order: Prostigmata; family: Cunaxidae; genus: Cunaxa; country: Saudi Arabia; stateProvince: Jazan; locality: Alhasher Mountain; verbatimCoordinates: 17°28.252'N 43°2.095'E; decimalLatitude: 17.47087; decimalLongitude: 43.03491; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; samplingProtocol: Soil collection; eventDate: 23/2/2025; habitat: Acacia sp.; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: adult; catalogNumber: KSMAAS25-Cun-Cun-P1; recordedBy: E.M. Khan, N.A. Elgoni and H.M.S. Ali; identifiedBy: Nasreldeen Ahmed Elgoni; dateIdentified: 2025; language: en; collectionCode: Mites; basisOfRecord: Slide Mounted Specimen; occurrenceID: B8FB4949-5C28-590B-BA05-6F1ABF425230 b. scientificName: Cunaxa acaciae; kingdom: Animalia; phylum: Arthropoda; class: Arachnida; order: Prostigmata; family: Cunaxidae; genus: Cunaxa; country: Saudi Arabia; stateProvince: Jazan; locality: Alhasher Mountain; verbatimCoordinates: 17°28.252'N 43°2.095'E; decimalLatitude: 17.47087; decimalLongitude: 43.03491; A new species and a new record of the genus Cunaxa von Heyden (Prostigmata, ... 3 georeferenceProtocol: GPS; samplingProtocol: Soil collection; eventDate: 23/2/2025; habitat: Acacia sp.; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: adult; catalogNumber: KSMAAS25-Cun-Cun-P2; recordedBy: E.M. Khan, N.A. Elgoni and H.M.S. Ali; identifiedBy: Nasreldeen Ahmed Elgoni; dateIdentified: 2025; language: en; collectionCode: Mites; basisOfRecord: Slide Mounted Specimen; occurrenceID: 88C540C2-0794-5C5C-A83D-D24915B26837 c. scientificName: Cunaxa acaciae; kingdom: Animalia; phylum: Arthropoda; class: Arachnida; order: Prostigmata; family: Cunaxidae; genus: Cunaxa; country: Saudi Arabia; stateProvince: Jazan; locality: Alhasher Mountain; verbatimCoordinates: 17°28.252'N 43°2.095'E; decimalLatitude: 17.47087; decimalLongitude: 43.03491; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; samplingProtocol: Soil collection; eventDate: 23/2/2025; habitat: Acacia sp.; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: adult; catalogNumber: KSMAAS25-Cun-Cun-P3; recordedBy: E.M. Khan, N.A. Elgoni and H.M.S. Ali; identifiedBy: Nasreldeen Ahmed Elgoni; dateIdentified: 2025; language: en; collectionCode: Mites; basisOfRecord: Slide Mounted Specimen; occurrenceID: 1EC49FF6-E208-5E86-818B-0D9E7308CD3B d. scientificName: Cunaxa acaciae; kingdom: Animalia; phylum: Arthropoda; class: Arachnida; order: Prostigmata; family: Cunaxidae; genus: Cunaxa; country: Saudi Arabia; stateProvince: Jazan; locality: Alhasher Mountain; verbatimCoordinates: 17°28.252'N 43°2.095'E; decimalLatitude: 17.47087; decimalLongitude: 43.03491; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; samplingProtocol: Soil collection; eventDate: 23/2/2025; habitat: Acacia sp.; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: adult; catalogNumber: KSMAAS25-Cun-Cun-P4; recordedBy: E.M. Khan, N.A. Elgoni and H.M.S. Ali; identifiedBy: Nasreldeen Ahmed Elgoni; dateIdentified: 2025; language: en; collectionCode: Mites; basisOfRecord: Slide Mounted Specimen; occurrenceID: 22390B26-2630-554B-BD59-5900B17804D6 e. scientificName: Cunaxa acaciae; kingdom: Animalia; phylum: Arthropoda; class: Arachnida; order: Prostigmata; family: Cunaxidae; genus: Cunaxa; country: Saudi Arabia; stateProvince: Jazan; locality: Alhasher Mountain; verbatimCoordinates: 17°28.252'N 43°2.095'E; decimalLatitude: 17.47087; decimalLongitude: 43.03491; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; samplingProtocol: Soil collection; eventDate: 23/2/2025; habitat: Acacia sp.; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: adult; catalogNumber: KSMAAS25-Cun-Cun-P5; recordedBy: E.M. Khan, N.A. Elgoni and H.M.S. Ali; identifiedBy: Nasreldeen Ahmed Elgoni; dateIdentified: 2025; language: en; collectionCode: Mites; basisOfRecord: Slide Mounted Specimen; occurrenceID: 9DE5BCEA-B5A3-57EB-8802-7A889DD41D9B f. scientificName: Cunaxa acaciae; kingdom: Animalia; phylum: Arthropoda; class: Arachnida; order: Prostigmata; family: Cunaxidae; genus: Cunaxa; country: Saudi Arabia; stateProvince: Jazan; locality: Alhasher Mountain; verbatimCoordinates: 17°28.252'N 43°2.095'E; decimalLatitude: 17.47087; decimalLongitude: 43.03491; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; samplingProtocol: Soil collection; eventDate: 23/2/2025; habitat: Acacia sp.; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: adult; catalogNumber: KSMAAS25-Cun-Cun-P6; recordedBy: E.M. Khan, N.A. Elgoni and H.M.S. Ali; identifiedBy: Nasreldeen Ahmed Elgoni; dateIdentified: 2025; language: en; collectionCode: Mites; basisOfRecord: Slide Mounted Specimen; occurrenceID: 0D9182E0-12E5-59A5-AC0D-F1E13403EC45 Description Female (n = 7). 4Elgoni N et al Idiosoma length 464 (428–493); idiosoma width 361 (324–349). Dorsum (Fig. 1). Propodosomal shield with transverse striae medially and diagonal striae laterally, 107 (90–98) long, 172 (171–174) wide, bearing two pairs of trichobothria (at and pt), two pairs of tactile setae (lps and mps). Setae lps near pt, pt 1.24–1.3 times longer than at, mps 1.6 times longer than lps. Hysterosomal shield 164 (136–140) long, 221 (205–207) wide, bearing four pairs of setae c, c, d, e. Setae f and h on minute sclerotised platelets. Cupules ip inserted in integument between setae e and f. Lateral integument with longitudinal striae, area posterior to hysterosomal shield with transverse striae. Length of setae as follows: at 221 (210– 213), pt 295 (289–296), lps 16 (13–15), mps 26 (21–22), c 28 (23–25), c 23(19–20), d 26 (20–21), e 26 (23–25), f 54 (48–53), h 56 (53–54). Distance between setae: at-at 23 (21–23), pt-pt 134 (123–128), lps-lps 131 (123–125), mps-mps 44 (39–44), lps-mps 46 (41–44), at-lps 67 (61–64), pt-mps 43 (38–39), pt-lps 16 (13–15), at-mps 71 (62–64), at-pt 85 (75–79), c-c 74 (74–75), c-c 205 (187–189), d-d 90 (84– 89), e-e 102 (91–96), f-f 74 (69–74), h-h 41 (36–39), c-c 67 (59–60), c-d 67 (62–66), c-d 69 (59–62), d-e 61 (61–62), e-f 67 (92–92), f-h 49 (49–54). Venter (Fig. 2). Ventral integument striated. Coxae I–II and III–IV contiguous, each with striations; coxae III–IV with additional reticulation elements, intercoxal area with simple longitudinal striae, areas anterior and posterior ag with transverse and longitudinal striae, respectively. All ventral setae smooth. Cupules ih and setae h inserted in integument. Epimeral formula: 3(1a, 1b, 1c)-1(2b)-3(3b, 3c, 3d)-2(4b, 4c); 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 Figure 1. Cunaxa acaciae sp. nov., Female, Dorsum. Scale bar 100 μm.  A new species and a new record of the genus Cunaxa von Heyden (Prostigmata, ... 5 two pairs of intercoxal setae 3a 25 (23–25), 4a 30 (25–26); three pairs of aggenital setae ag 25 (21–26), ag 26 (22–24) and ag 25 (23–25); genital plates 54 (52–54) long, 33 (31–35) wide, genital plates with four pairs of setae (g–g), g 25 (20–26), g 25 (21–25), g 33 (21–26) and g 31 (25–26); one pair of h, 26 (23–26) long; and one pair of pseudanal setae ps 16 (15–18) long. Gnathosoma. Palp (Fig. 3a) five-segmented, all segments with simple setae. Chaetotaxy: trochanter without setae; basifemur with 1 sts; telofemur with 1 dorsal sts and hook-shaped apophysis; genu with 2 sts and 1 spls; tibiotarsus with 4 sts, 1 stout rod-like seta and one claw. Chelicera (Fig. 3b). Length of chelicera 108 (102–106). Subcapitulum (Fig. 4) 118 (114–115) long, 65(58–64) wide, with longitudinal pitted striations; four pairs of setae hg –hg and two pairs of adoral setae ads 5 (5–6), ads 4 (4–5). Length of hypognathal setae hg 16 (15–16), hg 15 (15–16), hg 21 (17–19) and hg 30 (32–33). Legs (Fig. 5). Leg I 341 (330–343); leg II 331 (328–337); leg III 339 (337–342); leg IV 354 (351–354). Chaetotaxy: Tr I–IV: 1-1-2-1 sts; BFe I–IV: 4 sts-4 sts-3 sts-1 sts; TFe I–IV: 4 sts-4 sts-4 sts-4sts; Ge I with 1 bsl (σ4), 3 asl (σ1– 3){1 asl (σ1), 1 sts}, 4 sts; Ge II with 2 asl (σ1–2), 5 sts; Ge III with 1 asl (σ), 5 sts; Ge IV with 1 asl (σ), 5 sts; Ti I with 2 asl (φ1–2), {1 asl (φ1), 1 sts}, 4 sts; Ti II with 1 asl (φ), 5 sts; Ti III with 1 bsl (φ), 5 sts; Ti IV with 1 dT, 4 sts; Ta I with 4 asl (ω2–5), 1 dtsl (ω1), 24 sts;Ta II with 1 bsl (ω3), 1 dtsl ( ω1), 1 asl (ω2), 24 sts; TaIII with 1 asl (ω), 20 sts; TaIV with 20 sts. 1 2 3 1 4 1 2 3 4 2 1 1 4 1 2 1 2 3 4 Figure 2. Cunaxa acaciae sp. nov., Female, Venter. Scale bar 100 μm.  6Elgoni N et al Males and immature stages. Not found. Diagnosis Propodosomal shield with transverse striae medially and diagonal striae laterally, hysterosomal shield with transverse striae; coxa IV with two setae; area anterior and posterior setae h transversely striated. 1 Figure 3. Cunaxa acaciae sp. nov., Female, a. Palp; b Chelicera. Scale bar 50 μm.  Figure 4. Cunaxa acaciae sp. nov., Female, Subcapitulum. Scale bar 50 μm.  A new species and a new record of the genus Cunaxa von Heyden (Prostigmata, ... 7 Etymology The species name (acaciae) is derived from the genus Acacia, from which the type specimen was collected (collected from soil under Acacia). Remarks:The species Cunaxa acaciae sp. nov. is closely related to the C. capreolus (Berlese) and C. bagualensis Wurlitzer and Ferla (in Wurlitzer et al. (2022)) by having basifemora I, III and IV with 4, 3 and 1 sts., four pairs of setae c, c, d, e on the hysterosomal shield, pedipalp telofemoral apophysis hooked. However, C. acaciae sp. nov. can be distinguished from C. bagualensis by propodosomal shield with transverse striae medially and diagonal striae laterally, hysterosomal shield with transverse striae (vs. both dorsal shields smooth); integument surrounding propodosomal shield anteriorly and laterally striated (vs. smooth without striae); area anterior and posterior setae h striated (vs. smooth without striae); lateral region of hysterosomal shield covered with longitudinal striae (vs. lateral region of hysterosomal shield with smooth area) in C. bagualensis. The new species is distinguished from C. capreolus by: propodosomal shield with transverse striae medially and diagonal striae laterally, hysterosomal shield with transverse striae (vs. propodosomal and hysterosomal shields smooth); coxa IV with two setae (vs. with one seta) in C. capreolus. 1 2 1 1 1 Figure 5. Cunaxa acaciae sp. nov., Female, a Leg I; b Leg II; c Leg III; d Leg IV. Scale bar 100 μm.  8Elgoni N et al Cunaxa womersleyi Baker & Hoffmann, 1948 Materials a. scientificName: Cunaxa womersleyi; kingdom: Animalia; phylum: Arthropoda; class: Arachnida; order: Prostigmata; family: Cunaxidae; genus: Cunaxa; country: Saudi Arabia; stateProvince: Jazan; locality: Faifa; verbatimCoordinates: 17°15.123'N 43°6.352'E; decimalLatitude: 17.25204; decimalLongitude: 43.10587; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; samplingProtocol: Soil collection; eventDate: 23/2/2025; habitat: Soil under Ziziphus sp.; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: adult; catalogNumber: KSMAAS25-CunCun-1; recordedBy: E.M. Khan, N.A. Elgoni and H.M.S. Ali; identifiedBy: Nasreldeen Ahmed Elgoni; dateIdentified: 2025; language: en; collectionCode: Mites; basisOfRecord: Slide Mounted Specimen; occurrenceID: DF202137-485D-5933-8988-56DD21B8847B b. scientificName: Cunaxa womersleyi; kingdom: Animalia; phylum: Arthropoda; class: Arachnida; order: Prostigmata; family: Cunaxidae; genus: Cunaxa; country: Saudi Arabia; stateProvince: Jazan; locality: Faifa; verbatimCoordinates: 17°15.123'N 43°6.352'E; decimalLatitude: 17.25204; decimalLongitude: 43.10587; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; samplingProtocol: Soil collection; eventDate: 23/2/2025; habitat: Soil under Ziziphus sp.; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: adult; catalogNumber: KSMAAS25-CunCun-2; recordedBy: E.M. Khan, N.A. Elgoni and H.M.S. Ali; identifiedBy: Nasreldeen Ahmed Elgoni; dateIdentified: 2025; language: en; collectionCode: Mites; basisOfRecord: Slide Mounted Specimen; occurrenceID: B1680152-5BF1-5E95-829D-CEF3E31D8DBA c. scientificName: Cunaxa womersleyi; kingdom: Animalia; phylum: Arthropoda; class: Arachnida; order: Prostigmata; family: Cunaxidae; genus: Cunaxa; country: Saudi Arabia; stateProvince: Jazan; locality: Faifa; verbatimCoordinates: 17°15.123'N 43°6.352'E; decimalLatitude: 17.25204; decimalLongitude: 43.10587; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; samplingProtocol: Soil collection; eventDate: 23/2/2025; habitat: Soil under Ziziphus sp.; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: adult; catalogNumber: KSMAAS25-CunCun-3; recordedBy: E.M. Khan, N.A. Elgoni and H.M.S. Ali; identifiedBy: Nasreldeen Ahmed Elgoni; dateIdentified: 2025; language: en; collectionCode: Mites; basisOfRecord: Slide Mounted Specimen; occurrenceID: 69E2FD80-1DAC-50A7-8A62-4D26C055B14D d. scientificName: Cunaxa womersleyi; kingdom: Animalia; phylum: Arthropoda; class: Arachnida; order: Prostigmata; family: Cunaxidae; genus: Cunaxa; country: Saudi Arabia; stateProvince: Jazan; locality: Faifa; verbatimCoordinates: 17°15.123'N 43°6.352'E; decimalLatitude: 17.25204; decimalLongitude: 43.10587; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; samplingProtocol: Soil collection; eventDate: 23/2/2025; habitat: Soil under Ziziphus sp.; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: adult; catalogNumber: KSMAAS25-CunCun-4; recordedBy: E.M. Khan, N.A. Elgoni and H.M.S. Ali; identifiedBy: Nasreldeen Ahmed Elgoni; dateIdentified: 2025; language: en; collectionCode: Mites; basisOfRecord: Slide Mounted Specimen; occurrenceID: 0A5C3D35-22B3-5B25-94C0-1933DF501408 Remarks:The Saudi population of C. womersleyi is morphologically similar to the original description of the species (Baker and Hoffmann 1948). Distribution Mexico (Baker and Hoffmann 1948), Taiwan (Tseng 1980), USA (Smiley 1992), Saudi Arabia (present study). A new species and a new record of the genus Cunaxa von Heyden (Prostigmata, ... 9 59 Setae c-h approximately equal in length; Africa C. hermanni Den Heyer – Setae c-e half as long as f and h; Greece C. thessalica Sionti and Papadoulis 60 Palpal telofemoral apophyse short, uncinate, triangular or stubby 61 – Palp telofemoral apophysis longer, finger-like 65 61 Palpal telofemoral apophysis uncinate; Pakistan C. lodhranensis Bashir and Afzal – Palp telofemoral apophysis other 62 62 Palp telofemora with small sharply terminated triangular apophysis; the Philippines C. luzonica Corpuz-Raros and Garcia –Palp telofemoral apophysis cone-like, stubby, bluntly terminated 63 63 Telofemora I–IV 5–5–4–4; each dorsal seta situated on small platelet; the Philippines C. minidiscondyla CorpuzRaros, Naredo and Garcia – Telofemora I–IV 4–4–4–4; dorsal setae not on small platelets 64 64 Genua I–IV setal formula 1 asl, 6 sts-7–6–6; all dorsal hysterosomal setae short, not reaching bases of following setae; the Philippines C. pantabanganensis Corpuz-Raros and Garcia – Genua I–IV setal formula 2 asl, 6 sts–7–6–6; very long all dorsal hysterosomal setae reach well beyond following setae; USA C. mageei Smiley 65 Coxae I–IV 3–1–4–3; Africa, Zambia C. mukuni Laniecka and Kazmiersk – Coxae I–IV 3–1–3–2 66 66 Propodosomal shield smooth; Africa C. potchensis Den Heyer – Propodosomal shield striated 67 67 Setae f, h spiculate; Africa, Somalia C. gazella (Ewing) – Setae f, h smooth 68 68 Trochanters I–IV 1–1–1–1; Madagascar C. corpuzrarosae Kalúz and Starý 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 16 Elgoni N et al – Trochanters I–IV 1–1–2–1 69 69 Dorsal propodosomal shield fully striated; setae c, f, h smooth and twice longer than other hysterosomal setae; USA C. neogazella Smiley – Dorsal propodosomal shield partially covered by broken striae; f smooth and twice longer than other hysterosomal setae; Brazil C. butantorum Wurlitzer and Rocha 70 Palp telofemur with short uncinate apophysis; Pakistan C. doxa Chaudhri – Palp telofemur with long cylindrical finger-like apophysis 71 71 Basifemora I–III 4–4–4 sts; the Philippines C. cogonae Corpuz-Raros and Garcia – Basifemora I–III 4–4–2 sts 72 72 Medial hysterosomal shield present; Brazil C. jacobdenheyeri Wurlitzer and Silva – Medial hysterosomal shield absent 73 73 Homogenous striation on dorsal central hysterosoma; at and pt finely setose in proximal part and strongly setose in distal part; Ta I–IV 19–20–17–12 sts; Hungary C. minuta Laniecka and Kazmierski – Different (wider) striation on dorsal central hysterosoma; at and pt strongly setose; Ta I–IV 23–23–23–22 sts; Crimea, Ukraine C. heterostriata Khaustov and Kuznetsov 74 Basifemur III with 4 sts; tips of mps overstepping bases of pt; Mexico C. evansi Smiley –Basifemur III with 6 sts; tips of mps not reaching bases of pt; Africa C. grobleri Den Heyer Discussion In the present study, Cunaxa acaciae sp. nov. is described and illustrated, based on females, and C. womersleyi Baker and Hoffmann 1948 is reported as new to the cunaxid mite fauna of SA. An updated key to the species of the genus Cunaxa is provided. Additionally, notes on the validity of the three cunaxid species described by Shiba (1984) are added. The absence and presence of the hysterosomal shield were found to be a significant feature to categorise species of the Cunaxa into two distinct groups. However, in the present study, the subdivisions of any kind (subgenera or species group etc.) are not proposed. 1 1 1 1 A new species and a new record of the genus Cunaxa von Heyden (Prostigmata, ... 17 In the family Cunaxidae, the subgeneric divisions are not common (Skvarla et al. 2014). In one instance, the genus Dactyloscirus Den Heyer Heyer (1978) was once a subgenus of Scirus (now a synonym of Bdella in Bdellidae Dugès, 1834) described, based on the shape of the palpfemur apophysis. Vitzthum Vitzthum (1931) and Thor and Willmann Thor and Willmann (1941) elevated Dactyloscirus to genus level. Although Skvarla et al. Skvarla et al. (2014) have thoroughly reviewed the taxonomy of the family Cunaxidae, it is anticipated that the significance of certain morphological characters to propose taxonomic divisions in species-rich cunaxid genera would be possible in the future. Comment on three Cunaxa species described by Shiba (1984) Shiba (1984) described seven species from Japan, of which two were already known from the country. Amongst the remaining five species from above, three species, i.e. C. perforata Shiba, C. japonica Shiba and C. acicularis Shiba, are of taxonomic concern; especially C. japonica, which was re-identified from the previous misidentification of C. setirostris (Shiba 1969). The two species, C. japonica and C. acicularis, were differentiated in the key couplet, based on the state of reticulation (evident and weak) and the palpal spine (strong and weak), respectively. However, the presence of weak reticulations was only described for C. japonica, while the presence of this character could only be assessed, based on the illustration of C. acicularis and C. perforata. It contradicts the diagnostic character of the genus Cunaxa, i.e. the prodorsal shield is never reticulated. Furthermore, the dorsal striation pattern on the integument of the three species (C. perforate, C. japonica and C. acicularis) has been described as “papillae-bearing,” which also contradicts the Cunaxa diagnosis. Two years later, Shiba (1986) mentioned that most of the species described by Shiba (1984) should be transferred to the genus Rubroscirus Den Heyer, 1979 (Den Heyer 1979). Interestingly, the author treated the genus Rubroscirus as a synonym of Cunaxa (Shiba 1984), but did not comment on the validity of the former genus in the 1986 work. Additionally, the diagnosis of Rubroscirus states that the prodorsal sensillae (at and pt) are not densely pilose (Skvarla et al. 2014). In contrast, the at and pt are described as “closely ciliated” in C. japonica, C. acicularis and C. perforata (Shiba 1984). It is significantly important to mention that the work of Shiba (1984) and the species described there have not been considered in the more recent publications on Cunaxa species (Skvarla et al. 2014, Kalúz and Ermilov 2023). Den Heyer (2011) suggested transferring 13 Cunaxa species to Rubrioscirus due to the presence of reticulation on the prodorsal shield, but did not comment on the status of these three species. The distinct diagnostic characters of the Cunaxa and Rubroscirus question the validity of the three species. It is thereby concluded that the three species are doubtful and are considered species inquirenda. Their genus designation should be confirmed after the type examination. 18 Elgoni N et al Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank the Ongoing Research Funding programme at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for funding this research. The authors are also thankful to Dr. Stanislav Kalúz, 1Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravskácesta 9, SK-845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia and Dr. Eddie Ueckermann, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa for sharing related taxonomic literature. References • Alatawi FJ, Kamran M (2017) Predatory prostigmatid mite (Acari: Trombidiformes) fauna of the date palm agro-ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. Systematic and Applied Acarology 22 (9): 1444‑1475. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.22.9.11 • Baker E, Hoffmann A (1948) Acaros de la familia Cunaxidae. Anales de la Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biologicas Mexico 5 (3–4): 229‑273. • Bashir M, Afzal M (2006) A new species of the genus Cunaxa (Acarina: Cunaxidae) from Pakistan. Systematic and Applied Acarology 11: 63‑68. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.11.1.8 • Bashir M, Afzal M (2009) Mite fauna of family Cunaxidae (Acari) form Punjab, Pakistan. VDM Verlag Dr. Müller Aktiengesellschaft & Co., Saarbrücken, Germany, 322 pp. • Bashir M, Afzal M, Ashfaq M, Akbar S, Ali S (2010) Two new species of the genus Cunaxa (Acari: Cunaxidae) from District Nankana. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 42 (3): 217‑222. • Berlese A (1887) Acari Italiani Myriapoda et Scorpiones hucusque in Italia reperta. Redia 14: 78‑105. • Chen J, Yao M, Yi TC, Guo J, Jin D (2023) Two new species of Cunaxa (Acariformes: Cunaxidae) from China. Systematic and Applied Acarology 28 (3): 508‑520. • Corpuz-Raros L, Garcia R (1995) Philippine predatory mites of the family Cunaxida (Acari). 1. Genus Cunaxa Von Heyden. Philippine Entomologist 9 (6): 605‑624. • Den Heyer J (1979) Rubroscirus, a new cunaxid genus (Prostigmata: Acari) with three new species from the Ethiopian Region. Acarologia 20 (1): 70‑92. • Den Heyer J (1981) Systematics of the family Cunaxidae Thor, 1902 (Actinedida: Acarida). Publications of the University of the North, Series A 24: 1‑19. • Den Heyer J (2011) BdelloideaBase: Bdellid & Cunaxid Databases (version Sep 2011). In: Roskov Y, Kunze T, Paglinawan L, Orrell T, Nicolson D, Culham A, Bailly N, Kirk P, Bourgoi T, Baillargeon G, Hernandez F, De-Wever A (Eds) Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life, 2013Annual Checklist. UK. • Hermann JF (1804) III. Ciron (Scirus). In: Hammer F-L (Ed.) Memoire Apterologique. L’Imprimerie de F.G. Levrault, Strasbourg, 60–62. pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title. 137910 • Heyer JD (1978) Notes on the cunaxid genus Dactyloscirus (Actinedida: Acarida) withdescriptions of two new pecies from the Ethiopian Region. Phytophylactica 11: 87‑98. A new species and a new record of the genus Cunaxa von Heyden (Prostigmata, ... 19 • Kalúz S, Ermilov S (2023) Two new species of Cunaxa (Acari, Prostigmata, Cunaxidae) from South-East Asia with a world key to the genus. Zootaxa 5239 (4): 521‑536. https:// doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5239.4.4. • Khaustov A (2020) Contribution to systematics of the family Cunaxidae (Acari: Bdelloidea) of Western Siberia, Russia. Systematic and Applied Acarology 25 (3): 548‑568. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.25.3.14 • Khaustov A, Khaustov V (2024) New faunistic data on Cunaxidae (Acari: Bdelloidea) of Asian Russia. Systematic and Applied Acarology 29 (8): 1058‑1090. https://doi.org/ 10.11158/saa.29.8.3 • Laniecka I, Laniecki R, Kazmierski A (2021) New genus and four new species of the family Cunaxidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Bdelloidea) from Zambia. Systematic and Applied Acarology 26 (5): 981‑1008. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.26.5.13 • Mirza JH, Kamran M, Alatawi FJ (2025) New species and a new record of the genus Cunaxa Von Heyden (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae) from Saudi Arabia. Journal of Natural History 59 (13-16): 929‑939. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2474740 • Norton R (1977) A review of F. Grandjean’s system of leg chaetotaxy in the Oribatei and its application to the Damaeidae. In: Dindal DL, editor. Biology of Oribatid Mites. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry33‑62. • Shiba M (1969) Taxonomic investigations on free-living mites in the subalpine forest on Shiga Heights IBP Area. II. Prostigmata. Bull. Tokyo nat. Sci. Mus 12: 65‑115. • Shiba M (1984) The mites of the family Cunaxidae (Acarina: Prostigmata) in Japan. 1. Gens Сonaxa von HEYDEN. Rep. Res. Matsuyama Shinonome Jr. Coll. 15: 103‑118. • Shiba M (1986) The mites of family Cunaxidae (Acarina: Prostigmata) in Japan II. GeneraArmascirus Den Heyer and Dactyloscirus Berlese. Matsuyama Shinonome Tanki Daigakukenkyū ronsō 17: 151‑163. • Skvarla M, Fisher J, Dowling A (2014) A review of Cunaxidae (Acariformes, Trombidiformes): histories and diagnoses of subfamilies and genera, keys to world species, and some new locality records. ZooKeys 418: 1‑103. https://doi.org/10.3897/ zookeys.418.7629. • Smiley RL (1992) The predatory mite family Cunaxidae (Acari) of the world with a new Classification. Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, 356 pp. • Thor S, Willmann C (1941) Eupodidae, Penthalodidae, Penthaleidae, Rhagidiidae, Pachygnathidae,Cunaxidae. In: Thor S, Willmann C (Eds) Das Tierreich, Eine Zusammenstellungund Kennzeichung der rezenten Tierformen. Lieferung 71a. Walter De Gruyter andCo, Leipzig, 164–175 pp. • Tseng Y (1980) Taxonomical study of the mite family Cunaxidae from Taiwan (Acarina: Trombidiformes). Quarterly Journal of the Taiwan Museum 33 (3-4): 253‑277. • Vitzthum H (1931) Familie 13: Cunaxidae. In: Kukenthal W, Krumbach T (Eds) Handbuchder Zoologie, band 3. Walter De Gruyter and Co, Leipzig140‑146. • Wurlitzer W, de Azevedo-Meira A, Vinhas N, Ferla N (2022) A new species and a new combination for the subfamily Cunaxinae (Acari: Cunaxidae). Systematic and Applied Acarology 27 (1): 141‑148. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.27.1.13 20 Elgoni N et al