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For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
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Photo#1472852
Palpigrade (Prokoenenia wheeleri?) - Prokoenenia wheeleri

Palpigrade (Prokoenenia wheeleri?) - Prokoenenia wheeleri
Austin, Brackenridge Field Laboratory, Travis County, Texas, USA
August 31, 2017
Size: 2mm

Moved
Moved from Microscorpions.

Referring to this and the first post of this species, Gonzalo Giribet replies, "Those two images certainly look like the same animal. And yes, I would love to get some in RNAlater. It would be great to get some sample!"

 
Thanks for the ID
and sure, I'll try to collect some once it gets a little warmer out.

 
Logistics
That would be great. Please email me, though, so I have your address. Mine in on my profile page. There are collection methods and logistics issues to discuss for obtaining useful specimens. One option is you can overnight me soil samples in the Spring. I can process them with a Berlese funnel, take care of the RNAlater treatment, and overnight them to Dr. Giribet. I'll pay shipping, of course.

Also, you may well find some of these too:

That is of interest to a different professor since it seems to be missing some coxal vesicules.

 
I've just
emailed you. Cheers!

Prokoenenia wheeleri
Great image. I'm pretty sure Prokoenenia wheeleri is the only Palpigrade in the Austin area. The other images of this species posted on BG are from a few miles up the river from yours. Can you collect specimens in 95% ETOH and send them to me? I would like to make and post high-resolution images of key features and mouthparts. Gonzalo Giribet was hoping for some specimens too a few years ago for phylogenetic studies. I will contact him to confirm the ID and ask if he still needs them.

Moved
Moved from ID Request. Very cool! I have no idea how identification is made in this order, but it looks almost identical to the images here, also from Austin. Looking at the paper linked to on the guide page, it seems like this should at least be in the same genus based on habitat (i.e. not a cave) and location. Thanks for posting!