Malasudis arii, Haitlinger, 2001

Haitlinger, Ryszard, 2001, Four new diarthrophallid mites (Acari, Mesostigmata, Diarthrophallidae) from tropical Africa, Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum (Entomology) 10 - 11, pp. 169-177 : 171-172

Malasudis arii n.sp.

Material examined

Holotype female (figs 10-17), Cameroon, Barombi ; 1 $ paratype, Cameroon, Bipindi , both from undetermined Passalidae ; both in MIZPAS.

DIAGNOSIS

M. arii is similar to M. tribulus SCHUSTER & SUMMERS It differs from that species and all other Malasudis species by the presence of six long setae on dorsal plate (in M. tribulus and the remaining ones no more than five setae) and by bifurcate central process of the tectum.

Description

Dorsal plate covers whole idiosoma and bears six pairs of long setae; among them d3 is the longest and m3 the shortest (fig. 10). Ventrum with sternoventral plate having almost straight front margin. First sternal setae longer than the remaining ones. Short postgenital setae arise near border of ventral apron. Ventral plate constricted between coxae IV and slightly widening beyond them; apron with rather straight posterior margin.Anal plate with no visible margins. Epigynial plate rounded; LAV ratio: 1.46-1.85(fig.11). Tectum with paired lateral rami a some shorter than central process which is bifurcate. All rami slightly fringed (fig. 12). Malae externae relatively thick.

Genu and femur of leg I each with one long and barbed seta, subequalin length. Femur bears spinous seta near two short and thin setae(fig. 13).Leg II with one barbed seta on femur (fig. 14). Legs III-IV have one barbed seta on each genu and two barbed setae on each femur; distal setae on femora III and IV are longer than proximal setae (fig. 15). Palpfemur bears one long and barbed seta (fig. 16). Cheliceral spur straight, broadened basally(fig. 17). Measurements are given in Tab. I .

Etymology

The name of the species has been derived from the name Ari.