Pachylaelaps (Longipachylaelaps)

Mašán, Peter, 2017, Four new species of the subgenus Pachylaelaps (Longipachylaelaps) from Italy, with a new identification key to the known species (Acari: Pachylaelapidae), Zootaxa 4236 (1), pp. 95-117 : 115-116

Key to known species of the subgenus Pachylaelaps (Longipachylaelaps) (males)

1. Dorsal setae J5 more than 3.5 times shorter the setae J4.......................................................2

- Setae J5 less than 3.5 times shorter the setae J4..............................................................6

2. Both projections on palptibia tapered distally.............................................................. 3

- At least one palptibial projection with rounded distal margin.................................................. 4

3. Palptibial projections with divergent contiguous sides; larger projection produced into needle-like structure; spermatodactyl relatively shorter, less than twice as long as movable digit (spermatodactyl length/movable digit length 1.5–2); length of dorsal shield 870–950 µm......................................................... P. (L.) bocharovae Koroleva, 1978

- Palptibial projections with parallel contiguous sides; larger projection regularly tapered, with obtusely pointed apex; spermatodactyl relatively longer, more than twice as long as movable digit (spermatodactyl length/movable digit length = 2.5); length of dorsal shield 710–780 µm.................................................. P. (L.) sublongisetis Koroleva, 1977

4. Smaller palptibial projections with rounded distal margin; larger palptibial projection regularly tapered and with obtusely pointed apex, often with sail-like subapical lateral structure; spermatodactyl relatively shorter, less than twice as long as movable digit (SL/MDL 1.8–2); length of dorsal shield 745–900 µm........................ P. (L.) perlucidus Mašán, 2007

- Smaller palptibial projections with tapered distal margin; larger palptibial projection with rounded distal margin; spermatodactyl relatively longer, more than twice as long as movable digit (SL/MDL 2–2.4)................................... 5

5. Spermatodactyl wider, with obvious proximal expansion and narrower distal section; larger palptibial projection regularly rounded; dorsocentral setae shorter: setae J2 with tips reaching between insertions of setae J2 and J3; length of dorsal shield 750 µm.................................................................... P. (L.) squamifer Berlese, 1920

- Spermatodactyl narrower, sword-like, with almost parallel lateral margins in proximal section, moderately tapered distally; larger palptibial projection with small incision on rounded distal margin; dorsocentral setae longer: setae J2 with tips reaching close to insertions of setae J3; length of dorsal shield unknown............... P. (L.) conifer Hirschmann & Krauss, 1965

6. Palptibia with one projection (produced into needle-like apex); length of dorsal shield 945–1,025 µm.................................................................................. P. (L.) granulifer Hirschmann & Krauss, 1965

- Palptibia with at least two adjacent projections............................................................. 7

7. Dorsal setae J4 and J5 subequal or only negligibly differing in length........................................... 8

- Dorsal setae J4 and J5 well differing in length, setae J4 at least 1.5 times as long as setae J5........................ 10

8. Dorsocentral setae longer: setae J1 with tips reaching beyond insertions of setae J2; at least one palptibial projection with pointed distal margin; spermatodactyl wider, with obvious proximal expansion, narrower distal section and slight subterminal constriction; length of dorsal shield unknown............................ P. (L.) pulsator Hirschmann & Krauss, 1965

- Dorsocentral setae shorter: setae J1 with tips reaching between insertions of setae J1 and J2; both palptibial projections with rounded distal margin; spermatodactyl narrower, sword-like to spear-like, with almost parallel lateral margins in medial section and moderately tapered distal section................................................................. 9

9. Spermatodactyl laterally flattened, sword-like, straight, relatively shorter, less than two times the movable digit (SL/MDL 1.7‒1.9); laterally and marginally inserted setae relatively short: z6 <½ z6‒Z1, s4 <s4‒s5, Z2 <Z2‒Z3; smaller species, length of dorsal shield 470–510 µm................................. P. (L.) brevipilis Mašán, Özbek & Fenďa, 2016

- Spermatodactyl tubular, spear-shaped, slightly sinuous, relatively longer, more than three times the movable digit; laterally and marginally inserted setae relatively long: z6> z6‒Z1, s4> s4‒s5, Z2> Z2‒Z3; length (mean) of dorsal shield 836 µm.............................................................................. P. (L.) silviae Moraza & Peña, 2005

10. Apex of cheliceral spermatodactyl with special horseshoe-like process; length of dorsal shield 810 µm................................................................................................ P. (L.) virago Berlese, 1920

- Apex of spermatodactyl regularly formed, never with additional process....................................... 11

11. Apex of spermatodactyl with small subterminal incision; apex of larger palptibial projection produced into needle-like structure; length of dorsal shield 640–715 µm......................................... P. (L.) carpathicus Mašán, 2007

- Apex of spermatodactyl regularly formed, without incisions; palptibial projections with distal margin rounded or obtusely tapered........................................................................................... 12

12. Spermatodactyl with moderate subapical constriction, apex relatively wide and abruptly curved backward; length of dorsal shield 660‒710 µm................................................................. P. (L.) pantinii sp. nov.

- Apex of spermatodactyl regularly tapered, straight and directed downward...................................... 13

13. Spermatodactyl relatively wide, with proximal expansion, leaf-like or flag-like.................................. 14

- Spermatodactyl narrow, regularly tapered posteriorly, sword-like to stiletto-like.................................. 18

14. Spermatodactyl with denticulate anterior medial margin.................................................... 15

- Spermatodactyl with smooth margins................................................................... 16

15. Distal portion of spermatodactyl narrowed and elongated; spermatodactyl 205‒225 µm long (SL/MDL 3.2‒3.6); palptibial projections narrowed toward apex; length of dorsal shield 690‒770 µm....................... P. (L.) abludens sp. nov.

- Distal portion of spermatodactyl relatively wide and short; spermatodactyl 165‒185 µm long (SL/MDL 2.5‒2.85); larger palptibial projection widely rounded; length of dorsal shield 710‒750 µm................... P. (L.) marcovallei sp. nov.

16. Spermatodactyl with basal expansion, relatively longer (SL/MDL> 2.5); sperm ductule with symmetrical position along both margins of spermatodactyl; length of dorsal shield unknown............ P. (L.) longicrinitus Hirschmann & Krauss, 1965

- Spermatodactyl with medial expansion, relatively shorter (SL/MDL <2.5); sperm ductule situated more closely to anterior margin of spermatodactyl............................................................................. 17

17. Spermatodactyl 110‒120 µm long (SL/MDL = 2); dorsal setae J5 more than two times shorter the setae J4; palptibial projections narrowed toward apex; length of dorsal shield 670‒735 µm....................... P. (L.) distinctus Mašán, 2007

- Spermatodactyl 130‒150 µm long (SL/MDL 2‒2.25); dorsal setae J5 less than two times shorter the setae J4; larger palptibial projection widely rounded; length of dorsal shield 720‒810 µm........................... P. (L.) bergomensis sp. nov.

18. Two palptibial projections with parallel contiguous margins and adjacent apices; spermatodactyl relatively longer (SL/MDL = 2); terminal hook of cheliceral fixed digit bifid; length of dorsal shield 645–735 µm....... P. (L.) longulus Willmann, 1938

- Two palptibial projections with divergent contiguous margins and apices well separated; spermatodactyl relatively shorter (SL/ MDL 1.6‒1.8); terminal hook of cheliceral fixed digit simple................................................ 19

19. Palptibial projections reduced in size, markedly shorter than cross-sectional radius of palptibia; length of dorsal shield unknown........................................................ P. (L.) gibbosus Hirschmann & Krauss, 1965

- Palptibial projections normal, as long as cross-sectional radius of palptibia...................................... 20

20. Dorsal setae relatively longer: setae J1 with tips reaching beyond insertions of setae J2, setae J3 with tips reaching to insertions of setae J5; cheliceral spermatodactyl relatively shorter (SL/MDL 1.6); length of dorsal shield unknown................................................................................. P. (L.) decipiens Hirschmann & Krauss, 1965

- Dorsal setae relatively shorter: setae J1 with tips not reaching beyond insertions of setae J2, setae J3 with tips reaching between insertions of setae J3 and J5; spermatodactyl relatively longer (SL/MDL 1.8); length of dorsal shield unknown............................................................................ P. (L.) hestulifer Hirschmann & Krauss, 1965