Torrenticola ancylopalpis, PešićK & K & K, 2022

PešićK, Vladimir, K, Harry Smit & K, Mer Man Gurung, 2022, Torrenticolid water mites of Bhutan. Genera Torrenticola Piersig, 1896 and Neoatractides Lundblad, 1941 (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Torrenticolidae), Acarologia 1941 (3), pp. 821-860 : 853

Torrenticola ancylopalpis sp. nov.

Zoobank: BB8C2F60-A4B1-4E5D-9FDF-3 AD 4FA833E83

Figures 22, 24E

Material examined — Holotype ♀, dissected and slide mounted, Bhutan, MG9 Kartigang Chhu , 27.27896°N, 90.63088°E, 1456 m asl, 7.v.2021.

Diagnosis (Male unknown) — Idiosoma elongated (dorsal shield L/W ratio 1.5); P-2 with a laterally compressed, blade-like anterior flange, ventral extensions on P-2 and P-3 apically irregularly serrated, P-4 curved, with a well-developed ventral tubercle, located in posterior half of the segment.

Description — Female – Idiosoma elongated; dorsal shield without a colour pattern (as photographed in Figure 24E); area of primary sclerotization of the dorsal plate with two dorsoglandularia; gnathosomal bay U-shaped, proximally pointed; Cxgl-4 subapical; posterior suture lines of Cx-IV strongly extending posteriorly beyond posterior margin of genital field; excretory and Vgl-2 on the same line, close to the line of primary sclerotization pore; gnathosomal rostrum long and slender ( Figure 22F); P-2 with a laterally compressed, longish (> 30% of ventral margin), anteriorly directed and apically irregularly serrated ventrodistal extension, a short seta, laterally exceeding the tip of projection, at base of projection; P-3 with longish, apically irregularly serrated ventrodistal projection, and a short seta laterally at base of projection, exceeding the tip of projection; P-4 curved, with a well-developed ventral tubercle, located in posterior half of the segment, ending in two tips separated by a concavity, bearing three shorter setae and one slightly longer seta ( Figures 22D, E).

Measurements – Idiosoma (ventral view: Figure 22C) L 681, W 450; dorsal shield ( Figure 22B) L 547, W 371, L/W ratio 1.47; dorsal plate L 505; shoulder plate L 181–188, W 63–66,

L/W ratio 2.8–3.0; frontal plate 122, W 48, L/W ratio 2.6; shoulder/frontal plate L 1.49–1.54. Gnathosomal bay L 116, Cx-I total L 244, Cx-I mL 128, Cx-II+III mL 84; ratio Cx-I L/CxII+III mL 2.89; Cx-I mL/Cx-II+III mL 1.5. Genital field L/W 138/116, ratio 1.19; distance genital field-excretory pore 144, genital field-caudal idiosoma margin 197. Gnathosoma vL 325, chelicera L 338; palp total L 289, dL/H, dL/H ratio: P-1, 33/24, 1.36; P-2, 88/44, 2.0; P-3,

63/38, 1.6; P-4, 89/27, 3.3; P-5, 16/13, 1.25; L ratio P-2/P-4 0.98. dL of I-L: 47, 64, 67, 78, 89,

83; I-L-6 H 29; dL/H I-L-6 ratio 2.8.

Male – Unknown.

Etymology — Named for its bent palp.

Discussion — In view of the long tapering blade-like flange extending to the middle of P-2, and a relatively short ventral seta on P-2 and P-3 the new species resembles T. himalayica sp. nov. (see above). From the latter species, the female of the new species differs in a more elongated dorsal shield, the ventrodistal extensions of P-2 and P-3 are apically irregularly serrated, and P-4 is curved with a ventral tubercle located in the posterior half of the segment (compare Figures 21C, D and 22D, E).

Distribution — Bhutan (this study).