Prozercon masani, Moraza, María Lourdes, 2006

Moraza, María Lourdes, 2006, New species of zerconid mites from southern Europe and the Macaronesian region (Acari: Mesostigmata: Zerconidae), Zootaxa 1255, pp. 1-15 : 4-6

Prozercon masani n. sp.

( Figs 4–6 )

Types

Holotype female: SPAIN, Navarra, Aróstegui (Valle de Atez), Monte Azcorreta, UTM: 30TXN05, from litter and soil of a reforested pine forest ( Pinus nigra ), altitude 550 m., 11.VI.1986, Paratypes: one female, two males, three deutonymphs and one larva from the same locality and date as the holotype (deposited in MZUNAV).

Diagnosis

Setae r1 on lateropeltidial shield apically serrate ( Fig. 5 a). Peritrematal shield with postero­lateral tips reaching the bases of marginal setae R2. Podonotal central and submarginal setae smooth except j1, z6 and s5; marginal podonotal setae plumose, including setae s2 and lateropeltidial r3 ( Fig. 5 b); setae r4 shorter than r5 and similar to r2. Opisthonotal setae S2 plumose and similar in length and shape to Z1; marginal setae S1 and R1–R7 smooth and short; other opisthonotal setae densely plumose. Bases of setae J4 are on the line connecting J3 and J5; tips of setae J3, J4, Z3 and Z4 reach the bases of the following setae.

Description

FEMALE. Length of idiosoma 327–363 μm, width 239–266 μm.

Dorsum ( Fig. 4 ). Podonotal shield with 22 pairs of setae: setae j2–j6, z2, z4–z5, s1, s4 smooth, short and needle­like; setae z6, s2 and s5 and other marginal podonotal setae densely plumose; setae z3 similar in length to s3. Glands gds1 (po1) close to setae s1; gdj4 on the line connecting j4–z4, closer to z 4; gds4 paraxial to the line connecting s4–s5. Podonotal shield with a scaly pattern. Opisthonotal shield with 33 pairs of setae: setae S2 plumose, similar to setae Z1; marginal setae S1, R1–R7 smooth, short, slightly thickened and pointed; other setae densely plumose ( Fig. 5 c), brush­like. Setae Z1 and S2 located close together, S2 at the same level as Z1 or slightly anterior; tips of setae J1 and J2 do not reach the bases of the following setae; setae J5 short, with tips not reaching the posterior margin of the shield; setae J4 on the line connecting J3 and J5; setae S3 and S4 extending beyond margin of shield. Opisthonotal glands large, conspicuous; glands gdZ1 (Po1) on the line connecting Z1 and Z2; glands gdZ3 (Po3) outside the line connecting Z3 and Z4; gdS4 (Po4) on the line connecting Z4–S5. Dorsal fossae equal in size, distinct, in depressions in the dorsal shield. Opisthonotal shield with large distinct pits. Length of the opisthonotal setae and distance between setal bases within longitudinal I­, Z­, and S­rows as follows (measurements in μm): J1–J4 (19), J5 (15), Z1 (13), Z2–Z3 (21), Z4–Z5 (34), S1 = R1 (7), S2 (15), S3 –S5 (34), R2–R7 (6); J1–J2 (34), J2–J3 (23), J3–J4 (15), J4–J5 (15), Z1–Z2 (28), Z2–Z3 (28), Z3–Z4 (15), Z4–Z5 (60), S2–S3(38); S3–S4 (34), S4–S5 (16).

Venter. Peritrematal shields with postero­lateral tips reaching a level between setae R2–R3. Anterior margin of ventrianal shield with one pair of setae and distinct reticulation on the anterior region. Postanal setae are longer than other ventral setae and pilose; euanal setae vestigial. Setae Jv5 similar in shape to other dorsal setae and located on the dorsal shield.

MALE. Length of idiosoma 292 μm, width 212–221 μm.

Dorsum similar to female. Sternogenital shield ( Fig. 6 ) with a narrow posterior region, and unsclerotized region between st1 and st2 and a distinct reticulate pattern between setae st2 and st3; genital setae absent. Peritrematal shield with posterolateral tips reaching setae R7 and fused with ventrolateral shield; seven pairs of ventral setae, euanal setae vestigial.

Notes

The new species is closely related to Pr. rafalskii Blaszak, 1971 . In Pr. rafalskii setae r1 are simple, smooth and needle­like; setae r4 are similar to r5; setae S 2 may be smooth and needle–like as well as with slight pilosity; all pilose setae seems to be much slimmer (Mašán, personal communication); tips of setae Z3 not reaching the bases of the following setae and tips of peritrematal shields reach between setae R3 and R4. In some respects, also the mutual positions of setae S3, Z2 and glands gdZ1 (Po2) seem different. In addition, the distribution area of Pr. rafalskii appears to be in the eastern part of Europe ( Mašán & Fenda, 2004).

Derivatio nominis

The name of the species refers to Dr. Peter Mašán, acarologist specializing in zerconid mites, who helped me to clarify some aspects of the new species.

Figures

FIGURES 4 – 6. Prozercon masani n. sp. 4. Female, dorsal idiosoma. 5 a. Seta r 1. 5 b. seta r 3. 5 c. seta Z 5.