Zercon hugoi, 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 : 6-9

Zercon hugoi n. sp.

( Figs 7–10 )

Types

Holotype female: SPAIN, Navarra, Carrascal, Biurrum, from litter and soil of oak forest, 30.X.91, C. Escala et col. Leg. (deposited in MZUNAV); 11 paratype females from the same locality and date as the holotype (two females deposited in OSAL); two females from from the same locality as the holotype, 14.V.1991; one female and one male from prairie (felled beach forest), Barranco de Minchate (Navarra), UTM:30TXN6951, altitude 890 m., 10.VII.1990.

Diagnosis

Anterior margin of ventrianal shield with two pairs of setae. Dorsal opisthonotal fossae of normal size and appearance, saddle­like and with smooth anterior margin. Glands gdJ4 (Po3) situated between setal rows J and Z, on the line connecting setae Z4 and J4. Setae J1–J5 smooth, needle­like, nearly equal in length and not reaching bases of following setae. Setae Z2 and Z3 different in form and length: setae Z1 and Z2 smooth and needle­like; setae Z3–Z5, S4 and S5 thickened, apically pilose and with paddle­like hyaline ending, and about 2.5 times as long as smooth setae Z2. Setae S2 and S3 absent. Setae S4 elongate and reaching well beyond margin of idiosoma. Lateral margins of opisthonotum with shallow and obtuse serration, marginal setae R long and similar in shape to thick setae Z and S. Opisthonotal shield with reticulate pattern in anterolateral region and densely spaced fossae in posterior part.

Description

FEMALE. Length of idiosoma 403 μm (389–416), width 322 μm (310–336).

Dorsum ( Fig. 7 ). Dorsal shield with reticulate pattern (podonotum and anterior part of opisthonotum) and small pits in the posterior part of opisthonotum. Podonotum with 20 pairs of variously formed setae (setae r3 on lateropeltidial shield). Podonotal setae j2, j5, j6, z2, z2–z6, s4 and r1 (eight pairs) smooth and needle­like; setae j4 with pilose tip; other podonotal setae thickened, apically broadened and barbed and with paddle­like hyaline tips ( Fig. 8 ). Glands gdj2 (po1) situated near j2; gds4 posteroparaxial to insertion of setae s4. Opisthonotum with 20 pairs of setae: setal row J with five pairs of short, smooth, needle­like setae (J1 = J2> J3 = J4 = J5); setal row Z with five pairs of setae: Z1 and Z2 similar in shape and length to J1, setae Z3 and Z4 2.5 times longer than Z1, thickened, apically with conspicuous pilosity and wide, paddle­like hyaline tip; setae S2 and S3 absent, setae S4 reaching beyond lateral margin of idiosoma. Marginal setae S1 and R (except R6 shortest and pilose) reaching beyond bases of following marginal setae, similar in shape to other marginal podonotal setae. Glands gdz6 (Po1) on the line connecting setae z6 and Z1, glands gdZ2 (Po2) antiaxial to the line connecting setae Z2 and Z3; glands gdJ4 (Po3) on line connecting setae J4 and Z4 (nearer to setae Z4), and gdS5 (Po4) behind the line connecting setae Z5 and S5 (nearer to seta S5). Dorsal opisthonotal fossae of normal appearance: medial fossae (54 μm) slightly smaller than lateral fossae (71 μm). Dorsal lyrifissures as illustrated in figure 7.

Length of the opisthonotal setae and distance between setal bases within longitudinal I­, Z­, and S­rows as follows (measurements in μm): J1 and J2 (15), J3 = J4 = J5 (11), Z1 = Z2 (15), Z3 (45), Z4 (52), Z5 (46), S1 = R3 (30), S4 (43), S5 (46), R (32–14); J1–J2 (34), J2–J3 (35), J3–J4 (30), J4–J5 (30), Z1–Z2 (37), Z2–Z3 (32), Z3–Z4 (53), Z4–Z5 (68), S4–S5 (54).

Venter ( Fig. 9 ). Ventral chaetotaxy, adenotaxy, poroidotaxy and shape of ventral shields typical for the genus. Glands gv2 triple. Anterior margin of ventrianal shield with two pairs of setae. Setae Jv5 similar in shape to other dorsal thick setae.

MALE. Length of idiosoma 336 μm, width 248 μm.

Dorsum similar to female.

Venter ( Fig. 10 ). Sternogenital shield with four pairs of sternal setae and posterior region narrowed and free from endopodal shields; two small platelets behind posterior margin of sternal shield (between glands gv2). Glands gv2 opening on small platelets similar to female. Ventrianal shield with two pair of setae on anterior margin.

Notes

The new species is closely related to the European species Z. berlesi Sellnick, 1958 , Z. faveolatus Halašková, 1969 , Z. moravicus Halašková, 1969 , and Z. pinicola Halašková, 1969 . This group includes species with seta S3 apically broadened, barbed, and with paddle­like hyaline tip, extending beyond the lateral margins of the opisthonotum, and with setae J1–J5 short and nearly equal in length. Only the new species lacks two opisthonotal setae “S” (S2 and S3), which are present in the other species in this group. Z. zangherii Sellnick, 1944 has an incomplete complement of setae S (setae S3 and S 4 absent), however glands Po3 are in the position of gdZ3 (on the line connecting Z3 and Z4), the dorsal fossae are poorly developed, and none of the dorsal setae has a paddle­like hyaline tip; Z. beleviensis Urhan, 2001 lacks setae S4.

Derivatio nominis

The name of the species refers to Hugo Ariño, son of a good friend and colleague.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 10. Zercon hugoi n. sp. 7. Female, dorsal idiosoma. 8. Seta Z 5. 9. Female, ventral idiosoma. 10. Male, ventral idiosoma.