Mediolata

Faraji, Farid & Ueckermann, Edward A., 2006, A new species of Mediolata Canestrini from Spain (Acari: Stigmaeidae), re­description of M. chanti and a key to the known species of Mediolata, Zootaxa 1151, pp. 27-39 : 29

Key to adult females of Mediolata

The following artificial key is compiled mainly based on the leg and palp chaetotaxy. Such data were ignored in the description of M. aegyptiaca ( Zaher & Soliman), 1966 , hence not presented in the key. Also, another species of Mediolata described from Egypt, M. pentascuta ( Zaher & Gomma), 1978 , is suspected to be conspecific with M. aegyptiaca . The mentioned differences between these two species seem to be intraspecific variations. This synonymy was also confirmed by Dr. Z. R. Soliman (senior author pers. comm.). To reach a definite conclusion regarding the identity of these species, the type materials need to be re­examined. These were not available during this study.

1. Palpfemur with three setae ............................................................................................ 2 ­ Palpfemur with two setae .............................................................................................. 3 ­ Palpfemur with one setae ........................................................ M. delicata Fan & Zhang 2. Femora 4­4­3­2; palpgenu with one seta; dorsal setae short .... M. californica Gonzalez ­ Femora 5­5­2­1; palpgenu with two setae; dorsal setae very long ... M. horrida Momen 3. Femora 5­4­3­1, 5­4­2­1, 5­5­2­1 or 4­4­2­1 ................................................................ 4 ­ Femora 5­6­2­1 .......................................................................... M. conserva Kuznetsov 4. Femur II with five setae ................................................................................................ 5 ­ Femur II with four setae................................................................................................ 8 5. Genu I with four setae ................................................................................................... 6 ­ Genu I with two or three setae ...................................................................................... 7 6. Opisthosoma almost completely covered with shields, ornamented with polygonal