Synichotricha reticulata, Niedbała & Starý, 2010

Niedbała, Wojciech & Starý, Josef, 2010, Three holarctic new species of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida), Zootaxa 2625 (1), pp. 63-68 : 64-65

Synichotricha reticulata sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–4 )

Measurements of holotype: prodorsum: length 252, height 101, width 177, sensillus 126, setae: in 111, le 114, ro 106; notogaster: length 464, height 300, width 328, setae: c 1 76, h 1 71, p 1 63; length of ventral plate 330, width of ventral plate 66.

Description: Colour light brown. Integument of body, especially of notogaster ornamented by round, adjoining alveoli resembling reticulation.

Prodorsum without lateral carinae, only some median and large lateral lamellae are present. Sensilli long, setiform, rough, narrower and longer than prodorsal setae. Setae long, thick, rough, similar in length, only anterior exobothridial setae minute, posterior exobothridial setae vestigial.

Notogaster with relatively short (c 1 <c 1 -d 1), rigid, thick, rough setae, obtuse distally. Setae c 1-3 remote from anterior margin, setae c 3 more than other. Lyrifissures and vestigial setae invisible.

Ventral region. Genitoaggenital region with seven pairs of minute setae on kag tectum, five pairs of considerably longer setae posterior to them; three pairs of anal setae and three pairs of longer adanal setae present.

Chaetome of legs (without tarsi): I: 1-3-5(2)-5(1), II: 1-3-4(1)-4(1), III: 2-2-3(1)-3(1), IV: 2-2-2(0)-4(1), all tarsi heterodactylous.

Material: Holotype and 13 paratypes (holotype and six paratypes in DATE, three paratypes in GSMNPM and four paratypes in ISB: USA, North Carolina, Monroe County, Cherohala Skyway, 35 o 20.996N, 84 o 04.055W, Charles Hall Bridge , 27.V.2007, AHSLC 7.092 AF, mixed hardwood and hemlock forest, sample of dry litter above road, leg. A. Fjellberg.

Etymology: The specific name reticulata (Latin “reticulum”) refers to the resemblance of ornamentation of body surface to reticulation.

Comparison: The new species differs from all Synichotricha species by the shape of setae, relatively short, thick, rough, obtuse distally and in the number of seven genitoaggenital, short setae in kag tectum and five pairs of longer setae posterior of them.

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Synichotricha reticulata sp. nov.: 1, prodorsum, lateral view; 2, prodorsum, dorsal view; 3, opisthosoma lateral view; 4, right part of ventral side of opisthosoma.