Austrophthiracarus karioi, Liu & Zhang, 2014

Liu, Dong & Zhang, Zhi-Qiang, 2014, Three new species of the genus Austrophthiracarus from New Zealand (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae), Zootaxa 3780 (3), pp. 585-593 : 590-592

Austrophthiracarus karioi sp. nov.

( Figs. 19–28 )

Material examined: Holotype: adult ( NZAC, in alcohol, 81/96), New Zealand: WO, Mt. Karioi near base, from litter, 11 Oct. 1981, leg. C. F. Butcher. Paratype: one adult ( NIGA, in alcohol, 81/96), same data as holotype .

Etymology. Named after type locality Mt. Karioi—an extinct volcano in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island; used here as a noun in apposition.

Description. Measurements. Holotype: Prodorsum: length 285, width 212, height 75, setae: ss 25, ro 10, in 13, le 12, ex 7.5; notogaster: length 516, width 280, height 352; setae: c 1 10, d 1 10, e 1 12.5, h 1 9.5, ps 1 10; ventral region: ad 1 10, ad 2 10, an 1 10, an 2 10; genito-aggenital plate 245×145, ano-adanal plate 245×225. Paratype: Prodorsum: length 330, width 250, height 110; notogaster: length 670, width 410, height 450.

Integument. Colour yellowish. Surface of body punctate.

Prodorsum ( Figs. 19 , 21 ). Weak median crista and posterior furrows present; lateral carinae absent; sigillar fields weak, dorsal field narrow, longer than lateral fields; sensilli (ss) with short, narrow stalk and rounded head; other prodorsal setae (in, le, ro and ex) short and fine; comparative length: ss> in> le> ro> ex; mutual distance of setae: in–in / ro–ro =4.75.

Notogaster ( Fig. 19–20 ). 16 (holotype) or 18 (paratype) pairs of setae present, similar in shape with interlamellar setae; setae c 2 further from anterior border than setae c 1 and c 3; additional setae present in ps series (holotype) or in h and ps series (paratype); vestigial setae f 1 positioned posterior to setae h 1 in holotype and ventral to setae h 1 in paratype; three pairs of lyrifissures ia, im and ip present.

Gnathosoma ( Figs. 24–26 ). Subcapitulum normal ( Fig. 24 ); setae h, m and a simple and smooth; setae h nearly equal with distance between them; adoral seta or 1 apparently flat with barbs; or 2–3 simple and smooth; palp ( Fig. 25 ) 4-segmented, with femur and genu fused; palpal setation: 0-2-2-7(1); supracoxal seta simple and smooth; chelicera ( Fig. 26 ) typical of family.

Ano-genital region ( Figs. 19–20 , 22–23 ). Nine pairs of genital setae (g) present with formula (4+4): 1; anoadanal plates each with six pairs of short and fine setae (an and ad), except left ano-adanal plate of paratype with seven setae.

Legs ( Figs. 27–28 ). Setal counts for leg segments: I: 1-4-2(2)-4(1)-17(3); II: 1-3-2(1)-3(1)-12(2), III: 2-2-1(1)- 2(1)-10, IV: 2-1-1-2(1)-10; chaetotaxy of legs complete; setae d on femora I long, inserted at level anterior to setae l’’; setae a’’ on tarsi I and setae ft’’ on tarsi II curved distally; setae a’’ on tarsi II curved distally; setae s and pv’ on tarsi IV present; setae s on tarsi I and II present.

Remark. This new species is close to Austrophthiracarus aenus Niedbała, 2000 from New Caledonia in having short prodorsal and notogastral setae, similar shape of sensilli, lateral carinae absent, setae h of subcapitulum nearly equal with distance between them, formula of genital setae: (4+4): 1. However, the new species can be easily distinguished from the latter species by the following eight characters (a versus b): in A. karioi sp. nov., (1a) median crista and posterior furrows of prodorsum present; (2a) sigillar fields weak, dorsal field narrow, not expanded distally at the level of rostral setae; (3a) prodorsal and notogastral setae (except sensilli) fine; (4a) exobothridial setae not vestigial; (5a) 16 or 18 pairs of notogastral setae present; (6a) three pairs of lyrifissures ia, im and ip present; (7a) setae v’ on femora I and a’ on tarsi I present; (8a) setae d on femora I positioned in the middle, at level anterior to setae l’ ’; in A. aenus , (1b) median crista and posterior furrows of prodorsum absent; (2b) sigillar fields distinct, dorsal field expanded distally at the level of rostral setae; (3b) prodorsal and notogastral setae (except sensilli) thicker and spiniform; (4b) exobothridial setae vestigial; (5b) 19 pairs of notogastral setae present; (6b) two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present; (7b) setae v’ on femora I and a’ on tarsi I absent; (8b) setae d on femora I displaced towards proximal end of article, at level posterior to setae l’’.

Compared with Austrophthiracarus baloghi Niedbała, 1987 from Australia, this new species can be distinguished by following features: (1a) surface of body punctate; (2a) median crista of prodorsum weak; (3a) prodorsal and notogastral setae (except sensilli) fine; (4a) le> ro; (5a) 16 or 18 pairs of notogastral setae present; (6a) three pairs of lyrifissures ia, im and ip present; (7a) setae h of subcapitulum nearly equal with distance between them; (8a) nine genital setae present with formula (4+4): 1; (9a) setae v’ on femora I present; in A. baloghi , (1b) surface of body covered with concavities and irregular proturberences; (2b) median crista of prodorsum much stronger; (3b) prodorsal and notogastral setae (except sensilli) much thicker and obtuse; (4b) ro> le; (5b) 17 pairs of notogastral setae present; (6b) two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present; (7b) setae h of subcapitulum much longer than distance between them; (8b) ten genital setae present with formula (5+5): 0; (9b) setae v’ on femora I absent.

Figures

FIGURES 19–20. Austrophthiracarus karioi sp. nov.: 19, lateral view of body (legs removed); 20, lateral view of body of paratype (legs and prodorsum removed); Scale bars: 100 µm.

FIGURES 21–28. Austrophthiracarus karioi sp. nov.: 21, prodorsum, dorsal view; 22, right side of ventral plate; 23, left side of ano-adanal plate (paratype); 24, subcapitulum, palpi removed; 25, palp, antiaxial view; 26, chelicera, antiaxial view; 27, femur I; 28, tibia IV. Scale bars: 21–22, 24–28=50 µm; 23=100 µm.