Megisthanus leviathanicus Seeman, 2017

Megisthanus leviathanicus Seeman, 2017: 3 (online edition)

Material examined. In addition to those listed in Seeman (2017): Australia, Queensland, ex passalid: 1 female, Atherton Tableland, 21.iii.1945 (J17327). 2 males, Atherton Tableland, 28.iii.1945 (J17314; J17315 –16, chelicerae on separate slide). No host given: 1 female, 2 males, dorsum and chelicerae of another male specimen, Eubenangee, 11.xii.1949, D.C. Brooks (J17318 –23, J17358 –61). All in SAM .

Diagnosis: see Seeman (2017).

Remarks. Megisthanus leviathanicus belongs to a small group of species that have females with tapering or lyriform dorsal shields. The only other similar species are M. caudatus, M. jacobsoni and M. manonae sp. nov. The former two species are highly distinctive in also having an elongate, hourglass-shaped ventrianal shield, which M. leviathanicus and M. manonae lack. Megisthanus leviathanicus and M. manonae are separated based on the shape of the female’s body setae (see the differential diagnosis for M. manonae).