Mixozercon stellifer ( Aoki, 1964 )

Díaz-Aguilar, Irma & Ujvári, Zsolt, 2010, New zerconid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata: Zerconidae) from Canada, with a review of the genus Mixozercon Halašková, 1963, Zootaxa 2555, pp. 1-29 : 4

Mixozercon stellifer ( Aoki, 1964)

Prozercon stellifer Aoki, 1964: 489 .

Mixozercon stellifer .― Halašková, 1977: 67; Błaszak, 1979: 85.

Diagnosis. Central and submarginal setae of podonotum smooth, except j1-j2, z2 and s6 pilose. Setae J1-J4, Z1-Z3 and S1 short, pilose, other J-, Z- and S-setae longer, densely pilose. Setae R1 pilose, markedly longer than the others, which are smooth and thorn-like. Setae J5 situated between dorsal cavities. Opisthonotal setae do not reach the bases of the following setae. Setae S1 situated posterolaterally to Z1. Pores Po2 situated inside the line connecting Z1 and Z2. Podonotum covered by circular, squamous pattern, the area between J setal-rows densely ornamented by triangular protuberances forming stellar pattern. Dorsal cavities weakly sclerotised, with undulate anterior margin. Post-genital sclerites absent.

Distribution. Japan and possibly Canada.

Remarks. On the basis of the figures and descriptions of Aoki (1964) and Halašková (1977), the Japanese and Canadian specimens differ in some characters; for example, the body shape, the shape and length of setae R1 and some podonotal setae; specially j2, which is smooth for Canadian specimens, and the J and Z setal rows inserted in bigger setal bases. Therefore we have some doubt that the Palaearctic and Nearctic specimens are conspecific; however, further investigation is necessary.