Austrophthiracarus notoporosus, 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 : 588-590

Austrophthiracarus notoporosus sp. nov.

( Figs. 10–18 )

Material examined: Holotype: adult ( NZAC, in alcohol, 77/12), New Zealand: FD, Tutoko Bench , 1219 m, from shaded litter, moss and liverworts, 13 Jan. 1977, leg. J.S. Dugdale. Paratypes: two adults ( NIGA, in alcohol, 77/12), same data as holotype .

Etymology. Named after “porose area-like” structures on the surface of notogaster, which usually occur in higher oribatids; used here as a noun in apposition.

Description. Measurements. Holotype: Prodorsum: length 215, width 160, height 75, setae: ss 25, ro 35, in 76, le 53; notogaster: length 433, width 295, height 265; setae: c 1 70, d 1 50, e 1 50, h 1 55, ps 1 60; ventral region: ad 1 58, ad 2 60, ad 3 ’ 42, ad 3 40, an 1 50, an 2 50; genito-aggenital plate 80×120, ano-adanal plate 80×202. Paratypes: Prodorsum: length 212–220, width 160–165, height 75–85; notogaster: length 395–420, width 232–278, height 235–250.

Integument. Colour yellowish. Surface of body finely punctate; notogaster with 8–10 pairs of rounded and densely “porose area-like” structures.

Prodorsum ( Figs. 10–11 ). Median crista and posterior furrows absent; lateral carinae short, ending far from sinus; sigillar fields distinct, dorsal field longer than lateral fields; sensilli (ss) short with narrow stalk, and head rounded and slightly barbed; interlamellar and lamellar setae (in, le) long, erect, stout and rough; rostral setae (ro) rough, semi-erect; exobothridial setae (ex) vestigial; comparative lengths: in> le> ro> ss; in / le ≈1.4; mutual distance of setae: in–in / ro–ro ≈2.3.

Notogaster ( Fig. 10 ). 21 pairs of setae present, medium long (c 1 / c 1 – d 1 ≈0.65), robust and rough; setae c 2 further from anterior border than setae c 1 and c 3; additional setae present in h and ps series; vestigial setae f 1 positioned posterior to setae h 1; two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present.

Gnathosoma ( Figs. 14–16 ). Subcapitulum normal ( Fig. 14 ); setae h, m and a simple and smooth; setae h longer than distance between them; adoral seta or 1 apparently flat with barbs; or 2–3 simple and smooth; palp ( Fig. 15 ) 4- segmented, with femur and genu fused; palpal setation: 0-2-2-7(1); supracoxal seta simple and smooth; chelicera ( Fig. 16 ) typical of family.

Ano-genital region ( Figs. 10, 12–13 ). Nine pairs of genital setae (g) arranged in two rows with formula (4+5): 0; ano-adanal plates each with six setae (ad, an), all thick and rough; comparative lengths: ad 2> ad 1>an 1 =an 2>ad 3 ’> ad 3.

Legs ( Figs. 17–18 ). 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 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 special in having “porose area-like” structures on the surface of notogaster, which usually occur in higher oribatids. However, we can not confirm what these really are now, and it will need further research in the future.

The new species is distinguishable from congeners by the following combination of characters: 21 pairs of rough notogastral setae present; surface of notogaster punctate, with 8–10 pairs of rounded and densely porose area-like structures; lateral carinae of prodorsum short; sensilli short with rounded head; interlamellar and lamellar setae long, in> le; exobothridial setae vestigial; two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present; formula of genital setae (4+5): 0; ano-adanal plates each with six setae; chaetotaxy of legs complete, setae d on femora I not forked, inserted at level distal to setae l’’.

Figures

FIGURES 10–18. Austrophthiracarus notoporosus sp. nov.: 10, lateral view of body (legs removed); 11, prodorsum, dorsal view; 12, left side of genito-aggenital plate; 13, left side of ano-adanal plate; 14, subcapitulum, palpi removed; 15, palp, antiaxial view; 16, chelicera, antiaxial view; 17, femur I; 18, tibia IV. Scale bars: 10, 12–13=100 µm; 11, 14–16=50 µm; 17– 18=25 µm.