Sperchon (Hispidosperchon) bhutanicus, K & K & K, 2022

K, Harry Smit, K, Vladimir Pešić & K, Mer Man Gurung, 2022, The water mite genus Sperchon Kramer, 1877 in Bhutan (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Sperchontidae), with the description of three new species, Acarologia 62 (3), pp. 754-762 : 758

Sperchon (Hispidosperchon) bhutanicus sp. nov.

Zoobank: 570778BC-BAEB-4BB4-8EEA-A2EC2F5747E4

( Figure 3 A-D)

Material examined — Holotype male, Chumpigang Chhu , Bhutan, 27.31608°N, 90.58071°E, 1018 m a.s.l., 8 May 2021 (NBC).

Diagnosis — Dorsal platelets large, especially postocularia platelets and Dc-5, the latter fused with Dgl-5; small ventral setae of P4 relatively close to each other.

Description — Male: Idiosoma dorsally 705 long and 616 wide, ventrally 753 long. Integument reticulate. Dorsal platelets large, postocularia platelets and Dc-5 are the largest platelets ( Figure 3A). All dorsal platelets paired except one platelet posterior to postocularia platelets. Gnathosoma 220 long, rostrum shorter than basal part. Cx-I separated medially, Cx-III with a glandularium ( Figure 3B). Excretory pore sclerotized, lateral to excretory pore a pair of large platelets. Length of P1-5: 34, 110, 156, 208, 41. P2 with a large anteroventral extension with one long and one shorter seta; P3 ventrally somewhat bulging; ventral margin of P4 with two small setae ( Figure 3C). Length of I-leg-4-6: 188, 166, 154. Length of IV-leg-4-6: 288, 275, 259. Legs-II-IV with pectinate setae ( Figure 3D). Leg claws with one clawlet and without claw blade.

Female: Unknown.

Etymology — Named after the country where the new species has been collected.

Discussion — The new species is most similar to S. gracilipalpis Lundblad, 1941 , but differs in the following characters (those of S. gracilipalpis in parenthesis): dorsum with large platelets (smaller platelets), the ventral setae of P4 are lying close to each (more separated), ventral margin of P3 is convex (straight), P4 208 long (shorter, 136 long) and the gnathosoma is large, 220 long (smaller, 143 long).