Leptotrombidium megaloti, STEKOLNIKOV, 2013

STEKOLNIKOV, ALEXANDR A., 2013, <strong> <em> Leptotrombidium </ em> (Acari: Trombiculidae) of the World </ strong>, Zootaxa 3728 (1), pp. 1-173 : 97-99

219. Leptotrombidium megaloti sp. nov.

( Figs. 17–18 )

Diagnosis. SIF = 7B-B-3-2111.0000; fPp = N/N/BBB; Pc = 3; Gn = 2; fSc: PL> AM> AL; SB/PL; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fD = 2H-10-8-8-(2–4)-2(0); DS = 28–34; VS = 21–28; NDV = 50–59; Ip = 580–648. Standard measurements are given in Table 7.

Description (larva). IDIOSOMA. Eyes 2 + 2. One pair of humeral setae; 26–32 dorsal idiosomal setae arranged 10-8-8-(2–4)-2(0) with little variation (in holotype, 10-8-7-2); dorsal idiosomal setae covered with 3 rows of short barbs (short-barbed tripectinala); 4 sternal setae and 21–28 ventral setae; total number of idiosomal setae excluding coxal and sternal 50–59.

GNATHOSOMA. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap; cheliceral base sparsely covered with puncta; gnathobase moderately covered with puncta, with 1 pair of branched setae; palpal femur moderately covered with puncta; galeala with few branches, sometimes with second-order branching; palpal claw with 3 prongs; setae on palpal femur and genu nude; dorsal, lateral, and ventral palpal tibial setae branched; palpal tarsus with 7 branched setae and tarsala.

SCUTUM. Nearly rectangular, with posterior margin almost straight in centre and sinuous laterally, moderately covered with puncta; AM base posterior to level of ALs; SB clearly anterior to level of PLs (PSB–P-PL = 2–5, mean 3.2); PL> AM> AL; all scutal setae barbed similarly to dorsal idiosomal setae; flagelliform sensilla with about 12 branches in distal half.

LEGS. All 7-segmented, with pair of claws and claw-like empodium. Leg I: coxa with 1 non-specialized branched seta (1B); trochanter 1B; basifemur 1B; telofemur 5B; genu 4B, 2 genualae, microgenuala; tibia 8B, 2 tibialae, microtibiala; tarsus 22B, tarsala (17 long), microtarsala distal of tarsala, subterminala, parasubterminala, pretarsala. Leg II: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 4B; genu 3B, genuala; tibia 6B, 2 tibialae; tarsus 16B, tarsala (13 long), microtarsala proximal of tarsala, pretarsala. Leg III: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 3B; genu 3B, genuala; tibia 6B, tibiala; tarsus 15B.

Host. Hylomys megalotis Jenkins and Robinson, 2002 ( Erinaceomorpha : Erinaceidae ).

Type material. Holotype larva (L-390, T-Tr.-62) ex Hylomys megalotis , LAOS: Khammouane Province, 18 km N from Thakhek, Ban Doy village, 140 m a.s.l., 13 November 2008, coll. A. V. Abramov and A.N. Tikhonov, mites collected by A. V. Bochkov. 27 paratypes larvae (Nos. L-339 to L-419) ex Hylomys megalotis , 9, 13, and 14 November 2008, other data same. Holotype and paratypes are deposited in ZIN.

Etymology. Species name derived from the type host epithet.

Remarks. The new species is similar to L. gentryi in having fD = 2H-10-8-8-…, fPp = N/N/BBB, SB/PL, and PL> AM> AL, but differs in having rectangular (vs. subquadrate) scutum (AW = 56–62 vs. 47–50, PW = 65–72 vs. 54–58, and SB = 26–32 vs. 21–24, while SD = 34–41 vs. 43–47 and AP = 22–27 vs. 27–32), lesser number of idiosomal setae (VS = 21–28 vs. 40 and NDV = 50–59 vs. 80), much shorter setae (AM = 32–38 vs. 43–50, PL = 35–39 vs. 52–58, and H = 32–37 vs. 50–53), and much shorter legs (Ip = 580–648 vs. 725–754).

Species group 15 (fD = 2H-12-8-2-13-2-14-8-4-2, fPp = N/B/BBB)

Figures

FIGURE 17. Leptotrombidium megaloti sp. nov. A, scutum and eyes (holotype); B, dorsal idiosomal seta of 1st row (holotype); C, preanal ventral idiosomal seta (holotype); D, arrangement of dorsal idiosomal setae; E, arrangement of ventral idiosomal setae. Scale bars: 50 µm (A), 20 µm (B, C), 100 µm (D, E).

FIGURE 18. Leptotrombidium megaloti sp. nov. A, dorsal aspect of gnathosoma; B, ventral aspect of gnathosoma; C, galeal seta of holotype showing second-order branching; D, leg I (holotype); E, leg II (holotype); F, leg III (holotype). Scale bars: 25 µm (A–C), 50 µm (D–F).