Leptotrombidium aenigmami, STEKOLNIKOV, 2013

STEKOLNIKOV, ALEXANDR A., 2013, <strong> <em> Leptotrombidium </ em> (Acari: Trombiculidae) of the World </ strong>, Zootaxa 3728 (1), pp. 1-173 : 27-30

2. Leptotrombidium aenigmami sp. nov.

( Figs. 7–8 )

Diagnosis. SIF = 7B-B-3-2111.0000; fPp = N/N/BNN; Pc = 3; Gn = 2; fSc: PL = AM> AL; SB-PL; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fD = 2H-6-2-2; DS = 11–16; VS = 25–33; NDV = 41–44; Ip = 716–745. Standard measurements are given in Table 3.

Description (larva). IDIOSOMA. Eyes 2 + 2. One pair of humeral setae; 6 (5 in one specimen) setae in 1 st row of dorsal idiosomal setae; only marginal setae usually present posterior to 1 st row: 2- 2 in 5 specimens examined and 2-2-2- 2 in 2 specimens; in one specimen 2 additional dorsal setae situated asymmetrically in central part of idiosoma, in other specimens central part of idiosoma lack of setae; dorsal idiosomal setae densely covered with 4 rows of moderate barbs (barbed tetrapectinala), fD in holotype 2H-6-2-2; 4 sternal setae and 25–33 ventral setae; total number of idiosomal setae excluding coxal and sternal ones 41–44.

GNATHOSOMA. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap; basal part of cheliceral base moderately covered with puncta; gnathobase with sparse puncta and 1 pair of branched setae; palpal femur with few puncta; galeala branched; palpal claw with 3 prongs; setae on palpal femur and genu nude; dorsal palpal tibial seta branched; lateral and ventral palpal tibial setae nude; palpal tarsus with thick heavily branched dorsal seta, 3 apical and 3 ventral slender, weakly branched setae, and tarsala.

SCUTUM. Nearly rectangular, with posterior margin almost straight in centre and rounded laterally, with sparse small puncta; AM base posterior to level of ALs; SB at level of PLs (PSB–P-PL = –1–2, mean 0.6); PL = AM> AL; all scutal setae barbed similarly to dorsal idiosomal setae; flagelliform sensilla with about 12 short 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 (15 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 (14 long), microtarsala near and slightly proximal of tarsala, pretarsala. Leg III: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 3B; genu 3B, genuala; tibia 6B, tibiala; tarsus 15B.

Host. Laonastes aenigmamus Jenkins, Kilpatrick, Robinson and Timmins, 2005 ( Rodentia : Diatomyidae ).

Type material. Holotype larva (L-33, T-Tr.-57) ex Laonastes aenigmamus , LAOS: Khammouane Province, 18 km N from Thakhek, Ban Doy village , 140 m a.s.l., 12 November 2008, coll. A. V. Abramov and A.N. Tikhonov, mites collected by A. V. Bochkov. 16 paratypes larvae (Nos. L-67 to L-455), 11–16 November 2008, other data same . Holotype and paratypes are deposited in ZIN .

Etymology. Species name derived from the type host epithet.

Remarks. Within 3 other Leptotrombidium species having 6 setae in 1 st dorsal row, L. aenigmami is closer to L. tarsale and differs from it in fD = 2H-6-2-2 vs. 2H-6-6-6-4-2, densely barbed (vs. sparsely covered with small barbs) dorsal idiosomal setae, much shorter AM and PL (AM = 43–50 vs. 60–69 and PL = 43–49 vs. 64–69), somewhat different shape of scutum (PSB = 16–18 vs. 11–12, SD = 41–43 vs. 38–40, corners of posterior scutal margin rounded vs. sinuous), and in longer legs (Ip = 727–792 vs. 682–670).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Leptotrombidium aenigmami sp. nov. A, scutum and eyes; B, dorsal idiosomal seta of 1st row; C, preanal ventral idiosomal seta; D, arrangement of dorsal idiosomal setae (holotype); E, arrangement of ventral idiosomal setae (holotype). Scale bars: 50 µm (A), 20 µm (B, C), 100 µm (D, E).

FIGURE 8. Leptotrombidium aenigmami sp. nov. A, dorsal aspect of gnathosoma (dorsal palpal tibial seta is broken); B, ventral aspect of gnathosoma; C, palpal tibia of a specimen with intact dorsal seta, dorsal aspect; D, leg I; E, leg II; F, leg III. Scale bars: 25 µm (A–C), 50 µm (D–F).