Arrenurus (Micruracarus) pesici, Smit, Harry, 2010

Smit, Harry, 2010, Australian Arrenurus (Acari, Hydrachnidia) with the description of eleven new species, Zootaxa 2541, pp. 1-26 : 19-20

Arrenurus (Micruracarus) pesici n. sp.

( Figs. 13A–C )

Material examined. Holotype male, Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve, New South Wales, Australia, 30° 0 5.104 S 151° 46.564 E, alt. 1353 m a.s.l., 21 November 2003 (AMS).

Diagnosis. Cauda not set off from remainder of idiosoma, cauda posteriorly with a shallow indentation.

Description. Male: Idiosoma yellowish brown, 796 long and 680 wide. Dorsal shield incomplete, holotype also lacking lateral part of dorsal furrow, which must be considered as an anomaly. Width of dorsal shield therefore not measurable. Cauda not set off from remainder of idiosoma, posteriorly with a shallow indentation, inner margins of cauda with small irregularly shaped hyaline membranes ( Fig. 13A ). Petiole hyaline, irregularly fork-shaped, left fork a little longer than right fork, attached to idiosoma by a hyaline membrane. Medial distance of third and fourth coxal plates relatively wide. Genital plates long, almost extending to lateral idiosoma margin, slightly sloping ( Fig. 13B ). Lengths of PI-PV: 30, 68, 46, 92, 56; PII medially with five setae, three anteriorly, one more dorsally and more posteroventrally ( Fig. 13C ). Antagonistic bristle of normal size, but looks short in illustration due to its position is slide. Lengths of I-leg- 4-6: 126, 118, 146. Lengths of IV-leg-4-6: 150, 150, 156; IV-leg-4 without spur. Third and fourth legs with numerous swimming setae.

Female: Unknown.

Etymology. Named after Dr. V. Pešić in appreciation of his acarological work. Remarks. The new species belongs to a group of water species with a hyaline fork-shaped petiole. In all other species ( A. forpicatoides , A. perplexus Smit and A. queenslandicus Smit ) the indentation of the cauda is narrow and deep.

Figures

FIGURE 13 A – C. Arrenurus pesici n. sp., holotype male: A = dorsal view; B = ventral view; C = palp. Scale bar A – B = 200 µm; C = 50 µm.