Alliphis, Halbert, 1923

Mašán, Peter & Halliday, Bruce, 2010, Review of the European genera of Eviphididae (Acari: Mesostigmata) and the species occurring in Slovakia 2585, Zootaxa 2585, pp. 1-122 : 25-26

Key to European species of the genus Alliphis (females)

1. Posterior dorsal shield with five pairs of J-series setae, with an extra pair present between J2 and J5; longest posterior dorsal setae 45–65 µm in length; length of dorsal shield 452–507 µm [ Italy]......................................................... ....................................................................................................................... Alliphis siculus ( Oudemans 1905) (p. 33)

- Posterior dorsal shield with four pairs of J-series setae, without an extra pair between J2 and J5; longest posterior dorsal setae less than 30 µm in length........................................................................................................................... 2

2. Dorsal shield setae very short, subequal, not more than 14 µm in length (except vertical setae j1); ornamentation of dorsal shield with a pattern of distinct longitudinal lines; length of dorsal shield 410 µm [ Ukraine]............................ ....................................................................................................................................... Alliphis bakeri Arutunian 1992

- Dorsal shield setae longer, more variable in length, especially those in anterolateral regions slightly elongated and at least 19 µm in length; ornamentation of dorsal shield with a net-like mesh pattern ( Fig. 11), at least in marginal region ( Figs 13, 15, 17) ................................................................................................................................................. 3

3. Peritreme long, anterior end reaching level between setae j2 and z1; post-stigmatic section of peritrematal shields well developed, longer, posterior margin wide and almost truncate ( Figs 89, 90); sternal shield longer than wide ( Figs 12, 18), less than 90 µm wide at level of setae st2; dentate anterolateral margins of epistome at 90° to body axis ( Figs 98, 99) .................................................................................................................................................................. 4

- Peritreme shorter, anterior end reaching level between setae z1 and s2; post-stigmatic section of peritrematal shields not well developed, shorter, posterior margin narrow and almost tapered ( Fig. 91); sternal shield subequal in length and width ( Figs 14, 16), more than 90 µm wide at level of setae st2; dentate anterolateral margins of epistome sloping, at about 45° to body axis ( Figs 46, 100) ................................................................................................................ 5

4. Peritrematal shields smooth, without sculptural lines ( Fig. 90); reticulation of dorsal shield irregular and well developed only in marginal region ( Fig. 17); smaller species, width of epigynal shield less than 45 µm, width of anal shield less than 75 µm, length of dorsal shield 360–420 µm [ Slovakia] .......... Alliphis phoreticus Mašán 1994 (p. 32)

- Peritrematal shields with a sculptural pattern of two longitudinal lines in posterior part ( Fig. 89); reticulation of dorsal shield well developed over whole surface; larger species, width of epigynal shield greater than 45 µm, width of anal shield greater than 80 µm, length of dorsal shield 420–500 µm [Holarctic] ....................... Alliphis halleri (p. 26)

5. Peritremes short, anterior end of reaching slightly beyond seta s2 ( Fig. 14); dorsocentral j-series setae longer: j1 22– 25 µm, j2 26–30 µm, j3 27–33 µm, j4 24–28 µm; four post-genital sclerites present; length of dorsal shield 435–495 µm [ Armenia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine] .......................................................... Alliphis kargi Arutunian 1991 (p. 29)

- Peritremes longer, anterior end reaching to seta z1 ( Fig. 16); dorsocentral j-series setae shorter: j1 13–19 µm, j2 18– 21 µm, j3 20–25 µm, j4 19–23 µm; post-genital sclerites absent; length of dorsal shield 410–525 µm [Europe, China] ....................................................................................................................... Alliphis necrophilus Christie 1983 (p. 30)