Athyreacaridae, Lindquist, Kaliszewski and Rack, 1990

Khaustov, Alexander A. & Frolov, Andrey V., 2022, New taxa of Athyreacaridae (Acari: Heterostigmata) from Neotropical and Afrotropical realms, Zootaxa 5188 (6), pp. 501-520 : 518-519

Key to females of world genera and species of Athyreacaridae (based on Khaustov & Frolov 2019, 2021)

1. Setae sc1 vestigial or setiform, sometimes absent, not located in bothridia; three pairs of pseudanal setae................ 2

- Setae sc1 clavate, located in bothridia; two pairs of pseudanal setae............................................................................................... Bembidiacarus , with one species, B. eidelbergi Khaustov, 2000

2. Subcapitulum with two pairs of setae; tergite C divided into median and two lateral parts; genu I with five setae; seta p’ on tarsus IV present … Athyreacarus ........................................................................ 3

- Subcapitulum with one pair of setae; tergite C not divided into median and two lateral parts; genu I with four setae; seta p’ on tarsus IV absent........................... Neoathyreacarus gen. nov., with one species, N. pygmephoroides sp. nov.

3. With two pairs of cheliceral setae (cha, chb)............................................................... 4

- With one pair of cheliceral setae (cha)..................................................................... 9

4. Setae u” on tarsi II and III setiform; palpal tibiotarsus without ventral seta l”; ventral idiosomal setae not swollen basally.. 5

- Setae u” on tarsi II and III very short, spiniform; palpal tibiotarsus with ventral seta l”; most of ventral idiosomal setae swollen in basal half........................................................................ A. staturosus sp. nov.

5. With three pairs of aggenital setae........................................................................ 6

- With two pairs of aggenital setae............................................. A. latus Khaustov and Frolov, 2019

6. Dorsal and ventral idiosomal setae not thickened in basal part, at least some dorsal idiosomal setae very long; cheliceral stylets without subapical tooth; tergites D, EF and H without scale-like microsculpture................................... 7

- Most dorsal and ventral idiosomal setae thickened in basal part, all dorsal idiosomal setae short; cheliceral stylets with subapical tooth; tergites D, EF and H with scale-like microsculpture.................. A. brevisetosus Khaustov and Frolov, 2020

7. Prodorsal shield with lateral projections; cupules on tergites D and EF not visible.................................. 8

- Prodorsal shield without lateral projections; cupules on tergites D and EF well developed................................................................................................ A. primitivus Khaustov and Frolov, 2017

8. Setae sc1 distinct, at least 6 in length; ap1 narrow, almost as wide as ap2.......... A. angustus Khaustov and Frolov, 2019

- Setae sc1 reduced to alveolar vestiges; ap1 wide, much wider than ap2............. A. ovalis Khaustov and Frolov, 2019

9. Setae c1 absent, setae v2 vestigial; setae sc2, c2, d and f shorter than greatly attenuated ps1,2 ........................ 10

- Setae c1 present, setae v2 well developed; setae sc2, c2, d and f ultralong, exceeding setae ps 1,2 in length.............. 11

10. Setae sc2, c2, d, f, h1, and h2 with distinctly thickened basal half; setae e very short, spiniform; puncta on segment ps small, similar to puncta on tergite H and aggenital plate.............................. A. grandis Khaustov and Frolov, 2019

- Setae sc2, c2, d, f, h1, and h2 not thickened; setae e well developed, filiform; puncta on segment ps large, distinctly larger than puncta on tergite H and aggenital plate.......................... A. pleiotretus Lindquist, Kaliszewski and Rack, 1990

11. Setae ag1 pointed................................................................................... 12

- Setae ag1 distinctly blunt-tipped........................................................................ 17

12. Setae 1c absent..................................................................................... 13

- Setae 1c present..................................................................................... 14

13. Setae c1 much longer than distance between their bases, dorsal shields with distinct sparsely distributed puncta.............................................................................. A. longisetus Khaustov and Frolov, 2021

- Setae c1 shorter than distance between their bases, dorsal shields without distinct puncta, with rough microsculpture........................................................................... A. reductus Khaustov and Frolov, 2021

14. Setae 2c blunt-tipped, setae e longer than 25.............................................................. 15

- Setae 2c pointed, sometimes 2 c bifurcate, setae e shorter than 16................ A. africanus Khaustov and Frolov, 2021

15. Cupules ih present................................................................................... 16

- Cupules ih absent....................................................... A. indicus Khaustov and Frolov, 2020

16. Setae sc1 completely absent......................................... A. pseudoindicus Khaustov and Frolov, 2021

- Setae sc1 present, very short............................................................ A. camerikae sp. nov.

17. With two pairs of aggenital setae........................................................................ 18

- With three pairs of aggenital setae....................................................................... 19

18. Setae c2 about 10 times longer than c1; most of dorsal and ventral idiosomal setae pointed; length of idiosoma 420-450....................................................................... A. vazdemelloi Khaustov and Frolov, 2019

- Setae c2 at most three times longer than c1; most of dorsal and ventral idiosomal setae blunt-tipped; length of idiosoma 240- 270.................................................................. A. pusillus Khaustov and Frolov, 2019

19. At least setae tc” on tarsi II and III with spatulate tips; ap3 well separated from ap4 on either side.................... 20

- All setae on tarsi II and III with pointed tips, none with spatulate tips; ap3 nearly contiguous with ap4 on either side............................................................................. A. similis Khaustov and Frolov, 2019

20. Setae tc’ on tarsi II and III with distinctly spatulate tips; puncta of idiosomal plates relatively large, sparsely distributed; length of idiosoma 440-465................................................. A. magnificus Khaustov and Frolov, 2019

- Setae tc’ on tarsi II and III with pointed tips; puncta of idiosomal plates very small, densely distributed; length of idiosoma 305- 405................................................................. A. variabilis Khaustov and Frolov, 2019