Pseudofeltria quadriscutata Biesiadka, 1971

Gerecke, R., 2014, Pseudofeltria (Acariformes: Pionidae) In Europe: Three Previously Described Taxa, A Species New To Science From The Northern Apennines, And A Redefinition Of Foreliinae, Acarologia 54 (1), pp. 57-67 : 63

Pseudofeltria quadriscutata Biesiadka, 1971

Diagnosis — Female (male unknown): Genital field with 17-18 pairs of Ac, maximum diameter of the largest> 20 µm. Female dorsum with four plates: A pair of central plates between unpaired anterior and posterior plates – the latter including two pairs of glandularia. Calculating from figures in the original description, measurements of the dorsal plates are (length/width): Anterior plate 194/212 (ratio 0.9); lateral platelets 133 / 80 (ratio 1.7); posterior plate 309/265 (ratio 1.2). P-4 lacking strong dorsal setae in distal third.

Discussion — Pseudofeltria quadriscutata differs from the other European species in the high number of acetabula (following our experience a character state that should be similarly expressed also in the still unknown male). Females of the species are furthermore unique in the name giving presence of four dorsal plates and in the absence of strong dorsal setae on P-4.

From the measurements published by Biesiadka (1971) results that the species is larger than the maxima measured for females of P. scourfieldi: Idiosoma length/width 700/570; coxal field length/width 400/433; length/height P-1, 54/54; P-2, 120/75; P- 3, 59/59; P-4, 110/46; P-5, 43/19. In general palp proportions, with rather slender P-2-4, P. quadriscutata is similar to P. scourfieldi females, but it differs in a relatively longer P-2 (relative length 31 %, P-2/3 length ratio 2.0).