Prozercon davidi, Moraza, María Lourdes, 2006

Moraza, María Lourdes, 2006, New species of zerconid mites from southern Europe and the Macaronesian region (Acari: Mesostigmata: Zerconidae), Zootaxa 1255, pp. 1-15 : 2-4

Prozercon davidi n. sp.

( Figs 1–3 )

Types

Holotype female: SPAIN, Navarra, Barranco de Minchate (Navarra), UTM: 30TXN6951, from leaf litter and soil of a beech forest ( Fagus sylvatica ), altitude 925 m., 10.VI.1990, C. Escala et col. Leg. Paratypes: six females, three males, six deutonymphs and one protonymph from the same locality and date as the holotype; one female and one male, from soil of prairie (felled beech forest), altitude 890 m., of the same locality and date as the holotype (deposited in MZUNAV).

Diagnosis

Setae r1 smooth. Peritrematal shield with postero lateral tips reaching the bases of marginal setae R2. Podonotal central and submarginal setae smooth except j1, z6 and s5; marginal podonotal setae plumose, including s2. Opisthonotal setae S2 smooth and thin, shorter than Z1; marginal setae S1 and R1–R7 smooth, thick and short; other opisthonotal setae densely plumose. Bases of setae J3, J4 and Z4 horizontally, at the same level; tips of setae J1–J2, Z1–Z2 and S2–S3 do not reach the bases of the following setae.

Description

FEMALE. Length of idiosoma 353 μm, width 302μm.

Dorsum ( Fig. 1 ). Podonotal shield with 22 pairs of setae: setae j2–j6, z2, z4–z5, s1, s4 smooth, short and needle­like; setae z6, s2 and s5 slightly pilose; j1, z3, s3, s6, r2–r5 densely plumose; setae z3 markedly elongated. Glands gds1 (po1) in the area j3–s1–s2; gdj4 on the line connecting j4–z4; gds4 paraxial to the line connecting s4–s5. Podonotal shield with a reticulate pattern. Opisthonotal shield with 33 pairs of setae: setae S2 simple, smooth, needle­like; marginal setae S1, R1–R7 smooth, short, slightly thickened and pointed; other setae densely plumose, brush­like. Setae J4 located on the line connecting J3 and Z4, at the same level as J5; Setae Z1 and S2 located close together; tips of setae J1 and J2 do not reach the bases of the following setae; setae J5 with tips reaching the posterior margin of the shield; setae S3 and S4 extending beyond the margin of the shield. Glands gdZ1 (Po1) outside the line connecting Z1 and Z2; glands gdZ3 (Po3) outside the line connecting Z3 and Z4, closer to bases of Z3; gdS4 (Po4) outside the bases of setae Z4, between setae R6 and R7. Dorsal fossae equal in size and distinct. Opisthonotal shield with distinct small pits. Length of the opisthonotal setae and distance between setal bases within longitudinal I­, Z­, and S­rows as follows (measurements in μm): J1 (23), J2 (26), J3 = J4 = J5 (32), Z1 = Z2 (21), Z3 (32), Z4 (34), Z5 (28), S1 = R1 (7), S2 (15), S3 (26), S4 = S5 (30), R2–R7 (7–4); J1–J2 (49), J2–J3 (34), J3–J4 (23), J4–J5 (26), Z1–Z2 (26), Z2–Z3 (32), Z3–Z4 (21), Z4–Z5 (64), S2–S3(47); S3–S4 (32), S4–S5 (43).

Venter ( Fig. 2 ). Peritrematal shields with postero­lateral tips reaching between setae R2­R3 and with a fine reticulation. Anterior margin of ventrianal shield with one pair of setae and distinct reticulation in the anterior region. Postanal seta longer than other ventral setae and pilose; euanal setae vestigial. Setae Jv5 similar in shape to other dorsal setae, and located on the dorsal shield.

MALE. Length of idiosoma 273 μm, width 226 μm.

Dorsum similar to female. Sternogenital shield ( Fig. 3 ) with unscleroticed region between setae st1 and st2; posterior region, at level of endopodals IV, almost separate from the rest of the shield, setae st5 absent. Peritrematal shield with posterolateral tips reaching setae R7 and fused with ventrianal shield; with seven pairs of ventral setae, euanal setae vestigial.

Notes

The new species is closely related to Pr. fimbriatus (C.L. Koch, 1839) and Pr. rafalskii Błaszak, 1971 . P. fimbriatus also has podonotal setae s5 and z6 pilose, but S2 is nearly half the length of plumose setae Z1, setae “J” are longer, their tips reaching the bases of the following setae, and an additional medial setae Jx is usually present. In Pr. rafalskii , setae s2, s5 and z6 are pilose as well as S2 (nearly equal in length to Z1), and J4 are on the line connecting J3 and J5.

Derivatio nominis

The name of the species refers to David Galicia, colleague and dear friend.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Prozercon davidi n. sp., 1. Female, dorsal idiosoma. 2. Female, ventral idiosoma. 3. Male, sternogenital shield.