Erythraeus (Parerythraeus)

Roland, Elżbieta & Gabryś, Grzegorz, 2020, Erythraeus (Parerythraeus) thomasi sp. nov. (Acari: Actinotrichida: Erythraeidae) from Finland, with a redefinition of Parerythraeus Southcott, 1946 stat. nov. as a subgenus and a key to species, Zootaxa 4718 (3), pp. 324-336 : 326

Subgenus Parerythraeus Southcott, 1946 stat. nov.

Diagnosis. Erythraeus . Dorsal opisthosomal setae highly modified, of one type within each species, asymmetrical, bipartite, with dorsal side different from ventral side; depending on species, setae are elliptic, lanceolate, clubshaped, clavate, or pineal (strobiliform) in shape; dorsal side convex, with 3–5 rows of denticles along axis, 5–10 denticles in each row; ventral side concave, with clearly visible keel bearing tiny setulae in several rows; from lateral view both sides of seta are visible. Ventral opisthosomal setae not modified, setiform, longer than dorsal setae.

Distribution. Palaearctic, Ethiopian, Oriental and Australian regions; notably xerothermic.

Type species: Parerythraeus gregoryi Southcott, 1946 .

Species included: Palaearctic region: Erythraeus (Parerythraeus) thomasi sp. nov. — Finland, E. (P.) italicus Berlese, 1920 — Italy, E. (P.) tragardhi ( Southcott, 1961) — Algeria, Egypt, E. (P.) mirjavehi Gabryś, 1989 — Iran; from Oriental region: E. (P.) serratociliatus ( Khot, 1963) , E. (P.) delhiensis ( Khot, 1963) , E. (P.) indicus ( Khot, 1963) , E. (P.) elegans ( Khot, 1963) , E. (P.) plumosus Khot, 1963 , E. (P.) orientalis Khot, 1963 — India; from Ethiopi- an region: E. (P.) nigritiensis André, 1962 — Sudan, E. (P.) alluaudi Berlese, 1920 —East Africa; and from Australian region: E. (P.) gregoryi ( Southcott, 1946) — Australia.