Lobohalacarus cf. weberi (Romijn & Viets, 1924)

Tumanov, Denis V., 2020, Integrative description of Mesobiotus anastasiae sp. nov. (Eutardigrada, Macrobiotoidea) and first record of Lobohalacarus (Chelicerata, Trombidiformes) from the Republic of South Africa, European Journal of Taxonomy 726 (726), pp. 102-131 : 114

Lobohalacarus cf. weberi (Romijn & Viets, 1924)

Fig. 8

Material examined

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; Cape Town, top of Table Mountain; approx. 33°57′43.9″ S, 18°24′38.0″ E; = 1000 m a.s.l.; 10 Jan. 2008; I. Nikolaeva leg.; moss on soil, wet depression with a small temporary pond; SPbU 256(20) .

During sample processing, a single mite specimen from the family Halacaridae (Chelicerata, Trombidiformes ) was found ( Fig. 8A ). In having an undivided ventral shield ( Fig. 8B ) and developed frontal spine ( Fig. 8C ) this specimen undoubtedly belongs to the Lobohalacarus weberi complex of species, and is the first record of this genus from southern Africa ( Bartsch 2018). Apart from its nominative variable species Lobohalacarus weberi (Romijn & Viets, 1924) , this complex includes several similar species and subspecies with unclear taxonomic status ( Bartsch 1995 a, 2018). The studied specimen is similar to Lobohalacarus weberi tristanensis Bartsch, 1995 (known from Tristan da Cunha Islands only) by having genu I with two ventral spines ( Fig. 8A , black arrows) and genital sclerites with two pairs of genital acetabula ( Fig. 8D , white arrowheads), but differs from this form by having five pairs of perigenital setae ( Fig. 8B , white arrowheads).

Figures

Fig. 8. Lobohalacarus cf. weberi, ♀ (SPbU 256(20)). A. Total view, black arrows indicate spines on genua I, PhC. B. Ventral shield, white arrowheads indicate bases of perigenital setae, PhC. C. Frontal spine, DIC. D. Genital opening, white arrowheads indicate genital acetabula, DIC. Scale bars: A = 100 µm; B = 50 µm; C = 10 µm; D = 5 µm.