Vitzthumegistidae, Kim, 2015

Kim, C. - M., 2015, Vitzthumegistidae, fam. nov.: trigynaspid mites on terrestrial hermit crabs (Anactinotrichida: Mesostigmata: Trigynaspida), Acarologia 55 (2), pp. 201-208 : 203

Vitzthumegistidae , fam. nov.

Type genus — Vitzthumegistus (genus et nomen novum for Physalozercon sensu AndrØ, 1937b, non Berlese, 1903)

Diagnosis (based on adult) — Cercomegistoid mesostigmatid mites. Body ellipsoid; yellowishor dark-brown in color. Dorsum with holodorsal shield (or holodorsal shield with a medial transverse thin line of fusion or medial cleft present). Tritosternum narrow, somewhat conical in shape; about 3/4 length of tritosternal laciniae fused together; distal end of each lacinia bifurcated. Presternal shield absent. Unpaired postanal seta absent. Anterior end of gnathotectum roundish, somewhat shield-shaped, with smooth lateral margin (no serration, or no anterior projections present); gnathotectal ventromedian keel absent. Hypostomal setae hs1 heavily branched (polyramous, hypertrophied), not simple setiform. Corniculi well-sclerotized, horn-like. Paralaciniae absent. Palp genua with six setae. Palp tibiae and tarsi normally articulated, not completely fused. Palptarsal claw (apotele) paraxial, three-tined. Chelicerae robust, digits short with numerous fine denticles. Cheliceral excrescences on movable digit proximal, or medio-proximal, hyaline, dendritic (not filamentous). Pilus dentilis on fixed cheliceral digit absent. Femora IV with eight setae. Tarsi I without claw or ambulacrum. Tarsi II-IV each with paired claws with fan-like pulvillus. Tarsi IV with setae av4 and pv4 on ventral intercalary sclerite in circumsegmental fissure between basi- and telotarsus. Female: Sternal shield, neither paired nor fragmented, weakly sclerotized, vestigial, or absent. Metasternal shield, carrying setae st4, absent. Sternogynial shield, carrying stp3, absent. Latigynial shields (Paragynia sensu Vitzthum, 1937) elongate triangular or subrectangular, fused to ventrianal shield posterolaterally. Mesogynial shield (epigynium sensu Vitzthum, 1937) small or vestigial, fused to ventrianal shield posteriorly. Male genital opening located in area between and around coxae III, with single genital valve; half of valve often fused to hologastric shield posteriorly; eugenital setae on genital valve absent.