Notophthiracarus abacus, Niedbala, Wojciech, 2008

Niedbala, Wojciech, 2008, New species of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) from Borneo and Sumatra, Zootaxa 1786, pp. 1-18 : 13-14

Notophthiracarus abacus sp. nov.

( Figs 7. A–H )

Diagnosis. Shape of body is hexagonal in outlines. Surface of notogaster covered with foveae. Prodorsum with three dorsal crista. Notogastral setae rigid and dilated in median part covered with cilia. Anal and adanal setae minute, except longer setae an2.

Description. Measurements of holotype: prodorsum: length 288, width 187, height 141, sensillus 81, setae: interlamellar 76, lamellar 51, rostral 53; notogaster: length 566, width 358, height 318, setae: c1 96, h1 83, p1 78; genitoaggenital plate 146 x71; anoadanal plate 146 x63. Measurements of the smallest paratype: prodorsum: length 232, width 106, height 96; notogaster: length 414, width 227, height 252. Measurements of the largest paratype: length 333, width 196, height 151; notogaster: length 586, width 318, height 379.

Body shape hexagonal in outlines. Colour dark brown. Surface of the notogaster covered with deep, widely spaced foveae.

Prodorsum dorsally with three crista, median one humped. Lateral carinae absent. Sigillar fields not discerned. Posterior furrows visible. Sensilli long, rod-like, slightly dilated in distal half, covered with small cilia. Setae filiform, narrow, interlamellar setae covered with cilia, lamellar and rostral setae rough: in> ro> le.

Notogaster with feeble median projection in anterior part. 15 pairs of rather short (c1 <c1–d1), rigid, strongly dilated in median part setae, densely covered with short cilia. Setae c1 situated close to the anterior border, setae c3 slightly remote from border, setae c2 shifted away from the border. Vestigial setae f1 not observed. Two pairs of lyrifissures, ia and im, present.

Ventral region. Arrangement of genital setae: 5: 4. All anal and adanal setae minute, except rather long setae an2.

Legs setation of “complete type ”. Seta d on femora I slightly remote from distal end of segment.

Types. Holotype and 4 paratypes: BO-2.

Comparison. The new species is slightly similar to Notophthiracarus hauseri Mahunka, 1995 from Brunei, in the shape of body and shape of notogastral setae, however the notogastral setae of the new species are narrower. Furthermore the new species is distinguishable by the absence of notogastral ribs and protuberances, different arrangement of genital setae: 5: 4 and presence of long setae an2.

Etymology. The specific epithet abacus is latinized Greek for “a trencher” and alludes to the shape of body.

Figures

FIGURE 7. A – H. Notophthiracarus abacus sp. nov. (holotype): A, prodorsum, dorsal view; B, prodorsum, anterior view; C, prodorsum with anterior part of opisthosoma, lateral view; D, genitoaggenital and anoadanal plates; E, mentum of infracapitulum; F, opisthosoma, dorsal view; G, opisthosoma, lateral view; H, trochanter and femur of leg I.