Gaeolaelaps trifurcatoides ( Yan and Ma, 1999 ) Nemati & Gwiazdowicz & Khalili-Moghadam, 2018

Nemati, Alireza, Gwiazdowicz, Dariusz J. & Khalili-Moghadam, Arsalan, 2018, New data on the knowledge of Gaeolaelaps mites (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae), Acarologia 58 (3), pp. 710-734 : 717

Gaeolaelaps trifurcatoides ( Yan and Ma, 1999) : New Comb.

This species described and reported from China ( Yan and Ma 1999; Ren and Guo 2008). The morphological traits are more similar to those of the genus Gaeolaelaps than those of Androlaelaps and should be assigned to it. In this species, epistome denticulate (smooth Androlaelaps in and never denticulate), presternal shield distinct and granulate Androlaelaps (with no definite presternal shields and usually contiguous with sternal shield and not granulate), sternal shield longer than wide (usually wider than long in Androlaelaps ), the male fixed cheliceral digit multidentate, spermadactyle finger-like and curved distally (see above explanation concerning male chelicera). These characters show the consistency of this species with Gaeolaelaps genus.

On the other hand, the various traits of this species are very similar to the related characters of G. angustus . Male and female cheliceral characters, number and distribution of dorsal shield setae; leg chaetotaxy as far as the relevant article is concerned: spine, spur-like and elongate setae on legs II and IV perfectly compatible with what exists in G. angustus [see the following explanation concerning G. angustus and G. queenslandicus characters and leg chaetotaxy appeared in ( Figures 13A and 13B ) herein]. By comparing the descriptions and figures of these species, we could find no distinguishing authentic morphological differences, therefore, G. trifurcatoides and G. angustus considered to be synonyms.

Figures

Figure 13 Gaeolaelaps angustus/queenslandicus, Female (Based on specimen from Iran): A – Leg II; B – Leg IV.