Macrocheles bertrandi, Niogret, Jerome & Nicot, Antoine, 2008

Niogret, Jerome & Nicot, Antoine, 2008, Combined approach using morphology and ITS-sequences for description of three new species of Macrocheles (Acari: Macrochelidae), Zootaxa 1873, pp. 39-49 : 43-44

Macrocheles bertrandi sp. nov.

Type series. Holotype: Female, Gabon, Bakoumba, 1° 79' S, 13° 04' E, equatorial climate, June 2006, 623 m alt., on Stomoxys calcitrans . Paratypes: 3 females, same data as holotype, deposited in collection of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris, France; 2 females, same data as holotype, deposited in the collection of the Laboratoire de Zoogéographie, University of Montpellier, France.

Female. Yellowish colour, medium size.

Dorsal shield ( Fig. 2 a). Shield elongated, similar to M. robustulus in shape; longer than wide; length 591 ± 45 µm, width 319 ± 14 µm (n = 6), with distinct ornamentation underlined by punctures, divided by the procurved line at level of setae s5; reticular pattern irregular with pentagons or hexagons; shield with 28 pairs of setae; j1 directed forward and weakly pilose distally; z1 smooth, reduced in length; all other setae simple, except J5 serrated for it whole length.

Ve n t r a l idiosoma ( Fig. 2 b). Tritosternum and peritremes normal for genus. Sternal shield longer than wide; length 148 ± 7 µm, width 103 ± 9 µm (n = 6); with three pairs of smooth setae and two pairs of pores. Weak ornamentation underlined by punctures; discrete linea media transversa underlined by some bigger punctures; oblique anterior lines and arched line not visible; punctate angular lines similar to those of M. muscaedomesticae group; posterior half of sternal shield with indeterminate area punctata, irregular and sparse large punctures between st3. Epigynial shield longer than wide; 98-100 µm long, 96-98 µm wide; with a pair of setae; shield weakly ornamented, sclerotized lines forming three arched patterns underlined by punctures, two of them cross a central ovoid shape formed by punctures. Ventri-anal shield longer than wide (ca. 166- 170µm long); with eight main transverse punctured curved lines, longitudinal lines and lateral weak ornamentations; with three pairs of pre anal setae, a pair of para-anal setae and a post-anal seta. Metasternal plates elongated with a pore and a simple setae.

Gnathosoma . Typical for the M. glaber -group. Chelicerae robust ( Fig. 2 c) with well developed median tooth, pyramidal in shape and a terminal hook, pilus dentilis straight; movable digit with two teeth; arthrodial brush reaching mid length of movable digit. Hypostomal groove with five transverse rows of denticles. Epistome with a pair of broad lateral elements, tapering distally, median element thinner and shorter, forked distally.

Sacculus foeminus M . glaber -like.

Legs. Setae simple or lightly pilose at the distal end, except setae on genu I, tibia and basitarsus IV and tarsi long and thin. Genu IV with 6 simple setae, leg IV chaetotaxy typical for the genus.

Etymology. The species is dedicated to Dr. Michel Bertrand, Acarologist, University of Montpellier ( France).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Macrocheles bertrandi sp. nov. Female. (a) dorsal shield; (b) ventral idiosoma; (c) epistome; (d) chelicera. Scale bar = 500 Μm for 2 a, 300 Μm for 2 b, 50 Μm for 2 c, 2 d.