Mycomelichares Mašán & Joharchi, 2021

Mašán, Peter, Joharchi, Omid & Abramov, Vladimir V., 2021, A new genus and two new species of melicharid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) associated with wood-decaying fungi and mycophagous erotylid beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) in Europe, Zootaxa 4980 (1), pp. 157-173 : 172

Identification key to species of Mycomelichares Mašán & Joharchi gen. nov. (females)

1. Dorsal shield with 32–33 pairs of setae, marginal R- setae situated on soft integument beside the lateral margins of the shield; dorsal shield setae r2, r5 and S1 not expressed, absent; peritremes shorter, with anterior ends reaching close to setae s1; epistome with denticulate anterior margin; ventral gnathosoma with increased number of at least eight transverse rows of denticles (normally with nine rows); genu III with eight setae (2 2/1, 2/0 1) ( polypori group)......................................................................................... Mycomelichares polypori Mašán & Joharchi sp. nov.

– Dorsal shield with 38 or 42 pairs of setae, R- setae situated on posterolateral margins of the shield; dorsal shield setae r2, r5 and S1 expressed, present; peritrematal shields longer, with anterior ends reaching close to setae z1; epistome with anterior margin smooth; ventral gnathosoma with standard number of seven transverse rows of denticles; genu III with seven (1 2/1, 2/0 1) or nine setae (2 2/1, 2/1 1)................................................................................ 2

2. Some setae on idiosoma (z1, z3, R1, R3 and R5) and legs reduced, absent (tibiae I–IV with 10, 7, 7, 7 setae; genua I–IV with 10, 7, 7, 9 setae; and femora with 12, 9, 6, 6 setae); metasternal setae (st4) and associated lyrifissures (iv3) situated on soft integument ( reductus group)..................................... Mycomelichares reductus Mašán & Joharchi sp. nov.

– Setae z1, z3, R1, R3 and R5 expressed, present; leg setation not strongly hypotrichous, standard for the family (tibiae I–IV with 13, 10, 8, 10 setae; genua I–IV with 13,11, 8, nine setae; and femora with 12, 11, 6, 6 setae); metasternal setae (st4) and associated lyrifissures (iv3) situated on platelets ( cyllodi group)..................................................... 3

3. Anus situated in central part of anal shield, the shield smaller, with anterior margin reaching level of setae JV3; pre-anal setae SV2 present; fixed digit of chelicera with 8−9 denticles........... Mycomelichares cyllodi ( Samšiňák, 1960) comb. nov.

− Anus situated in posterior part of anal shield, the shield larger, with anterior margin reaching level of setae JV2; setae SV2 absent; fixed digit of chelicera with 6−7 denticles................ Mycomelichares slovacus ( Mašán, 1998) comb. nov.