Pygmodispus (Pygmodispus) paraequestris Khaustov & Chydyrov, 2003

Khaustov, Alexander A. & Chydyrov, Peyzulla R., 2003, Pygmodispus (Pygmodispus) paraequestris spec. nov. (Acari: Heterostigmata: Scutacaridae) from Turkmenistan, Zootaxa 169 (1), pp. 1-4 : 2-4

Pygmodispus (Pygmodispus) paraequestris Khaustov & Chydyrov spec. nov.

( Figures 1­6 )

Female: Length of idiosoma 238, maximum width 155.

Gnathosoma ( Figs. 1­2 ). Gnathosoma 23 long, 20 wide, with 2 pairs of dorsal setae, of these, Gd1(13) positioned slightly anteriad to Gd2 (12). Ventral surface with 1 pair of setae Vgs (9). Each palp with 2 dorsal setae; ventrally with tiny knob­like solenidion.

Idiosomal dorsum (fig. 1). Free margin of tergite C has pronounced stripes. Cupulae ia and ih large, round. Tergit H with posteromedian tongue­like elongation. Setae c2 insert on the free margin of tergite C and have no distinct alveolar canal. Setae d and f blunt pointed and bears few small barbs. Other setae of dorsum of idiosoma smooth and sharply pointed. Tergite EF with pair of longitudinal cuticular thickenings just laterad to setae e. Tergites C and EF with few longitudinal striae. Length of dorsal setae: c 1 28, c 2 30, d 22, e 24, f 21, h 1 21, h 2 21. Distances between dorsal setae: c 1­ c 1 40, c 1­ c 2 42, d­d 72, e­f 42, f­f 33, h 1­ h 1 26, h 1­ h 2 36. Propodosomal setae v 1 little longer than v 2. Trichobothrium with thin stem, distally round.

Idiosomal venter (fig. 2). Setae 1a, 1b, 3c and 4c barbed. Other ventral setae thin and smooth. Apodemata as on fig. 2.. Length of ventral setae: 1a 26, 1b 31, 2a 24, 2b 18, 3a 24, 3b 38, 3c 28, 4a 27, 4b 33, 4c 31, ps 1 18, ps 2 5, ps 3 20.

Legs (figs. 3­6). Leg I (fig. 3): setae formulae: Tr1­Fe3­Ge4­TiTa16(4) (number of solenidia in parenthesis). Tibiotarsus thickened, with a massive claw. Solenidia 1 11> 1 8> 2 7 = 2 7; 1 finger­shaped, 2 uniformly thin, 2 and 1 thickened distally. Setae dFe broadened, spine­like. Leg II (fig. 4): setae formula: Tr1­Fe3­Ge3­Ti4(1)­Ta6(1). Tarsus with sickle­like claws, without basal thickenings. Solenidion (12) broadened at the middle region, solenidion depressed, hardly visible. Leg III (fig. 5): setae formula: Tr1Fe2­Ge2­Ti4(1)­Ta6. Claws of the same shape as on tarsus II. Solenidion depressed, hardly visible. Leg IV (fig. 6): setae formula: Tr1­Fe2­Ge1­Ti4(1)­Ta6. Trochanter with a massive ventrodistal process (fig. 6). Tarsus with pretarsus and two well developed claws, empodium extended, distally widened. Solenidion of the same shape as on leg II and III.

Male and larva unknown.

Diagnosis: The new species is very closely related to Pygmodispus equestris Paoli, 1911 but differs from the latter by a much more massive claw on tibiotarsus I, a more massive ventrodistal process on trochanter IV and by a shorter solenidion 2 on tibiotarsus I.

Type material. Holotype: 1 female, slide # 2812I, Turkmenistan, Chardzhou reg., settl. Kul’­Aryk, soil of cotton field, 9.IX.2000 (leg. Chydyrov); paratype: 1 female, at the same place as holotype, 13.VIII.1990 (leg. Chydyrov).

Figures

FIGURES 1­2. Pygmodispus paraequestris Khaustov et Chydyrov, spec. nov. (Holotype, adult female). 1 – dorsal view of body, 2 – ventral view of body.

FIGURES 3­6. Pygmodispus paraequestris Khaustov et Chydyrov, spec. nov. (Holotype, adult female). 3­6 – legs I­IV, respectively.