Laelaspis, Berlese

Duarte, Adriane Da Fonseca, Rueda-Ramírez, Diana, Cunha, Uemerson Silva Da & Moreira, Grazielle Furtado, 2022, Description of a new species of Laelaspis Berlese (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from Brazil, with a key to the species of the Western Hemisphere, Zootaxa 5133 (4), pp. 567-576 : 574

Key for Laelaspis species described in the Western Hemisphere

The following key does not include Laelaspis bakeri Hunter & Davis, 1962 , Laelaspis brevipilis Hunter, 1961 and Laelaspis regalis Berlese, 1920 (the first two from the USA and the third apparently also from the USA), because the available published information on their morphology does not allow their separation from the other Laelaspis species.

1. Dorsal shield smooth.................................................................................. 2

– Dorsal shield reticulate................................................................................. 5

2. Setae J5 and Z5 of similar lengths; post-anal seta much more than half as long as neighbouring opisthogastric setae on unsclerotised cuticle................................................... L. picketti ( Hunter & Glover, 1968) , USA

– Setae J5 at most half as long as Z5; post-anal seta at most half as long as neighbouring opisthogastric setae on unsclerotised cuticle.............................................................................................. 3

3. Setae J1, J3 and J4 shorter than distance between their bases and bases or J3, J4 and J5, respectively.......................................................................................... L. longogenitalis ( Karg, 1978) , Chile

– Setae J1, J3 and J4 longer than distance between their bases and bases or J3, J4 and J5, respectively................... 4

4. Seta J5 about as long as or longer than Z4; posterior margin of epigynal shield slightly acuminate medially, next to anterior margin of anal shield; with 14 pairs of setae inserted in soft cuticle and in epigynal shield behind level of anterior tip of metapodal platelets................................................................. L. loeckii sp. nov., Brazil

– Seta J5 much shorter than other opisthonotal setae; posterior margin of epigynal shield truncate medially, next to anterior margin of anal shield; with 11 pairs of setae inserted in soft cuticle and in epigynal shield behind level of anterior tip of metapodal platelets.......................................................... L. longipilis Hunter, 1964 , USA

5. Posterior margin of epigynal shield distinctly truncate............................ L. latanalis ( Karg, 2000) , Venezuela

– Posterior margin of epigynal shield rounded or acuminate medially............................................. 6

6. Fixed cheliceral digit considerably shorter than movable digit........................ L. brevichelis Hunter,1964 , USA

– Fixed and movable digits of similar lengths................................................................ 7

7. Epigynal shield distinctly separate from anal shield by a narrow band of unsclerotised cuticle............................................................................................... L. mandibularis ( Ewing, 1909) , USA

– Epigynal shield abutting or overlapping anal shield.......................................................... 8

8. Posterior margin of epigynal shield medially acuminate (with distinct medial tip); opisthogastric setae distinctly tylochorous........................................................................ L. piloscutuli Hunter, 1961 , Mexico

– Posterior margin of epigynal shield rounded, without medial tip; opisthogastric setae tylochorous or not................ 9

9. Most setae along margin of dorsal shield about twice as long as central setae ... L. dubitatus Hunter, 1964 , USA

– Setae along margin of dorsal shield not distinctly longer than central setae....................................... 10

10. Opisthogastric setae on unsclerotised cuticle shorter to slightly longer than neighbouring setae; fixed cheliceral digit with 5–6 teeth in addition to apical hook; dorsal shield with marginal setae stout and barbed................................ 11

– Several opisthogastric setae on unsclerotised cuticle much longer (up to twice) than neighbouring setae; fixed cheliceral digit with 3–6 teeth in addition to apical hook; dorsal shield with marginal setae not stout, barbed or smooth................ 12

11. Seta J5 barbed; central dorsal shield setae lanceolate but blunt................. L. mumai ( Hunter & Glover, 1968) , USA

– Seta J5 smooth; central dorsal shield setae lanceolate and sharp-tipped........... L. moseri ( Hunter & Glover, 1968) , USA

12. Seta S5 absent ........................................... L. formationis ( Karg, 1989) , Saint Lucia, Caribbean area

– Seta S5 present...................................................................................... 13

13. Dorsal shield setae smooth....................................................... L. lundi Hunter, 1961 , Mexico

– Dorsal shield setae barbed................................................. L. pauli Hunter & Davis, 1962 , USA