Plonaphacarus brevisetus ( Mahunka, 1984 )

Niedbała, Wojciech, 2017, Ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) of Tanzania, Acarologia 57 (4), pp. 957-1072 : 1003-1007

Plonaphacarus brevisetus ( Mahunka, 1984)

( Figs 31 A-G; 32A-H)

Hoplophthiracarus brevisetus Mahunka, 1984 .

Plonaphacarus brevisetus: Niedbała 2001 .

Diagnosis — Measurements of paratype: prodorsum: length 268, width 202, height 101, setae: ss 71, in 76, le 20, ro 63; notogaster: length 555, width 333, height 303, setae: c 1 88, c 1 /c 1 -d 1 =0.6, h 1 76, ps 1 88; genitoaggenital plate 71×56, anoadanal plate 106×61. Measurements of one specimen from sample TAN-007: prodorsum: length 172 µm, width 134, height 96, setae: ss 56, in 33, le 13, ro 28; notogaster: length 343, width 227, height 217, setae: c 1 48, c 1 /c 1 -d 1 =0.6, h 1 and ps 1 38; genitoaggenital plate 88×81, anoadanal plate 147×94. Paratype and specimen from TAN-007 are smaller than dimensions given by Mahunka (1984). Medium-sized species; colour light brown to brown; surface of body finely foveolate. Prodorsum with weak lateral carinae; sigillar fields indistinct, median field rather large; posterior furrows present; sensilli comparatively long, narrow, with dilated, lanceolate or oval head covered, with small spines; interlamellar setae semierect thick, short, covered with small spines, especially from one side; rostral setae stout, pointed distally, covered with small spines; lamellar setae minute, spiniform, smooth; exobothridial setae vestigial; in> ro> le. Notogaster with rather short setae (c 1 <c 1 - d 1), stout, thick covered with small spines, especially from one side, setae c 1 and c 3 near anterior border, setae c 2 remote from border; vestigial setae f 1 situated slightly anteriorly of h 1 setae; 4 pairs of lyrifissures present. Ventral region; setae h of mentum slightly shorter or slightly longer than distance between them; formula of genital setae: 6(4+2): 3; between setae of anoadanal plates setae ad 1 and ad 2 longer than other setae of anoadanal plate, anal setae smaller than ad 1 setae and longer than ad 3 setae, all setae rough. Chaetome of legs of “complete type”; setae d of femora I distinctly remote from distal end of article .

Localities in Tanzania: Dadoma Region: Mahunka 1984, Niedbała 2001; Uluguru and Nguru Mts.

Distribution — Afrotropical species known only from Tanzania, probably endemic.

Figures

FIGURE 31: Plonaphacarus brevisetus (Mahunka, 1984) (paratype): A – prodorsum, dorsal view; B – prodorsum, lateral view; C – opisthosoma, lateral view; D – mentum of subcapitulum; E – right genitoaggenital and anoadanal plates; F – trochanter and femur of leg I; G – tibia of leg IV.