Kongsbergia laurentiana, Radwell & Smith, 2012

Radwell, Andrea J. & Smith, Ian M., 2012, North American members of the reticulata-like species group of the water mite genus Kongsbergia (Acari: Hydrachnidiae: Aturidae), Zootaxa 3540, pp. 1-49 : 18-20

Kongsbergia (s.s.) laurentiana sp. nov.

( Figs. 28–32, 91, 92)

Description. Character states of the laurentiana subgroup. Male: Idiosoma in dorsal view elongate and ellipsoidal, usually widest near midlength. Dorsal shield ( Figs. 28, 91) with anterior margin nearly transverse or slightly convex and crenellate with a very small depression medially, lacking a nipple- or dome-shaped projection; with edge linear or slightly convex in area between eyes and humeral region and indented posterior to humeral area to form a strong humeral angle; posterior edge slightly protruding medially; with reticulate sculpturing absent in area between and anterior to postocular setae; anteromedial hump large, lateral ridges strongly developed and meeting lateral edges of shield near midlength to form a pronounced arching crest, posterior depression deep; ridge bearing excretory pore moderately well developed; bearing three pairs of long, curved setae on posterior edge; variable in color from colorless to yellowish with red or purple patches anteriorly and posteriorly.Ventral shield ( Fig. 30) with projections covering insertions of fourth legs well developed; rounded posteriorly and bearing three pairs of slender setae near posterior edge. Pedipalp ( Fig. 31) with femur enlarged and bearing three papillate projections proximoventrally. Fourth leg ( Fig. 32) with segments and setae as illustrated. Female: Dorsal shield ( Figs. 29, 92) similar in shape, sculpturing and color to that of male but lacking posteromedial protrusion; with ridges relatively weakly developed and not forming a pronounced crest. Ventral shield with projections covering insertions of fourth legs smaller than in male. Pedipalp with femur not enlarged and tibia proportionally longer than in male. Measurements: Male (n=5): Length/width dorsal shield 354–368(368)/242–260(250), length/width ventral shield 378–390(390)/264–276(264). Lengths pedipalp segments: Tr 24–26(24), Fe 78–86(86), Ge 27–32(31), Ti 105–110(110), Ta 30–32(32). Height pedipalp femur 68–80(80). Lengths leg segments: IGe 63–67(63), ITi 80–88(84), ITa 90–98(90); IIGe 67–69(67), IITi 84–90(85), IITa 93–98(98); IIIGe 81–86(84), IIITi 87–99(99), IIITa 99–107(107); IVTr 80–87(85), IVBFe 80–88(88), IVTFe 63–70(70), IVGe 83–88(83), IVTi 85–89(89), IVTa 100–105(105). Female (n=5): Length/width dorsal shield 320–360/268–284, length/width ventral shield 330–354/ 258–296. Lengths pedipalp segments: Tr 23–26, Fe 66–70, Ge 30–36, Ti 102–118, Ta 32–35. Lengths leg segments: IVTr 50–60, IVBFe 61–70, IVTFe 54–60, IVGe 72–78, IVTi 81–88, IVTa 85–93.

Types. Holotype: Male from Digdeguash River beside road from Digdeguash to Elmsville , Charlotte Co., New Brunswick, Canada , 2 October 1984 by IMS (slide) . Paratypes: CANADA: New Brunswick: Charlotte Co.: Denny Stream beside Hwy 1 just east of St. Stephen, 20 August 1975, B.P. Smith, D.W. Barr, and N. Arvuch – 1 male (slide). Digdeguash River at Rolling Dam, 2 October 1984, IMS and S.C. Smith – 2 males, 3 females (slides), 4 females (GAW). Same data as holotype– 3 males, 5 females (slides), 6 females (GAW). Digdeguash River beside Hwy 770 at covered bridge near Rolling Dam, 9 September 1992, IMS– 1 male (slide). York Co. : Magaguadavic River beside Hwy 3 just east of Thomaston Corners , 1 July 1989, IMS– 2 males, 2 females (slides), 1 male, 4 females (GAW) . USA: Maine: Washington Co.: Machias River at Machias Forest Camp beside Rt. 9, 24.7 km east of Hancock County line, 10 September 1992 by IMS – 3 males, 1 female (slides) . New York: Essex Co.: Boreas River beside Rt. 28N, 13.8 km northwest of Morse Memorial Parkway , Minerva, 21 June 1990, IMS– 1 male, 1 female (slides). Hamilton Co. : East Branch of Sacandaga River beside Rt. 8, 3.5 km northeast of Rt. 30, Griffin, 7–8 July 1989, IMS– 1 male (slide) .

Etymology. Named for the Laurentian region of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States where all known specimens of the species have been collected.

Distribution. Streams of New Brunswick in Canada; Maine and New York in USA.

Remarks. Males of K. laurentiana sp. nov. differ from those of K. crista sp. nov. in that the arched crest formed by the anteromedial hump and associated ridges is relatively modest compared to its extremely prominent and sharply defined condition in males of K. crista . Variability in the enlarged seta of the fourth leg is evident in both species, and therefore is not a reliable characteristic to distinguish between them.