Reticulolaelaps Costa, 1968: 26

Nemati, Alireza, Joharchi, Omid, Babaeian, Esmaeil & Gwiazdowicz, Dariusz J., 2013, A new species and new record of Reticulolaelaps Costa (Acari: Laelapidae) from Iran, Zootaxa 3718 (1), pp. 73-80 : 74

Reticulolaelaps Costa, 1968: 26 .

Type species Reticulolaelaps faini Costa, 1968 .

Diagnosis. The genus is characterised mainly by a well sclerotised holodorsal shield with convex dorsum and flat venter, and a large genito-ventral shield, strongly expanded posterior to coxae IV, abutting the anal shield, with six pairs of setae on the surface of the shield, with strong polygonal ornamention; pre-sternal plates fused to the sternal shield; sternal shield of the female with a notch at the middle part of anterior margin, deeply concave in posterior margin and lateral corners extended to the posterior level of coxa III, with three pairs of simple sternal setae, endopodal shields of coxae II and III fused with lateral margins of sternal shield. Anterior margin of sternal shield with a chitinous bridge joining the endopodal shields of left and right sides. Metasternal setae st 4 apparently absent but associated pores iv3 present, located at the posterior corners of lateral extensions of sternal shield; exopodal plate behind coxa IV large and triangular, not fused with peritrematal shields and genito-ventral shield; anal shield large and nearly twice as wide as long; surface of epistome faintly reticulated, its anterior margin smooth and curved; chelicera with small and robust digits. Hypostomal groove with four rows of denticles each bearing 2-5 small teeth, with two large membranous flaps originating in front of the anterior hypostomal setae (h1). All the sclerotised parts of the body are well ornamented throughout, especially the legs. Legs shorter than idiosoma, genu III (2 2/1 2/0 1) and IV (2 2/1 3/1 1) with eight and ten setae respectively. Male with sterno-genitiventral shield with ten pairs of setae, with separate anal shield similar to that of the female.

Notes on the genus. Reticulolaelaps belongs to a group of genera of Laelapidae in which the genito-ventral shield of the female is large and strongly expanded posterior to coxae IV, so that its posterior margin abuts the anal shield. The large genito-ventral shield in this genus usually captures at least six pairs of setae on the surface of the shield. The hypostome has two large membranous flaps, and the hypostomal groove has a maximum of four rows of denticles.