Procorticacarus septentrionalis, Smit, Harry, 2015

Smit, Harry, 2015, The water mite genus Procorticacarus K. O. Viets in Australasia (Acari: Hydrachnidia, Hygrobatidae), Zootaxa 3956 (1) : -

Procorticacarus septentrionalis n. sp.

( Figs. 10A–E )

Type material. Holotype male, Florence Creek downstream of Florence Falls, Litchfield NP, Northern Territory, Australia, 13º 0 5.885 S 130º 46.999 E, 25-ix-2005 ( NTM). Paratype male, same data as holotype ( RMNH); one female Walker Creek, Litchfield NP, 13º 0 4.694 S 130º 41.929 E, alt 161 m a.s.l., 25-ix-2005 ( NTM).

Diagnosis. Genital field with four pairs of acetabula; P4 with a ventral peg-like seta.

Description. Idiosoma with numerous hair like-papillae, forming a reticulate pattern on the large anteromedial plate. Genital field with four pairs of acetabula. Male: Idiosoma dorsally 324 (324) long and 275 (259) wide, ventrally 356 (348) long. Dorsum with one anteromedial plate with the postocularia, 152 (136) long and 136 (118) wide. Posterior to anteromedial plate a row of four glandularia platelets, the anterior pair further apart than the posterior three pairs. Coxae fused into a large coxal field. First coxae fused medially, posterior margin of fourth coxae obsolete. Cxgl–4 near middle of fourth coxae. Genital field with four pairs of acetabula (but in the paratype male one anterior acetabulum missing), gonopore 31 long. Length of P1–P5: 20, 60, 78, 102, 38. P2 with a ventral extension, tip of this extension with minute papillae, Ventral margin of P3 with papillae, ventral margin of P4 with a peg-like seta and a hyaline margin. Length of I-leg-4–6: 76, 92, 80. Length of IV-leg-4–6: 118, 130, 104. Legs without swimming setae. Female: Idiosoma dorsally 381 long and 316 wide, ventrally 413 long. Dorsal anteromedial plate 126 long and 130 wide, anteriorly bluntly pointed. Posterior to anteromedial plate three pairs of glandularia platelets, the anterior pair much further apart than posterior two pairs. First coxae fused medially. Cxgl- 4 lying near suture lines of third and fourth coxae. Posterior to fourth coxae a large area of secondary sclerotization. Vgl–2 with glands and associated setae. Genital field 80 long, with four pairs of acetabula; gonopore 80 long, pregenital sclerite 96 wide, postgenital sclerite 60 wide. Length of P1–P5: 24, 72, 94, 122, 42; palp as in male. Length of I-leg-4–6: 70, 78, 76. Length of IV-leg-4–6: 116, 120, 106. Legs without swimming setae.

Etymology. Named for its northern occurrence in Australia.

Remarks. The only known Australian species with four pairs of acetabula is P. aligenitalis , know only in the female sex. The latter species has a more slender P4 without a peg-like seta, Cxgl–4 is located closer to the suture line of the third and fourth coxae and Vgl–2 is not incorporated in the secondary sclerotization.

Figures

FIGURE 10. A – E. Procorticacarus septentrionalis n. sp., A – C holotype male, D – E paratype female: A = dorsum; B = venter; C = palp + capitulum, D = venter; E = dorsum. Scale bars = 50 µm.