Procorticacarus neoprasadi, Smit, Harry, 2015

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

Procorticacarus neoprasadi n. sp.

( Figs. 6A–D )

Type material. Holotype male, Sawpit Creek at crossing with Kosciuszko Road, Mt Kosciuszko NP, New South Wales, Australia, 36º 20.984 S 148º 33.818 E, alt. 1240 m a.s.l., 6-xii-2003 (AMS). Paratypes: two females, same data as holotype (AMS); one male, Creek no 1, at crossing with Alpine Way, Mt Kosciuszko NP, 36º 27.758 S 148º 22.926 E, alt. 1268 m a.s.l., 8-xii-2003 ( RMNH); one male, Aire River at crossing with Binns Road, Great Otway Ranges NP, Victoria, Australia, 38º 40.103 S 143º 34.805 E, alt. 240 m a.s.l., 1-iv-2008 ( RMNH).

Diagnosis. One anteromedial dorsal plate with a rounded anterior margin, posterior to this plate for pairs of glandularia platelets, the anterior pair further apart than posterior three pairs, ventral extension of P2 long, terminally without papillae, P4 and P 5 stocky, peg-like seta of P4 on a large ventral extension.

Description. Male: Idiosoma dorsally 421 (401–437) long and 356 (348–365) wide, ventrally 446 (437–456) long, with numerous hair-like papillae, on the anteromedial plate arranged in a reticulate pattern. Anteromedial plate 190 (168–206) long and 188 (160–190) wide, anteriorly and posteriorly with a convex margin. Posterior to anteromedial plate four pairs of glandularia platelets, the anterior pair further apart than posterior three pairs. First coxae fused medially, fourth coxae rounded medially. Cxgl–4 lying more or less in the middle of fourth coxae, posteromedially of insertion of fourth legs. Genital field 170 wide with three pairs of acetabula, largest anterior acetabulum 26 long. Gonopore 40 long and 26 wide. Length of P1–P5: 22, 67, 82, 97, 34. P2 with a long, terminally narrowed ventral extension without papillae, P3 ventral and medial margins with papillae, arranged in a reticulate pattern, P4 stocky with a ventral peg-like seta on a large ventral extension, P5 stocky. Length of I-leg-4– 6: 93, 106, 84. Length of IV-leg-4–6: 138, 134, 116. Legs without swimming setae.

Etymology. Named for its similarity with P. prasadi Cook.

Remarks. The new species is close to P. prasadi in the presence of four glandularia platelets posterior to the anteromedial plate, the position of Cxgl–4 and the large ventral extension of P4 with the peg-like seta. The new species differs in a larger ventral extension of P2 without papillae, a more stocky P5 and an anteriorly rounded anteromedial dorsal plate (straight in P. prasadi ). The paratype male from Victoria has the anterior pair of acetabula further away from the posterior two pairs (distance more than diameter of the acetabula), and a smaller anteromedial dorsal plate, but is otherwise similar.

Figures

FIGURE 6. A – D. Procorticacarus neoprasadi n. sp., holotype male: A = dorsum; B = venter; C = palp; D = palp + capitulum. Scale bars = 50 µm.