Procorticacarus kosciuszko, Smit, Harry, 2015

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

Procorticacarus kosciuszko n. sp.

( Figs. 3A–E )

Type material. Holotype female, Small unnamed stream below summit of Mt Kosciuszko , Mt Kosciuszko NP, New South Wales, Australia, 36º 27.322 S 148º 15.929 E, alt. 2178 m a.s.l., 7-xii-2003 (AMS). Paratypes: six females, one male (AMS), seven females, one male ( RMNH), same data as holotype.

Diagnosis. Female with a pair of anteromedial plates, most anterior of four pairs posterior to anteromedial plates much farther apart than three posterior pairs, Cxgl–4 located close to suture lines of third and fourth coxae.

Description. Integument lineated, with hair-like papillae. Three pairs of dorsal glandularia with enlarged associated setae. Cxgl–4 located near suture line of third and fourth coxae. Legs without swimming setae. Female: Idiosoma dorsally 571 (429–632) long, ventrally 608 (502–713) long and 462 (405–575) wide. Dorsum with a pair of anteromedial plates with the postocularia, 142 long. Posterior to anteromedial plates four pairs of glandularia, the first pair much farther apart than posterior three pairs. First coxae separated medially. Along medial margin of fourth coxae a fringe of secondary sclerotization. Genital field 308 wide, with three pairs of acetabula. Anterior acetabula 40–44 long, pre-genital sclerite 86 wide, post-genital sclerite 98 wide. Length of P1–P5: 34, 98, 144, 178, 62; P2 with a ventral projection with minute papillae, P3 ventrally with numerous denticles; P4 with two well separated ventral setae anteriorly to middle of segment. Length of I-leg-4–6: 104, 138, 128. Length of IV-leg-4–6: 184, 200, 130.

Male: Idiosoma dorsally 413 long, ventrally 454 long and 381 wide. Dorsum with an anteromedial plate with the postocularia, 120 long and 176 wide. Posterior to anteromedial plate two small platelets without glandularia. First coxae fused medially. Posterior margin of fourth coxae indistinct. Genital field 255 wide, with three pairs of acetabula, indistinctly separated from venter (but distinct in a teneral male); posterolateral acetabula large, 36 in diameter. Length of P1–P5: 20, 74, 100, 114, 44. Length of I-leg-4–6: 98, 102, 82. Length of IV-leg-4–6: 162, 170, 110.

Etymology. Named after Mt Kosciuszko , and is a noun in apposition.

Remarks. The new species is close to P. australicus ( K. O. Viets, 1978) , but this species differs in larger anteromedial dorsal plates (206–220 long), Cxgl–4 are located near the middle of the fourth coxae and ventral setae of P4 well posterior to middle of segment.

Figures

FIGURE 3. A – E. Procorticacarus kosciuszko n. sp., A – C holotype female, D – E paratype male: A = dorsum; B = venter; C = palp + capitulum; D = dorsum; E = venter. Scale bars = 50 µm.