Australiobates (Australiobates) reticulatus Wiles, 1997

Smit, H., 2011, New Species Of Water Mites From New Guinea (Acari: Hydrachnidia, Halacaridae), Acarologia 51 (3), pp. 321-345 : 337-338

Australiobates (Australiobates) reticulatus Wiles, 1997

Material examined — 2/3/0, Bion River, Pass Valley, 3°51.267’ S; 139°05.789’ E, alt. 1955 m a.s.l., 11-iii-2010; 0/1/0, Mulun stream, Pass Valley, 3°51.599’ S; 139°05.876’ E, alt. 1970 m a.s.l., 12-iii-2010; 0/2/0, Bion River, upstream, Pass Valley, 3°51.513’ S; 139°05.570’ E, alt. 2007 m a.s.l., 15- iii-2010; 0/1/0, Uwe River, Wamena, 4°06.521’ S; 138°56.310’ E, alt. 1668 m a.s.l., 24-iii-2010.

Remarks — Wiles (1997a) named the species A. reticulata, but as the gender of the genus is masculine, the name should be A. reticulatus . The species has been reported previously from Papua New Guinea and Papua province (" Irian Jaya "), Indonesia ( Wiles 1997a).

Australiobates (Australiobates) setosus n. sp. ( Figure 11 )

Material examined — Holotype female, Maraut River , Vogelkop, New Guinea, 3-xii-1996, leg. M. Argeloo.

Diagnosis — Ventral margin of PIV with 3-4 stiff, thin setae, besides the two stout setae.

Description — Female. Idiosoma 526 long dorsally and 421 wide, ventral length 583. Idiosoma without platelets or reticulation. Gnathosoma with a long anchoral process. Coxoglandularia 4 near suture line of third and fourth coxal plates. Posterior apodemes of fourth coxal plates long ( Figure 11a ). Genital field with three pairs of acetabula, these occupying most of the area of the genital field and lying in an arc. Lengths of PI-PV: 38, 90, 124, 134, 34. PIV slender, ventral margin of PIV with 3-4 stiff, thin setae, besides the two stout setae. PII and PIII with 3-4 short, stout setae near or on dorsal margin ( Figures 11b, 11c ). Lengths of I-leg-4-6: 227, 267, 143. I-leg-5 anteroventrally with two closely inserted, relatively blunt setae ( Figure 11d ). Lengths of IV-leg-4-6: 324, 318, 198. All legs with numerous short, fine setae, swimming setae absent. Male: Unknown.

Etymology — Named for the relatively many setae on PIV.

Remarks — The new species is somewhat close to A. bruijni Wiles, 1997 , but this species lacks the stiff setae of the ventral margin of PIV, and the genital field is more slender, with the posterior acetabulum not extending posteriorly of the gonopore.

Australiobates (Australiobates) sylvestris n. sp. ( Figure 12 )

Material examined — Holotype female, small forest stream near UNCEN (= Cenderawasih University), Abepura, Papua province, New Guinea, Indonesia, 2°34.794’ S; 140°39.292’ E, alt. 234 m a.s.l., 31-iii-2010. Paratypes: one male, 2 females, same data as holotype .

Diagnosis — I-leg-5 anteroventrally with two pointed setae; PIV ventrally with two blunt setae.

Description — Female: Idiosoma 575 (494 – 559) long and 445 (421 – 470) wide (measured dorsally). Idiosoma without platelets or reticulation. Gnathosoma with a long anchoral process (somewhat shifted in the illustrated holotype as a result of mounting). Coxoglandularia 4 near suture line of third and fourth coxal plates. Posterior apodemes of fourth coxal plates long ( Figure 12a ). Genital field 116 long, with three pairs of acetabula, these occupying most of the area of the genital field and lying in an arc. Lengths of PI-PV: 38, 76, 104, 100, 28; PIV ventrally with two well separated, blunt setae ( Figure 12b ). Lengths of I-leg-4-6: 160, 168, 110; I-leg-5 anteroventrally with two pointed setae ( Figure 12c ). Lengths of IV-leg-4-6: 251, 275, 160. Swimming setae absent.

Male: Idiosoma 380 long and 300 wide (measured dorsally). Idiosoma without platelets or reticulation. Idiosoma without platelets or reticulation. Gnathosoma with a long anchoral process. Coxoglandularia 4 near suture line of third and fourth coxal plates. Posterior apodemes of fourth coxal plates long. Genital field 70 long and 74 wide, with three pairs of acetabula, anteriorly with 3-4 small setae ( Figure 12d ). Lengths of PI-PV: 26, 48, 64, 66, 18; palp as in female. Lengths of I-leg-4-6: 104, 110, 80. Lengths of IV-leg-4-6: 170, 182, 108. Legs as in female.

Etymology — Named for its occurrence in the forest.

Remarks — No other Australiobates species from New Guinea has I-leg-5 with anteroventral acute setae and PIV with blunt setae. The only Australian species with the combination of these characters are A. ombatus Cook, 1986 ( PIV more slender and PV has large downturned setae) and A. rudagus Cook, 1986 ( PIV with heavy ventral setae).

Figures

FIGURE 11: Australiobates setosus n. sp., holotype female: a – ventral view; b – palp; c – palp; d – I-leg-5-6. Scale bar = 50 µm.

FIGURE 12: Australiobates sylvestris n. sp., holotype female: a – ventral view; b – palp; c – I-leg-5-6. Paratype male: d – genital field. Scale bar = 50 µm.