Uroiphis montivagus, Mašán & Halliday, 2010

Mašán, Peter & Halliday, Bruce, 2010, Review of the European genera of Eviphididae (Acari: Mesostigmata) and the species occurring in Slovakia 2585, Zootaxa 2585, pp. 1-122 : 89-91

Uroiphis montivagus sp. nov.

( Figs 159, 160, 168, 178, 179)

Description. Female. Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 159). Idiosoma subglobular, almost hemispherical, 641 µm long, 451 µm wide. Dorsal shield fused with anterior ends of peritrematal shields anterolaterally, 518 µm long, lightly sclerotised, almost pentagonal, not completely covering dorsal surface, exposing wide strips of granulated lateral and posteromarginal soft integument, with poorly developed flat vertex, smooth centrally, weakly striated marginally, with 30 pairs of setae; dorsal setae j1, j2, J2, z1 and z5 short, acuminate, other setae elongate, thickened, stick-like, and with rounded tip. Marginal and lateral setae longer than central setae. Lengths: j1 41–44 µm, j5 26–30 µm, z5 and J2 14–17 µm, J5 10–12 µm, Z5 20–22 µm, S5 58 –62 µm, longest dorsal setae 60–65 µm long. Pore-like structures small, barely visible.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 160). Presternal platelets absent. Sternal shield well sclerotised, anterior and lateral margins distinct, posterior margin indistinct, 114 µm long, 93 µm wide, surface smooth, anterior margin almost straight, anterolateral corners acuminate, posterolateral corners rounded, with three pairs of setae and two pairs of small slit-like pores; first two pairs of sternal setae situated on flat mounds; pores oriented obliquely. Endopodal platelets II–III and III–IV fused, well sclerotised, free from sternal shield. Metasternal platelets each with metasternal seta st4 and adjacent pore. Epigynal shield long and slender, 65 µm wide, with distinct margins, slightly constricted medially, produced anteriorly into three acuminate points, rounded posteriorly, smooth; genital setae situated close to posterior margin, genital pores located in soft integument. Four small, elongate post-genital sclerites present. Anal shield suboval, 114 µm long, 95 µm wide, smooth, with rounded anterior margin and three circum-anal setae; post-anal seta stick-like, thicker and slightly shorter than adanal setae. Exopodal platelets I–III absent, exopodals IV narrow, curved. Metapodal platelets small and suboval. Peritrematal shields well developed along the whole peritreme, with weak longitudinal striation, poststigmatic section short and tapered; peritremes short, anterior ends reaching posterior level of coxa I. Dorsolateral and opisthogastric soft integument with 14 pairs of setae, setae mostly modified, thickened, elongated and stick-like, only four ventral setae simple and needle-like.

Gnathosoma . Palptarsus without paired macroeupathidia. Cheliceral digits typical for genus. Epistome with subtriangular base and short and smooth central projection ( Fig. 178).

Legs. All leg setae needle-like. Chaetotaxy of legs typical for the family ( Table 3). Legs without spurs.

Female deutonymph. Idiosoma oval, dorso-ventrally flattened.

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 168). Dorsal shield 487 µm long, 348 µm wide, covering whole dorsum. Central region of shield delicately reticulated, lateral regions with coarser reticulation and longer longitudinal striae; with 30 pairs of mostly needle-like setae, only j1 lanceolate; z1 inserted ventrally. Setal lengths: j1 35–39 µm, j3 26–31 µm, j4 20–23 µm, j5 14–19 µm, J1 14–17 µm, J2 12–15 µm, J5 12–13 µm.

Ventral idiosoma. Very similar to that of Uroiphis scabratus ( Fig. 166). Presternal platelets absent. Sternal shield large, well sclerotised, 235 µm long, anterior margin undulating, posterior margin tapering and rounded, lateral regions with lineate ornamentation; with four pairs of setae and three pairs of pores. Endopodal platelets II–III and III–IV separate, not fused to sternal shield. Sternal setae st5 located in soft integument close to posterior margin of sternal shield. Six small and slightly elongated post-genital sclerites present. Anal shield subtriangular, approximately as long as wide, 85 µm long, 88 µm wide, transversely striated, with three subequal circum-anal setae and large anus. Exopodal platelets I–III absent, exopodals IV narrow and curved. Metapodal platelets elongate, narrow, curved. Peritrematal shields strongly reduced, almost absent; peritremes well developed, thick and nodulated in posterior section, anterior ends reaching anterior margin of coxa I; post-stigmatic pore distinct. Lateral and opisthogastric soft integument with 14 pairs of setae (excluding setae st5); all ventral setae simple, short and needle-like.

Gnathosoma . Epistome with subtriangular base and elongate delicately spinate central projection ( Fig. 179). Chelicera not visible in available specimens.

Etymology. The name of this species is derived from Latin mons (mountains, mountain range) and vagus (wandering, vagabond), referring to its occurrence in the montane zone of Slovakia.

Material examined. Holotype. Female. Nízke Tatry Mts. : Bystrá, Trangoška ( Petasites ) [7083], 26 August 1999; 1 paratype deutonymph, same data as holotype.

Remarks. This appears to be a rare species, known only from a single collection in humid raw humus (decaying leaves of Petasites sp. ) in a mountainous habitat at an altitude 1,270 m.