Djeboa projecta (Cook, 1966)

Pešić, Vladimir, Cook, David, Gerecke, Reinhard & Smit, Harry, 2013, The water mite family Mideopsidae (Acari: Hydrachnidia): a contribution to the diversity in the Afrotropical region and taxonomic changes above species level, Zootaxa 3720 (1), pp. 1-75 : 55-56

Djeboa projecta (Cook, 1966)

( Fig. 32A–E )

Mideopsis (Djeboa) projecta Cook, 1966: 237 .

Material examined: Type series: FMC, Liberia; holotype female, approximately six miles north of Kpain, backwater area of a stream, 7.xi.1957 Cook (Coll. 79); paratype female, Tappita road, approximately 10 miles south of Ganta, small stream, 10.ix.1957 (Coll. 67).

General features: Dorsal shield oval (L/W ratio 1.1), with a slightly pronounced medial depression which is distinctly narrowed in the middle ( Fig. 32A ); muscle scars with weakly pronounced thickenings, located anterior and posterior to the postocularia; colour pattern unknown; gnathosomal bay Y-shaped, noticeably narrowing in posterior one-half; tips of Cx-I ending posterior to frontal margin; medial margin of Cx-IV not reduced to a median angle; Cx-II, III and -IV with a few longitudinal striae (three to four pairs on Cx-IV). Palp ( Fig. 32C ): P-1 with a dorsal seta; P-2 with straight ventral and convexly bowed dorsal margin; P-3 proximally thicker than distally, ventral margin concave; P-4 ventral margin concave. Legs: I-L ( Fig. 32D ) with I-L-6 slender, dL/H ratio 3.6, ventral margin slightly convex; IV-L: Fig. 32E .

Remarks: The combination of the medial depression on dorsal shield distinctly narrowed in the middle, and comparatively long and slender leg segments separates D. projecta from all other members of the genus. At present, only the two females of the type series are known.

Distribution: Liberia; known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 32 A – E. Djeboa projecta (Cook, 1966), female: A = dorsal shield; B = idiosoma, ventral view; C = palp; D = I-L; E = IV-L.