Bloszykiella grebennikovi, Kontschán, 2010

Kontschán, Jenő & Starý, Josef, 2013, New Uropodine mites from Tanzania (Acari: Mesostigmata), Zootaxa 3683 (3), pp. 267-279 : 268-270

Bloszykiella grebennikovi sp. nov.

( Figs 1–14 )

Material examined. Holotype. Female. Tanzania, Uluguru Mts., Bunduki village , 26. November 2010, 1592 m, mid-altitude afromontane deciduous forest , litter sifting, coll. V. Grebennikov (in alcohol in HNHM). Paratype. One female. Locality and date same as in holotype (broken specimen mounted in Hoyer medium on slide, in HNHM) .

Description. Female. Length of idiosoma 1080–1100 µm, width 660–670 µm (n=2).

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 1 ). Marginal and dorsal shields fused anteriorly. Dorsal shield neotrichous, most dorsal setae short (24–30 µm), phylliform with serrate margins ( Fig. 3 ), four pairs of longer (55–60 µm) phylliform setae with serrate margins situated on posterior edges of dorsal shield ( Fig. 4 ). Margins of idiosoma with reticulate sculptural pattern and with numerous pilose setae ( Fig. 2 ). Submarginal shield posteriorly reduced, one pair of trifurcate setae situated near caudal margins ( Fig 4 ); pygidial shield trapezoidal, bearing two pairs of wide phylliform setae (60–65 µm) with serrate margins. Surface of submarginal shields and lateral part of dorsal shield with reticulate sculptural pattern, central part of dorsal shield and lateral parts of pygidial shield covered by irregular pits. One pair of short and V-shaped furrows and one pair of long and L-shaped, strongly sclerotised dorsal furrows present on lateral and central surface of dorsal shield.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 5 ). Intercoxal area with five pairs of sternal setae, all needle-like and smooth. Seta St1 inserted at the level of the anterior margin of coxae II, St2 at the level of the anterior margin of the genital shield, St3 at the level of the central region of coxae III, St4 at the level of the posterior margin of coxae III, St5 near basal edges of genital shield. St5 (ca. 23 µm) longer than other sternal setae (ca. 15 µm). Sternal shield without ornamentation. Ventral shield with numerous, short (25–30 µm) marginally pilose setae, except the short (ca. 18 µm) and trifurcate first ventral setae (v1). Reticulate sculptural pattern situated near setae v1, posterior area of ventral shield with irregular pits. Pedofossae deep, without ornamentation and without separate furrows for tarsi IV. Genital shield triangular, situated between coxae III and IV, with a rounded anterior edge and straight posterior edge. Anterior surface of genital shield covered by reticulate sculptural pattern. Peritremes L-shaped ( Fig. 6 ). Tritosternum ( Fig. 7 ) with vase-shaped base, laciniae divided into two marginally pilose branches.

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 8 ). Corniculi small, smooth and horn-like, internal malae smooth, with one lateral spine. Hypostomal setae h1 long (ca. 63–65 µm), pilose in central one-third and basally smooth; h2, h3 and h4 short (ca. 21–25 µm), smooth and needle-like. Chelicerae without internal sclerotised nodes ( Fig. 10 ). Fixed digit of chelicera as long as movable digit, with three large teeth on movable digit and two large and several short teeth on fixed digit. Trochanter of palp with two long and smooth ventral setae ( Fig. 8 ). Epistome marginally serrate, apically subdivided into two pilose branches ( Fig. 9 ).

Legs ( Figs 11–14 ). Leg I without ambulacral claws, claws on tip of leg III smaller than those of leg II and IV. Serrate setae and smooth setae situated on all legs.

Etymology. We dedicate the new species to Dr. Vasiliy Grebennikov (Ottawa, Canada) renowned entomologist and collector of the samples in Tanzania.

Remarks. The new species differs from the previously described species in several characters. The most important differences are summarised in Table 1 .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Bloszykiella grebennikovi sp. nov., holotype, female. 1. Body in dorsal view. 2. Marginal and shield and marginal setae, anterior edge of pygidial shield with ornamentation. 3. Ornamentation and setae on central area of dorsal shield. 4. Setae and ornamentation on caudal edge of dorsal shield. 5. Body in ventral view.

FIGURES 7 – 14. Bloszykiella grebennikovi sp. nov., holotype, female. 7. Tritosternum. 8. Ventral view of gnathosoma and palp. 9. Epistome. 10. Chelicera. 11. Leg I. 12. Leg II. 13. Leg III. 14. Leg IV.