Microtritia cristata, Niedbała, 2012

Niedbała, W., 2012, An Updated Study Of Ptyctimous Mite Fauna (Acari: Oribatida) Of The Australasian Region With A Description Of Thirteen New Species, Acarologia 52 (2), pp. 183-228 : 193-195

Microtritia cristata n. sp.

( Figures 2 D-G)

Type material — Holotype and three paratypes (one in ANIC, two in NHC): DOR1-001, Dorrigo NP, rainforest, sieved litter, sample 2, 17 Aug. 2007, coll. J. Błoszyk and S. Konwerski; 2 paratypes: RBO-012, Range Border NP, Camping, rainforest with palms, un-sieved litter, sample 3, 18 Aug. 2007, coll. J. Błoszyk and S. Konwerski.

Measurements of holotype — Prodorsum: length 328, height 116, width 252, sensillum 96, setae: interlamellar 78, lamellar 18, rostral 109; notogaster: length 596, height 444, width 434, setae: c 1 131, h 1 114, p 1 83; genitoaggenital plate 86 × 45, anoadanal plate 139 × 48.

Description — One of the larger species of genus Microtritia . Colour yellow, surface of body punctate.

Prodorsum with two pairs of distinct long lateral carinae and shorter carinae between them. Median crista situated in anterior half. Sensilla long rodlike, smooth. Interlamellar setae fine, erect, flexible. Rostral setae larger and attenuate. Lamellar setae minute. Exobothridial setae vestigial. Distance between rostral setae greater than between interlamellar setae.

Notogastral setae of medium length, c 1 <c 1 -d 1, flexible setae. Setae c 1-3 remote from anterior margin in similar distance. Four pairs of lyrifissures, ia, im, ip, ips present.

Ventral region — Five pairs of short genital and two pairs of minute aggenital setae present. Distances between setae g 1 and g 2 and between g 4 and g 5 larger than distances between setae g 2, g 3 and g 4. Three pairs of anal minute setae and three pairs of adanal long, attenuate setae present. Lyrifissures iad located anteriorly of ad 3 setae.

Other localities — RBO-013, Range Border NP, Camping, rainforest with palms, un-sieved litter, sample 4, 18 Aug. 2007, coll. J. Błoszyk and S. Konwerski - 3; RBO-012, Range Border NP, Camping, rainforest with palms, un-sieved litter, sample 5, 18 Aug. 2007, coll. J. Błoszyk and S. Konwerski - 3; RBO-010, Range Border NP, Camping, rainforest with palms, un-sieved litter, sample 6, 18 Aug. 2007, coll. J. Błoszyk and S. Konwerski - 1.

Etymology — The name alludes to presence of dorsal crista of prodorsum.

Comparison to related species — The new species is distinguishable from the other Microtritia species by the presence of dorsal crista of prodorsum and three pairs of prodorsal lateral carinae.

Figures

FIGURE 2: Acrotritia paraspiculifera n. sp. (holotype): A – prodorsum, dorsal view, B – prodorsum, lateral view, C – lateral view of opisthosoma; Microtritia cristata n. sp. (holotype): D – prodorsum, dorsal view, E – prodorsum, lateral view, F – lateral view of opisthosoma, G – ventral view of opisthosoma, left side.