Amyzozercon, Klompen & Gerdeman, 2023

Klompen, Hans & Gerdeman, Beverly S., 2023, Genus-level revision of the Heterozerconoidea (Parasitiformes: Mesostigmata), Zootaxa 5322 (1), pp. 1-66 : 21

Amyzozercon new genus

Diagnosis: Hypostomal setae hyp2 at least twice as long as hyp3 (22); sclerotized areas near sternal setae st 3 in female separate platelets (40); metasternal setae st4 and opisthogastral setae Zv3 present (41, 62); sternal lyrifissures iv 3 in female absent (45); sclerotized areas near sternal setae st 2 in male fused to sternitiventral shield (50.0); sclerotized areas near sternal setae st2 and st 3 in male completely fused (51.0); male genital opening positioned anterior sternal, between coxae II (55.1); opisthogastral suckers absent (63.0); opisthogastral setae Sv2 and Sv3 not inserted on the genitiventral or sternitiventral shields (67–70); setae S 5 in male elongate (>40 µm) (75); all setae on legs II of male setiform.

Type species: Amyzozercon chocoensis n. sp.

Etymology. The generic name combines “a”, Greek for not, without, with “myzo”, Greek for suck, and “zercon”, a common ending for generic names in Heterozerconidae . It refers to the primary character of this genus (within Heterozerconidae ).

Remarks. “Undescribed Heterozerconidae without suckers” Lindquist et al. (2009b): 137; Seeman & Baker (2013): 130 probably refer to this genus.

Within Heterozerconidae , Amyzozercon is easily recognizable by the absence of opisthogastral suckers (62), the presence of multiple very long opisthonotal setae (32), and the retention of setae st4 (41) and Zv3 (62).

An examination of multiple females using light microscopy did not reveal any indication of secondary genital openings (solenostomes).