Pseudoeupodes Khaustov

Khaustov, Alexander A., 2014, A new genus and species in the mite family Eupodidae (Acari, Eupodoidea) from Crimea, ZooKeys 422, pp. 11-22 : 12-13

Taxon classification Animalia Trombidiformes Eupodidae

Genus Pseudoeupodes Khaustov gen. n.

Type species.

Pseudoeupodes porosus Khaustov, sp. n. Monotypic.

Description.

Female.Idiosomal dorsum (Figs 1, 11-13). Idiosoma oval. Cuticle soft and striated. Sejugal furrow well developed. Prodorsum with three pairs of tactile setae (v1, v2, sc2) and a pair of filiform trichobothria (sc1). Naso (epivertex) folded downward onto ventral surface of prodorsum, setae v1 situated on dorsal part of naso near anterior margin of prodorsum; naso defined by different pattern of striation from surrounding prodorsum (Fig. 11). Hysterosoma with eight pairs of dorsal setae (c1, c2, d1, e1, f1, f2, h1, h2) and three pairs of large round lyrifissures (ia, im, ip). Hysterosoma dorsally with two transverse furrows, between setae c1 and d1, and between e1 and f1. Setae f1 not trichobothrium-like.

Idiosomal venter (Figs 2, 3, 14-15). Coxisternal setal formula 3-1-4-2; six pairs of eugenital setae; six pairs of genital setae; five pairs of aggenital setae; two pairs of pseudanal setae; one pair of lyrifissures (ih), same form as dorsals.

Gnathosoma (Figs 4-6). Palp setal formula 0-2-3-8(ɷ), tarsus ovoid. Chelicerae: typical for eupodid mites, movable digit slender and acuminate distally, fixed digit distinctly shorter than movable digit and truncated distally; seta cha present.

Legs (Figs 7-10). All legs shorter than body. Soft cuticle separating coxisternal plates and trochanters of all legs with distinct pore-like structure (Fig. 14). Rhagidial organ I with two longitudinally arranged solenidia; rhagidial organ II with three longitudinally arranged rhagidial solenidia. Tarsus I with famulus (stellate setae) situated in shallow depression; tarsus II with spine-like famulus. Tibiae I and II with one distal rhagidial solenidion; tibiae I-III with proximal erect solenidion; genua I and II with one erect solenidion. Femur IV not enlarged. Trochanteral setal formula 1-1-1-1.

Male and immatures. Unknown.

Etymology.

The genus name is derived from the related genus Eupodes and prefixed pseudo- (from Greek ψευδής) meaning false.

Differentiation of the genus.

The new genus is most similar to Caleupodes Baker, 1987. Both genera are characterized by the naso folded down to the ventral surface of the prodorsum, the same palpal chaetotaxy, six pairs of eugenital and five pairs of aggenital setae, the presence of only two pairs of pseudanal setae, femur IV not enlarged, trochanteral setal formula 1 –1–1– 1, and legs I-IV shorter than idiosoma. The new genus differs from Caleupodes by having striated dorsal cuticle (reticulated in Caleupodes ), the absence of a transverse furrow between segments D and E (all hysterosomal segments are clearly separated by transverse furrows in Caleupodes ), coxisternal setal formula 3 –1–4– 2 (3 –1–4– 3 in Caleupodes ), and genua I and II with a solenidion (absent in Caleupodes ). The new genus is also closely related to Niveupodes Barilo, 1991 in the naso folded down to the ventral surface of the prodorsum, femur IV not enlarged, trochanteral setal formula 1 –1–1– 1, legs I-IV shorter than idiosoma, and only two pairs of pseudanal setae. It differs from Niveupodes by the presence of dorsal transverse furrows between segments C - D and E - F (dorsal hysterosoma without transverse furrows in Niveupodes ), coxisternal setal formula 3 –1–4– 2 (3 –1–4– 3 in Niveupodes ), five pairs of aggenital and six pairs of eugenital setae (four aggenital and five eugenital in Niveupodes ), the absence of scapular lyrifissure isc (present in Niveupodes , according to Barilo 1991), and the ovoid palptarsus (cone-shaped in Niveupodes ). The new genus differs from all other known eupodoid genera by the presence of pore-like structures of unknown origin and function situated on the soft cuticle between the coxisternal plates and the trochanters of all legs. These pore-like structures are unknown in any other group of trombidiform mites.