Longicheles ayyildizi, Özbek, Hasan Hüseyin, Bal, Durmuş Ali & Doğan, Salih, 2013

Özbek, Hasan Hüseyin, Bal, Durmuş Ali & Doğan, Salih, 2013, Two new species of the genus Longicheles Valle, 1953 from the Kelkit Valley, Turkey, with redescription Longicheles lagrecai (Valle, 1963) (Acari: Macrochelidae), Zootaxa 3709 (5), pp. 461-472 : 465-467

Longicheles ayyildizi sp. nov.

( Figures 12–17 , 31–33 )

Diagnosis. Dorsal setae j5, j6, z1, z5, z6, J2 and J5 smooth, other setae pilose; bases of j1 separated from each other; anterior ends of peritremes surpassing bases of setae z1; ventri-anal shield wider than long, length of pre-anal setae Jv1, 25–30, Jv2, about 45, Jv3, 35–50, Zv1, 55–60, Zv2, 50–65.

Specimens examined. Holotype female, Turkey, Tokat, Niksar, 40° 32' 03'' N, 36° 53' 08'' E, alt. 408 m, 27 April 2011, from litter. Paratypes. one female, Turkey, Sivas, Suşehri, 40° 24' 25'' N, 37° 13' 02'' E, alt. 451 m, 0 1 November 2008, from litter under Ulmus sp; one female, Turkey, Tokat, Niksar, 40° 25' 44'' N, 37° 07' 47'' E, alt. 494 m, 10 June 2011, from litter; one female, Turkey, Köse, 40° 16' 59'' N, 39° 37' 52'' E, alt. 1869 m, 0 1 May 2012, from litter under Pinus sp.; one female, Turkey, Köse, 40° 04' 46'' N, 39° 02' 39'' E, alt. 1329 m, 0 1 May 2012, from litter under Coryllus sp.; one female, Turkey, Giresun, Alucra-Çamoluk, 40° 15' 15'' N, 38° 49' 48'' E, alt. 1825 m, 0 1 May 2012, from moss.

Description. Female. Dorsum ( Fig. 12 ). Dorsal shield 840–980 long, 470–490 wide at the level of setae r4, oblong, covered with punctate ornamentation, posteriorly also reticulate; setae j5, j6, z1, z5, z6, J2 and J5 aciculate or needle-like, other setae pilose; bases of j1 separate from each other, anterior end of peritremes surpassing bases of setae z1; length of setae: j1, 35–40; j5, 85–90; j6, 70–75; z1, 110–115; z5, 60–70; z6, 55–75; J2, 80–95; J5, 75– 85.

Venter ( Fig. 13 ). Sternal shield 180–190 long, 170–190 wide at the level of coxae II, ornamented with punctate and sculptured polygonal pattern; carrying three pairs of smooth setae, st1 (60–75) longest, st2 (about 50) longer than st3 ( Fig. 32 ). Metasternal shields free, each with a smooth seta and a pore. Genital shield 160–170 long, 230– 250 wide, ornamented with punctate-reticulate pattern, with a pair of smooth setae. Ventri-anal shield ( Fig. 33 ) wider than long, 350–400 long, 370–410 wide, ornamented with polygonal pattern; with five pairs of pre-anal setae, a pair of para-anal setae and a post-anal seta; setae Zv2 pilose, other pre-anal setae smooth; length of pre-anal setae; Jv1, 25–30; Jv2, about 45; Jv3, 35–50; Zv1, 55–60; Zv2, 50–65.

Gnathosoma. Four pairs of hypostomal setae present, all smooth and needle-like; deutosternal grove with five rows of denticles. Corniculi slender and long, not reaching base of palp genu ( Fig. 14 ). Palp apotele 3-tined. Epistome 100 long in holotype, median process with lateral outgrowth at base, narrowed and bifurcate apically ( Fig. 15 ). Fixed digit of chelicerae 120–130 long at level of dorsal seta, dorsal seta smooth and blade-like; moveable digit about 170 long with 6–7 small teeth and one large subterminal tooth. Arthrodial brush short ( Figs 16 , 31 ).

Legs. Chaetotaxy normal for the genus Longicheles . Coxae I with a pair of smooth setae, coxae II and III with a pair of pilose setae, coxae IV with a pilose seta. Tarsus II as in Fig. 17 .

Etymology. The species is named for Turkish acarologist Dr. Nusret Ayyildiz of Erciyes University, Kayseri.

Notes. This species has been found inn litter under Pinus sp. and Coryllus sp., and in moss and litter at altitudes between 408 and 1869 m. Longicheles ayyildizi is clearly separated from other species of L. mandibularis , L. hortorum , L. longulus , L. bulgaricus , L. longisetosus , L. ilvana and L. ozkani , but it is similar to L. lagrecai , L. bianchii , L. ranzii . It differs from L. lagrecai by the short pre-anal setae, ventri-anal shield wider than long, ornamentation of the sternal shield, dentition of the cheliceral digits, and the shape of the epistome. Also, L. ayyildizi is easily separated from L. ranzii and L. bianchii by with setae j2 pilose, J5 needle-like (pilose for L. ranzii ), z1 110–115 long (about 80 for L. ranzii and L. bianchii ), different dentition of the cheliceral digits, and the shape of the epistome.

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 17. Longicheles ayyildizi sp. nov., female. 12. dorsal shield; 13. ventral shields; 14. gnathosoma; 15. epistome; 16. chelicera; 17. tarsus II. Scale bar = 200 µm for 12 and 13, 100 µm for 14 – 17.

FIGURES 28 – 36. Longicheles spp., females. 28. L. ozkani, chelicera; 29. L. ozkani, sternal shield; 30. L. ozkani, ventri-anal shield; 31. L. ayyildizi, chelicera; 32. L. ayyildizi, sternal shield; 33. L. ayyildizi, ventri-anal shield; 34. L. lagreci, chelicera; 35. L. lagreci sternal shield; 36. L. lagreci ventri-anal shield.