Zerconella (Metazercon) mahunkai ( Halašková, 1979 ) Halaskova, 1979

Ujvári, Zsolt, 2010, Zerconella Willmann, 1953, a forgotten group of Zerconidae (Acari: Mesostigmata), Zootaxa 2558, pp. 33-47 : 39

Zerconella (Metazercon) mahunkai ( Halašková, 1979) comb. nov.

( Figs 7–8 , 23 )

Metazercon mahunkai Halašková, 1979: 30 .

Diagnosis. Dorsal setae elongated, needle-like. Six pairs of J-setae present, which consist of larval setae J2–5 and presumably two pairs of supplementary setae. Margin of opisthonotum with eight pairs of setae. Two pairs of dorsal cavities present, outer pair large, with strikingly undulate margins, inner pair smaller, with slightly undulate margins, both pairs with axes parallel to that of body. Two posterodorsal lobes situated anterolaterally to dorsal cavities, emerging towards body axis. Gland openings gdJ4 situated on posteromedial edge of caudodorsal lobes, shifted beyond line of dorsal cavities. Whole opisthonotum covered by small pits.

Distribution. Korean Peninsula.

Remarks. This is the only known neotrichous Zerconella species. In the present study two pairs of central J-setae are considered as supplementary setae while setae J1 is considered as absent. However the origin of the J-setae needs to be clarified through ontogenetic studies. Regarding the original description, some opisthonotal lyrifissures were misidentified as gland openings. Unfortunately, gdj2 (po1) and opisthonotal gland openings are not conspicuous on the three examined specimens.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 10. Zerconella species. 7. Dorsal idiosoma of Z. (Metazercon) mahunkai; 8. Ventral idiosoma of Z. (Metazercon) mahunkai; 9. Dorsal idiosoma of Z. (Metazercon) rafalskii (modified after Błaszak); 10. Ventral idiosoma of Z. (Metazercon) rafalskii (modified after Błaszak).

FIGURES 21 – 25. Epistome of Zerconella species. 21. Z. (Zerconella) leitnerae; 22. Z. (Metazercon) athiasae; 23. Z. (Metazercon) mahunkai; 24. Z. (Metazercon) rafalskii (modified after Błaszak); 25. Zerconella (Metazercon) lobata sp. nov.