Apoplophora minuscula Niedbała, 2013

Niedbała, Wojciech & Ermilov, Sergey G., 2013, Ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) from Southern Vietnam with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 3608 (6), pp. 521-530 : 523-524

Apoplophora minuscula Niedbała sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Measurements of holotype. Prodorsum: length 126, width 96, height 56, sensillum 63, interlamellar setae 38, lamellar setae 40, rostral setae 61, exobothridial seta 35. Notogaster: length 169, width 152, height 91, c 1 30, c 2 43, e 1 73. Anogenital region: genital plates 30×30, anoadanal plate 45×25, distance between genital and anoadanal plates 65. Shape of body is slightly rectangular, not oval as other species of Apoplophora .

Integument. Colour light yellow. Body surface punctate.

Prodorsum without lateral carinae. Sensilla dilated in proximal part and attenuate, covered with less than 30 cilia. Rostral setae similar in length and shape as sensilla, interlamellar, lamellar and exobothridial setae similar in length, shorter than sensilla and rostral setae, more narrow and covered with cilia. Mutual distances of interlamellar, lamellar and rostral setae similar.

Notogaster with eight pairs of strong setae covered with more than 20 cilia. Four anterior setae similar to interlamellar, lamellar and exobothridial setae; four posterior setae similar to sensilla and rostral setae. Setae of row c remote from anterior border.

Ventral region with five pairs of setae covered with more than 20 pairs of cilia. One pair of anteromedian setae narrower than other ventral setae and situated far anteriorly from anoadanal plates. Other ventral setae similar in shape as sensilla. Each triangular genital plate divided by transversal furrow. Six pairs of smooth genital setae present; two longer siuated at the furrow, four minute in anterior part of plate. Two pairs of anal ciliated setae present. Anterior pair short and narrow, posterior pair similar in shape as sensilla.

Legs monodactylous.

Material examined. Holotype and one paratype: L-5.

Comparison. The new species is unique among the Apoplophora species by the heterotrichy of setae: sensilla, rostral setae, four posterior pairs of notogastral setae and four pairs of ventral setae are dilated proximally, attenuate; the interlamellar, lamellar, exobothridial, four anterior notogastral and one anterior pair of ventral setae are narrower. Moreover, triangular genital plates are divided by furrow and anoadanal plates with only two pairs of different in shape and length setae.

Etymology. The name alludes to very small size of body.

Figures

FIGURE 1 A – C. Apoplophora minuscula Niedbała sp. nov.: A, prodorsum, dorsal view; B, ventral side of opisthosoma; C, lateral view of body.