Lacertacarus graecus Kalúz, 2011

Kalúz, Stanislav, 2011, Two new chigger mites of the genus Lacertacarus (Acari: Prostigmata, Trombiculidae), Zootaxa 2922, pp. 15-26 : 17-21

Lacertacarus graecus Kalúz sp. nov.

Description. Larva (holotype) ( Figs. 1 – 5 )

SIF = 7BS–N–3–3–1–1–1–1–0–0–0; fsp=7–7–7; fPp = B–B–NNB; fCx = 1–1–1; fSt = 2–2; PL>AM>AL; fDS = 2H–10–6(8)–6–4–2–2 = 32–34; VS = 8–10; NDV = 40–44; Ip = 716 – 758 (735 +/- 14,3) μm.

Dorsum. Scutum much wider than long, posterior margin rounded, bearing AL, AM, PL and two sensillae. Puncta covering part of scutum. Sensilla filiform, ciliae on apical third of sensilla; oval eyes (2 + 2) in ocular plates, anterior eyes laterally above PL. Measurements of scutum are given in Table 1. PW>AW>SD; SB>ASB>PSB.

Dorsum with 1 pair (2H) of humeral setae 32–37 (35 +/- 1,33) long, dorsal setae thickly barbed, mostly Venter. Two pairs of sternal setae. Each coxa bearing 1 seta, ventral side generally with 8–10 thinly barbed setae, regularly arranged. Length of ventral setae vary, proximal 3–4 pairs of setae shorter 17–20 (19+/- 1,16) to one pair of caudal 22–28 (25+/- 2,42) long.

Gnathosoma. Galeala nude. Palps 57–62 (60+/- 2,19) long, 3-pronged palptibial claw slender, 12–17 (14,4 +/- 1,51) long, with deeply indented prongs. A pair of barbed setae on ventral side of gnathosoma, both palpal femur and genu with barbed dorsal seta. Palpal tibia bears 2 nude dorsal setae and a barbed ventro-lateral seta. Palpal tarsus bears 7 barbed setae, nude subterminala and a solenidion. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap.

Legs. With pretarsus, claws and normal empodia. All setae on legs barbed, slender, relatively short. Specialized setae on leg segments: Leg I—S1, f1, (PT´, ST, pST) = N, 2 tibialae, microtibiala, 3 genualae, microgenuala; Leg II—S2, f2, PT´´= N, 2 tibialae, genuala; Leg III—mastitarsala, tibiala, genuala. Number of barbed setae on leg segments (leg formula):

Leg I: Cx (1) – Tr (1) – Bf (1) – Tf (4) – G (4) – Ti (8) – Ta (22)

Leg II: Cx (1) – Tr (1) – Bf (2) – Tf (4) – G (3) – Ti (6) – Ta (16)

Leg III: Cx (1) – Tr (1) – Bf (2) – Tf (3) – G (3) – Ti (6) – Ta (15)

Length of legs of paratypes (n = 7) and holotype is given in Table 1.

Differential diagnosis. Lacertacarus graecus sp. nov. differs from Lacertacarus turcicus sp. nov. by having a pair of humerals (2H) and a mastitarsala III, while L. turcicus sp. nov. bears two pairs of humerals (4H) and mastitarsala III is absent. L. graecus sp. nov. differs from another similar species with 3 genualae I and DS = 32–34, L. latus , by fPp=B–B–NNB, VS = 8-10, NDV = 40–44, PL>AL>AM, fDS = 2H–10–6(8)–6–4–2–2 = 32–34 and with shorter legs (Ip = 716–758), while L. latus has fPp=B–N–NNB, VS = 16, NDV = 50, PL>AL=AM, longer legs (Ip = 819) and fDS = 2H–8–6–6–4–4–2–2=34. Further, the close species L. similis and L. callosus have two genualae I only. L. similis also differs from Lacertacarus graecus sp. nov. by having fPp=B–N–NNB and VS = 14–16. The last known species L. callosus differs from Lacertacarus graecus sp. nov. by 2 genualae I and by substantially higher numbers of dorsal and ventral setae (DS = 62; VS = 30; NDV = 92).

Etymology. The specific name ( graecus ) reflects the name of the country where the new species was found.

Material examined. Holotype: Greece –Central, Pindos Mts., Agia Paraskevi env., N39˚34ʹ15″, E21˚14ʹ49″, 960 m altitude, mountain pasture, 1 larva from pitfall trap, 23 May 2000. Paratypes: Greece –South, Peloponez peninsula, Taigetos Mts., Anavriti env., N37˚01ʹ15″, E22˚21ʹ42″, 1100 m altitude, thermophile limestone pasture, 7 larves from pitfall traps, 18 May 2000. Collected by the author. Holotype and 2 paratypes will be deposited in Slovak National Museum, Bratislava, Slovakia. Remaining paratypes are deposited in the author´s collection.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Lacertacarus graecus sp. nov. (holotype) — idiosoma dorsal. Scale: 100 μm.

FIGURE 2. Lacertacarus graecus sp. nov. (holotype) — idiosoma ventral. Scale: 100 μm.

FIGURE 3. Lacertacarus graecus sp. nov. (paratype) — gnathosoma. Left—ventral side; Right—dorsal side; Scale: 100 μm.

FIGURE 4. Lacertacarus graecus sp. nov. (paratype) — legs I – III. Scale: 100 μm.

FIGURE 5. Lacertacarus graecus sp. nov. (paratype) — scutum, sensilla, dorsal setae—enlarged (no scale).