Notophthiracarus parapaulianus sp. nov.

(Fig. 2A–G)

Measurements of holotype. Prodorsum: length 159, width 114, height 61; prodorsal setae: sensillus 104, interlamellar 24, lamellar 7, rostral 20; notogaster: length 278, width 197, height 182; notogastral setae: c 1 42, c 1/ c 1– d 1=0.6, h 1 and ps 1 38; genito-aggenital plate 68×61, ano-adanal plate 114×53.

Description. Small-sized species. Colour brownish. Body integument distinctly foveolate.

Prodorsum with lateral carinae and posterior furrows well developed. Sigillar fields feeble, median longer than laterals. Sensilli very long needleform, sickle-shaped, rough, bent posteriorly. Interlamellar and rostral setae semierect, short, thick, covered with small spines in distal half, obtuse distally, similar to notogastral setae. Lamellar setae minute, spiniform. Exobothridial setae vestigial; mutual length of setae: ss> in> ro> le.

Notogaster with rigid, relatively short (c 1<c 1– d 1) notogastral setae, obtuse distally, covered with small cilia in distal half. Setae c 1 close to anterior margin, setae c 2 and c 3 remote from margin, setae c 2 more than c 3. Vestigial setae f 1 situated posteriorly of h 1 setae. Notogastral lyrifissures invisible.

Ventral region. Setae h of subcapitular mentum considerably shorter than distance between them. Arrangement of genital setae: 5: 4. Ano-adanal plates with 5 pairs of setae, setae ad 2 longest and also obtuse and ciliate distally as notogastral setae, other setae pointed, rough.

Legs. Chaetome of legs complete. Setae d on femora I small and slightly remote from distal end of article, seta l" situated in middle part of article.

Material examined. Holotype is deposited at DATE from locus typicus MAG-290 Central Madagascar, Andasibe—Mantadia National Park, circuit Eulophia, marking 550 m, evergreen rain forest, sifting of leaf litter sample, Winkler apparatus extraction, 28. 0 1. 2015, leg. P. Baňař and E. M. Rabotoson, and the paratype is deposited at ISB from locality MAG-295, Central Madagascar, Andasibe—Mantadia National Park, Mantadia, circuit Rianasoa, 18°50'01" S, 48°26'18" E, about 1000 m a.s.l., evergreen rain forest, sifting of bamboo litter, Winkler apparatus extraction, 29. 0 1. 2015, leg. P. Baňař and E. M. Rabotoson.

Etymology. The prefix para is Latin meaning “near” and refers to the similarity the new species with Notophthiracarus paulianus (Balogh, 1962) .

Comparison and diagnosis. The new species is well characterized by the relatively short rigid notogastral, interlamellar, rostral and ad 2 setae, obtuse distally and long, sickle-shaped sensilli. The most similar N. paulianus differs by shorter notogastral setae, different arrangement c 1–3 setae and position of ad 2 setae, slightly anterior of an 2 setae, versus between anal setae (Balogh 1962).

Distribution. Madagascar, probably endemic species.