Notophthiracarus micidus, Niedbała & Starý, 2015

Niedbała, Wojciech & Starý, Josef, 2015, The next new species of Notophthiracarus Ramsay, 1966 (Acari, Oribatida, Phthiracaroidea) from Madagascar, African Invertebrates 56 (1), pp. 63-63 : 66-68

Notophthiracarus micidus sp. n.

Fig. 3

Etymology: From the Latin micidus (thin, poor) and alludes to the shape of the majority of notogastral setae.

Description:

Measurements (holotype). Prodorsum: length 429, width 298, height 177; setae: ss 88, in 164, le 76, ro 83, ex 45; notogaster: length 768, width 283, height 303; length of notogastral setae: c 1 and d 1 139, c 1 / c 1 - d 1 =0.66, c 3 76, h 1 10 and ps 1 30; genitoaggenital plate 212×116; anoadanal plate 237×101.

Integument. Colour light brown. Surface of body punctated. Relatively large species. Prodorsum ( Fig. 3A, B ). Distinct lateral carinae present. Sigillar fields long and very narrow. Sensilli short, crescent-liKe, rough. Prodorsal setae long, fine attenuate. Interlamellar, lamellar and rostral setae procumbent; rostral setae located near each other. Notogaster ( Fig. 3C ). Notogastral setae c 1, d 1 and c 3 relatively long (c 1 <c 1 - d 1), fine and attenuate, other notogastral setae minute. Setae c 1 and c 2 remote from anterior margin of notogaster, setae c 3 located near the notogastral margin. Setae f 1 vestigial, situated slightly posterior of setae h 1. All lyrifissures ia, im, ip, ips present. Ventral region ( Fig. 3D, E ). Setae h of mentum longer than distance between them. Genitoaggenital plates with formula of genital setae: 4:5; genital setae g 6–8 remote from paraxial border of plate. Left genitoaggenital plate with two aggenital setae (one more seta is probably the abnormal case). Anoadanal plates with long and attenuate adanal setae ad 1, adanal setae ad 3 shorter, but anal setae and adanal setae ad 2 minute.

Legs ( Fig. 3F ). Chaetome of legs complete. Setae d of femora I located at distal end of article.

Holotype: MADAGASCAR: Ranomafana National Park , 1.x.2012, evergreen rain forest, 21°15'10.3"S 47°25'01.2"E, 1077 m, sifting of forest leaf litter sample, Winkler apparatus extraction, leg. L.S. Rahanitriniaina, MAG-207 ( DATE).

Paratypes: 2 specimens: MADAGASCAR: Zombitse National Park , Miliokakely, 28.i.2013, dry seasonal deciduous forest, 22°52'38.1"S 44°42'48.6"E, 823 m, sifting of forest leaf litter sample, Winkler apparatus extraction, leg. L.S. Rahanitriniaina and E.M. Rabotoson, MAG-247 (1 DATE & 1 ISB) .

Remarks: The new species is unique among congeners for the shape of notogastral and anoadanal setae, by very narrow sigillar fields of the prodorsum and crescent-shaped sensilli.

Figures

Fig.3. Notophthiracarus micidus sp.n.(holotype):(A) prodorsum, dorsal view; (B) prodorsum,lateral view; (C) opisthosoma, lateral view; (D) mentum of infracapitulum; (E) genitoaggenital and anoadanal plates; (F) trochanter and femur of leg I.