Austrophthiracarus conchamarcensis Niedbała, 2024

Niedbała, Wojciech & Magowski, Wojciech Ł., 2024, New species of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) from the Peruvian Andes, Zootaxa 5448 (3), pp. 401-416 : 406

Austrophthiracarus conchamarcensis Niedbała sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D1304206-CF2E-43CE-92E6-BF31F072A8F

( Fig. 3 )

Description. Measurements of holotype: prodorsum: length 424, width 263, height 116; setae: tr 61, in 71 le 45, ro 53, ex 25; notogaster: length 707, width 525, height 434; setae: c 1 257, h 1 and ps 1 313; genitoaggenital plate 156×126; anoadanal plate 319×146. Paratype (ex sample 1.3): prodorsum: length 358, width 263, height 162; notogaster: length 737, width 505, height 454. Paratypes (five specimens ex sample 1.4): prodorsum: length 303–353, height 106–131; notogaster: length 576–677, height 353–474.

Large species. Colour light brown. Cuticle dotted. Neotrichy of notogastral and adanal setae present.

Prodorsum without lateral carinae and posterior furrows. Sigillar fields long and narrow, medial one longer than laterals. Trichobothria short, club-like with small pedicel and enlarged head covered with few minute spines. Setae short, spiniform, smooth, interlamellar and lamellar setae procumbent, rostral setae semierect; in> tr> ro> le> ex.

Notogaster with numerous setae (holotype right side 35, left side 33; paratype from sample 1.3—right side 30, left side 29), long (c 1> c 1 - d 1), smooth, attenuate. Setae c 1 and c 2 remote from anterior margin, setae c 3 near margin. Vestigial setae f 1 and f 2 invisible. Two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present.

Venter. Setae h on mentum longer than distance between them. Formula of genital setae: 8(4+4): 1. Anoadanal plates with numerous, long setae. In holotype 4 anal and 8 adanal setae on right, 3 anal and 7 adanal ones on left plate; in paratype ex sample 1.3: 4 anal and 5 adanal setae on both plates. Number of setae in specimens from sample 1.4 on anal left plate ranging 2–3, adanal left 4–5 (most combinations 3 and 5); anal right 2–3, adanal right 4–5 (most combinations 2 and 5). Adanal setae longer than anal ones.

Legs. Formulae of setae and solenidia of complete type. Setae d on femora remote from distal end and with setae lʺ situated at level between setae v ʺ and v ʹ. Both setae v almost equal in length.

Type material. Holotype and one paratype: South America , Andes , Central Peru, Huánuco Department, Ambo Province, Conchamarca District , Pichcacocha Lakes , 10°01’47’’S, 76°08’29’’W, 3800 m a.s.l., upper soil and leaf litter in mountain forest, Winkler extraction (sample 1.3), 9. IV. 2016, leg. S. Friedrich, F. Wachtel and D. Hauth. Six paratypes: South America , Andes , Central Peru, Huánuco Department, Pachitea Province, Molino District , W Molino , Monte Potrero , 09°54’30’’S, 76°03’48’’W, 2850–3100 m a.s.l., upper soil and leaf litter in primary mountain cloud forest, Winkler extraction (sample 1.4), 15–17. IV. 2016, leg S. Friedrich, F. Wachtel and D. Hauth (original data obtained from collectors).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the Conchamarca District where this species was found.

Diagnosis. The new species is the second besides Austrophthiracarus excellens (Niedbała, 1982) (also from Peru) with neotrichy of anal setae (3 setae on each anoadanal plate). Among neotropical species of Austrophthiracarus similar lengths of notogastral and adanal setae have A. heteropilosus Niedbała, 2004 , A. cajanumaensis Niedbała & Illig, 2007 , A. elconsuleoensis Niedbała & Illig, 2007 and A. longisetus ( Niedbała & Starý, 2015) . However, all of them have a much smaller number of notogastral setae (20–24 vs. 29–33 pairs in new species), trichobothria without distal spines (vs. trichobothria with spines), and A. heteropilosus additionally long setae in and le (vs. in and le both short).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Austrophthiracarus conchamarcensis sp. nov. A—prodorsum, lateral view; B—trichobothrium, lateral view; C—prodorsum, dorsal view; D—trichobothrium, dorsal view; E—opisthosoma, lateral view; F—mentum of subcapitulum; G—right genitoaggenital plate; H—anoadanal plates; I—trochanter and femur of leg I. Scale bars 100 µm (A, C, E), 50 µm (G, H), 25 µm (B, D, F, I).