Albia (Albiella) papuaensis, Smit, Harry, 2013

Smit, Harry, 2013, New records of water mites mainly from Vogelkop, New Guinea (Acari: Hydrachnidia), with the description of one new genus and thirteen new species, Zootaxa 3716 (2), pp. 207-235 : 229

Albia (Albiella) papuaensis n. sp.

( Figures 59–61 )

Material examined. Holotype female, unnamed creek crossing road Arso-Senggi, Papua Province, New Guinea, Indonesia, 3° 0 3.020 S 140° 50.685 E, alt. 107 m asl, 29-x-2001 (RMNH).

Diagnosis. On the ventral shield, suture lines surrounding Cx-I–III well developed, but Cx-I medially fused. Line separating Cx-III from Cx-IV undulating, froming a bay embracing the slightly anteriorly shifted Cxgl–4. Cxgl–4 shifted slightly anteriorly, suture lines of Cx-II –III completely developed, fusing at midline, but Cx-I not separated by a medial line. L 1 anteromedially to L 2.

Description. Female: Colour pale yellow with posteriorly a rose tinge. Idiosoma 664 long and 502 wide. For configuration of glandularia see fig 58. On the ventral shield, suture lines surrounding Cx-I–III well developed, but Cx-I medially fused. Line separating Cx-III from Cx-IV undulating, froming a bay embracing the slightly anteriorly shifted Cxgl-4; Cx-IV with well developed medial, posterior and posteriolateral sutures. L 1 anteromedially to L 2. Lengths of PI-PV: 36, 60, 41, 62, 33. Lengths of I-leg-4–6: 50, 52, 50. Lengths of IV-leg-4– 6: 90, 86, 56. Third and fourth legs with swimming setae, but their numbers cannot be ascertained anymore due to mounting.

Male: Unknown.

Etymology. Named after Papua Province where the species has been found.

Remarks. The new species is most similar to A. vanimoensis Wiles, 1992 in the configuration of the coxal suture lines and the shifting of Cxgl–4, but differs in a broader idiosoma (length/width ratio 1.32, in A. vanimoensis 1.59), L 2 lying anteromedially to L 1 (anteriorly in A. vanimoensis ) and the ridges anterior to lateroglandularia 1 is less bowed.

Figures

FIGURES 59 – 61. Albia papuaensis n. sp., holotype female: 59. dorsal view; 60. ventral view; 61. Palp. Scale bars = 50 µm.