Holostaspis mooni, Keum & Jung & Joharchi, 2017

Keum, Eunsun, Jung, Chuleui & Joharchi, Omid, 2017, New species and new records of the family Laelapidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Republic of Korea, Zootaxa 4353 (3), pp. 485-505 : 491-492

Holostaspis mooni sp. nov.

Figures 14–21 .

Specimens examined: Holotype, female, Samcheock, Gangwon province, Republic of Korea, 37°19' N, 128°12' E, alt. 1110 m, 0 6 Jun 2011, E. Keum coll., from soil . Paratype: One female, same data as holotype (deposited in PMANU) .

Description. Female. Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 14 ). Length 396–405, width 302–305 (n = 2). Shield covering entire idiosoma, shield surface well ornamented with irregular transverse lines with few interconnecting lines; with 39 pairs of long setae, 22 pairs on podonotal region (j1–6; z1–6; s1–6; r2–5) and 17 pairs on opisthonotal region (J1–5; Z1–5; S1–5; and two pairs of Zx), all setae on shield smooth and uniform in length (50–65) and thickness except j1 (15–17), z1 (13–15) minute. All setae long enough to reach well past base of next posterior seta, opisthonotal region with three unpaired supernumerary seta Jx between J series. Shield with nine pairs of discernible pore-like structures, five on podonotum and four on opisthonotum. Shape, position and relative length of setae shown in figure ( Fig.14 ).

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 15 ). Tritosternal base length 25–27, width 13–15 wide, and pilose laciniae, length 32– 35. Pre-sternal plates fused to sternal shield; sternal shield length 85–88, width 125–128, with notch in middle of anterior margin, posterior margin concave. With three pairs of simple and subequal sternal setae [st1 (28–30), st2 (25–27), st3 (25–27)] and two pairs of poroids (iv1 and iv2 slit-like, adjacent to setae st1 and between st2 and st3, respectively); antero-lateral surface of shield with polygonal ornamentation, central area smooth. Metasternal platelets absent, one pair of simple metasternal setae st4 (25–27) and pore-like iv3 inserted on soft cuticle posterior to sternal shield; endopodal plates II/III fused to sternal shield, endopodal plates III/IV elongate, narrow, curved. Genital shield elongate, tapering and rounded posteriorly, width (83–85) and length (142–144). Surface with a few irregular diagonal lines and polygonal cells, anterior pair of diagonal lines forming an inverted “V”; shield bearing genital setae st 5 (25–27), expanded slightly just posterior to genital setae. Paragenital poroids (iv5) located on soft cuticle lateral to shield behind st 5. Anal shield subtriangular, length 77–79, width 55–57, its anterior half with lineate ornamentation and a pair of lateral pores (gv3); bearing long and thick post-anal seta (30–32), and a pair of para-anal setae (13–15), cribrum small. Soft opisthogastric cuticle surrounding genital and anal shields with one pair of sub oval metapodal plates (12–14 long × 5–7 wide) and 16 pairs of setae (Jv1–Jv5, Zv1– Zv 5, UR1-UR6); all setae smooth and uniform in length (22–32) and thickness, except Jv5 (50–53) and Jv4 (37–39) long ( Fig. 15 ). Peritreme long, extending to the mid-level of coxa I (near s1), peritrematal shield very narrow, expanded anteriorly, free from exopodal shields, each shield bearing three discernible pore-like structures, two lyrifissures ip and a gland pore gp on post-stigmatic section and also a small pore-like structure within peritreme at level of coxa III (see Fig. 15 ); anterior part of shield fused with dorsal shield.

Gnathosoma . Hypostome with three pairs of hypostomal setae [h1 (25–27), h2 (9–12), h3 (19–21)] and a pair of palpcoxal setae (pc) (23–25). Hypostomal groove with six rows of 11–15 denticles, and smooth anterior and posterior transverse lines ( Fig. 16 ). Palp chaetotaxy normal (2–5–6–14 –15), setae uniform in shape; palp tarsal apotele two-tined. Anterior edge of epistome acuminate, smooth ( Fig.17 ). Fixed digit of chelicera stumpy and with two teeth and three bumps (n=2), pilus dentilis short, dorsal seta short, prostrate ( Fig. 18 ); movable digit with two teeth, arthrodial membrane with a rounded flap and a few short filaments ( Fig. 18 ). Corniculi short and weakly sclerotised. Internal malae complex, with two pairs of lobes, inner lobes narrow, with serrated edges, outer lobes narrow, pointed, longer than inner lobes, with serrated edges.

Legs ( Figs 19–21 ). Tarsi I–IV each with a pair of claws and pulvillus. Legs II (200–208) and III (203–209) shorter than legs I (295–305) and IV (238–247). Chaetotaxy normal for free-living Laelapidae : Leg I: coxa 0 0/1 0/ 1 0, trochanter 1 0/1 1/2 1, femur 2 2/1 3/3 2, genu 2 3/2 3/1 2, tibia 2 3/2 3/1 2. Leg II: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 0/1 1/1 1, femur 2 3/1 2/2 1, genu 2 3/1 2/1 2, tibia 2 2/1 2/1 2 ( Fig. 19 ). Leg III: coxa 0 0/1 0/ 1 0, trochanter 1 0/ 1 1/1 1, femur 1 2/1 1/0 1 (ad1 strongly thickened), genu 2 2/1 2/1 1, tibia 2 1/1 2/1 1 ( Fig. 20 ). Leg IV: coxa 0 0/1 0/0 0, trochanter 2 1/1 0/1 0, femur 1 2/1 1/0 1 (ad1 strongly thickened), genu 2 2/1 3/0 1, tibia 2 1/1 3/1 2 ( Fig. 21 ). Most leg setae relatively thick, with variation indicated in parentheses above. Tarsi II–IV with 18 setae 3 3/2 3/2 3 + mv, md, all setae simple and needle-like; all pre-tarsi with a well-developed ambulacral stalk, a pair of claws and three rounded pulvillar lobes, extending well beyond claws.

Insemination structures: Not seen, apparently unsclerotised.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. This species is named after Mr Moon Jae-in, the President of the Republic of Korea, in recognition of his invaluable movements seeking to improve and protect natural environments and wildlife in the Republic of Korea.

Differential diagnosis. The new species is unique within Holostaspis genus because of its very long dorsal setae. Furthermore, this is the only species with only two teeth and two bumps on the fixed digit.

Figures

FIGURES 14–18. Holostaspis mooni sp. nov., female. 14, dorsal idiosoma; 15, ventral idiosoma; 16, epistome;17, subcapitulum; 18, chelicera.

FIGURES 19–21. Holostaspis mooni sp. nov., female. 19, femur, genu and tibia II; 20, femur, genu and tibia III; 21, femur, genu and tibia IV.