Solistrus mitrae sp. nov.

(Figs 1–9)

Diagnosis. Larva with the following features: fD = 44; fV = 8; fnCx = 2-1-1; fnTr = 1-1-1; fnFe =6-5-4; fnGe = 4-2-2; fnTi = 6-5-5; fnTa = 12-14-13; fSol = I (0-2-2-1), II (0-1-2-1), III (0-1-0-0); fκ=I (1-1), II (0-0), III (0- 0); fζ= 2-1-0; fε= 1-1-0; fPp = 0-0-0-NNN2-5Nωζ; IP = 642. Ta I with backwardly curved solenidion, solenidion on Ta II scoop-like.

Description. Holotype larva: Idiosoma moderately engorged, up to 456 long, 356 wide. Idiosoma dorsally with a scutum, a pair of ocular sclerites and 44 dorsal setae. Scutum striated with posteromedian protrusion (Fig. 1); AM setae with long setules, near anterolateral angles of scutum; PL setae barbed, posterolateral to sensillary setae; AL setae barbed, between AM and PL setae; S thin and smooth, antero-medially to PL setae. Scutellum with 14 (11, 17, 16 in paratypes) barbed setae (Figs. 1–4). Scutellum striated, with straight anterior border and irregular (convex and concave) posterior border. Ocular sclerite, lateral to posterolateral borders of scutum, with two eyes, the anterior eye (12) larger than posterior one (5); both eyes circular. Ocular plate 25×14. All dorsal setae barbed and on platelets with a cuticular line at base (Fig. 1).

Idiosoma ventrally with one 1 pair of intercoxal setae (3a), eight ventral setae and an anus. All setae on ventral idiosoma with barbs and on platelets with a cuticular line at base of setae (Fig. 5). Coxa I with 2B; Coxa II & III with 1B each (Fig. 5). All coxalae with long setules. Intercoxal setae (3a) barbed, between coxae III, 30 long.

Palpal setal formula: 0-0-0-NNN2-5Nωζ. Chelicerae robust; cheliceral blade sickled-shaped with one tooth subterminally (Fig. 6). Palpal femur and genu without setae. Palptibia with three nude setae. Palpal tibial claw bifurcate. Palptarsus with a solenidion, an eupathidium and 5 nude setae. A pair of adoral (or) setae nude, 4 long. A pair of subcapitular setae (sc) with long setules, 6 long.

Leg segmentation formula: 6-6-6. Tarsi I & II with two lateral claws only whereas Ta III with two lateral claws and a middle empodium. Leg setal formula: Leg I: Ta- 1ω, 1ε, 2ζ, 12B; Ti- 2φ, 1κ, 6B; Ge- 2σ, 1κ, 4B; Fe- 5B, 1N; Tr- 1B (Fig. 7). Leg II: Ta-1ω, 1ε, 1ζ, 14B; Ti-2φ, 5B; Ge-1σ, 2B; Fe- 4B, 1N; Tr-1B (Fig. 8). Leg III: Ta- 13B; Ti- 5B; Ge- 1σ, 2B; Fe- 4B; Tr- 1B (Fig. 9).

IP = 203 + 214 +225 = 642 holotype

Measurements are given in table 1.

Types. The holotype (ARS-20080126-1a) and paratypes (ARS-20080126-1b, 1c, 1d) were collected by A. V. Harten & S. Al Haruri, August 1999 and November 2000, in a light trap, in Al Kowd (13° 05' N and 45° 22' E, altitude about 20 m a.s.l.). The holotype and one paratype (Fig. 10) are deposited in the Acarological Collection, Zoological Museum, College of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran and two paratypes (1b & 1c in one slide) are deposited in British Museum of Natural History, London, UK.

Remarks. This genus is monotypic.

Etymology. The species is named after Mitra Bakhtiari Moghaddam, wife of senior author.