Kongsbergia humeralis, Radwell & Smith, 2012

Radwell, Andrea J. & Smith, Ian M., 2012, North American members of the reticulata-like species group of the water mite genus Kongsbergia (Acari: Hydrachnidiae: Aturidae), Zootaxa 3540, pp. 1-49 : 30

Kongsbergia (s.s.) humeralis sp. nov.

( Figs. 53–56, 90)

Description. Character states of the appalachiana subgroup. Male: Idiosoma in dorsal view elongate and shieldshaped and with sides subparallel between humeral region and midlength, tapering posteriorly. Dorsal shield ( Figs. 53, 90) with anterior edge nearly transverse between eyes and bearing a moderately large, prominent, nippleshaped projection medially; with edges of shield sloping abruptly posterolaterally to form a concave outline between eyes and humeral region and a very strong humeral angle; reticulate pattern weakly developed and diffuse in area between and anterior to postocular setae; anteromedial hump moderately large, lateral ridges well developed and arching posterolaterally to meet lateral edges of shield slightly posterior to its midlength; ridge bearing excretory pore large; color yellowish with pale purple or pink patches anteriorly and posteriorly. Ventral shield ( Fig. 54) with projections associated with insertions of fourth legs well developed and curved posteriorly. Pedipalp ( Fig. 55) with femur large, strongly arched dorsally and greater in height than in length, flattened and bearing three or four papillate projections ventrally. Fourth leg ( Fig. 56) with segments and setae as illustrated. Female: Unknown. Measurements: Male (n=3): Length/width dorsal shield 352–360(360)/264–282(282), length/ width ventral shield 390(390)/298–304(304). Lengths pedipalp segments: Tr 24–25(24), Fe 85–98(85), Ge 28–32(28), Ti 107–115(107), Ta 30–32(30). Height pedipalp femur 80–98(80). Lengths leg segments: IGe 70–72(72), ITi 87–94(93), ITa 85–94(90); IIGe 74–87(87), IITi 93–97(96), IITa 98–101(101); IIIGe 92–94(93), IIITi 106–110(110), IIITa 106–110(110); IVTr 69–75(69), IVBFe 99–103(99), IVTFe 80–82(81), IVGe 87–92(92), IVTi 88–90(90), IVTa 101–110(110).

Types. Holotype: Male from Digdeguash River beside road from Digdeguash to Elmsville, Charlotte Co., New Brunswick, Canada, 2 October 1984 by IMS (slide) . Paratypes: USA: Georgia: Dawson Co.: Amicalola River beside Rt. 53 between Dawsonville and Marblehill, 1 October 1992, IMS– 2 males (slides) .

Etymology. From the Latin humerus meaning “shoulder” to describe the humeral bulge associated with anterolaterally concave curvature of the dorsal shield.

Distribution. Eastern North America (New Brunswick and Georgia).

Remarks. Males of Kongsbergia humeralis sp. nov. differ from those of the other members of the appalachiana subgroup in that the edge of the dorsal shield slopes abruptly posterolateral to the eyes to form a concave outline in the region between the eyes and a prominent angle in the humeral region ( Fig. 53, arrow).

Males of K. humeralis are highly distinctive but very rarely collected and known thus far from only two widely separated localities, one in New Brunswick and the other in Georgia.