Kongsbergia crista, 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 : 20-21

Kongsbergia (s.s.) crista sp. nov.

( Figs. 33–37, 93, 94)

Description. Character states of the laurentiana subgroup. Male: Idiosoma in dorsal view elongate and ellipsoidal, usually widest near midlength. Dorsal shield ( Figs. 33, 93) with anterior margin nearly transverse or slightly convex and crenellate with a very small depression medially, lacking a nipple- or dome-shaped projection; with edge linear or slightly convex in area between eyes and humeral region and indented posterior to humeral region to form a strong humeral angle; posterior edge slightly protruding medially; with reticulate sculpturing absent in area between and anterior to postocular setae; anteromedial hump large, lateral ridges extremely strongly developed and meeting lateral edges of shield near midlength to form a very pronounced arching crest, posterior depression deep; ridge bearing excretory pore moderately well developed; bearing four pairs of long, curved setae on posterior edge; variable in color from colorless to yellowish with red or purple patches anteriorly and posteriorly. Ventral shield ( Fig. 35) with projections covering insertions of fourth legs well developed; rounded posteriorly and bearing three pairs of slender setae near posterior edge. Pedipalp ( Fig. 36) with femur enlarged and bearing three papillate projections proximoventrally. Fourth leg ( Fig. 37) with segments and setae as illustrated. Female: Dorsal shield ( Figs. 34, 94) similar in shape, sculpturing and color to that of male but lacking posteromedial protrusion; with ridges relatively weakly developed and not forming a pronounced crest. Ventral shield with projections covering insertions of fourth legs smaller than in male. Pedipalp with femur not enlarged and tibia proportionally longer than in male Measurements: Male (n=3): Length/width dorsal shield 358–392(358)/226–256(226), length/width ventral shield 380–404(380)/260–264(264). Lengths pedipalp segments: Tr 22–26(22), Fe 68–80(68), Ge 26–28(27), Ti 107–120(107), Ta 30–32(32). Height pedipalp femur 58–80(58). Lengths leg segments: IGe 60–62(60), ITi 76–84(76), ITa 82–90(84); IIGe 64–66(66), IITi 75–85(75), IITa 84–87(87); IIIGe 74–81(81), IIITi 88–92(90), IIITa 97–100(97); IVTr 88–94(88), IVBFe 74–82(80), IVTFe 66–68(66), IVGe 80–84(80), IVTi 78–80(80), IVTa 90–95(95). Female (n=3): Length/width dorsal shield 332–340/252–256, length/width ventral shield 340/260–268. Lengths pedipalp segments: Tr 25–26, Fe 64–66, Ge 24–28, Ti 120–122, Ta 28–30. Lengths leg segments: IVTr 58–60, IVBFe 65–70, IVTFe 50–58, IVGe 70–76, IVTi 74–86, IVTa 82–89.

Types. Holotype: Male from Tellico River beside Forest Road 210, 1.8 km east of bridge at Bald River Falls, Monroe Co., Tennessee, USA, 5 July 1990 by IMS (slide).

Paratypes: From same locality as holotype, 3 August 2008, IMS– 2 males, 3 females (slides); 12 September 2009, IMS– 1 male (GAW) .

Etymology. From the Latin crista meaning “crest” to describe the pronounced and sharply defined crest formed by the anteromedial hump and associated ridges on the dorsal shield of males.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in southeastern Tennessee.

Remarks. Males of Kongsbergia crista sp. nov. differ from those of K. laurentiana sp. nov. in that the arched crest formed by the anteromedial hump and associated ridges is higher and more sharply defined compared to the relatively modest condition found in males of K. laurentiana .