Javalbia discrepans, Smit, 2016

Smit, H., 2016, The water mite family Aturidae Thor, 1900 from Southeast Asia (Acari: Hydrachnidia) with the description of one new genus and 14 new species, Acarologia 56 (3), pp. 341-365 : 349-351

Javalbia discrepans n. sp.

( Figure 6 )

Material examined — Holotype female, River at km. 13, Doi Inthanon NP, Thailand, 18°31.532N 98°39.091E, alt. 465 m a.s.l., 25-xi-2007 . Paratypes: four females, Stream W of Bankrang Camp, Kaeng Krachan NP, Thailand, 12°48.106N 99°26.786E, 20- xi-2007 .

Diagnosis — Dorsal shield with a posterior extension; three platelets in dorsal furrow fused to one elongated platelet, A2 fused with dorsal shield.

Description — Female: Idiosoma pale yellow, dorsally 405 (381 – 405) long and 300 (284 – 292) wide, ventrally 344 (247 – 251) long. Dorsal shield separated with a posterior extension, separated from ventral shield, and appears therefore in dorsal view as incomplete; dorsal shield 251 (247 – 251) wide. A2 fused with dorsal shield. Three pairs of glandularia lying in dorsal furrow on an elongated platelet. Postocularia lying posteromedially of dgl- 1, the latter lying close to margin of dorsal shield. Suture lines of coxae obliterated, only suture lines of Cx-III and Cx-IV present to some extent, other suture lines nearly absent. Cxgl-4 between fourth leg sockets and genital field, lying somewhat closer to genital field. Genital field 126 wide, with thee pairs of acetabula lying in a line, genital plates connected by a small strip of sclerotization. Vgl-4 lying on a small platelet, not fused to coxae. Excretory pore not lying on a small platelet, posterior to the genital field, touching postgenital sclerite but not fused. Length of P1-P5: -, 30, 22, 46, 24. Length of I-leg-4-6: 40, 46, 42 (till tip of segment. Length of IV-leg-4-6: 42, 48, 42 (till tip of segment). Swimming setae absent. Male: Unknown.

Etymology — Named for the very different dorsal shield compared to other Javalbia species.

Remarks — The dorsal shield with a posterior extension is not found in any other Javalbia species. Moreover, the fused glandularia platelets in the dorsal furrow are also unique.

Figures

FIGURE 6: Javalbia discrepans n. sp., holotype female: A – dorsum; B – venter; C – palp. Scale bars = 50 µm.