Bloszykiella tertia, Kontschán & Starý, 2015

Kontschán, Jenő & Starý, Josef, 2015, First record of the genus Bloszykiella in Kenya with the description of Bloszykiella tertia sp. n. (Acari: Uropodidae) from a Pinus radiata D. Don plantation, African Invertebrates 56 (3), pp. 629-629 : 630-631

Bloszykiella tertia sp. n.

Figs 1–16

Etymology: This is the third species of this genus that has been found; therefore, the name of the new species refers to its chronological placement ( tertia = third in Latin). Description:

Female.

Idiosoma: Length 1290–1360 μm, width 800–850 μm (n= 4), colour brown. Shape oval, posterior margin rounded.

Dorsal aspect ( Fig. 1 ): Marginal and dorsal shields fused anteriorly. Dorsal shield neotrichous, most dorsal setae short and marginally pilose (ca 60–75 μm). Dorsal shield covered by oval pits ( Fig. 2 ). Caudal margin of dorsal shield bearing a large, triangular protuberance ( Fig. 3 ). Margins of idiosoma with reticulate sculptural pattern on caudal area and with numerous pilose setae. Submarginal shield posteriorly reduced and without setae; pygidial shield trapezoidal, anterior margin undulate, bearing several marginally pilose setae (ca 60–70 μm) and covered by oval pits.

Ventral aspect ( Fig. 5 ): Intercoxal area with a strongly sclerotised court around genital opening and with five pairs of sternal setae, all needle-like and smooth. Seta St1 inserted at the level of the anterior margin of coxae II, St2 at the level of the anterior margin of the strongly sclerotised court, St3 at the level of the anterior margin of coxae III, St4 at the level of the posterior margin of coxae III, St5 near basal edges of genital shield. St5 (ca 40 μm) longer than other sternal setae (ca 32–35 μm). Sternal shield without ornamentation. Ventral shield with numerous, short (ca 40–45 μm) marginally pilose setae, except the short (ca 23 μm) and needle-like first ventral setae (v1) ( Fig. 5 ). Surface of ventral shield smooth, but posterior area of ventral shield covered by oval pits ( Fig. 6 ). Pedofossae deep, without ornamentation and without separate furrows for tarsi IV. Genital shield triangular, situated between coxae III and IV, with a rounded anterior edge and straight posterior edge. Posterior surface of genital shield covered by reticulate sculptural pattern ( Fig. 7 ). Peritremes L-shaped ( Fig. 8 ). Adanal setae similar in shape and length to ventral setae, postanal seta absent. Tritosternum ( Fig. 9 ) with vase-shaped base, laciniae divided into several branches.

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 10 ): Corniculi small, smooth and horn-like, internal malae apically pilose and longer than corniculi. Hypostomal setae h1 long (ca 90–95 μm), pilose in apical two-thirds and basally smooth; h2, h3 and h4 short (ca 13–20 μm), h2 smooth and needle-like, h3 and h4 marginally serrate. Tritosternum with vase-like basis, laciniae with two long central and several short lateral branches. Chelicerae without internal sclerotised nodes ( Fig. 12 ). Fixed digit of chelicera as long as movable digit, with three large apical teeth on movable digit and two large apical and several short lateral teeth on fixed digit. Trochanter of palp with two long and serrate ventral setae ( Fig. 8 ), all setae on palp smooth, except pilose inner setae on palp genu. Epistome apically subdivided into two pilose and three smooth branches, short spine situated near basis of branches ( Fig. 11 ).

Legs ( Figs 13–16 ): Leg I without ambulacral claws. Serrate setae and smooth setae situated on all legs.

Larva, nymphs and male unknown.

Holotype ♀: KENYA: Ke-77/68, Nyandarua district, 10km SE of Njabini , leaf litter of a Pinus radiata plantation, alt. 2550 m; 9.xi.1977, V. Mahnert & J.-L.Perret ( NHMG).

Paratypes: 4♀ Same data same as for holotype ( NHMG) .

Comparison: Currently only two Bloszykiella species are known, both of which were collected in Tanzania and bear strongly sclerotised lines on the dorsal shields. The new species is recorded from Kenya and the strongly sclerotised dorsal lines are missing from its body. The most important differences between the three known Bloszykiella species are summarised in Table 1.

Figures

Figs 1–4. Bloszykiella tertia sp.n., female,holotype, Kenya:(1) dorsal view of body; (2) ornamentation and setae on dorsal shield; (3) caudal area of dorsal idiosoma; (4) ventral view of body.

Figs 5–8. Bloszykiella tertia sp. n., female, holotype, Kenya: (5) lateral part of ventral shield with ventral setae; (6) anal area of ventral shield; (7) intercoxal area; (8) peritreme.

Figs 9–16.Bloszykiellatertia sp.n., female,holotype,Kenya:(9) tritosternum;(10)entral view ofgnathosoma and palp; (11) apical part of epistome; (12) chelicerae; (13) Leg I; (14) Leg II; (15) Leg III; (16) Leg IV (all legs in ventral view, claw of Leg IV not illustrated).