Rhopalozetes filiferus, Mahunka, 2005

Mahunka, S., 2005, Oribatid Mites (Acari: Oribatida) From Venezuela, I. Microzetid Species, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 51 (4), pp. 287-311 : 305-307

Rhopalozetes filiferus sp. n.

( Figs 20–22 )

Diagnosis: Rostrum conical. Lamellae large, typical for the genus, touching anteriorly, excepting a small interlamellar region covering nearly the whole prodorsum. A weak translamella present. Rostral setae minute, arising on the rostrum. Lamellar setae spiniform, interlamellar setae very thin. Sensillus long, stick-shaped, distal end with some long bristles. Dorsosejugal suture well developed, pteromorphae small. Notogastral surface ornamented by filiform curved sculpture. Two transversal bands on the epimeral region.

Material examined: Holotype: Venezuela, Estado Mérida, Parc Nacional Sierra Nevada. Andean montane rainforest dominated by Decussocarpus ( Podocarpaceae ) near the cable car station La Montaña. At 2460 m. alt. Litter and mosses. 15. Febr. 1997. Coll. S. & T. PÓCS (No. 9712). 1 paratype from the same sample. Holotype (1688-HO-05) and 1 paratype (1688-PO-05): HNHM.

Measurements: Length of body: 246–259 µm, width of body: 172–184 µm.

Prodorsum: Conical, simple in dorsal and beak-like in lateral view. Lamellae large, touching anteriorly, a weak translamella between them present. Short, but well separated outer apex present, a blunt inner one much shorter, bearing the spiniform lamellar seta ( Fig. 20 ). Lamellar surface rugose, interlamellar setae very thin, located on it, near to the median part of the lamellae. Interlamellar region comparatively small, without any tubercles. Sensillus very long, stick-shaped, hardly widened distally. Directed outwards and forwards, its distal end with long bristles.

Notogaster: Pteromorphae small, rounded laterally in dorsal view. Well sculptured by transversal and longitudinal lines, covered by granules. Dorsosejugal suture well observable, medially not interrupted, slightly convex. Notogastral surface with very fine filiform pattern, consisting of twisted, mostly short lines variable length ( Fig. 20 ). Nine pairs of notogastral setae present, all short and simple, straight, nearly equal in length.

Lateral part of podosoma: Rostral setae minute, with some short cilia, arising on a short tubercles. Tutorium with blunt apex, bearing the short and thin, simple rostral setae ( Fig. 22 ). Pedotecta 1 very large, its dorsal and lateral surface covered by large pustules connected with rugae. Pedotecta 2–3 ornamented by transversal striae. Circumpedal carina reaching to the margin of ventral plate.

Ventral regions: Infracapitulum large, its anterior margin convex and well sclerotised. Setae h arising medially, near to each other. Epimeral region with two wide transversal bands (bo. 2 and bo. 4), they are not connected with a longitudinal ones. Transversal band bo. 2 slightly weaker nedially, than the other or its lateral part. Epimeral and ventral surface covered by small granules. Epimeral setae simple and short, their position as shown in Fig. 21 . On the lateral part of bo.4 a characteristic formation observable, consisting of transversal margin on both sides and from here some fine lines are running along the genital aperture posteriorly. Anogenital setal formula: 6 – 1 – 2 – 3. Anterior genital setae longer thant the others. In front of the anal aperture a pair of nearly transversal crests present, setae ad 3 arising on them. Behind the anal aperture a weak crest also visible.

Remarks: The new species is well characterised by the fine, lineate sculpture of the notogaster and the stick shaped sensillus. Similar notogastral sculpture has been unknown in this genus.

Etymology: Named after the characteristic, filiform sculpture of the notogaster.

Figures

Figs 20–22. Rhopalozetes filiferus sp. n.: 20 = body in dorsal view, 21 = body in ventral view, 22 = podosoma in lateral view