Leptotrombidium laoense, STEKOLNIKOV, 2013

STEKOLNIKOV, ALEXANDR A., 2013, <strong> <em> Leptotrombidium </ em> (Acari: Trombiculidae) of the World </ strong>, Zootaxa 3728 (1), pp. 1-173 : 90-92

200. Leptotrombidium laoense sp. nov.

( Figs. 15–16 )

Diagnosis. SIF = 7B-B-2-2111.0000; fPp = N/N/BNN(b); Pc = 2; Gn = 2; fSc: PL> AM> AL; PL/SB; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fD = 2H-10-8-6-4; DS = 29–30; VS = 25–26; NDV = 54–56; Ip = 668–675. Standard measurements of holotype and paratype (in parentheses) : AW 65 (64) , PW 71 (70) , SB 33(32), ASB 26 (26) , PSB 14 (14) , SD 40(40), P-PL 20(20), AP 18 (17) , AM 41 (42) , AL 32(31), PL 44 (45) , S 54(59), H 47(50), D min 41(43), D max 58(58), V min 29(29), V max 49(50), pa 230(223), pm 200(202), pp 245(243), Ip 675(668), DS 29(30), VS 25(26), NDV 54 (56) , TaIII 56(56), TaW 14(16).

Description (larva). IDIOSOMA. Eyes 2 + 2. One pair of humeral setae; 27–28 dorsal idiosomal setae arranged 10-8-6-4 (in holotype, 10-7-6-4); dorsal idiosomal setae covered with 4 rows of moderate barbs (barbed tetrapectinala); 4 sternal setae and 25–26 ventral setae; total number of idiosomal setae excluding coxal and sternal 54–56.

GNATHOSOMA. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap; cheliceral base densely covered with puncta; gnathobase with dense puncta and 1 pair of branched setae; palpal femur with dense puncta; galeala with few branches; palpal claw with 2 prongs; setae on palpal femur and genu nude; dorsal palpal tibial seta branched; lateral palpal tibial seta nude; ventral palpal tibial seta nude or having 1 branch; palpal tarsus with 7 branched setae and tarsala.

SCUTUM. Nearly rectangular, with posterior margin straight in centre and rounded laterally, densely covered with small puncta; AM base posterior to level of ALs; SB clearly posterior to level of PLs (PSB–P-PL = –6); PL> AM> AL; all scutal setae barbed similarly to dorsal idiosomal setae, except AL having somewhat longer barbs; sensilla flagelliform and nude.

LEGS. All 7-segmented, with pair of claws and claw-like empodium. Leg I: coxa with 1 non-specialized branched seta (1B); trochanter 1B; basifemur 1B; telofemur 5B; genu 4B, 2 genualae, microgenuala; tibia 7–8B, 2 tibialae, microtibiala; tarsus 22B, tarsala (20 long), microtarsala proximal of tarsala, subterminala, parasubterminala, pretarsala. Leg II: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 4B; genu 3B, genuala; tibia 6B, 2 tibialae; tarsus 16B, tarsala (14 long), microtarsala near and slightly proximal of tarsala, pretarsala. Leg III: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 3B; genu 3B, genuala; tibia 6B, tibiala; tarsus 15B.

Host. Laonastes aenigmamus Jenkins, Kilpatrick, Robinson and Timmins, 2005 ( Rodentia : Diatomyidae ).

Type material. Holotype (L-30, T-Tr.-61) and one paratype larva (L-151) ex Laonastes aenigmamus , LAOS: Khammouane Province, 18 km N from Thakhek, Ban Doy village , 140 m a.s.l., 12 November 2008, coll. A. V. Abramov and A.N. Tikhonov, mites collected by A. V. Bochkov . Holotype and paratype are deposited in ZIN .

Etymology. Species name refers to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic where the type locality is situated.

Remarks. Within the Leptotrombidium species having fD = 2H-10-8-6-4-…, L. laoense is most similar to L. peromysci and differs from it in the palpal claw with 2 (vs. 3) prongs, galeala with few branches vs. heavily branched, f 1 situated proximal of S 1 vs. distal, nude sensilla vs. heavily branched, shorter legs (Ip = 668–675 vs. 698–720), and in somewhat shorter setae (AM = 41–42 vs. 50–54, PL = 44–45 vs. 54–62, H = 47–50 vs. 52–58).

Figures

FIGURE 15. Leptotrombidium laoense sp. nov. A, scutum and eyes (holotype); B, dorsal idiosomal seta of 1st row (holotype); C, preanal ventral idiosomal seta (holotype); D, arrangement of dorsal idiosomal setae; E, arrangement of ventral idiosomal setae. Scale bars: 50 µm (A), 20 µm (B, C), 100 µm (D, E).

FIGURE 16. Leptotrombidium laoense sp. nov. A, dorsal aspect of gnathosoma; B, ventral aspect of gnathosoma; C, leg I; D, leg II; E, leg III. Scale bars: 25 µm (A, B), 50 µm (C–E).