Leptotrombidium abramovi, STEKOLNIKOV, 2013

STEKOLNIKOV, ALEXANDR A., 2013, <strong> <em> Leptotrombidium </ em> (Acari: Trombiculidae) of the World </ strong>, Zootaxa 3728 (1), pp. 1-173 : 31-34

8. Leptotrombidium abramovi sp. nov.

( Figs. 9–10 )

Diagnosis. SIF = 7B-B-3-2111.0000; fPp = N/N/BNN; Pc = 3; Gn = 2; fSc: PL> AL ≥ AM; PL/SB; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fD = 2H-8-6-6-4-2; DS = 28–30; VS = 29–34; NDV = 57–62; Ip = 727–792. Standard measurements are given in Table 4.

Description (larva). IDIOSOMA. Eyes large, 2 + 2. One pair of humeral setae; 26–28 dorsal idiosomal setae arranged 8-6-6-4-2, with little variation (e.g., 8-7-6-4-2 or 8-6-6-4-4); dorsal idiosomal setae moderately covered with 3 rows of short barbs (short-barbed tripectinala); 4 sternal setae and 29–34 ventral setae; total number of idiosomal setae excluding coxal and sternal ones 57–62.

GNATHOSOMA. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap; cheliceral base moderately covered with puncta; gnathobase with dense puncta and 1 pair of branched setae; palpal femur with few puncta; galeala branched; palpal claw with 3 prongs; setae on palpal femur and genu nude; dorsal palpal tibial seta branched; lateral and ventral palpal tibial setae nude; palpal tarsus with 7 branched setae and tarsala.

SCUTUM. Nearly rectangular, with posterior margin almost straight or slightly concave in centre and sinuous laterally, moderately covered with puncta of different size in central part, scutal margins lack of puncta; AM base posterior to level of ALs; SB posterior to level of PLs (P-PL–PSB= 2–4, mean 2.5); PL> AL ≥ AM; all scutal setae barbed similarly to dorsal idiosomal setae; 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 8B, 2 tibialae, microtibiala; tarsus 22B, tarsala (18 long), microtarsala distal 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 (15–16 long), microtarsala near tarsala, pretarsala. Leg III: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 3B; genu 3B, genuala; tibia 6B, tibiala; tarsus 15B.

Hosts. Hylomys megalotis Jenkins and Robinson, 2002 ( Erinaceomorpha : Erinaceidae ) and Laonastes aenigmamus Jenkins, Kilpatrick, Robinson and Timmins, 2005 ( Rodentia : Diatomyidae ).

Type material. Holotype larva (L-418, T-Tr.-58) ex Hylomys megalotis , LAOS: Khammouane Province, 18 km N from Thakhek, Ban Doy village, 140 m a.s.l., 14 November 2008, coll. A. V. Abramov and A.N. Tikhonov, mites collected by A. V. Bochkov. 24 paratypes larvae (Nos. L-15 to L-450) ex Hylomys megalotis and Laonastes aenigmamus , 11–16 November 2008, other data same. Holotype and paratypes are deposited in ZIN.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of Dr. Alexei V. Abramov (ZIN), one of the collectors.

Remarks. The new species is similar to L. madiense and differs from it in somewhat shorter scutum (ASB = 24–29 vs. 29–31, SD = 34–39 vs. 39–42), sensillary bases closer to the level of PLs (P-PL–PSB= 2–4 vs. 6–8), and in f 1 situated distal to S 1 (in L. madiense , f 1 is situated proximal to S 1). Presence of nude sensilla in L. abramovi is a rare character within Leptotrombidium , but in all 3 known specimens of L. madiense sensilla unfortunately broken ( Vercammen-Grandjean & Langston 1976).

Figures

FIGURE 9. Leptotrombidium abramovi 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 10. Leptotrombidium abramovi 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).