Leptotrombidium tikhonovi, STEKOLNIKOV, 2013

STEKOLNIKOV, ALEXANDR A., 2013, <strong> <em> Leptotrombidium </ em> (Acari: Trombiculidae) of the World </ strong>, Zootaxa 3728 (1), pp. 1-173 : 48-51

60. Leptotrombidium tikhonovi sp. nov.

( Figs. 11–12 )

Diagnosis. SIF = 7B-B-3-2111.0000; fPp = N/N/BNN(B); Pc = 3; Gn = 2; fSc: AM ≥ PL ≥ AL; SB-PL; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fD = 2H-8-6-6-(4–6)-2; DS = 28–30; VS = 21–27; NDV = 50–56; Ip = 668–767. Standard measurements are given in Table 5.

Description (larva). IDIOSOMA. Eyes 2 + 2. One pair of humeral setae; 26–28 dorsal idiosomal setae arranged 8-6-6-(4–6)-2 (in holotype, 8-6-6-6-2); dorsal idiosomal setae densely covered with 4 rows of rather long barbs (barbed tetrapectinala); 4 sternal setae and 21–27 ventral setae; total number of idiosomal setae excluding coxal and sternal 50–56.

GNATHOSOMA. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap; basal part of cheliceral base densely covered with puncta; gnathobase with sparse puncta and 1 pair of branched setae; palpal femur with few puncta; galeala heavily branched; palpal claw with 3 prongs; setae on palpal femur and genu nude; dorsal palpal tibial seta branched; lateral palpal tibial seta nude; ventral palpal tibial seta nude or branched (nude in 7 specimens, including holotype, definitely branched in 3 specimens, and invisible in 1 specimen); palpal tarsus with thick heavily branched dorsal seta, 3 apical and 3 ventral slender, weakly branched setae, and tarsala.

SCUTUM. Nearly rectangular, with posterior margin straight in centre and rounded laterally, rather sparsely covered with puncta; AM base posterior to level of ALs; SB at level of PLs (PSB–P-PL = –1–3, mean 1.1); AM ≥ PL ≥ AL; all scutal setae barbed similarly to dorsal idiosomal setae, except AL having somewhat longer barbs; flagelliform sensilla with about 12 branches in distal half and nude or with small inconspicuous cilia in proximal half.

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 (20 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 (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.

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-473, T-Tr.-59) ex Hylomys megalotis , LAOS: Khammouane Province, 18 km N from Thakhek, Ban Doy village, 140 m a.s.l., 16 November 2008, coll. A. V. Abramov and A.N. Tikhonov, mites collected by A. V. Bochkov. 10 paratypes larvae (Nos. L-280 to L-470) ex Hylomys megalotis and Laonastes aenigmamus , 13 and 16 November 2008, other data same. Holotype and paratypes are deposited in ZIN.

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

Remarks. The new species is similar to L. labuani and differs from it in a different shape of scutum (PW = 66– 77 vs. 62–65, PSB = 13–16 vs. 10–12, and AP = 20–24 vs. 27 in L. labuani ) and SB-PL vs. SB/PL (PSB–P-PL = – 1–3 vs. 3–4 in L. labuani ).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Leptotrombidium tikhonovi sp. nov. A, scutum and eyes (holotype); B, dorsal idiosomal seta of 2nd row, ventral aspect; C, dorsal idiosomal seta of 2nd row, dorsal aspect; D, preanal ventral idiosomal seta (holotype); E, arrangement of dorsal idiosomal setae (holotype); F, arrangement of ventral idiosomal setae (holotype). Scale bars: 50 µm (A), 20 µm (B–D), 100 µm (E, F).

FIGURE 12. Leptotrombidium tikhonovi sp. nov. A, dorsal aspect of gnathosoma (holotype; dorsal palpal tibial seta is lost); B, ventral aspect of gnathosoma (holotype); C, palpal tibia and tarsus of a specimen with intact dorsal palpal tibial seta, dorsal aspect, tarsal setae are not figured; D, palpal tibia and tarsus of the same specimen, ventral aspect (nude lateral and branched ventral palpal tibial setae are visible, tarsal setae are not figured); E, leg I; F, leg II; G, leg III. Scale bars: 25 µm (A–D), 50 µm (E–G).