Bursaustium Haitlinger, 2000

Noei, Javad, Podineh, Farzad Minab & Ramroodi, Sara, 2019, Modification in the generic diagnosis of Bursaustium (Acari: Erythraeidae) with description of a new species from southeast of Iran, Persian Journal of Acarology 8 (2), pp. 107-116 : 108

Genus Bursaustium Haitlinger, 2000

Type species: Bursaustium gaspari Haitlinger, 2000

Diagnosis

Idiosoma with dorsal scutum bearing two pairs of sensilla and three pairs of scutalae; crista on dorsal scutum present; the anterior sensilla longer than the posterior ones; each coxa with one barbed seta; each genu with one solenidion; fn Tr 1-1-1, fn BFe 3-3-3; fn TFe 5-5-5; all idiosomal setae short with long setules; palp tibial claw simple.

Remarks

Haitlinger (2000) established the genus Bursaustium . In the description of the type species, B. gaspari , the absence of a crista metopica was mentioned; a character which was also included into the definition of the genus when Haitlinger (2000) clearly stated “crista on dorsal scutum absent”. However, the author provided no arguments why the new genus was placed in Balaustiinae although Southcott (1961) named “presence of a crista metopica” as the only character separating Balaustiinae larvae from other Erythraeidae larvae. Saboori (2002) in his description of B. norbakhshi clearly stated “crista metopica distinctly visible” without commenting on its relationship within the genus Bursaustium .

Recent re-examination of the holotype of B. gaspari by Prof. Haitlinger upon request showed that a crista metopica is clearly present ( Fig. 17 ). Further corrections of data given in the original description concern: fn TFe is 5-5-5 instead of 4-4-5 that the determination of the number of setae on the other part of legs is difficult because of the bad condition of the type specimen. Thus, based on the re-examination B. gaspari , we conclude that crista metopica is present and all scutalae (AL, ML and PL) are on the scutum.

Figures

Figures 13‒17. 13–16. Bursaustium zabolensis Noei sp. nov. (larva) – Dorsal scutum position on dorsal surface of propodosoma; 17. Dorsal scutum of the holotype of B. gaspari, sent by Prof. R. Haitlinger.