Euphthiracarus aequalis, Liu, Dong, Wu, Donghui & Chen, Jun, 2011

Liu, Dong, Wu, Donghui & Chen, Jun, 2011, Species of Euphthiracarus (Acari: Oribatida: Euphthiracaridae) from China, Zootaxa 2752, pp. 45-61 : 46-48

Euphthiracarus aequalis sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–3 )

Material examined. Holotype: adult (in alcohol, CJ-01-6), China: Sichuan Province, Kangding, Erdaoqiao (30°6'N, 101°54'E), from litter under shrub, 2600M, 8 Aug., 2001, leg. Jun Chen. Paratypes: one adult (in alcohol, CJ-01-6), same data as holotype; one adult (in alcohol, CJ-01-10), China: Sichuan Province, Kangding, Erdaoqiao, Niuwo, from litter under birch, 2800M, 9 Aug., 2001, leg. Jun Chen; seven adults (in alcohol, CJ-01-12), same data as CJ-01-10, from litter under bamboo; two adults (in alcohol, CJ-01-13), same data as CJ-01-10, from deadwood; eighteen adults (in alcohol, CJ-01-51), China: Tibet, Bome, Zham Town (27°59'N, 85°59'E), from litter under pine tree, 3000M, 23 Aug., 2001, leg. Jun Chen.

Etymology. The new specific name “ aequalis ” is from Latin, and refers to the equal length of genital setae.

Measurements. Holotype: Prodorsum: length 380, width 245, height 155, setae: ss 155, in 160, le 90, ro 80, ex 50, distance between setae: ro -ro 70, in -in 115, le -le 55, in -le 135, le -ro 100; notogaster: length 795, width 485, height 500; setae: c1 128, c2 115, c3 95, c p 95, d1 105, d2 85, e1 110, e2 100, h1 128, h2 115, h3 100, ps1 130, ps2 100, ps3 100; distance between setae: c1-d1 165, d1-e1 195, e1-h1 185, h1-ps1 180; ventral region: genitoaggenital plate 325×125, anoadanal plate 355×105. Paratypes: Prodorsum: length 310–380, width 230–260, height 120–160; notogaster: length 600–820, width 375–600, height 340–506; ventral region: genitoaggenital plate 335×120, anoadanal plate 368×110.

Integument: Colour yellowish to tan. Surface of body covered with distinct foveolae, especially dense on dorsal region of prodorsum.

Prodorsum: Two parallel lateral carinae present on each side, upper carina stronger than lower one; bothridial scale situated below bothridium, posterior median apodeme present; sensilli long and setiform, sparsely barbed in distal half; interlamellar, lamellar and rostral setae robust, covered with small spines in distal half; interlamellar setae erect, lamellar setae semi-erect, rostral setae short, spiniform and curved; exobothridial setae short and fine; comparative length: in>ss> le> ro>ex.

Notogaster: 14 pairs of notogastral setae, bacilliform, relatively short, similar in shape to interlamellar setae, covered with small spines in distal half; setae c1-3 remote from anterior border, setae c1 slightly more so than setae c2 and c3; vestigial setae f1 located below setae h1; openings of opisthosomal glands and five pairs of lyrifissures present.

Venter: Genital plates with eight or nine pairs of short setae, nearly equal in length, g1-3 fine, located in progenital position, other setae thick; two pairs of aggenital setae present, ag1 short, ag2 thick and about three times as long as ag1; three pairs of anal and three pairs of adanal setae present, setae an1 and an2 smooth and flagellate at distal end, setae an3 and adanal setae shorter, robust and covered with small spines in distal half; lyrifissures iad situated between setae an3 and ad3.

Gnathosoma: Setae h of mentum longer than distance between them; palps three-segmented with setal formula: 2-2-8(1).

Legs: Chaetotaxy of legs (without tarsi): I: 1-3-5(2)-5(1); II: 1-4-3(1)-4(1), III: 2-2-2(1)-2(1), IV: 2-1-1(1)- 2(1); all legs heterotridactylous.

Distribution. China (Sichuan, Tibet).

Remarks. This new species is similar to E. cribarius ( Berlese, 1904) , but differs from the latter by following characters: In E. aequalis , surface of body covered with distinct foveolae, especially dense on dorsal region of prodorsum; rostral setae short and robust, barbed but not flagellate in distal half; ag2 about three times as long as ag1. In E. cribarius , surface of body punctuate; rostral setae thin and relatively long, rough and flagellate at distal end; ag2 more than four times as long as ag1.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Euphthiracarus aequalis sp. nov.: 1, lateral view of body (legs removed); 2, prodorsum, dorsal view; 3, right side of ventral plate. Scale bars = 100 μm.