Frontipoda (Flabellifrontipoda) triscutata, Wiles, 2005

Wiles, P. R., 2005, First collections of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) from Honduras: descriptions of six new species, Journal of Natural History 39 (3), pp. 253-263 : 256-257

Frontipoda (Flabellifrontipoda) triscutata n. sp.

( Figure 2 )

Male. Colour blue black, body laterally compressed, length 624, width 282, height 418. Dorsal furrow with three sets of three platelets, medial platelet 2 located between anterior lateral platelets; posterior medial platelet long, located between lateral platelets 2 and 3. R2 (postocularia) located on anteromedial platelet, L 1 in dorsal furrow integument with lyrifissures g2–5, all other glandularia on lightly sculptured ventral shield. Excretory pore on plate behind genital field. Ventral shield encloses genital acetabula, length genital plate 129. Median suture line complete between infracapitular bay and genital field, length Ib–Gp 239. Pedipalp typical, length P1–5 31, 40, 29, 48, 14. Legs with six to nine swimming setae on II- III-IV-Leg-5, IV-Leg-6 terminating in a long distal seta.than length of tarsus, length I-Leg-3–6 37, 46, 66, 73; II-Leg-3–6 50, 73, 89, 96; III-Leg-3–6 63, 90, 119, 122; IV-Leg-3–6 66, 86, 102, 83.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: ♀. Honduras: (Site 2) R. El Carago, small stream, near Cusuco National Park entrance, Merendon mountains, altitude 640 m, 6 April 2003. Slide: H 16♀.

Etymology. Name refers to the three rows of three platelets in the dorsal furrow.

Discussion. This species has a unique distribution of three sets of three well-developed platelets in the dorsal furrow.

Figures

Figure 2. Frontipoda(Flabellifrontipoda) triscutata n. sp. „. (a) Dorsum; (b) lateral view; (c) IV-Leg-4–6; (d) pedipalp; (e) excretory pore plate—genital field ventral; (f) venter. Scale bar: 96 Mm (a, b, e, f); 58 Mm (c); 41 Mm (d).