Recifella (Eorecifella) cusucoensis, 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 : 261

Recifella (Eorecifella) cusucoensis n. sp.

( Figure 6 )

Female. Dorsum typical of Recifella , length 423, width 411. D1–D3 located on the dorsal shield, length 378, width 361. Postocularia R1 and D4 free in dorsal furrow and all other glandularia incorporated into the ventral shield. Ventral shield typical. E2 located at posterolateral margin of EpII, V3 and E4 lie behind EpIV, V1 have no glands and V2 are located posterior to the genital acetabula. Internal apodemes of Ep1/EpII reach behind the EpIII/EpIV suture line. Suture lines between epimera indistinct. Acetabula distributed in a long band behind EpIV. Pedipalp P5 with a large dorso-distal claw; length P1–P5 16, 59, 32, 62, 29. Legs with large rillborsten setae on I-Leg and II-Legs; swimming setae on III- Leg-4 3, III-Leg-5 2, IV-Leg-3 1+1, IV-Leg-4 2+2, IV-Leg-5 2+(1 small?).

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 34♀.

Etymology. Cusucoensis refers to the holotype locality in the Cusuco National Park, Honduras.

Discussion. The proportions of the pedipalp with a large terminal claw are, in contrast to other neotropical species, typical of New Guinea Recifella species. Females do not show subgeneric characters but Cook (1980) considers females without pronounced tubercles on P4 to belong to the subgenus Eorecifella Cook, 1980 , a subgenus characterized by a lack of pronounced sexual dimorphism. R. cusucoensis has the longest internal apodemes of EpI so far described for the genus as they reach to EpIV. Pedipalp shape and narrow genital field are diagnostic of this species.

Figures

Figure 6. Recifella cusucoensis n. sp. ♀. (a) Venter; (b) dorsal shield; (c) pedipalp; (d) I-Leg-2–6; (e) IV-Leg-1–6. Scale bar: 89 Mm (a, b); 30 Mm (c); 75 Mm (d, e).