Kepkatrombicula taurensis, Stekolnikov & Daniel, 2012

Stekolnikov, Alexandr & Daniel, Milan, 2012, 3216, Zootaxa 3216, pp. 1-104 : 33-34

Kepkatrombicula taurensis sp. nov.

( Figs. 21–23)

Diagnosis. SIF = 7BS-N(B)-3-2111.1000; fPp = B/B/NBB; fCx = 1.1.2; fSt = 2.2; fSc: PL> AL> AM; Ip = 989–1058; fD = (2–4)H-[(7–11)-(8–9)]-[(8–14)-(6–10)]-(7–15)-(6–14)-…; DS = 55–82; VS = 43–51; NDV = 99–128. Standard measurements are given in Table 8.

Note: For S n = 2, for V min and V max n = 7, for other variables n = 10.

Description (larva). IDIOSOMA. Eyes 2 + 2. One or two pairs of humeral setae; 53–78 dorsal idiosomal setae densely covered with thick barbs of moderate length, 1 st and 2 nd rows double, fD in holotype 2H-[9-8]-[9-6]-10-14- 7-3; four sternal setae and 43–51 ventral setae; total number of idiosomal setae excluding coxal and sternal 99–128.

GNATHOSOMA. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap and additional dorsal projection; cheliceral base moderately covered with puncta; gnathobase with dense puncta and one pair of branched setae; palpal femur moderately punctate, palpal genu with few puncta; galeala nude or having one branch; palpal claw with three prongs; setae on palpal femur and genu branched; dorsal palpal tibial seta nude, lateral and ventral palpal tibial setae branched; palpal tarsus with seven branched setae, nude subterminala, and tarsala.

SCUTUM. Nearly pentagonal, with broadly rounded posterior margin and dense small puncta; anterolateral shoulders present. AM base at level of ALs; SB at level of PLs or slightly posterior (PSB–P-PL = –4–2, mean –0.6); PL> AL> AM; AL with long barbs, AM and PL with barbs of moderate length; flagelliform sensilla with about 10–12 branches in distal two thirds, length of branches increases distally.

LEGS. All seven-segmented, with pair of claws and claw-like empodium. Leg I: coxa with one non-specialized branched seta (1B); trochanter 1B; basifemur 1B; telofemur 5B; genu 4B, two genualae (18 and 21 long), microgenuala (3); tibia 8B, two tibialae (16–17), microtibiala (2); tarsus 22B, tarsala (20), microtarsala (1) distad tarsala, subterminala (24), parasubterminala (14), pretarsala (13–14). Leg II: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 4B; genu 3B, genuala (14); tibia 6B, two tibialae (12 and 13); tarsus 16B, tarsala (16), microtarsala (1) proximad tarsala, pretarsala (14). Leg III: coxa 2B; trochanter 1B; basifemur 2B; telofemur 3B; genu 3B, genuala (14); tibia 6B, tibiala (13); tarsus 14B, mastitarsala (45–73) nude.

Hosts. Chionomys nivalis (Martins) and Microtus schidlovskii Argyropulo.

Type material. Holotype (7989, T-Tr.-48) and 7 paratypes larvae (ZISP) ex Chionomys nivalis , TURKEY: Antalya Prov., 6 km SWW from Kizlarsivrisi Mt , 2135 m a.s.l., 26 April 2009, coll. AAS.

Additional material. Three larvae (ZISP) ex Microtus schidlovskii , TURKEY: Mersin Prov., 12 km NW from Çamlıyayla (Namrun), 2467 m a.s.l., 11 May 2009, coll. AAS .

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the Taurus Mts where the type locality is situated.

Remarks. Among 11 specimens examined, 1 has fCx = 1.1.2/1.1.3 and fSt = 2.3. Galealae are N/N in 7 specimens (including holotype), B/B in 2 specimens, and N/? in 2 specimens. Among 10 specimens measured and figured, 6 (including holotype) have one pair of humeral setae, and 4 have two pairs.

The new species is similar to K. odessana ( Simonovich, 1958) , but differs in the presence of mastitarsala, branched galeala in some specimens, longer legs (Ip 989–1058 vs. 856–944), and greater values of some other measurements (AW 79–85 vs. 71–78, PL 52–60 vs. 46–54, H 52–67 vs. 49–56). Kepkatrombicula taurensis sp. nov. is also very similar to K. ciliciensis sp. nov., including the variation of the galeala branching, but differs in lesser number of idiosomal setae (NDV 99–128 vs. 151–173), longer legs (Ip 989–1058 vs. 929–976, TaIII 85–92 vs. 77–88), and larger number of branches on sensilla (10–12 vs. 5).