Euphthiracarus oblongus, Liu, Dong, Wu, Donghui & Chen, Jun, 2012

Liu, Dong, Wu, Donghui & Chen, Jun, 2012, Six new species of the genus Euphthiracarus (Acari: Oribatida: Euphthiracaridae) from China, Zootaxa 3481, pp. 47-59 : 51-54

Euphthiracarus oblongus sp. nov.

( Figs. 11–15 )

Material examined: Holotype: adult (in alcohol, W-89-125), China: Hubei Province, Badong County (30°42'18.35"N, 110°17'52.28"E), Tiechanghuang Forestry Centre, from litter under broadleaf forest, 1500 m a.s.l., 12 Aug., 1989, leg. Yun-Qi Cui.

Etymology. The new specific name “ oblongus ” is from Latin and refers to the oblong head of sensilla.

Measurements: Holotype: Prodorsum: length 279, width 190, height 105, setae: ss 94, ro 80, in 150, le 95, ex 15, distance between setae: ro–ro 55, in–in 93, le–le 45, in–le 77, le–ro 70; notogaster: length 512, width 335, height 325; setae: c1 103, c2 100, c3 95, c p 100, d1 76, d2 70, e1 110, e2 70, h1 116, h2 75, h3 72, ps1 110, ps2 70, ps3 65; distance between setae: c1–d1 150, d1–e1 130, e1–h1 90, h1–ps1 77; ventral region: genitoaggenital plate 180×80, anoadanal plate 265×65.

Colour yellowish. Surface of body punctuate.

Prodorsum with two parallel lateral carinae on each side, upper carina longer and stronger than lower one; sensilla with long and narrow pedicel and oblong and smooth head; interlamellar and lamellar setae erect, covered with small and sparse spines in distal half; rostral setae thin, smooth and long, flagellate and directed inwards distally; comparative length: in>le> ss> ro>ex.

Notogaster with 14 pair of setae, relatively short, similar in shape to interlamellar setae, sparsely barbed in distal half; setae c1–3 remote from anterior border, setae c1 slightly more so than setae c2 and c3; vestigial setae f1 located anteriorly of setae h1; arrangement of opisthosomal glands and lyrifissures typical for genus.

Genital plates each with nine setae, g1–3 short and fine, located in progenital position, posterior six genital setae longer and thicker; two pairs of aggenital setae present, spiniform, nearly equally thick, setae ag2 slightly longer than ag1; setae an1 and an2 smooth and flagellate at distal end, setae an3 and adanal setae shorter, robust and covered with small and sparse spines in distal half; lyrifissures iad situated between setae an3 and ad3.

Setae h of mentum longer than distance between them; palps three-segmented with setal formula: 2-2-8(1); chaetotaxy of legs (without tarsi): I: 1-3-4(2)-5(1); II: 1-4-3(1)-5(1), III: 2-2-2(1)-2(1), IV: 2-1-1(1)-2(1); all legs heterotridactylous.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Remark. This new species is similar to E. klabati Niedbała, 2000 , but can be easily distinguished from the latter species by following characters: surface of body punctuate; two pairs of lateral carinae present; posterior six genital setae nearly equally long, g9 not obviously longer than other genital setae; all legs heterotridactylous.

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 15. Euphthiracarus oblongus sp. nov.: 11, lateral view of body (legs removed); 12, prodorsum, dorsal view; 13, sensillum; 14, right side of ventral plates; 15, mentum of subcapitulum. Scale bars: 11 – 12, 14 = 100 μm; 13, 15 = 50 μm.