Holostaspis ambigua, Babaeian, Masan and Halliday, 2019

JoharchiK, Omid, DökerK, Ismail & KhaustovK, Vladimir A., 2023, Review of the genus Holostaspis Kolenati (Acari: Laelapidae) in Russia, with description of two new species, Acarologia 63 (1), pp. 275-291 : 278

Remarks — Holostaspis ambigua was recently described from Slovakia where it was found in anthill of Lasius flavus (Fabricius) ( Hymenoptera : Formicidae ) ( Babaeian et al.

2019). It is now recorded in Russia for the first time, in the nest of Formica polyctena Förster ( Hymenoptera : Formicidae ). Our specimens agree very well with the description given by Babaeian et al. 2019. The species may be recognized primarily by the dorsal shield inversely ovoid, regularly tapering from level of r5, bearing 39 pairs of setae, including one unpaired accessory setae between J2–J4 ( Figure 1A), dorsal setae mostly short (smooth) and similar in length ( Figure 1A), barely reaching more than half the distance of following setae ( Figure 1A), setae Z5 and S5 longest, about twice as long as most of other dorsal setae; sternal shield as long as wide, mostly smooth ( Figure 1B), anal shield subtriangular, with anterior margin straight and anterolateral angles widely rounded ( Figure 1B) and post-anal seta slightly thicker and longer than para-anals ( Figure 1B). Peritremes relatively long, anteriorly reaching level of s1 (Figure

1B). Corniculi short and narrow, with a protuberance on lateral margin ( Figure 1C); fixed digit of chelicera with a small rounded subdistal bulge, movable digit edentate ( Figure 1D).