Ecuazercon, Klompen & Gerdeman, 2023

Klompen, Hans & Gerdeman, Beverly S., 2023, Genus-level revision of the Heterozerconoidea (Parasitiformes: Mesostigmata), Zootaxa 5322 (1), pp. 1-66 : 23

Ecuazercon new genus

Diagnosis. Distance between setae hyp3 and sc distinctly smaller than that between hyp3 and hyp2 (21); sclerotized areas near insertion sternal setae st 1 in male fused to sternitiventral shield (48); sternal lyrifissures iv 3 in male present (54); male genital shields overlaying tritosternum (56); some marginal opisthosomal setae in male peg-like spines (77, 78, shared with Amheterozercon ); tibiae II–IV with seta pl2 present (97); setae pl1 on tarsi II spine-like (111, shared with Amheterozercon , Heterozercon , Maracazercon ); all remaining setae on legs II of male setiform.

Type species: Ecuazercon cushuimensis n. sp.

Etymology. The generic name is a combination of Ecuador, the source of the specimens described, and “zercon”, a common ending for generic names in Heterozerconidae .

Remarks. The main difference between this genus and Amyzozercon is the presence of well-developed ventral suckers. In many other characteristics, e.g., the shape of the female chelicera and elongate dorsal setae, it closely resembles that genus.

An examination of multiple females using light microscopy did not reveal any indication of secondary genital openings (solenostomes).