Alpizetes behanae, Mahunka, S., 2001

Mahunka, S., 2001, Oribatids from Switzerland VII (Acari: Oribatida: Mycobatidae 1) (Acarologica Genavensia XCIX), Archives des Sciences, Geneve 54, pp. 61-67 : 63-66

Alpizetes behanae sp. n.

(Figs 1-8)

Material examined: Holotype: Valais: Torrenthorn, s/Leukerbad, 2575- 2750 m .; 6.VIII. 1968; leg. C. Besuchet. 26 paratypes from the same sample. (VS-30) . Holotype and 16 paratypes deposited in the Muséum d'Histoire naturelle, Geneva; 10 paratypes (1649-PO-00) (with identification numbers of the specimens in the Collection of Arachnida) deposited in the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest.

Measurements: Length of body: 262-278 µm, width of body: 163-179 µm.

Prodorsum: Rostrum tripartite, divided by two deep, narrow incisions. Lamellae well developed, originating far from each other, placed conspicuously laterally. Lamellar cusps short, truncate, bearing long, ciliated lamellar setae, which reach to the rostral apex. Translamella absent (Fig. 3). Bothridia simple cup-shaped. Sensillus large, wide, reaching over the lamellar cusp. Its surface covered by small acicula, at the distal end slightly split, or undulate. On the basal part of the prodorsum a pair of well sclerotised tubercles continuing in a narrowing crest along the bothridium, connected by a transversal bridge (Fig. 5). Interlamellar seta arising on them, it is comparatively long,

but not reaching over the level of lamellar cusp, hardly ciliate. A pair of enantiophyses behind or between them also observable.

Lateral part of podosoma (Fig. 6): Tutorium lamelliform, with short, sharp cusp, behind it 1 -2 lateral teeth present. Rostral seta arising separately, before it, on a short tubercle. Genal tooth strongly narrowing anteriorly, sharply pointed, reaching over the insertion point of rostral seta. Pedotectum I very large, covering acetabula I, convex anteriorly and deeply concave basally. Porose area in the humeral region indistinct, of indefinite shape. Exostigmatal seta minute, arising at the basis of pedotectum I. Pedotectum II small, custodium very large, reaching anteriorly to level of pedotectum II. Discidium also large, circumpedal carina long, reaching to the lateral margin of ventral plate.

Notogaster: Anterior tectum of notogaster slightly convex medially, completely covering the bothridia and the interbothridial region. Pteromorpha without desclerotization line. Ten pairs of comparatively short, fine, and smooth, but conspicous notogastral setae; four pairs of porose areas in the normal position, and an unpaired median one posteriorly, anterior of setae h1 (Fig. 4) (sexual dimorphism absent). Posterior notogastral tectum divided by lobes, this feature sometimes indistinct.

Ventral region (Fig. 2): Subcapitulum normal, without mental tectum, Epimeral surface smooth, and only some sigilla visible. Epimeral setae short, finely ciliate or roughened. Epimeral setal formula: 3-1-2-1 (I was not able to find setae 3c and 4c). Anogenital setae very short, simple, anogenital setal formula: 6-1-2-2, setae ad3 absent. Lyrifissures iad in paraanal position.

Legs: All legs monodactylous. Femora of legs with crests ventrally, which are narrow on legs I-III and broad on femora IV. Most of these segments are rugose. Tibia of leg II (Fig. 8) with a large spur in the anterodorsal position. Tibia of leg I without apophysis, solenidion phi1 arising on the surface of the segment, behind phi2. Solenidion phi1 of leg I (Fig. 7) exceptionally long, flagellate. Setae (it) apparently absent on tarsus I and II. Leg setal formulae:

I: 1 - 5 - 3+1 - 4+2 - 16+2 - 1 (Fig. 7)

II: 1 - 4 - 2+1 - 4+1 - 14+2 - 1 (Fig. 8)

IV: 1 - 2 - 2 - 3+1 - 12 - 1.

Remarks: See the remarks after the generic description.

Derivatio nominis: I dedicate the new species to Dr. Valerie Behan-Pelletier(Canada), the renowned oribatidologist, and a world authority in ceratozetoid oribatids.