Zercon

Moraza, María Lourdes, Arroyo, Julio & Bolger, Thomas, 2009, Three new species of mites (Acari: Zerconidae) from canopy habitats in Irish forests, Zootaxa 2019, pp. 29-39 : 36

Key to the species of Zercon recorded in Britain and Ireland, based on adult females.

1. Pore Po3 situated on position gdJ, between setal rows Z and J................................................................................... 2

- Pore Po3 situated on position gdZ, on the line between Z3 and Z4 or between this line and setal row S................. 11

2. Setae J1-J5 short, never reaching the bases of the following setae, similar in length and form ................................. 3

- Setae J1-J5 not similar in length and shape.................................................................................................................. 9

3. Longer dorsal setae conspicuously bipectinate............................................................................................................. 4

- Longer dorsal setae smooth or with 1–2 barbs ............................................................................................................. 5

4. Longer opisthonotal setae Z4, Z5 and S5; setae Z3 and S3 acicular, smooth; central region of opisthonotal shield with small tubercles, anterolateral regions imbricate. Idiosoma: 490 long, 380 wide ...................... Z . spatulatus C.L. Koch

- Longer opisthonotal setae Z3-Z5, S4-S5, with hyaline sheaths distally, S3 barbed; anterior half of opisthonotal shield imbricate, posterior half with sparsely pits. Idiosoma: 480 long, 345 wide ..... Z . hemimbricatus Skorupski & Luxton

5. Setae J and R with a blunt tip, smooth or with 1 barb; setae Z3-Z5, S3-S thickened, club-like, smooth or with 1 barb; Z3 sligthly longer than Z2; posterior glands conspicuously large. Idiosoma: 553 long, 377 wide................................. ................................................................................................................. Z . curryi Moraza, Arroyo & Bolger sp. nov.

- Setae J and R with acute tips ........................................................................................................................................ 6

6. Longer opisthonotal setae Z3-Z5, S3-S5, simple smooth ............................................................................................ 7

- Longer opisthonotal setae Z3-Z5, S3-S5, paddle- like with 1 or 2 barbs and hyaline sheaths distally; Z3 <Z4 <Z5; S3 <S4 <S5; setae J, Z1, Z2, S1, S2 and R thin and with 1 barb; posterior region of opisthonotal shield with pits. Idio- soma: 570 long, 404 wide ....................................................................................................... Z . darai Moraza sp. nov.

7. Longer opisthonotal setae Z3-Z5, S4-S5, smooth, apically flattened and rounded; Z3 <Z4 = Z5; S3<S4<S5; setae J, Z1, Z2, S2, S3 and R thin and smooth. Idiosoma: 520 long, 400 wide ............................................ Z . berlesei Sellnick

- Longer opisthonotal setae smooth, apically thin ......................................................................................................... 8

8. Longest opisthonotal setae are Z4, Z5 and S5; dorsal ornamentation weakly expressed. Idiosoma: 420 long, 290 wide ...................................................................................................................................................... Z . blesti Evans, 1954

- Longest opisthonotal setae are Z3-Z5 smooth and thin as S5; Z3<Z4<Z5; S4 = ½ S5 = Z3; Po3 on the line connecting J5 and Z4. Idiosoma: 410 long, 310 wide ............................................................................... Z . abaculus (C.L. Koch)

9. Setae J3 shorter than J4 and J5 (J3 <½ J4) and longer than J1 and J2; longest setae J4, J5, Z4, Z5 and S5 thickened distally, pubescent. Idiosoma: 460 long, 360 wide ..................................................................... Z. peltatus C.L. Koch