Editella thailandica, Olempska, 1998

Kontschán, Jenő, 2011, Uropodina mites with unusual chelicerae from Thailand (Acari: Mesostigmata), Zootaxa 2984, pp. 54-66 : 55-58

Editella thailandica sp. nov.

( Figs 1–11 )

Material examined. Holotype. Female, Thailand, NE from Bangkok, Khao Yai National Park, at 750–850 m a.s.l., between 26 September and 3 December 1985, D. Burckhardt & I. Löbl coll. Paratypes. Two males; with same data as for holotype.

Description. Female. Length of idiosoma 1400 µm, width 950 µm (n=1). Shape oval, idiosoma dorsally domed and strongly sclerotized.

Dorsal aspect of idiosoma ( Fig. 1 ). Dorsal and marginal shields fused anteriorly, all dorsal setae short (ca. 35– 40 µm), with pilose distal margins. Central region protruding from the surface. Dorsal shield covered by oval pits. Marginal shield with oval pits and bearing pilose setae, margins of idiosoma bearing setae similar in shape and length to dorsal setae.

Ventral aspect of idiosoma ( Fig. 2 ). Surface of sternal shield smooth, with four pairs of pilose sternal setae, St1 (ca. 25–30 µm) placed near anterior margin of sternal shield, St2 (ca. 40 µm) at level of anterior margin of coxae III, St3 (ca. 35–40 µm) at level of posterior margin of coxae III. Seta St4 (ca. 25–30 µm) situated near basal edges of genital shield. Ventral shield covered by oval pits, bearing marginally pilose setae (ca. 35–45 µm), adanal setae similar in shape and length to ventral setae, postanal seta absent ( Fig. 3 ). Pedofossae deep, their surface smooth, without separate furrows for tarsi IV. Genital shield scutiform, anteriorly pointed, its surface with web-like sculptural pattern. Stigmata situated between coxae II and III, peritremes hook-shaped ( Fig. 4 ). Tritosternum with vaselike base, laciniae subdivided into two lateral pilose and two smooth central branches ( Fig. 5 ).

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 7 ). Hypostomal setae h1 smooth and long (ca. 60–62 µm), h2 short (ca. 18–20 µm), smooth, h3 and h4 marginally serrate and short (ca. 16–18 µm). Palp trochanter with one long pilose seta and one short serrate seta. Corniculi short and horn-like, internal malae longer than corniculi, marginally pilose. Epistome with long base and narrow lateral spines, apically pilose. Fixed digit of chelicerae as long as movable digit, bearing several large and small teeth. Internal sclerotised node present ( Fig. 8 ).

Legs. Leg I without ambulacral claws ( Fig. 6 ), each leg with smooth and pilose setae.

Male. Length of idiosoma 1380–1400 µm, width 890–920 µm (n=2). Shape- and dorsal aspect of idiosoma as in female.

Ventral aspect of idiosoma ( Fig. 10 ). Surface of sternal shield covered by oval pits, four pairs of pilose sternal setae (ca. 35–40 µm) present ( Fig. 9 ), St1 placed near anterior margin of sternal shield, St2 on level of posterior margin of coxae II, St3 at level of anterior margin of coxae IV, St4 near level of posterior margin of genital shield. Position and shape of ventral setae and ornamentation of ventral shield as in female. Genital shield circular, without sculptural pattern, situated between coxae IV.

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 11 ). Hypostomal setae h1 smooth, long (ca. 72–75 µm), h2 short (ca. 30–35 µm), h3 long (ca. 45–48 µm), h4 short (ca. 30–35 µm), h2, h3 and h4 marginally serrate. Palp trochanter bearing two setae, one long, pilose, apically subdivided into two branches, the other long and serrate. Corniculi, internal malae epistome and chelicerae same as female.

Etymology. The name of the new species refers to the country where it was collected.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Editella thailandica gen. nov., sp. nov., holotype, female. 1. Body in dorsal view; 2. Body in ventral view; 3. Ventral setae and ornamentation; 4. Peritreme; 5. Tritosternum. (Scale bars: 100 µm.)

FIGURES 6 – 11. Editella thailandica gen. nov., sp. nov. ,, holotype, female (6 – 8), paratype, male (9 – 11). 6. Leg I; 7. Gnathosoma in ventral view and epistome; 8. Chelicera; 9. Sternal setae; 10. Intercoxal region; 11. Gnathosoma in ventral view. (Scale bars: 100 µm.)