Euphthiracarus truncatus, Liu, Dong, Wu, Donghui & Chen, Jun, 2012

Liu, Dong, Wu, Donghui & Chen, Jun, 2012, Six new species of the genus Euphthiracarus (Acari: Oribatida: Euphthiracaridae) from China, Zootaxa 3481, pp. 47-59 : 56-58

Euphthiracarus truncatus sp. nov.

( Figs. 20–24 )

Material examined: Holotype: adult (in alcohol, W-97-5), China: Guangdong Province, Zhaoqing City, Dinghushan National Nature Reserve (23° 9'35.51"N, 112°33'15.05"E), from litter under shrub and ruderal, 20 Oct., 1997, leg. Hui-Fu Wang. Paratypes: ten adults (in alcohol, W-97-5), same data as holotype.

Etymology. The new specific name “ truncatus ” is Latin for “truncate” and refers to the truncate head of sensilla.

Measurements: Holotype: Prodorsum: length 275, width 190, height 100, setae: ss 102, ro 60, in 126, le 75, ex 15, distance between setae: ro–ro 35, in–in 83, le–le 41, in–le 90, le–ro 75; notogaster: length 521, width 365, height 360; setae: c1 95, c2 87, c3 60, c p 80, d1 82, d2 75, e1 95, e2 75, h1 100, h2 90, h3 70, ps1 95, ps2 75, ps3 70; distance between setae: c1–d1 145, d1–e1 125, e1–h1 105, h1–ps1 85; ventral region: genitoaggenital plate 185×95, anoadanal plate 265×75. Paratypes: Prodorsum: length 240–320, width 175–222, height 90–120; notogaster: length 440–649, width 290–435, height 280–400.

Colour tan to brown. Surface of body covered with dense and great foveolae, except region under lateral carinae smooth.

Rostrum of prodorsum distinctly protruded; two pairs of lateral carinae present, upper carina longer and stronger than lower one; sensilla with long and narrow pedicel and dilated head, truncate distally and covered with long and robust spines; interlamellar setae long, robust, erect, covered with small and sparse spines in distal half; lamellar setae similar in shape to interlamellar setae, sparsely barbed in distal half; rostral setae smooth and semierect, flagellate and directed outwards distally; exobothridial setae short and fine; comparative length: in>ss> le> ro>ex.

Notogaster setae similar in shape to lamellar setae, sparsely barbed in distal half; setae c1–3 remote from anterior border, setae c1 slightly more so than setae c2 and c3; vestigial setae f1 located anteriorly of setae h1; arrangement of opisthosomal glands and lyrifissures typical for genus.

Genital plates each with seven equally long setae, g1–2 short and fine, located in progenital position, other setae thick; two pairs of aggenital setae present, ag1 minute, ag2 slightly thick, about five times as long as ag1; setae an1 and an2 smooth and flagellate at distal end, setae an3 and adanal setae shorter, robust and covered with small and sparse spines in distal half; lyrifissures iad situated between setae an3 and ad3.

Setae h of mentum longer than distance between them; palps three-segmented with setal formula: 2-2-8(1); chaetotaxy of legs (without tarsi): I: 1-2-3(2)-4(1); II: 1-2-3(1)-4(1), III: 2-2-2(1)-2(1), IV: 2-1-1(1)-2(1); all legs heterotridactylous.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Remark. This new species is similar to E. cribrarius and E. paravesciculus Niedbała, 2004 , but differs from them by following combined characters: rostrum of prodorsum distinctly protruded; sensilla with dilated head, truncate distally and covered with long spines; rostral setae smooth and semi-erect, flagellate and directed outwards distally; ag2 much longer than ag1.

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 24. Euphthiracarus truncatus sp. nov.: 20, lateral view of body (legs removed); 21, prodorsum, dorsal view; 22, sensillum; 23, left side of ventral plates; 24, mentum of subcapitulum. Scale bars: 20 – 21, 23 = 100 μm; 22, 24 = 50 μm.