Olopachys gronychi, Mašán, Peter, 2007

Mašán, Peter, 2007, Olopachys (Olopachylaella) gronychi subgen. nov., sp. nov., a new species of mite from Bulgaria (Acari: Mesostigmata: Pachylaelapidae), Zootaxa 1509, pp. 31-39 : 37-39

Olopachys gronychi sp. nov.

( Figs 1–9 )

Material examined. Holotype: Ψ, NW Bulgaria, Stara Planina Mts., beech forest (Fagion sylvaticae), Etropole village (42°49'N, 24°02'E), climax growth, 720 m a.s.l., 21 April 2005. Paratypes: 2 ΨΨ, 4 ♂ ɗ, Vitinya village (42°47'N, 23°48'E), growth with admixed Carpinus betulus (2%) and Quercus sp (1%), 970 m a.s.l., 19 April 2005; 1 Ψ, 1 ɗ, Shipkovo village (42°52'N, 24°35'E), 650 m a.s.l., 25 April 2006; 1 Ψ, Balkanets village (42°46'N, 24°38'E), climax growth, 1,250 m a.s.l., 26 April 2006; 1 ɗ, Beklemeto village (42°47'N, 24°37'E), 1,300 m a.s.l., April 26, 2006.

Description. Female

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 1 ). Dorsal shield middle-sized (length: 685–725 µm, width: 370–420 µm), oblong (length/width: 1.72–1.92), well reticulated and bearing 30 pairs of long and needle-like setae. Posterior dorsal setae long (J4: 80–97 µm); clunal setae J5 needle-like (not vestigial), uniform with other dorsal setae, in comparison with other posterior setae shortened and 24–32 µm in length (J4/J5: 2.5–3.8). One hypertrophied and slot-like gland pore gdS4 on posterolateral dorsal margin nearly to seta S4 present; opening of gland gdZ1 not hypertrophied, circular to slot-like and more adjacent to seta Z2.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 2 ). Ventral shields with well developed reticulation. Sternal shield 231–250 µm long (length of sternal shield/length of geniti-ventrianal shield 0.58–0.69). Geniti-ventrianal shield elongated, narrow, tongue-like, conspicuously longer than wide (length 358–394 µm, width 227–250 µm, length/width 1.52–1.69), and with negligible lateral incision close to seta Jv2. Lateral and opisthogastric cuticle with 13 pairs of setae (6 pairs of marginals and 7 pairs of opisthogastric setae present).

Gnathosoma . Cheliceral digits as in Fig. 5 , pilus dentilis relatively massive, curved and directed backward. Epistome with long and narrow subdistal neck ( Fig. 8 ).

Legs. Legs normal for genus, shorter than idiosoma. Tarsus II with 2 spur-like distal setae pl1 and pl2 ( Fig. 9 ).

Spermathecal apparatus. Sperm access system sacculated (spermathecal tubes modified) and relatively poorly sclerotized, saccules lobe-like and associated with anterior inner margin of coxae IV ( Fig. 4 ).

Male

Dorsal idiosoma. Dorsal shield 635–675 µm long, 335–385 µm wide (length/width 1.75–1.92), and with almost identical attributes as in female.

Ventral idiosoma. Venter with holoventral shield.

Gnathosoma . Palptibia with one large petal-like outgrowth associated with seta inserted on small nodule ( Fig. 6 ). Chelicera as in Fig. 3 ; spermatodactyl relatively short, 70–90 µm in length, foliately widened in medial section and approximately 1.4 times longer than movable digit; sperm ductus relatively wide, conspicuously marked and with almost symmetrical position along the spermatodactyl.

Legs ( Fig. 7 ). Terminal part of tarsus II with 2 spur-like distal setae pl1 and pl2. Femur II short, wide and with large apophysal spur; apophysal spur robust, finger-like, laterally flattened, wide and with medial extension in lateral view, and slim and progressively tapered in ventral view. Axillar area with normal axillar seta pv1 and without tubercles. Genu II and tibia II spurred: genual apophyse larger and almost bicuspid on distal margin, tibial apophyse minuscule.

Notes. Olopachys gronychi sp. nov. is most closely related to Olopachys crassipes Koroleva, 1976 , the only other member of the new subgenus Olopachylaella. Among the Olopachys species, the new species found in Bulgaria is unique by the presence of 2 spur-like distal setae pl1 and pl2 on male tarsus II. For more particular differential diagnosis of this species see identification keys.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of family friend Jaromír Gronych on his fiftieth birthday.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Olopachys gronychi sp. nov. Female. 1. Dorsal idiosoma; 2. ventral idiosoma.

FIGURES 3 – 9. Olopachys gronychi sp. nov. 3. Male, chelicera, lateral view; 4. Female, sperm access system; 5. Female, chelicera, lateral view; 6. Male, palptibial outgrowths, palp cross-section; 7. Male, leg II, lateral view, with ventral detail of femoral apophysis; 8. Female, epistome; 9. Female, tarsus II, lateral view.