Torrenticola cf. pugionirostris (K. Viets, 1939 )

Pešić, Vladimir & Smit, Harry, 2014, Torrenticolid water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Torrenticolidae) from Malaysian Borneo, Zootaxa 3840 (1), pp. 1-72 : 26-28

Torrenticola cf. pugionirostris (K. Viets, 1939)

( Figs. 18A–D )

Atractides pugionirostris K. Viets 1939: 432 .

New records. Malaysia, Borneo , Mahua stream, Mahua, Crocker Range, 5º47.838 N, 116º24.510 E, alt. 1052 m asl., 21.ix.2012 Smit, 0/0/1 (mounted) .

Morphology

Deutonymph. General features —Idiosoma roundish; frontal platelets fused to each other forming an anterior plate ( Fig. 18A ); gnathosomal bay U-shaped; Cxgl–4 far posterior at margin of Cx-I/II, near insertion of II-L; provisional genital field with four pairs of acetabula ( Fig. 18B ); gnathosomal rostrum long, long, bent dorsally ( Fig. 18D ); cheliceral claw very long, ratio basal segment/claw 1.1; P-2 and P-3 without ventral setae ( Fig. 18C ).

Measurements —Idiosoma L 456, W 375; dorsal shield ( Fig. 18A ) L/W 309/223, ratio 1.39, dorsal plate L 259; shoulder plate L 127, W 50–52, L/W ratio 2.5; anterior plate L 131, W 45, L/W ratio 2.9. Coxal field: L 331, W 326, gnathosomal bay L 97. Provisional genital field L/W 81/98, ratio 0.83; Gnathosoma vL 187; chelicera total L 195, basal segment L 114, claw L 100, L basal segment/claw ratio 1.14; palp total L 232, dL/H, dL/H ratio: P-1, 22/29, 0.75; P-2, 82/35, 2.32; P-3, 37/28, 1.34; P-4, 73/21.5, 3.4; P-5, 18/17, 1.95; P-2/P-4 ratio 1.13.

Remarks. The single deutonymph from this study matches the general morphology of Torrenticola pugionirostris (K. Viets, 1939) , a species known from Java (K. Viets 1939, Lundblad 1971). This species is characterized by Cxgl-4 shifted far posterior at margin of Cx-I/II, near insertion of II-L, and I– and –II-L insertions are anterior to the dorsal shield when viewed from above ( Wiles 1997). The deutonymph has been described by Lundblad (1971) from Java. However, Lundblad mentioned a provisional genital field with six Ac instead of 8 in the specimen from our study. Thus, our assignment of the specimen from Borneo is tentative, and only with more material of adult specimens in the future will it be possible to clarify the status of this species.

Distribution. Java (K. Viets 1939, Lundblad 1971).

Genus Neoatractides Lundblad, 1941

Subgenus Allotorrenticola Cook, 1967

Figures

FIGURE 18A–D. Torrenticola cf. pugionirostris (K. Viets, 1939), deutonymph, Mahua stream: A = dorsal shield; B = coxal and genital field; C = palp, medial view; D = gnathosoma. Scale bars = 100 µm.