Hoplophthiracarus reticulatus, Niedbała, Wojciech & Starý, Josef, 2014

Niedbała, Wojciech & Starý, Josef, 2014, New and little known species of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) from Cameroon, Zootaxa 3889 (1), pp. 31-57 : 42

Hoplophthiracarus reticulatus sp. nov.

( Fig. 5A–H )

Measurements of holotype. Prodorsum: length 364, width 263, height 126; prodorsal setae: sensillus 51, interlamellar (in) 83, lamellar (le) 33, rostral (ro) 56; notogaster: length 778, width 525, height 485; notogastral setae: c 1 202, c 3 99, h 1 253, ps1 243, ps 4 83; genitoaggenital plate 217×116; anoadanal plate 247×121.

Measurements of paratype I. Prodorsum: length 384, width 286, height 146; notogaster: length 808, width 576, height 535.

Description. Relatively big species. Colour brown yellow. Integument sculptured, surface of notogaster covered with distinct reticulation, surface of prodorsum covered with weak foveoles.

Prodorsum with distinct sigillar fields, median of medium size, laterals very short. Posterior furrows distinctly expressed. Lateral carinae reach the sinus. Sensilli very short, with narrow pedicel and rounded, smooth head. Prodorsal setae (except vestigial exobothridial) spiniform, rough, interlamellar the longest, semi-erect.

Notogaster with three types of shape and length of notogastral setae; all notogastral setae covered with small spines in distal half, setae c 3 narrow, short, attenuate, setae ps 3 and ps 4 small, narrow, rigid; other notogastral setae robust, thick, long, dorsal setae longest (c1 / c1-d1 =1.1) setae c 1 and c 3 slightly remote from anterior margin, setae c 2 more remote. Vestigial setae f1 not visible. Two pairs of lyrifissures, ia and im, present.

Ventral region. Setae h of mentum shorter (0.74) than distance between them. Genitoaggenital plates with 9 pairs of setae with formula: 6(4+2): 3. Anoadanal plates each with 5 well-developed setae, adanal setae ad 2 the longest and thickest situated near paraxial border between the level of anal setae, adanal setae ad 1 longer and thicked than anal setae, adanal setae ad 3 the smallest also situated rather near paraxial border.

Legs. Formulae of leg setae and solenidia of complete type. Setae d on femora I distinctly remote from distal end of article.

Material examined. Holotype and 60 paratypes are deposited at DATE from the locus typicus: North–West Province, Mt. Oku, about 12 km W of Kumbo, 4–5. V. 2006, latitude 06°13'17.64" N, longitude 10°30'13.26" E, altitude 2800 m, montane foggy forest, litter and soil sifting sample, leg V. Grebennikov, 15 paratypes are deposited at ISB and five paratypes are deposited at NHMG all from the same locality.

Etymology. The specific epithet reticulatus alludes to the reticulation of surface of notogaster.

Comparison. The new species is easily distinguishable from congeners by distinct reticulation of surface of notogaster, heterotrichy of notogastral setae and shape of sensilli. Slightly similar Afrotropical species Plonaphacarus rybalovi Niedbała, 2011 has monotypic notogastral setae, long and erect interlamellar setae and different shape, length and position of setae of anoadanal plates.

Figures

FIGURE 5 A – H. Hoplophthiracarus reticulatus sp. nov. (holotype). A, prodorsum, dorsal view; B, prodorsum, lateral view; C, opisthosoma, lateral view; D, mentum of subcapitulum; E, left genitoaggenital plate; F, left anoadanal plate; G, trochanter and femur of leg I; H, tibia IV.