Glabromichaelia vazquezrojasi, Uusitalo, 2025

Glabromichaelia vazquezrojasi sp. nov.

( Figs. 17A–D, 18A–D, 19A–F, 20A–F, 21A–H, 22A–D)

Bimichaelia campylognatha View in CoL .— Vázquez Rojas 2002: 19, in part (2 specimens).

Description. Dorsum (n= 1 female, Figs. 17A, B, 19D, E). Length 1000 µm; intense neotrichy, ciliated setae with 15–16 µm long shafts and with mutual distance 17–20 µm from each other covering whole dorsum without clear signs of segments; integument with parallel ridges on dorsal, lateral and ventral sides and legs; naso rounded, slightly smaller basally, reticulate pattern beneath integument on crista and prodorsal sensillar area; prodorsum neotrichous, cilia of filamentous sensilla ve increasing in size towards distal end; setae from in -area penetrate far anterior.

Venter ( Figs. 17C, D, 18A, B, 19A–C). Setae between coxal areas (cxII-cxIII) shorter than elsewhere; genital valves each with 11–13 genital setae per valve; 10 anal setae per valve.

Gnathosoma ( Figs.17C, 21A–C).Subcapitulum neotrichous;chelicerae straight, thin integument for invagination with lamellae, lower digits with teeth; medially constricted palpal solenidion in contact with eupathidia.

Legs ( Figs. 17C, D, 18C, D, 19A, 19F, 20F, 21F). Solenidial formula for tarsi, tibiae, genua and femora on legs I, II, III and IV, respectively: 2B-2B-0-0, 1B-1B-1B-1B, 5C-1B2C-1C-1C, 1C-1B-0-0, pestle-like famulus I placed abaxially near distal end of tarsus I; elastic skin of joints with rows of tiny lamellae (white arrows), enabling movements; claws with 90º angle midway between basis and distal tip; empodia clawless.

Protonymph (n=1, Figs. 20–22). Dorsum ( Fig. 20A–D). Length 350 µm; slightly thinner neotrichy but setae similar in size with adult; a few additional setae on prodorsum.

Venter ( Figs. 20E, 21G, H). Setae shorter than on adult; one pair of genital setae; 2–3 anal setae per anal valve.

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 21A–C). Chelicerae straight, ca. 6 teeth in movable digits each, elastic skin enabling invagination of chelicerae with rows of tiny lamellae; palpal solenidion medially constricted, in contact with two eupathidia.

Legs ( Figs. 20C, 20F, 21D–F, 22A–D). Solenidial formula for tarsi, tibiae, genua and femora on legs I, II, III and IV, respectively: 2B-1B-0-0, 1B-1B-1B-1B, 3C-1B2C-1C-1C, 1C-1B-0-0, pestle-like famulus I placed abaxially near distal end of tarsus I; elastic skin in joints with lamellae; anterior baculiform solenidia on tarsi I (ω1) thin.

Type material. Ca. 150 high-quality photos of 2 specimens (female holotype and protonymph paratype) as Bimichaelia campylognatha from litter, caducifolious rain forest (selva baja), CICOLMA ( Centro de Investigaciones Costeras La Mancha ), 19°30’N 96°37’W, Veracruz, Mexico, 12 June 1992, and 8 December 1992, Ignacio Vázquez Rojas, slides ALY/VER/005 and ALY/VER/025 at UNAM GoogleMaps .

Differential diagnosis. The character states to differentiate the monotypic genus Glabromichaelia are applicable to the species as well.

Remarks. Few solenidia are added in the process of development from the protonymph to the adult form: one baculifom solenidion to tarsi II and 2 ceratiform solenidia to genua I. Structures like the sensilla, chelicerae, palps and segments of legs were more easily observable in the protonymph and accordingly used in the description and depicted as photos to maximize the correctness of observations of this unique species.

Etymology. The species name (a patronymic genitive) is given in honour of Ignacio Mauro Vázquez Rojas, Professor of Zoology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and collector and photographer of this new species.

Genus Bimichaelia Thor, 1902

Type species: Michaelia augustana Berlese, 1884 from Mt. St. Augusta , Treviso, Italy; by original designation and monotypy .

Differential diagnosis. The primary pattern of Bimichaelia is of roundish to subpolygonal loops of large lamellae, and granular integument inside the loops ( Figs. 23A, 25A, B, 52B, C). All dorsal setae of Bimichaelia have less than 10, mainly short barbs basally, which can be difficult to discern against the intricate cuticular pattern ( Fig. 52A, B), whereas the setae of Glabromichaelia gen. nov., Minimamichaelia gen. nov., Quartusmichaelia gen. nov., and Laminamichaelia (sensu stricto) Uusitalo, 2010 are easily discernible because of several elongated cilia per seta at least on the shoulders and middorsum ( Figs. 52E, G, I, K, 53A, C, E, G, I, K). Distal famulus I is abaxial to the basis of claws (44C) and difficult to see by light microscopy. Also, the prodorsum has only 6 pairs of setae ( Figs. 23A, 25A, 52B), i.e., there are no accessory setae on the prodorsum, a character state Bimichaelia shares only with the Minimamichaelia ( Figs. 52F) and Quartusmichaelia shibai Uusitalo et al. ( Fig. 35A).