Rogeracarus Stekolnikov, 2025

Genus Rogeracarus Stekolnikov , gen. nov.

Type species: Rogeracarus extraordinarius sp. nov., designated here.

Diagnosis. SIF = 4B-N-3-1000.3100; fPp = B/B/NNB; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fsp = 7.7.7. Eyes 1 + 1; two humeral setae, six setae in first posthumeral rows. Scutum nearly trapezoidal, with small sparse puncta, its anteroir and posterior margins concave; ALs inserted on projected scutal corners; AM posterior to level of ALs; PLs extrascutal; sensillary bases at equal distances from ALs and PLs and much closer to lateral scutal margins than to each other; sensilla clavate, densely covered with setules. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap and dorsal tooth; galeal (deutorostral) setae nude; palpal claw (odontus) three-pronged; palpal tarsus with four unspecialized setae, branched or apparently nude, and tarsala ( ω). Legs seven-segmented (with divided femur), short (Ip = 443–504), onychotriches absent; subterminala ( ζ), parasubterminala ( z), pretarsalae I and II ( ζ) present; one genuala I ( σ); only one tibiala II ( φ); microgenuala I and microtibiala I ( κ) very long, setiform; unspecialized setae (leg I, II, III): coxa 1, 1, 1; trochanter 1, 1, 1; basifemur 1, 2, 2; telofemur 5, 4, 3; genu 4, 3, 3; tibia 8, 6, 6; tarsus 22, 14–15, 13; mastitarsalae and mastitibiala present.

Etymology. The genus is named in honor of Dr. Roger H. Taufflieb (1923–1991), an entomologist who made an indispensable contribution to the African chigger studies.

Remarks. The new genus is unique by the presence of only one tibiala II vs. two in all other genera of chigger mites and microtibiala I longer than tibialae I vs. usually much shorter in other genera. The new genus is most similar to Kayella Vercammen-Grandjean, 1960 by the absence of genualae II and III, but differs in the absence of tibiala III and the presence of mastisetae. It is also similar to Schoutedenichia Jadin and Vercammen-Grandjean, 1954 by the shape of scutum, but differs in the presence of simple anterior rows of dorsal idiosomal setae vs. double, the absence of genuala III, and the presence of mastisetae.