Austrophthiracarus tawhai, Liu & Zhang, 2013

Austrophthiracarus tawhai sp. nov.

( Figs.10–19 View FIGURES 10–19 )

Material examined: Holotype: adult ( NZAC, in alcohol, 72/105), New Zealand: Catlins S. F. Otago, from litter, 20 Jan., 1972, leg. J. S. Dugdale 2 . Paratypes: five adults ( NZAC, in alcohol, 72/105), same data as holotype ; one adult ( NIGA, in alcohol, 72/105), same data as holotype .

Etymology. The new name (noun in apposition) is from Māori Tāwhai (silver beech, Nothofagus menziesii ) endemic to New Zealand. This new species was collected from the litter in a silver beech forest.

Description. Measurements: Holotype: Prodorsum: length 495, width 385, height 210, setae: ss 40, ro 20, le 40, in 20, ex 15; notogaster: length 1090, width 810, height 830; setae: c 1 310, d 1 305, e 1 310, h 1 308, ps 1 320; ventral region: ad 1 255, ad 2 250, ad 3 25, ad 3 ’ 15, an 1 170, an 2 170; genitoaggenital plate 200×280, anoadanal plate 225×450. Paratypes: Prodorsum: length 405̅500, width 330̅365, height 140̅150; notogaster: length 955̅1060, width 660̅710, height 590̅700.

Integument. Colour brown. Surface of body finely punctate.

Prodorsum ( Figs. 10 View FIGURES 10–19 ̅12). Median carina and lateral carinae absent; sigillar fields distinct, dorsal region narrow, longer than lateral regions; posterior furrows absent; sensilli ( ss) short and smooth, with slightly broad head; other prodorsal setae ( in, le, ro, ex) short and thin; comparative length: ss = le > ro=in>ex; mutual distance of setae: in ̅ in > ro ̅ ro.

Notogaster ( Fig. 10 View FIGURES 10–19 ). 15 pairs of setae present, moderately long ( c 1 / c 1 – d 1 =0.98), robust, covered with small spines in distal half, setae ps 1 longest, setae d 2 shortest; setae c 1–3 slightly far away from anterior border, setae c 3 more so than c 1 and c 2; vestigial setae f 1 posterior to setae h 1; two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present.

Gnathosoma ( Figs. 15–17 View FIGURES 10–19 ). Subcapitulum normal ( Fig. 15 View FIGURES 10–19 ); setae h, m, and a simple and smooth; setae h shorter than distance between them; adoral seta or 1 apparently flat with barbs; or 2–3 simple and smooth; palp ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 10–19 ) four segmented, femur and genu fused; palpal setation: 0-2-2-7(1); supracoxal seta simple and smooth; chelicera ( Fig. 17 View FIGURES 10–19 ) with two smooth setae ( cha, chb).

Ano-genital region ( Figs. 10, 13–14 View FIGURES 10–19 ). Nine pairs of genital setae ( g) present, arranged in two rows with formula: 9(4+4): 1, their distribution as depicted in Fig. 13 View FIGURES 10–19 ; one pair of aggenital setae ( ag) present; anoadanal plates each with six setae, setae ad 1 and ad 2 rough, longer and thicker than other setae and anal setae ( an), setae ad 3 and ad 3 ’ smooth and minute, similar in length to genital setae.

Legs ( Figs. 18–19 View FIGURES 10–19 ). Setal counts for leg segments (excluding tarsi): I: 1-4-2(2)-5(1); II: 1-3-2(1)-3(1), III: 2-2- 1(1)-2(1), IV: 2-1-1-2(1); setae d on femora I inserted at level of setae v’’; setae a’’ on tarsi I and setae ft’’ on tarsi II curved distally; setae a’’ on tarsi II curved distally; setae s and pv’ on tarsi IV present; setae s on tarsi I and II absent; setae d on tibiae IV short, coupled with solenidions; all legs monodactylous.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Remark. This new species is similar to Austrophthiracarus aureus Niedbała, 2000 in the presence of short and thin prodorsal setae ( in, le, ro, ex), four pairs of adanal setae present, setae ad 3 and ad 3 ’ smooth and minute, setae v’ on femora I present, but can be easily distinguished from the latter species by the following twelve characters (a versus b): in A. tawhai sp. nov., (1a) surface of body finely punctuate, never foveolate; (2a) head sensilli smooth and narrow; (3a) ss = le > ro=in>ex; (4a) 15 pairs of setae present, with same shape, c 1 / c 1 – d 1 <1; (5a) setae c 3 more far away from anterior border than c 1 and c 2; (6a) only two pairs of lyrifissures present; (7a) vestigial setae f 1 posterior to setae h 1; (8a) setae h of mentum shorter than distance between them; (9a) genital setae arranged with formula: 9(4+4): 1; (10a) setae ad 3 ’ more close to paraxial margin, all adanal setae in same longitudinal level; (11a) setae d on femora I inserted at level of setae v’, more close to distal end of article; (12a) setae ft’’ on tarsi II curved distally; in A. aureus , (1b) margins of body weakly foveolate; (2b) head sensilli weakly spinose, broader and rounded distally; (3b) in = le > ss=ex>ro; (4b) 18 pairs of setae present, with unequal size, c 1 / c 1 – d 1 =1.1; (5b) setae c 2 more far away from anterior border than c 1 and c 3; (6b) three pairs of lyrifissures present; (7b) vestigial setae f 1 dorsally of setae h 1; (8b) setae h of mentum longer than distance between them; (9b) genital setae arranged with formula: 9(4+5): 0; (10b) setae ad 3 ’ more far away from paraxial margin, adanal setae not in same longitudinal level; (11b) setae d on femora I inserted at level of setae v”, far away from distal end of article; (12b) setae ft’’ on tarsi II straight distally.