Ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) from the Ecuador rainforest

Twelve species of ptyctimous mite have been found in new localities in forest litter, in two National Parks of Ecuador: Bombuscaro and Cajanuma. The ptyctimous mite fauna has been shown to differ totally between the two parks. Two new species are described: Euphthiracarus bombuscaroensis sp. nov. and Austrophthiracarus cajanumaensis sp. nov. Three species are reported from Ecuador for the first time. The specimens of two species: Protophthiracarus quasiminisetosus Niedbała and Illig, 2006 and Notophthiracarus aculeatus Niedbała, 1988 found in Ecuador have some morphological characters different from their analogues in the type specimens.


Introduction
The knowledge of ptyctimous mites of the Neotropical Region has been summarized in the monograph of Niedbała (2004). Recently, eight new species have been described and seven species which are new for continental Ecuador have been published (Niedbała & Illig 2006). The second author collected samples at two new localities in the rainforest. Six species have been found in each of the two samples, and two of the species are new. These two species belong to two different genera relatively abundantly represented in the Neotropical Region. Two specimens of Protophthiracarus quasiminisetosus Niedbała andIllig, 2006 andNotophthiracarus aculeatus Niedbała, 1988 found in the samples from Ecuador show slight morphological differences from the typical specimens and the differences are described.

Material and methods
During his ecological study in Ecuador, the second author collected two samples from two localities in two National Parks, containing representatives of 12 species of ptyctimous mite. The samples were collected at the following localities: Podocarpus National Park, Bombuscaro, 4u06.879S, 78u08.319W, 1040 m, Podocarpus litter fermentation layer, November 2005, leg. J. Illig (no. 11.2005 and Podocarpus National Park, Cajanuma, 4u06.7119S, 79u10.5819W, 3060 m, Podocarpus litter fermentation layer, December 2005, leg. J. Illig (no. 12.2005. Drawings were made of the specimens, which were cleaned in lactic acid and examined under a phase-contrast microscope. Terminology is based on that of Niedbała (2004). Measurements are given in mm. Types are deposited in the Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Poznań .

Forest faunas
In the two samples of forest litter collected in two National Parks of Ecuador-Bombuscaro and Cajanuma-12 species of ptyctimous mite have been identified. Species composition of ptyctimous mites in these two samples is completely different, probably because of the difference in altitude. The following species were collected.
In the sample from Bombuscaro National Park ( Three species have been reported from Ecuador for the first time: Mesoplophora (Mesoplophora) hauseri, Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) cucullatus, and Notophthiracarus pedanos.
Two of the species found are new to science: Euphthiracarus bombuscaroensis sp. nov. and Austrophthiracarus cajanumaensis sp. nov.
The specimens of two species known from Ecuador, Protophthiracarus quasiminisetosus and Notophthiracarus aculeatus, have been found to have some morphological characters different from the analogous ones in the type specimens.
Morphological descriptions of those species, as well as those of the two new species, are given below.

Description of species
Euphthiracarus bombuscaroensis sp. nov.

Description
Colour yellow. Integument densely dotted. Prodorsum with a pair of long lateral carinae. Sensilli long, bacilliform, curved, covered with seven to nine cilia in distal half. Setae long, flagellate distally (especially rostral setae), interlamellar and lamellar setae erect, covered with small spines, rostral setae bent towards the end of rostrum, rough, exobothridial setae the smallest, in.ro.le.ex. Distance between rostral setae shorter than between lamellar and interlamellar setae. Mutual distance between rostral setae slightly longer than between lamellar setae.
Notogaster with rather short setae (c 1 ,c 1 -d 1 ), covered with small spines in distal half, dorsal setae longer than other setae. Setae c 1 and c 2 remote from anterior border more than c 3 setae.
Nine pairs of genital setae present, two pairs in progenital position. Two pairs of aggenital setae present, setae ag 2 longer than ag 1 . Three pairs of anal and three pairs of considerably longer adanal setae present. Anal setae an 1 considerably longer than an 2 and an 3 setae. Adanal setae ad 1 and ad 2 also considerably longer than ad 3 setae.

Etymology
The specific name bombuscaroensis refers to the locality Bombuscaro National Park.

Comparison
The new species is distinguishable by the following character states: presence of two pairs of lateral carinae of prodorsum, long and bacilliform sensilli, flagellate rostral setae, aggenital setae ag 2 longer than ag 1 setae and setae ad 1 , ad 2 , an 1 longer than setae an 2 , ad 3 , an 3 .

Description
Colour brown. Surface of body dotted. Prodorsum without posterior furrows and lateral carinae, sigillar fields well discernible. Sensilli short, with narrow pedicel and club-like head, smooth. Setae short, spiniform. Notogaster with 21 pairs of rather long setae (c 1 .c 1 -d 1 ), flagellate, covered with small cilia at distal half. Setae c 1 and c 3 situated near anterior margin, setae c 2 far from margin. Vestigial setae f 1 posteriorly of h 1 setae. Two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present.
Setae h of mentum slightly longer than distance between them. Genitoaggenital plates with nine pairs of genital setae with arrangement: 4+4:1. Anoadanal plates each with seven pairs of flagellate setae, two anal and five adanal setae; anterior adanal setae shorter than others.
Legs: formulae of setae and solenidia of 'complete type'. Setae d of femora I remote from distal end of article.

Etymology
The specific name cajanumaensis refers to the locality Cajanama National Park.

Comparison
The new species is similar to Austrophthiracrus hirtus (Balogh, 1984) from Colombia but the latter species has longer prodorsal setae, fewer pairs (18) of notogastral setae, and four pairs of adanal setae.

Remark
Morphological characters of prodorsum and genitoaggenital plates are similar to those of the type species. Morphological differences concern the considerably longer notogastral and anal setae, greater number (24 pairs) of notogastral setae (21 pairs in holotype) and different arrangement of ps row setae.

Remark
All morphological characters are similar to those in the type species except for the presence of longer interlamellar and dorsal notogastral setae; also the surface of the notogaster is not covered with concavities but by a kind of mosaic.

Summary
During a survey conducted in two National Parks of Ecuador: Bombuscaro and Cajanuma, twelve species of ptyctimous mites have been found in the two samples of forest litter. Among them two species are new to science: Euphthiracarus bombuscaroensis sp. nov. and Austrophthiracarus cajanumaensis sp. nov. Their morphological characteristics are given. Three other species are new records for the Ecuador fauna: Mesoplophora (Mesoplophora) hauseri, Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) cucullatus and Notophthiracarus pedanos.
The specimens of Protophthiracarus quasiminisetosus and Notophthiracarus aculeatus, species already known from Ecuador, have been found to have some morphological traits different from the analogous ones in the type specimens. The fauna of ptyctimous mites occuring in the two parks: Bombuscaro and Cajanuma is totally different, probably due to the difference in altitude.