Austrophthiracarus tawhai LIU & ZHANG, 2013, sp. nov.

Austrophthiracarus tawhai sp. nov.

(Figs.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 ̅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). 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). Subcapitulum normal (Fig. 15); 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) four segmented, femur and genu fused; palpal setation: 0-2-2-7(1); supracoxal seta simple and smooth; chelicera (Fig. 17) with two smooth setae (cha, chb).

Ano-genital region (Figs. 10, 13–14). Nine pairs of genital setae (g) present, arranged in two rows with formula: 9(4+4): 1, their distribution as depicted in Fig. 13; 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.

2. S. F. = State Forest. Additional information about the site from NZAC litter sample log book: This litter sample was collected under Nothofagus menziesii in a river reserve east of Wilsons Plantation.

Legs (Figs. 18–19). 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.