Trombidium barooghi sp. nov.

(Figs. 1–6)

Diagnosis. Larva with the following features: fD = (2) 4-6-4-4-4 = 22 (+ 2); fV = 4-2u = 6; fcx = 2-2-1; fnTr = 1-1-1; fnFe = 5-4-4; fnGe = 4-3-3; fnTi = 5-5-5; fnTa = 15-14-13; fSol = I (0-2-2-1), II (0-1-2-1), III (0-1-0- 0); fκ = I (1-1), II (1-0), III (0-0); fζ = 2-0-0; fε = 1-1-0; fPp = 0-N-0-NNN2-5Nω;IP = 704; tarsus III with a short and thick inner claw; AP <MA; AA <SB.

Description (measurements are given in Table 1).

Holotype larva: Idiosoma oval, dorsal surface with a scutum, a scutellum and 22 dorsal setae, each arising from small sclerite except c 1 and h 1 (Fig. 1). Scutum rounded anteriorly and with rounded posterolateral angles; large, covering most of prodorsum; bearing three pairs of setae (AM, AL and PL) and one pair of trichobothria (S); punctated in most part but striated in parts anterior and slightly posterior to AM setae. AM filiform. There is a small chitinous bar (tear like) behind AM. AL and PL both thicker than AM and barbed. AL setae situated closer to PL than AM. S filiform and smooth. A large oval scutellum posterior to scutum and wider than long, with punctations and two barbed setae. Ocular sclerite, 27 long and 12 wide, situated lateral to postero-lateral angles of scutum; with 2 eyes, anterior 10, posterior 8 in diameter. All dorsal setae with distinct barbs.

Ventral surface of idiosoma with one pair of intercoxal setae (3a), 3 pairs of ventral setae located on sclerites slightly smaller than those of dorsal setae, and an anus (Fig. 2). All setae on ventral idiosoma with distinct barbs. Coxal fields punctate. A minute supracoxal seta present on anterolateral corners of dorsal coxae I. Coxa I with proximal seta 1a, filiform and antero-distal seta 1b, barbed. Coxa II with antero-distal seta 2b, and antero-median seta 2a; both barbed. Coxa III with single antero-median seta 3b, barbed (Fig. 2). One pair of intercoxal setae 3a between coxae III. NDV = 22 (2) + 6 = 28 (2).

Gnathosoma convex posteriorly (Fig. 6). Subcapitulum punctuate. A pair of adoral setae (or) small and nude. One pair of thick subcapitular setae brush-like, distally with 6 divisions, 20 long, 8 apart at base. Cheliceral base 32 long; cheliceral blade 12 long, curved with single minute tooth distally. Palpal femur with one barbed seta. Palpal genu without seta (Fig. 6). Tibia with three nude setae (Fig. 6). Palpal tarsus with 5 nude setae, an eupathidium and a solenidion. fPp= 0-N-0-NNN2-5Nω. One seta on palpal tarsus long.

Leg segmentation formula: 6-6-6. Leg setal formula: Leg I: Tr-1B; Fe-5B; Ge-2σ, 1κ, 4B; Ti-2φ, 1κ, 5B; Ta-1ω, 1ε, 2ζ, 13B, 2N (Fig. 4). Leg II: Tr-1B; Fe-4B; Ge-1σ, 1κ, 3B; Ti-2φ, 5B; Ta-1ω, 1ε, 14B (Fig. 3). Leg III: Tr-1B; Fe-4B; Ge-1σ, 3B; Ti-5B; Ta-10B, 3N (Fig. 5).

IP = 245 + 232 + 227 = 704 holotype

IP = 241 + 220 + 219 = 680 paratype

Remarks. Trombidium (Teresothrombium) barooghi belongs to the species group of this subgenus having normal AL and normal setae on scutellum and thick and brush-like subcapitular setae. Three species have this feature: T. hyperi Vercammen-Grandjean et al., 1977, T. mastigotarsum Feider, 1956 and T. southcotti Zhang & Saboori, 1996. It differs from T. hyperi by shorter AW (92–97 vs. 104–109), PW (92–97 vs. 108–114), SD (87–92 vs. 116–128), AM (30–37 vs. 43–46), LSS (99–111 vs. 117–128), leg I (241–245 vs. 292–297), leg II (220–232 vs. 278–288), leg III (219–227 vs. 273–280) and IP (680–704 vs. 845–865); from T. mastigotarsum by number of setae on Fe I–III (5-4-4 vs. 4-3-3), Ge I-III (4-3-3 vs. 5-3-4), shorter W (104–111 vs. 162), HS (50 vs. 65), longer SD (87–92 vs. 61) and from T. southcotti by shorter SD (87–92 vs. 120–126), AM (30–37 vs. 45–63), W (104–111 vs. 120–130), LSS (109–111 vs. 132–145).

Etymology. The species is named in honour of Dr. Hassan Barooghi (professor of entomology) for his great efforts in developing entomology in Iran and exchanging entomological informations among Iranian entomologists.

Types. The holotype (ARS- 20061111 -1a) and paratype (ARS- 20061111 -1b) larvae were collected by K. Haddad Irani-nejad, 15 May 2005, free-living on soil, in Tickmadash, Mianeh city, East Azarbaijan province, Iran. The holotype and paratype are deposited in the Acarological Collection, Zoological Museum, College of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.