(Fig. 4A–I)
Measurements of holotype: prodorsum: length 328, width 222, height 126; setae: ss 68, in 51, le 40, ro 43, ex 12; notogaster: length 596, width 414, height 399; setae: c 1 104, c 1/ c 1- d 1=0.7, h 1 96, ps 1 106; genitoaggenital plate 151 × 91; anoadanal plate 237 × 131.
Description. Rather large-sized species. Color light brown. Surface of body punctate.
Prodorsum without lateral carinae and posterior furrows. Sigillar fields distinct, median longer than laterals. Sensilli longer than other prodorsal setae, equally narrowed, slightly fusiform in distal half. Interlamellar, lamellar and rostral setae short, spiniform, exobothridial setae minute.
Notogaster with 24 setae on left side and 25 setae on right side; additional setae in rows h and ps; setae rather short (c 1< c 1- d 1), covered with small spines in distal half, pointed distally. Setae c 1 and c 3 slightly remote from anterior margin, setae c 2 far from margin. Vestigial setae f 1 situated posterior of h 1 setae. Two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present.
Ventral region. Setae h of mentum distinctly shorter than distance between them. Nine genital setae on right plate and eight genital setae on left plate; arrangement of genital setae: 6(4+5): 0 on right side and 6(4+4): 0 on left side. Anoadanal plate with two pairs of anal setae and five adanal setae on left plate and six adanal setae on right plate; anal setae longer than adanal setae; posterior adanal setae longer than anterior setae.
Legs. Setation complete; setae d on femora I remote from anterior end of article. Seta l on right femora I located slightly posteriorly than seta l on left femora I.
Material examined. Holotype: Vic. Otway Ranges, Maits Rest, 10 km W of Apollo Bay, 38°45'S, 143°34'E, litter from Nothofagus cunninghamii forest, 20 February 1992, leg. G. Milledge, C. McPhee.
Etymology. The prefix para is Latin meaning “near” and refers to the similarity of the new species to Austrophthiracarus lamingtoni Niedbała, 2000.
Comparison. The new species is very similar to Austrophthiracarus lamingtoni Niedbała, 2000 in the shape of sensilli, length of prodorsal setae and neotrichy of notogastral setae. It is distinguishable by the median sigillar field without incision, shape of sensilli slightly fusiform (versus setiform covered with cilia) the greater number of notogastral setae 24 or 25 (versus 20 pairs), greater number of adanal setae, five or six (versus four pairs), presence of two pairs of lyrifissures (versus three pairs).