Neopronematus sepasgosariani Sadeghi et al. 2012

Male of Neopronematus sepasgosariani, Sadeghi et al. 2012

Description. Organotaxy of idiosoma and appendages—typical for the genus (see Panou et al. 2000).

Male (n= 8) Idiosoma: Body small, oval. (Figs. 5, 7): length of body excluding gnathosoma 135–155; width 65–85. Eyes absent. Dorsal cuticle completely striated. Dorsocentral striae between setae c1 and between d1 longitudinal and between setae e1 as well between f1 transverse. End of opisthosoma with inverted V- pattern between setae f2, h1 and ps1. Dorsal opisthosomal discs present between seta d1 and e1, slightly lateral to line connecting base of these setae (Fig. 8 c). Diameter of discs about 12; discs covered by checkered pattern, looking like sieves (sensu N. solani in Ripka et al. 2013). All dorsal setae slender and slightly serrate. Length of dorsal setae: bo 35, ro 16, la 14, ex 16, c1 16, c2 16, d1 12, e1 12, f1 12, f2 16, h1 11, ps1 13 (h2 and ps2 absent). Setae d1 do not reach bases of e1. Setae e1 reach bases of f2.

Lyrifissures ia situated between setae c1 and d1, slightly laterally to line connecting base of these setae, lyrifissures im close to setae e1, lyrifissures ip lie posteriorly to f2 (Figs. 5 a, 8c). Lyrifissures ih situated posteroventrally. Venter completely covered by striae; with three pairs of aggenital setae [ag1–3] (Figs. 5 b, 8b). Epimeral formula: (3–1–4–2).

Gnathosoma. Visible from above. Palp tarsus significantly longer than cheliceral digits. Eupathidium (pζ) straight, palp femorogenu length/ width 20/12, palp tarsus 8 (Fig. 6 f).

Legs. Tarsus I without apotele (Figs. 6 a, 8a), tarsi II–IV each with apotele, 2 claws and ciliated empodium, but without hooks (om) (Figs. 6 c-e). Femora IV distally with strong bent spur (Fig. 6 e). Measurements of legs: I–155, II–118, III–130, IV–140. Chaetotaxy of leg segments: leg I (8+ ω I–3 + k + φ –3–3–1), leg II (6+ ω II–2–3 –3–0), leg III (5–2–2–1–1), leg IV (5–2–1–1–0). Tarsus I length 43, width 9; solenidion ω I long and straight (12), taller than half width of palpal tarsus. Seta ft’ 14, ft’’ζ 23, tc’ζ 24, tc’’ζ 24, p’ζ 14, p’’ζ 7, (u) 1.2. Famulus k (2) and Y- shaped. Length of solenidion φ 3.

Material examined. All specimens were collected from the soil of apple orchards in the vicinity of Shabestar, East Azerbaijan, Iran, by Ali Akbari. These specimens are deposited in the Collection of the Acarology Laboratory of Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. Also 35 female individuals were collected and have the same data as the male specimens.

Remarks. The male of Neopronematus sepasgosariani can only be distinguished from the female by: (1) solenidion ωI long and bent instead of short and straight in female, (2) femur IV distally with strong and bent spur in male and without spur in female, (3) dorsal opisthosomal discs present between seta d1 and e1, slightly laterally to line connecting base of these setae, whereas the female has no discs.