Axonopsis (Brachypodopsis) gereckei Pesic, 2004, sp. nov.

Axonopsis (Brachypodopsis) gereckei sp. nov.

(Figs. 11–16)

Axonopsis inferorum (Schwoerbel & Sepasgosarian 1980; Sepasgosarian 1999) Axonopsis sp. nov. (Pesic & Gerecke 2003)

Type material: Holotype: male dissected and slide mounted in Hoyer's fluid; Iran: Fars Province, Bashteh river near Schusche, hyporheic, 0 3.10.1977, leg. Schwoerbel. Paratypes: one female, same data as holotype, dissected and slide mounted in Hoyer's fluid.

Diagnosis: dorsal shield with 6 pairs of glandularia, 2 of them arranged anteriorly to the postocularia; postocularia well developed; 2 distinct pairs of glandularia located between insertions of the fourth legs and genital field; male with a slightly developed cauda.

Description

Male: Dorsal and ventral shields anteriorly fused; dorsal shield L 575, W 429; dorsal shield with 6 pairs of dorsoglandularia arranged as in Fig. 13, sixth pair of glandularia inconspicuous, flanking the excretory pore; postocularia (Fig. 14)consisting on each side of a pore placed on a sclerotized platelet, well distanced from anterior margin; excretory pore located at posterior end of dorsal shield; ventral shield (Fig. 11) L 567, W 483; capitular bay L 117; 2 distinct pairs of glandularia between insertions of fourth legs and genital field; genital field with 3 pairs of acetabula, distance between outer edges of lateralmost pair of acetabula 185, gonopore W 33; palp total L 211; dorsal L (relative L in parentheses) of segments: P­1 32 (15.2), P­2 53 (25.1), P­3 32 (15.2), P­4 62 (29.4), P­5 32 (15.2); P­2/P­4 L ratio 0.85; distoventral portion of P­2 expanded (Fig. 15). Legs: without swimming hairs, dorsal L of the distal segments of the first leg (Fig. 12): I­L­4 36; I­L­5 71; I­L­ 6 73.

Female: similar to male except for the shape of the genital field (Fig. 16); dorsal shield L 566, W 400; genital field with 3 pairs of acetabula, these arranged in an arc; width between outer edges of lateralmost pair of acetabula 188, maximum W of gonopore 65; palp total L 215; dorsal L (relative L in parentheses) of segments: P­1 33 (15.3), P­2 55 (25.6), P­3 32 (14.9), P­4 63 (29.3), P­5 32 (14.9); P­2/P­4 L ratio 0.88; legs and palp chaetotaxy as in the male.

Discussion: Schwoerbel & Sepasgosarian (1980) reported the presence of Axonopsis inferorum MotaŞ & Tanasachi, 1947 in Iran. However, from an examination of the specimen conservated under this name in the collection Schwoerbel resulted fundamental differences (Pesic & Gerecke 2003).

Axonopsis gereckei sp. nov. can be distinguished from all known species of the subgenus Brachypodopsis, in the combination of well developed postocularia and a slight development of a cauda in the male. Furthermore, it differs from A. inferorum in the presence of two distinct pairs of glandularia between the insertions of the fourth legs and the genital field (one pair of glandularia in A. inferorum).

Etymology: The species is named after Dr. Reinhard Gerecke (Tübingen).

Distribution: Iran; only known from the locus typicus.

Biology: Axonopsis gereckei sp. nov. is probably a hyporheobiont. Larvae of Axonopsis species were found parasitic on Chironomid midges in America (Smith & Oliver 1986), but no data are available on the behaviour of larvae of palaearctic species (Pesic & Gerecke 2003)