Hypoaspis cavitatis Karg, 1982

(Figs 24–29)

Hypoaspis (Pneumolaelaps) cavitatis Karg, 1982: 253 .

Laelaspisella cavitatis .— Karg & Schorlemmer, 2013: 200.

Hypoaspis (Laelaspisella) cavitatis .— Joharchi & Halliday, 2013: 46; Joharchi et al., 2016: 14; Nemati et al., 2019: 81.

Specimens examined. The first author examined three microslides in Karg’s collection at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Zoologische Staatssammlung München (Germany), labelled as follows: Nr. 3805 ♀, Hypoaspis cavitatis Karg, 1982, Brasilien, Camponotus rufipes, Nr. 29, Barueri, K. Lenko, 25.07.71; Nr. 3806 ♀, Hypoaspis cavitatis Karg, 1982 . Brasilien Camponotus rufipes Nr. 29, Barueri, K. Lenko, 25.07.71; Nr. 3807 ♀, Hypoaspis cavitatis Karg, 1982 . Brasilien Camponotus crassus Nr. 4574, K. Lenko, 16.12.64.

Karg (1982) described Hypoaspis (Pneumolaelaps) cavitatis as a new species from Barueri, State of São Paulo, Brazil, where it was found on Camponotus rufipes (Fabricius) ( Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Joharchi & Halliday (2013) excluded H. (L.) cavitatis from Laelaspisella in the belief that the metasternal setae st4 are present, as illustrated by Karg (1982, Fig. 6c) and Karg & Schorlemmer (2013, Fig. 6b). However, in the three specimens we examined, which appear to be the types, st4 was absent (Figs 25 & 26). This species shows the following important attributes of Laelaspisella: (1) dorsal shield hypertrichous and with at least 11–13 non-secretory slit-like pore-like structures (Fig. 24); (2) metasternal setae st4 absent (Figs 25 & 26); (3) genitiventral shield large and broadly tapered posteriorly (Fig. 25); (4) iv3 located on posterolateral angles of sternal shield (Fig. 26); (5) para-anal setae (Pa) about half as long as post-anal seta (Po) (Fig. 26); (6) setae Jv5 and Zv5 pilose, longer and thicker than the other opisthogastric setae (Fig. 26); (7) internal malae densely fringed and with elongate threads (Fig. 27); (8) palp tarsal claw with two tines (Fig. 28); (9) tibia I with 13 setae (2 3/2 3/1 2), pd3 present; (10) genu IV with 10 setae (2 2/1 3/1 1). However, it differs from the original concept of Laelaspisella as described by Marais & Loots (1969), because the dorsal cheliceral seta is present, anterior margin of epistome irregularly denticulate (Fig. 29) and genu I with 13 setae (2 3/2 3/1 2), pd3 present.