Gymnolaelaps kabitae Bhattacharyya, 1968

(Figs 30–37)

Gymnolaelaps kabitae Bhattacharyya, 1968: 537 .

Pseudoparasitus (Gymnolaelaps) kabitae .— Karg, 1989b: 334.

Laelaspisella kabitae .— Joharchi & Halliday, 2013: 47; Joharchi et al., 2016: 21; Nemati et al., 2019: 82.

Gymnolaelaps kabitae .— Nemati & Gwiazdowicz, 2016: 45.

Specimens examined. Two females, Alborz, Karaj, 36°03’ N, 51°24’ E, alt. 1665 m, 7 June 2011, O. Joharchi coll., in nest of Pheidole pallidula .

Bhattacharyya (1968) described Gymnolaelaps kabitae as a new species from specimens collected in soil under rotting plant material in West Bengal. Joharchi & Halliday (2013) placed this species in Laelaspisella and presented a supplementary description for the species. They wrongly stated that the palp tarsal claw has three pointed tines, while it actually has two (Fig. 35). Nemati & Gwiazdowicz (2016) treated this species as member of Gymnolaelaps . Nemati et al. (2019) revised the concept of Laelaspisella, but could not decide on the correct generic placement for G. kabitae . This species agrees with Laelaspisella in the following character states: (1) dorsal shield hypertrichous and with at least 11–13 non-secretory slit-like lyrifissures (Figs 30 & 32), (2) metasternal setae st4 absent (Figs 31 & 33); (3) genitiventral shield large and broad rounded posteriorly (Fig. 31); (4) iv3 located on posterolateral angles of sternal shield (Fig. 33); (5) internal malae densely fringed and with elongate threads (Fig. 34); (6) palp tarsal claw with two tines (Fig. 35). However, it differs from the original concept of Laelaspisella as described by Marais & Loots (1969), because the dorsal cheliceral seta is present (Fig. 37) and the anterior margin of the epistome is irregularly denticulate (Fig. 36). Nemati & Gwiazdowicz (2016) provided more character states that excludes G. kabitae from Laelaspisella .