Parawenhoekia aginapaica ( Haitlinger, 1999 )

Kiany, Najmeh, Seiedy, Marjan, Hakimitabar, Masoud & Husemann, Martin, 2025, Discovery of the genus Parawenhoekia Paoli (Acari: Chyzeriidae) in the Western Asian area, Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics 11 (1), pp. 85-95 : 86-91

Parawenhoekia aginapaica ( Haitlinger, 1999)

Type specimen: Parawenhoekia aginapaica Haitlinger 1999:4 , Cyprus, Agi Napa , the Museum of Natural History, Wroclaw University ( MNHWU).

Material examined. Six larvae ( ZUTC15003 a–f) on Aiolopus sp . 1 ♂, Khumeh Zar , Mamasani County, Fars Province, Iran (29°58'43.92"N, 51°37'41.15"E, 1186 m a.s.l.), 19-VIII-2020 .

Habitat. The main natural vegetation in our sampling location include Crataegus azarolus L., Ziziphus sp. Mill. (1754), Prunus sp. , Carthamus oxyacantha Bieb. , Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. , Vitex sp. L., Echinops sp. L., Heliotropium europaeum L., Hyoscyamus reticulatus L. There were also corn and paddy fields near the sampling site ( Fig. 1). The vegetation provides sufficient humidity for Aiolopus sp. to survive even during intense evaporation through the summer months.

Distribution. Cyprus, Iran (new country record)

Specimen deposition. The mite specimens ( ZUTC15003 a–f) and grasshopper host are deposited in the Zoological Museum , Faculty of Biology, University of Tehran, Iran.

Diagnosis (based on original description and new larval materials).

Larva. Cheliceral blades with (18–21) small teeth ( Figs 2A & 3D), scutum trapezoidal with nasus ( Figs 2B & 3E), coxalae 1b conical, thick, short, with fine barbs and pointed tip; coxalae 2b thick and short, with fine barbs and bifid blunted tip ( Figs. 2C–D, 3A–B); Ge III with 7–11 solenidia, Ge I and II each with one solenidia. Dorsal and ventral idiosomal, AL and PL setae with a blunted tip.

Haitlinger (1999) stated the palptarsus has seven setae of which only one seta being smooth. He also mentioned that this part of the prepared slide was badly visible so, errors can be considered, but our specimens showed a palptarsus with 10 setae including seven barbed, and one short nude seta, one nude eupathidium (ζ) and one short solenidion (ω). After comparison of legs specialized setae of the specimen from Cyprus with our specimens it was evident that no famulus setae (ε) were mentioned on Tarsus I in Cyprus specimen in comparison to our specimen which has one; no eupathidium (ζ) on Ta I– III were mentioned but one N seta on each tarsi were referred; solenidia (φ) on tibia I & II (1 vs. 2); solenidia (σ) on Ge I & II (0 vs. 1) and on Ge III (8 vs 7–11). The ranges of metric and meristic data are also given ( Table 1 & Table 2 ).

Re-description (based on the new materials, n = 6).

Scutum . Dorsal scutum trapezoidal with nasus, anterior and posterolateral angles rounded. Anterior and anterolateral margins slightly concave and posterolateral margins slightly convex; Scutum punctated in all parts except in nasus and its base which has fine and scattered punctation ( Fig. 2B). Setae AM and SE barbed in distal half. Setae AL and PL barbed and blunt-ended; AL shorter than PL ( AL / PL (0.83–0.92)). AM and SE situated between AL and PL; SE longer than AM (SE/ AM (2.08–2.81)). Each lateral eye pair on the punctate ocular plate, about 53–60 × 31–36. Eyes circular, anterior 24, posterior 19. Urstigma oval, attached to coxa II, 36–38 × 22–24.

Dorsum ( Fig. 2E). Dorsal idiosomal setae arrangement is not distinct due to idiosomal damage in all specimens but seems to be 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 and the ventral and dorsal view could not be separated clearly. Each seta barbed, blunt-ended, and arises from a small circular pointed plate.

Ventral. Ventral idiosomal setae are similar to dorsal ones but slightly smaller and thinner. Two sternalae (3a) between coxae III. Anus oval shaped, a pair of sclerites anal valves present with two setae [there is one seta each on the right and left valve but in one specimen there is only one seta on the left valve (abnormally)].

Coxala 1a tapering; pointed and barbed, coxalae 1b conical, thick, short, with fine barbs and pointed tip; coxalae 2b thick and short, with fine barbs and bifid blunted tip ( Figs 2C–D, 3A–3B). Coxala 3b tapering, barbed and pointed. Each leg tarsus with two small lateral claws and a middle falciform empodium.

Legs ( Fig. 3A–C). Leg segmentation formula: 7-7-7. Leg setal formula (Based on new materials): Leg I: Ta–1ω, 1ε, 2ζ, 37–41n; Ti– 2φ, 1Κ, 8n; Ge– 1σ, 1Κ, 4n; TFe– 5n; BFe– 1n; Tr– 1n; Cx– 2n ( Fig 3A). Leg II: Ta– 1ω, 1ε, 1ζ, 35–36n; Ti– 2φ, 8n; Ge– 1σ, 1Κ, 4n; TFe– 4n; BFe– 2–3n; Tr– 1n; Cx– 1n ( Fig 3B). Leg III: Ta– 34– 37n; Ti– 1φ, 7n; Ge– 7–11σ, 4n; TFe– 4n; BFe– 2n; Tr– 1n; Cx–1n ( Fig 3C). (see Table 2 for species collected from Cyprus).

Gnathosoma ( Figs 2A & 3D). Cheliceral blades straight with serrated teeth on the ventral side except in the basal half. Oral setae (or 1) and bs (subcapitular) setae pointed, and barbed. Supracoxal seta (eP) conelike and 5 long. Palpal setal formula: 0-B-B-BBB 2 -7BN ωζ. Palpfemur and palpgenu each with one barbed seta. Tibia with three barbed setae. Palptarsus with one solenidion, one eupathidium, seven barbed setae, and one nude seta ( Fig. 3D). Palpal tibial claw with two pointed tines, of them one is shorter.