Lanceoppia (Bicristoppia) capensis, Ermilov & Hugo-Coetzee & Khaustov, 2020

Ermilov, S. G., Hugo-Coetzee, E. A. & Khaustov, A. A., 2020, A new species of oribatid mites of the subgenus Lanceoppia (Bicristoppia) (Acari: Oribatida: Oppiidae) from South Africa, Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 29 (2), pp. 328-334 : 329-333

Lanceoppia (Bicristoppia) capensis sp. nov.

( Figs 1–10)

Holotype. Male (in ethanol with a drop of glycerol), South Africa, Eastern Cape Prov., Amathole mountains, Hogsback State Forest at the village of Hogsback, 32°35ʹ21.6″S, 26°57′38.5″E, indigenous Afro-montane mixed forest ( Mucina & Geldenhuys 2006), consisting of tall trees (dominant species, e.g. Afrocarpus falcatus (yellowwood), Celtis africana (white stinkwood), Calodendrum capense (Cape chestnut) and Vepris lanceolata (white ironwood)) and a dense understorey of shrubs, herbs and moss, in soil, 14.IX.2019, V.A. Khaustov, S.G. Ermilov, E.A. Hugo-Coetzee, and A.A. Khaustov leg. (NMB).

Paratypes. Five males and six females (in ethanol with a drop of glycerol), same data as for holotype ( TSUMZ) .

Diagnosis. Body size: 249–265 × 132–149. Rostrum broadly rounded. Costula and transcostula forming arch-like structure; costula clearly stronger developed than transcostula. Rostral, lamellar and interlamellar setae of medium length, setiform, slightly barbed; ro longest, le shortest. Bothridial seta long, clavate, with three spines apically. Interbothridial tubercle semi-quadrangular. Notogastral setae of medium length, setiform, smooth; c represented by alveolus. Epimeral seta 3b located on ridge. Discidium present.

Description. Measurements. Very small species. Body length 249 (holotype), 249–265 (11 paratypes); body width 132 (holotype), 132–149 (11 paratypes). No distinct difference between males and females in body size.

Integument. Body color light brown. Body surface microporose (visible under high magnification in dissected specimens, × 1000). Several granules (diameter of granule up to 1) located nearly median part of costula. Lateral part of body between bothridium and acetabula I–III partially tuberculate (diameter of tubercle up to 2).

Prodorsum. Rostrum broadly rounded. Costula and transcostula forming arch-like structure (not observed in lateral view); costula strong, transcostula slightly visible. Rostral (22–24), lamellar (14–16), interlamellar (18–20), and exobothridial (10–12) setae setiform, slightly barbed. Insertion of lamellar seta located closer to insertion of interlamellar seta than to rostral seta. Bothridial seta (49–57) with long stalk and short, clavate head having three distinct spines apically. Interbothridial region with two pairs of muscle sigillae. Interbothridial tubercle semi-quadrangular, often poorly visible. Postbothridial tubercle absent. Longitudinal row, comprising several muscle sigillae, present in front of the bothridium. Lateral carina present, arch-like.

Notogaster. Anterior border convex medially. Nine pairs of notogastral setae (18–20) setiform, smooth; c represented by alveolus. All notogastral lyrifissures, opisthonotal gland opening, circumgastric scissure, and circumgastric sigillar band distinct; lyrifissure im located close to insertion of h 3.

Gnathosoma. Subcapitulum longer than wide (57–61 × 45–53). Subcapitular setae (a and h, 14– 16; m, 18–20) setiform, slightly barbed. Adoral seta (4) setiform, thin, smooth. Palp (41–45) with setation 0-2-1-3-9 (+1 solenidion). Solenidion short, thick, bacilliform, located in distal part of tarsus and pressed to its surface. Postpalpal seta (4) spiniform, smooth. Chelicera (57–61) with two setiform, barbed setae (cha, 18–20; chb, 12).

Epimeral and lateral podosomal regions. Epimeral setae 1c and 3c (16–24) setiform, barbed, others (1b and 4a, 12; 1a, 2a, 3a, 3b, 4b, 4c: 10–12) setiform, roughened; 3b located on short, longitudinal ridge. Discidium triangular.

Anogenital region. Genital seta (8) setiform, smooth. Aggenital, adanal and anal setae (10–12) setiform, roughened. Adanal lyrifissure distinct. Preanal organ caecum-like.

Leg. Leg claw smooth. Porose area on all femora well visible, but not observed on trochanters. Formulas of leg setation and solenidia: I (1-5-2-4- 20) [1-2-2], II (1-5-2-4-16) [1-1-2], III (2-3-1-3-15) [1-1-0], IV (1-2-2-3-12) [0-1-0]; homology of setae and solenidia indicated in Table 1. Setae p setiform on tarsi I, and very short, conical on tarsi II-IV. Famulus of tarsus I short, erect, slightly swollen apically, inserted posterolateral to ω 1. Solenidion ω 1 on tarsus I, ω 1 and ω 2 on tarsus II, φ on tibiae II, III, and σ on genua III rod-like, rounded apically, other solenidia setiform.

Comparison. Lanceoppia (Bicristoppia) capensis sp. nov. is morphologically most similar to L. (B.) cucheana Mahunka, 1994 from Madagascar (see Mahunka, 1994) in having long, clavate bothridial seta with spines apically. However, the new species differs from the latter by the presence of smaller body size (249–265 × 132–149 versus 438–517 × 258–320), broadly rounded rostrum (versus nasiform), well developed costula (versus absent), medium length in interlamellar and notogastral setae (versus short), and semi-quadrangular interbothridial tubercle (versus elongate triangular).

Etymology. The species name capensis refers to the South African Eastern Cape Province, where the new species was collected.