A new species of the genus Cosmolaelaps Berlese (Acari: Laelapidae) from Egypt

A new species of Laelapidae, Cosmolaelaps aegyptiacus n. sp., associated with roots and leaf litter of soybean Glycine max (L.) is described and illustrated based on females from Egypt. A key to the five identified and valid species reported in Egypt, including the new species, is provided.


INTRODUCTION
The family Laelapidae is a morphologically and ecologically diverse group of mites. They have a wide ecological diversity including insect paraphagous, parasites on vertebrates and free-living predators inhabiting soil, litter habitat and nests of vertebrates and arthropods (Evans and Till, 1966;Strong and Halliday, 1994;Lindquist et al., 2009;Kazemi and Rajaei, 2013). Casanueva (1993) revised the family Laelapidae and raised most of the groups and subgenera of Hypoaspis sens lat. to generic level. Moreira et al. (2014) clearly contribute to the genus Cosmolaelaps characterization, resolving problems due to poor and confusing previous descriptions of this genus. To date, about 115 species of Cosmolaelaps have been recorded worldwide (Moreira et al., 2014;Fouly and Al-Rehiayani, 2014;Ramroodi et al., 2014). The literature shows that most species of Cosmolaelaps are encountered in soil and litter, a few being associated to arthropods and nests of mammals.
The purpose of this study is to describe a new species of Cosmolaelaps, contributing thus to knowledge of Laelapidae Egyptian fauna.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Mite specimens were extracted from soil sampled in soybean fields using Berlese-Tullgren funnels. Mites were cleared in Nesbitt solution and mounted in Hoyer's medium. The specimens were examined under a phase contrast microscope; the camera Lucida apparatus was used for the drawings. The measurements are presented in micrometers (µm) as minimum-maximum range or in a single mean value. Dorsal shield length and width were taken from anterior to posterior margins along the midline, and at broadest level, respectively. Width of the sternal shield was measured for female at level of st2-st2. Length of epyginal shield was measured along the midline from the anterior margin of the epyginal shield to sternal shield, and the width at the widest point. Legs measurements were taken from coxa basis to tarsus apex, excluding the pretarsus. The length of the movable cheliceral digit was taken from basis to apex. Setae were measured from basis of their insertions to their tips. Idiosomal setal-nomenclature follows that of Lindquist and Evans (1965), the leg chaetotaxy that of Evans (1963), and names of other anatomical structures mostly follow Evans and Till (1979). We use the terms (lyrifissures) to refer to slite-shaped sensilli, and (pores) for circular or oval-shaped cuticular opening of unspecified function.
Internal malae coarsely fringed, with two pairs of lobes, inner one narrow, tapered, hairy in the outer side, and outer lobes coarsely fringed (with 7-9 arms). Metasternal shields present with st4 and lyriffsures (iv3). Epyginal shield flask-shaped, ornamented with large cells in the central part, bordered by two lines forming an inverted v-shaped and with lateral margin expanded to midline of coxa IV. Fixed digit of chelicerae with five teeth.
Description: Female, light brown in color when alive.