Checklist of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) of New Zealand with descriptions of three new species

A BSTRACT — An annotated checklist of ptyctimous mites of New Zealand is provided; it includes 74 species, 12 genera and four families. Two new species, Austrophthiracarus parapulchellus Niedbała n. sp. and Notophthiracarus minorae Niedbała n. sp. , are described from litter in Pinus radiata plantation of the North Island, and one new species, Notophthiracarus otagoensis Niedbała n. sp. is described from soil and debris under Dracophyllum muscoides cushions of the South Island.


INTRODUCTION
This work is a part of a continuing study of the New Zealand oribatid mite fauna based on material collected by Dr. Maria A. Minor Minor 2015 a-d, Ermilov et al. 2015), and includes data on ptyctimous mites. The goals of the paper are to present data on the taxonomic identification and specific localities of registered taxa, to provide checklist of known ptyctimous mites from New Zealand and to describe three new species: Austrophthiracarus parapulchellus Niedbała n. sp., Notophthiracarus minorae Niedbała n. sp. and N. otagoensis Niedbała n. sp. Ptyctimous mites of New Zealand are little known (Niedbała 1993;2000;2006) even if more actively recently studied (e.g. Liu and Zhang 2013a, 1014a, 2015a; therefore this paper contributes to their faunistic and taxonomic knowledge.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The mites were cleared in lactic acid and mounted to temporary cavity slides with glycerol for the duration of the study. Body measurements are presented in micrometers. Length of the body setae was measured in lateral aspect. Formulas for leg setation are given in parentheses according to the sequence trochanter-femur-genu-tibia-tarsus. Formulas for leg solenidia are given in square brackets according to the sequence genu-tibia-tarsus. The terminology follows Niedbała (2000). List

Cheklist of Ptyctimous mites of New Zealand
We herein registered eight species, seven genera and four families of ptyctimous mites collected by Dr. Maria A. Minor. These species are followed by "*" in the checklist of New Zealand pyctimous mites presented. This fauna presently includes 74 species, 12 genera and four families. Prodorsum -With well discernible long sigillar fields. Lateral carinae and posterior furrows absent. Sensilli short, with narrow pedicel and globular, roughened head. Interlamellar and exobothridial setae vestigial, lamellar setae minute, rostral setae semierect, roughened.
Notogaster -With neotrichy of notogastral setae; 19 pairs of rigid, slightly recurved setae, covered with small spines in distal half. Setae c 3 about once shorter than other setae of row c. Additional setae, one in rows h and three in row ps. Setae c 1 and c 3 situated near anterior margin, setae c 2 far from margin. One of posterior setae of row ps (ps 3 ') situ- Etymology -The prefix para is Latin meaning "near" and refers to the similarity of new species with Austrophthiracarus pulchellus Niedbała, 1993. Comparison -The new species is morphologically very similar to Austrophthiracarus pulchelus Niedbała, 1993(see Niedbała 1993. It is distinguishable from the latter by setae c 3 shorter than other setae of row c (versus not shorter), presence of 19 pairs of notogastral setae (versus 18 pairs), vestigial setae of subcapitular mentum (versus well developed), presence of complete chaetome of femora I (versus absence of setae v").  Prodorsum -With narrow sigillar fields well visible. Lateral carinae and posterior furrows absent. Sensilli short, with narrow pedicel and fusiform, rounded, roughened head. Interlamellar and lamellar setae very long, rigid, erect, bent backwards, tapering, covered with spines in distal half, similar to dorsal notogastral setae. Rostral setae similar in shape, but shorter, semierect; in > le > ro > ex > ss.
Notogaster -With 15 pairs of tapering setae, rigid covered with small spines in distal half, dorsal setae considerably longer (but c 1 slightly shorter than distance between c 1 -d 1 ) than laterals. Setae c 1c 3 remote from anterior margin, setae c 2 more than other. Vestigial setae f 1 situated anterior of setae h 1 . Lyrifissures ia and im present.
Ventral region -Setae h of mentum slightly shorter than distance between them (h/h-h=0.8). Genitoaggenital plates with 9 pairs of unusual long setae with formula: 4: 5. Anoadanal plates with 5 pairs of setae, long, filiform, smooth, except minute setae ad 3 . Etymology -The specific name is dedicated to the well-known soil zoologist and ecologist Dr. Maria A. Minor (Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, New Zealand).

Chaetome of legs -
Comparison -Three similar species are known from the Australasian Region, by the presence of long, similar in shape interlamellar and lamellar setae, very short, globular sensilli and setae ad 3 of anoadanal plates minute. The most similar is species Notophthiracarus calugarae Niedbała, 1987 from Victoria State of Australia (see Niedbała 1987) but it is distinguishable by the shape of rostral setae, very short, thick, rough, location of f 1 setae posterior of h 1 setae, setae h of mentum longer than distance between them, and incomplete chaetome of femora of legs I. Both other similar species originate from South Island of New Zealand. Notophthiracarus ater Niedbała, 2000 is distinguishable by the presence of vestigial exobothridial setae, vestigial setae f 1 situated posterior of h 1 setae, setae h of mentum longer than distance between them, and especially by longer ad 3 setae (almost half of lengh of anal setae). Notophthiracarus fecundus Niedbała, 2000 is distinguishable by the slightly shorter dorsal, notogastral setae, setae h of mentum longer than distance between them, and also by setae f 1 situated posterior of h 1 setae and especially by longer ad 3 setae (almost half the lenght of anal setae).
Notogaster -With 15 pairs of medium size, c 1 > c 1 -d 1 , but other setae shorter. Setae rigid covered with small spines in whole length. Setae c 3 situated close to anterior margin, setae c 1 slightly remote, setae c 2 far from anterior margin. Vestigial setae f 1 situated posteriorly of h 1 setae. Three pairs of lyrifissures (ia, im and ips) present.
Ventral region -Setae h of mentum longer than distance between them. Arrangement of genital setae 4: 5. Anoadanal plates with 5 pairs of flexible setae, adanal setae ciliated and longer than rough anal setae. Type deposition -The holotype (ethanol) and two paratypes are deposited in the New Zealand National Arthropod Collection, Auckland, New Zealand; 137 paratypes (ethanol) are deposited in the collection of the Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.
Etymology -The specific epithet refers to the Central Otago Region of South Island.
Comparison -The new species is characterized by the presence of long ad 3 setae of anoadanal plate, longer than anal setae. Some species from the Australasian region with these long setae have a long sensillus without a rounded head. The similar species are: Notophthiracarus hammeni Niedbala, 1987 from New South Wales (see Niedbała 1987), N. abstemius Colloff, 1997 (see Niedbała andColloff 1997). Notophthiracarus hammeni has rigid and longer rostral setae, absence of lateral carinae of prodorsum and lyrifissures ips of notogaster. Notophthiracarus abstemius has adanal setae ad 3 slightly shorter than anal setae, setae d of femora I situated in proximal half of article, vestigial setae f 1 situated anterior of setae h 1 and lateral carinae of prodorsum and lyrifissures ips absent.