New Leptogamasus mite species (Parasitiformes: Parasitidae) from Europe. II. Northern Italy

The four new species belonging to Parasitidae family, Leptogamasus (Leptogamasus) bicornis n. sp., Leptogamasus (L.) digiticornis n. sp., Leptogamasus (L.) sextus n. sp. and Leptogamasus (L.) trentinis n. sp. originating from the surroundings of Lake Garda (Lago di Garda), northern Italy, are described.

Species described in this study belong to Leptogamasus subgenus and share the above referenced features. They were encountered practically in two relatively close localities (ca. 32 km apart) east and west from Lake Garda (Lago di Garda). As in most species of Leptogamasus, the females of these species are very different, so they are relatively easily identifiable, as well as suitable for making the holotypes. The males are similar, and their exact identification is possible after sectioning, but L. (L.) digiticornis n. sp., features a very conspicuous, fingerlike, ventral appendage on each corniculus.

Diagnosis
Female and male -Gnathotectum trispinate with pointed and moderately long prongs, the central one longer; gland pore gv1 present; dorsal setae relatively long, podonotum with 21 pairs of setae, opisthonotum with 24 pairs of setae (plus 1-2 supplementary setae located marginally); Tr IV without tubercle.
Female -All three prongs of gnathotectum similarly narrow, central one slightly longer; distance of the presternal plates similar or slightly greater to thickness of the tritosternum base; anterior margin of the sternal shield more or less concaved; gland pores gv1 not far from st3 setae; epigynial shield with two prominent teeth on the internal (dorsal) surface, anterior margins straight, but with a shallow concavity in midregion, behind the internal teeth level and anteriorly to the minute denticles on each margin, posterolateral margins short and arcuate; spherules of the endogynium oval to footshaped, depend on the orientation, with two to four shallow indentations on the anterior margin; lamellar and wide stipule growing from an arcuate base, dentate at the anterior margin, featuring a number of small teeth on the ventral surface; endogynial sac with several teeth, usually in symmetric arrangement, located behind the stipule base, as well as on the dorsal and lateral sac walls; on the lateral sac's walls two prominent, curved hooks are also found.
Male -Gnathotectum with central prong triangular and wider than the lateral ones; genital lamina with the rounded anterior corners; presternal plates subrectangular; corniculi with sinuous adaxial margin; cheliceral fixed digit with curved, pointed apex, ventral margin convex in the central part, fitted with many (7-9) similar, small teeth behind pilus dentilis, followed by one much larger proximal tooth; femur II with axillary process halfmoon shaped, spurs on the genu and tibia similar, conical, located some distance away from the distal article margin.
Legs -Setae al on Tr I short and thick. Seta al2 on Fe II short and thick, whereas anteroventral seta thickened, but longer. Ti II with thickened ventral setae: anteroventral barbed, posteroventral simple. Leg IV: dorso and posterolateral setae on the femur thick and short, posteroventral seta on Ge IV and both ventral setae on the tibia thickened, out of those the posteroventral ones barbed. Some ventral and posterolateral setae on the tarsus thickened, posteroventral seta on the basitarsus terminally barbed. Tr IV without the dorsal tubercle. Other aspects of legs I-IV unremarkable.
Male ( (Fig. 3A,B). Sternum ( Fig. 3C) with gland pores gv1 at the st3 setae level, followed by two elongated weak thickenings and two stronger buttonlike thickenings of the sternal cuticle, located somewhat laterally at the level between iv3 sternal pores and setae st4. Pores gv2 with two openings, pores iv5 equally distant from setae st5 and ZV1, but slightly shifted adaxially. Sternum and opisthogaster reticulation scalelike.

Figure 4
Leptogamasus (L.) bicornis n. sp., male: Fe II, Ge II and Ti II anterolaterally. Some setae marked. Chelicera ( Fig. 3F) -movable digit with one tooth followed by an arcuate edge proximally, fixed digit (Fig. 3F,G) with 1-2 small teeth in front of pilus dentilis followed by a slightly convex ventral edge bearing a row of 7-9 minute denticles and distinctly larger proximalmost tooth.
Legs -Leg II spurred as follows: when observed from the ventral side, femoral main spur is curved posterolaterally, axillary process hooked and also curved posterolaterally. When viewed from the lateral side, leg II ( Fig. 4) shows straight main spur with a small elevation above seta pv1, axillary process halfmoon shaped. Spurs on the genu and tibia similar, conical, located in some distance from the distal article margin. Sometimes tibial spur much pointed (Fig. 4). Setae on leg II simple, setae al2 and ad2 on the femur shorter and thicker, seta al1 thickened, whereas ad3 needlelike. Seta al on Tr I short and thick, leg IV setation as in the female. Tubercle on Tr IV absent. Other aspects of legs I-IV unremarkable. Type deposition -Types are deposited in the Zoological Division of the Nature Education Centre, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland, whereas the remaining material is held in the Author's collection.

Etymology
The specific name bicornis refers to two large horns or hooks (lat. cornus = horn) within the female endogynium.
Female -Presternal plates distant less than the thickness of tritosternum; sternal shield anterior margin concaved; the anterior margins of epigynial shield slightly wavy, posterolateral one short and convex, on the internal (dorsal) surface of the epigynium two tiny teeth present; endogynium with oval spherules, their anterior poles are close together, with 2-3 small tooth like protrusions, anterolaterally minute denticles may also be present, stipule is short and just behind the posterior poles of spherules, bears numerous teeth in a fanlike arrangement.
Male -Genital lamina anterior margin with a shallow central concavity, anterior corners rounded; presternal plates with circular central area, rounded despite the sharp anterior protrusion; corniculi conical, with a conspicuous fingerlike protrusion on the ventral side; hypostomatic seta h1 growing from a tubercle; cheliceral movable digit relatively wide, with one small tooth followed by a convex edge proximally, spermatodactyl with antiaxially directed triangular protrusion from a ventral perspective, fixed digit narrow and wavy with 1-2 tiny denticles in front of pilus dentilis, and a row of ca. 4 minute denticles behind pilus dentilis; leg II from the ventral perspective: the femoral main spur slim and long, fingerlike, and curved posterolaterally, the axillary process pointed posterolaterally, from a lateral perspective the femoral main spur arcuate, narrow and fingershaped, the axillary process halfmoon shaped, spur on the genu fingershaped and growing from the elevation at distal article margin, spur on the tibia conical, close to the distal tibial margin.
Gnathosoma -Gnathotectum ( Fig. 7E) trispinate, all prongs similar, narrow and acute. Corniculi conical, hypostome with 11 rows of denticles, hypostomatic and palpcoxal setae simple, the last ones larger. Palptrochanteral v1 seta simple, v2 larger and barbed. Chelicera (Fig. 7F) -movable digit with four teeth, the proximalmost ones larger. Fixed digit with 2 distant teeth in front of pilus dentilis, arcuate one by the side of it, and two behind pilus dentilis, followed by 2 lamellar protrusions, the last one pointed.
Legs -Leg II (Fig. 9C-E) spurred as follows: when viewed from the ventral side, the femoral main spur slim and long, fingerlike, and curved posterolaterally, the axillary process pointed posterolaterally (Fig. 9C,D). From a lateral perspective (Fig. 9E), the femoral main spur arcuate, narrow and fingershaped, whereas the axillary process halfmoon shaped, its base located posterolaterally to the main spur base. The spur on the genu fingershaped and growing from an elevation at the distal article margin. Tibial spur conical, located close to the distal tibial margin. Setae on leg II simple. Leg IV: trochanter without tooth/tubercle, dorso and posterolateral setae on femur shorter and thicker, posteroventral setae on the tibia and basitarsus terminally barbed. Some ventral and posterolateral setae on the tarsus thickened. Other aspects of legs I-IV unremarkable.
Type deposition -Types are deposited in the Zoological Division of the Nature Education Centre, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.

Etymology
The specific name digiticornis refers to a peculiar form of corniculi featuring fingerlike protrusions.

(Figures 10-14)
Diagnosis Female and male -Gnathotectum trispinate with similar, triangular and pointed prongs; gland pore gv1 present; dorsal setae long, most of them reach the next setae row, podonotum with 21 pairs of setae, opisthonotum features 24 pairs of setae (plus several supplementary setae); dorsal tubercle on Tr IV absent.
Female -Presternal plates distance similar to the thickness of tritosternum; sternal shield anterior margin slightly concaved; the anterior margins of epigynial shield wavy, posterolateral one short and convex, the apical part separate from the rest by the less pigmented arcuate band; the internal (dorsal) surface of epigynium with two teeth; endogynial spherules close together, roundish posteriorly and with the flattened or wavy anterior margin. Stipule narrow and long, ending in front of the spherules, richly dentated, with numerous teeth also at the base.
Male -Genital lamina of the anterior corners rounded; subrectangular presternal plates with a rounded posterior margin; cheliceral fixed digit with a blunt apex, slightly concaved in front of pilus dentilis and straight behind it, 12 minute denticles in front and a row of ca. 7 denticles behind pilus dentilis; leg II femoral main spur straight and fingershaped, the axillary process fingershaped; genual and tibial spurs fingershaped and in some distance from the article distal margin, spur on the genu rounded apically, the one on the tibia more pointed; setae al1, al2 on Ti II finely barbed.
Legs -Setae al on Tr I short and thick. Fe II anterolateral setae al1, al2 shorter and thicker, anteroventral setae on Fe II, GeII and Ti II larger and barbed. Leg IV: dorso and posterolateral setae on the femur thick and short, posteroventral setae on the tibia and basitarsus thickened and terminally barbed. Some ventral and posterolateral setae on the tarsus thickened. Tr IV without tubercle. Other aspects of legs I-IV unremarkable.
Gnathosoma -Gnathotectum (Fig. 13B) trispinate, prongs similar, triangular and acute. Corniculi (Fig. 13C,D) with an elevation on the adaxial surface, hypostome with ca. 10 rows of denticles, hypostomatic and palpcoxal setae simple, the latter somewhat longer. Palptrochanteral v1 seta simple, v2 barbed (Fig. 14A). Chelicera (Fig. 14B-D) -when observed from the ventral side, mobile digits curved adaxially and shorter than the straight fixed digits. Laterally (Fig. 14C,D), mobile digit with one tooth followed by an arcuate edge proximally; fixed digit with a blunt apex, slightly concaved in front of the pilus dentilis and straight behind it; 12 minute denticles and a row of ca. 7 denticles in front and behind the pilus dentilis are present, respectively.
Legs -Leg II (Fig. 14E,F) viewed from a lateral perspective (Fig. 14F): the femoral main spur is straight and, like the axillary process, fingershaped. Genual and tibial spurs fingershaped and located at some distance from the article distal margin. Spur on the genu rounded apically, whereas the tibial spur more pointed. Setae on leg II simple, except for the anterolateral setae (al1, al2) on the tibia which can be finely barbed. Other aspects of setation of leg I, III and IV, as in the female. Tr IV without tubercle. Other aspects of legs I-IV unremarkable.
Type deposition -Types are deposited in the Zoological Division of the Nature Education Centre, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.

Etymology
The specific name sextus is simply owed to the fact that this species occupied the 6th position in the Author's list of new Leptogamasus species.

Diagnosis
Female and male -Gnathotectum trispinate with pointed and moderately long prongs, in the male central prong somewhat longer; gland pore gv1 present; podonotum with 21 pairs of setae, opisthonotum with 23 or sometimes 22 pairs of setae; Tr IV without tubercle.
Female -Presternal plates distance less than the thickness of tritosternum base; sternal shield anterior margin concaved, forming a lenticular space between sternum and presternal plates; location of gland pores gv1 variable, but usually close to central axis of the sternum, and far from st3 setae; epigynial shield with the anterior margins sinuous, and posterolateral margins arcuate, the internal (dorsal) surface with two distinct teeth; spherules of the endogynium adhering axially, each one forms anteriorly a large acute protrusion located adaxially and a thornlike tooth growing from the antiaxial margin; narrow stipule can be terminally dentated and usually directed ventrally.
Male -Genital lamina with rounded corners, slightly concaved lateral margins and an anterior edge, the latter usually with a tiny denticle; presternal plates subrectangular; corniculi with the elevation on the adaxial margin; cheliceral fixed digit with finely blunt apex, featuring lamellar teeth, one tooth in front of the pilus dentilis, one by the side and ca. 4 teeth behind the pilus dentilis; leg II in ventral view: femoral main spur curved posterolaterally, axillary process located more anterolaterally, genual spur oriented obliquely to article axis, distally to posteroventral setae; leg II in lateral view: femoral main spur straight, axillary process semilunar, spurs on the genu and tibia fingerlike, and at some distance from the distal article margin.
Ventral idiosoma (Fig. 16A) (Fig. 16A) in close proximity, less distant than the thickness of the tritosternum. Anterior margin of the sternal shield concaved, forming a lenticular space between the sternum and the presternal plates. Location of the sternal pores gv1 variable, even in the same specimen (Fig.  16A,B), but usually located axially in close proximity, and distant from st3 setae (Fig. 16B). Paragynial shields (Fig. 16A,C) metagynial sclerites narrow and arcuate laterally, whereas anteriorly wavy and less distinct (Fig. 16C). Epigynial shield (Figs 16A, 17A) with the anterior margins sinuous, posterolateral margins arcuate, the posterior one straight. Two distinct teeth on the epigynial internal (dorsal) surface present. Endogynium (Figs 16A,C, 17B-D) with spherules adhering axially, each one forming anteriorly the adaxial large acute protrusion (Fig.  17B), but in some cases (Fig. 17C) depending on the orientation of the endogynium, the protrusions are nondistinct and roundish anteriorly. On the lateral margin of each spherule, a thornlike tooth is featured. Narrow stipule is variable (Fig. 17D), may be dentate apically, and usually is directed ventrally. Gland pores gv2 (Figs 16A, 17A) with poorly discernible double channels; iv5, ivo2, ivo3 and gv3 well discernible.
Gnathosoma -Gnathotectum (Fig. 17E) trispinate, all prongs acute and moderately long, the central one longer. Corniculi conical, hypostome with 11 rows of denticles, hypostomatic and palpcoxal setae simple. Palptrochanteral v1 seta simple, v2 barbed. Chelicera (Fig. 17F)movable digit with four teeth, the proximal one the largest, fixed digit with 2 distant teeth in front of pilus dentilis, arcuate and lamellar one by the side of it, and 2 teeth followed by the two toothlike lamellar protrusions behind pilus dentilis.
Legs -Anterolateral (al1, al2) and anterodorsal (ad2) setae on Fe II short and thickened, setae ad3 needlelike. Anteroventral setae on Fe II, Ge II and Ti II thicker and barbed. Leg IV ventral setae on the tibia larger, posteroventral seta on the femur conical, some ventral and posterolateral setae on the tarsus thickened, posteroventral and posterolateral setae on the tibia and the basitarsus, respectively, blunt/barbed apically. Tr IV without a dorsal tubercle. Other  aspects of legs I-IV unremarkable.
Male (Figures 18,19 (Fig. 18A) -genital lamina (Fig. 18A,B) with rounded corners and a concaved anterior edge, usually with a tiny denticle axially, and lateral margins with shallow  concavities. Presternal plates subrectangular. Sternum with gland pores gv1 at the st3 setae level, followed by two small elongated thickenings and two more distinct elongated or circular thickenings of the sternal cuticle. Pores gv2 with distinct two channels, pore iv5 halfway between st5 and ZV1 setae. Sternum, opisthogaster and opisthonotum reticulation scalelike.
Gnathosoma -Gnathotectum (Fig. 18C) trispinate, prongs triangular, and the central one somewhat longer. Corniculi (Fig. 18D) with elevation on the adaxial margin, hypostome with ca. 10 rows of denticles, posterior ones better pronounced, hypostomatic and palpcoxal setae simple, the last ones larger. Palptrochanter v1 seta simple, v2 barbed. Chelicera (Fig.  18E) -when observed from the ventral side, mobile digits nearly straight, fixed digits straight. Laterally, movable digit with one tooth, followed by a sinuous edge proximally, fixed digit with finely blunt apex, featuring lamellar teeth, most of them blunt: one tooth in front of pilus dentilis, one by the side, and ca. 4 teeth behind pilus dentilis.
Legs -Leg II (Fig. 19A,B) spurred as follows: when viewed from the ventral side, the main spur slightly curved posterolaterally, the axillary process located more anterolaterally. Spur on the genu (Fig. 19A) oriented obliquely to the article axis, distally to the posteroventral seta. When the leg II is viewed from the lateral perspective (Fig. 19B), the main spur is straight, axillary process halfmoon, spurs on the genu and the tibia fingerlike, and in some distance from the distal article margin, the tibial one more distant. Setae on leg II simple, setae al2 and ad2 on the femur short and thick, ad1 normal, ad3 nidlelike. Seta al on Tr I short and thick, leg IV setation as in the female. Tubercle on Tr IV absent. Other aspects of legs I-IV unremarkable.
The material has been collected by Leszek Dumnicki. Type deposition -Types are deposited in the Zoological Division of the Nature Education Centre, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland, whereas all remaining material is held in the Author's collection.

Etymology
The specific name trentinis refers to Trentino, the province in northern Italy where the types were encountered.

New species differential taxonomy
All new Leptogamasus (Leptogamasus) species described in this study share several features, what may be related to a relative close distribution in the areas west and east of Lake Garda (Lago di Garda). In the females, the following features are of permanent character: (1) a pair of denticles on the internal (dorsal) surface of the epigynial shield, (2) paragynial plates moderately distant from one another, (3) a narrow and arcuate metagynial sclerite of the paragynial shield, (4) dentation of the fixed digit of chelicera -two distant teeth in front of pilus dentilis, one arcuate tooth by the side of pilus, and two teeth followed by twothree lamellar teeth behind pilus dentilis, and (5) gnathotectum of a similar form. However, other characteristics, mainly the structure of endogynium, effectively distinguishes the new species from the other. In Leptogamasus (L.) bicornis n. sp., the endogynium possesses a broad lamellar and dentate stipule, and a richly dentated endogynial sac, as well as the paragynium metagynial sclerite reaches the anterior paragynium margin, i.e. characteristics similar to the one encountered in Leptogamasus (L.) octavellus (AthiasHenriot, 1967). In L. (L.) bicornis n. sp. endogynial spherules are wavy anteriorly, though, whereas in L. (L.) octavellus they form the chelate protrusions. Furthermore, in L. (L.) octavellus two conspicuous hornshaped protrusions of the endogynial wall are not present. Leptogamasus (L.) digiticornis n. sp. is comparable to Leptogamasus (L.) varpulus (AthiasHenriot, 1967) in which the endogynial spherules are also oval, and form the small protrusions anteriorly. The main differences are: in L. (L.) digiticornis n. sp. teeth on internal surface of the epigynium are minute and more distant, whereas in L. (L.) varpulus are larger and closely located. Endogynial stipule in L. (L.) digiticornis n. sp. is short and the teeth are in a fanlike arrangement, whereas in L. (L.) varpulus stipule is much longer and dentate on the distal margin only. Endogynium in Leptogamasus (L.) sextus n. sp. is characterised by roundish spherules with a wavy or flat anterior margin, and relatively long, narrow and richly dentate (also at the base) stipule. Some similarities may be encountered in Leptogamasus (L.) parvulus (Berlese, 1903) sensu AthiasHenriot, 1967 redescribed as Pergamasus (?) parvulus (Berlese) by AthiasHenriot (1967). There are several substantial differences, however, i.e. solid stipule is dentate, but thick and shorter than the spherules, metagynial sclerite of the paragynium has different shape in the adaxial part, the teeth on the internal surface of the epigynium are located marginally, and finally, Tr IV features a large tooth in the article midregion. Leptogamasus (L.) trentinis n. sp. shows some similarities in the endogynium and the paragynium structures to Leptogamasus (L.) kaposvariensis (Athias Henriot, 1967), but the latter has a distal tubercle on Tr IV, not encountered in L. (L.) trentinis n. sp.