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Two new and one re-described mite species of Anchigamasus Athias-Henriot, 1971 (Parasitiformes: Parasitidae)

Witaliński, Wojciech ¹

¹✉ Department of Comparative Anatomy, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30–387 Kraków, Poland.

2026 - Volume: 66 Issue: 1 pages: 50-68

https://doi.org/10.24349/9vhs-j1rm
ZooBank LSID: 58253E85-B927-49EA-B0ED-8064797E2C8E

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Original research

Keywords

mite taxonomy new species supplemental data European fauna

Abstract

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Introduction

Genus Anchigamasus Athias-Henriot, 1971, with a type species Anchigamasus geileri (Karg, 1968), comprised to date of 11 species (Athias-Henriot 1967, 1968, 1979; Karg 1968; Willmann 1954; Witaliński 2024a, b, c; 2025). The Anchigamasus species may be encountered in Central and East Europe. The present paper provides a description of two new species, Anchigamasus parasiculiger n. sp. from Romania, and Anchigamasus cribrogynus n. sp. from southern Austria. Some additional data on Anchigamasus siculiger (Athias-Henriot, 1967), originally collected in Hungary, are also supplemented, based on the Athias-Henriot material deposited in the Natural History Museum of Geneva. Those supplemental data prove indispensable for distinguishing the recently described species from the already acknowledged ones in the taxonomy database.

Methods

Mites were routinely extracted from forest litter into 70% ethanol using Berlese funnels, mounted in Hoyer's medium on glass slides, cured for several days in an oven (60°C), and studied using an Olympus BX51 microscope, fitted with a drawing tube. The drawings were made with the aid of Corel Draw X8 and a Wacom Intuos Graphic Tablet. The system of dorsal, ventral, palpal, and leg setal notations was based on Evans and Till (1979), whereas poroidotaxy and adenotaxy on Moraza and Peña (2005), with the necessary adjustments for Parasitidae.

Systematics

Family Parasitidae Oudemans, 1901

Subfamily Pergamasinae Juvara-Balş, 1972

Genus Anchigamasus Athias-Henriot, 1971

Paragamasus (Anchigamasus) Athias-Henriot, 1971: 172

Type species Anchigamasus geileri (Karg, 1968), designated by Witaliński 2024b: 412

Anchigamasus parasiculiger n. sp.

ZOOBANK: B2B59722-B18C-46F7-B758-CAD793489636

(Figures 1–5)

Diagnosis

Female and male — Idiosoma well sclerotised; dorsal setae long; podonotum with 22 pairs of setae, opisthonotum with 27 up to 28 seta pairs (24 regular setae pairs plus 3 or 4 supplementary pairs); opisthogaster with 10 pairs of setae; gnathotectum central prong relatively wide, triangular, somewhat longer than the lateral ones.

Female — Epigynial shield central prong regularly tapered; central subapical thickening with the wing-shaped arms, acute anterolaterally, behind subapical thickening a narrow transversal band of more sclerotised cuticle runs; endogynium large and pouchy (120–135 x 150–170), spherules elongated, on the dorsal endogynium wall two long, acute protrusions directed posteriad are observed; between the posterior ends of the metagynial thickenings a stripped plate, which looks like a perforated one, is found.

Male — Chelicera fixed digit straight and obtuse terminally, with two teeth ahead and one just behind the pilus dentilis; leg II ventrally: the femoral main spur irregular and obliquely cut terminally, the axillary process relatively large, wedge-shaped and slightly curved posterolaterally; leg II laterally: the femoral main spur subtriangular and pointed apically, the axillary process narrow, wedge-shaped and straight, genual spur subrectangular with rounded corners, located on a distinct article protrusion, tibial spur subtriangular, pointed distally, all spurs and axillary process striped.

Description

Female (Figures 1–3)

Idiosoma (Fig. 1) — Well sclerotised, oval and relatively wide, 858 x 550 in holotype (length x width), in paratypes 820–860 x 540–555 (n=4). Podonotum – 22 pairs of long setae (r1 and z3 absent), ca. 70–90, but 24–27 (z1), 28–31 (s1), 49–54 (s2), 49–60 (r2), 128–140 (r3), 29–39 (r4), 55–60 (r6). Six pairs of pore openings (idj4, idj6, idz1, idz3, idz6, ids4) and four pairs of gland openings (gdj2, gdz5, gdz6, gds4) are observed. Opisthonotum – with 27 or 28 pairs of long setae (ending near the next setae row), since the two supplementary pairs (Zx) are located in the rear part of the opisthosoma, as well as one or two pairs (Sx) (Fig. 1) are located laterally in the area of gdS2 openings. Opisthonotal setae range from ca. 72 to 90. Dorsal setae simple. Eleven pairs of pore openings (idJ1, idJ2, idJ4, idJ5, idZ1, idZ3, idZ5, idZ6, idS2–idS4) and one pair of gland openings (gdS2) are discernible. Gland pores gdZ4 absent. Podonotum not reticulated, opisthonotum with a scale-like reticulation. Peritreme – length 356 in holotype and 327–340 in paratypes, ending anteriorly at the Co I level.

Ventral idiosoma (Figs 2, 3) — Setae length: 68–78 (st1–st3), 54–62 (st4), 52–57 (st5), opisthogaster with ten pairs of setae, 52–74, 21–25 (Aa, Pa). Ventral setae simple, reticulation of the sternum and opisthogaster scale-like. The presternal plates subtriangular, with a rear margin straight or slightly concaved. The area between the presternal plates and the sternum with 1–2 fine lines. The pores gv1 located in some distance from the posterior sternal margin and axially to setae st3. Paragynial shields (Figs 2, 3A) with very thin arcuate metagynial sclerites showing a shallow concavity at the setae st4 level. Epigynial shield (Figs 2, 3B) with the central prong solid and regularly tapered. The central subapical thickening with the wing-shaped arms, acute anterolaterally, behind subapical thickening a narrow band (ca. 6) of more sclerotised cuticle runs transversally. The lateral subapical thickenings ending anteriorly just behind the tip of epigynial central prong and posteriorly are running divergently. Between the posterior ends of the metagynial thickenings a plate covered with a number of ridges, looking like a perforated plate, when the focus is adjusted, is to be found (Fig. 3A).Endogynium (Fig. 3C, D) large and pouchy (120–135 in diameter and 150–170 long), spherules are elongated and run along the walls, on the dorsal endogynium wall two long, tapered protrusions directed posteriad are discernible. Gland pores gv2 with two openings, iv5, ivo2, ivo3, ivp pores and gv3 gland pores well discernible.

Gnathosoma — Gnathotectum (Fig. 3E) trispinate, central prong relatively wide, and some twice longer than the lateral ones. Corniculi conical, hypostome with barely visible ca. 10 rows of denticles. Hypostomatic and palpcoxal setae simple, h2 somewhat shorter than the others. Palptrochanter v1 seta simple, v2 in the distal half barbed on both sides. Chelicera – movable digit with three teeth, the fixed digit with two teeth ahead of the pilus dentilis, followed by two larger teeth proximally.

Legs — Seta al on Tr I somewhat shortened. Leg IV: tarsal tactile seta pd1 175–186, tarsal seta av1 thicker than pv1. Coxa IV with an anterolateral rectangular tubercle, Tr IV smooth. Ta IV 254–267 long.

Male (Figure 4, 5)

Idiosoma — Oval, with lateral incisions at the legs III/IV level, well sclerotised, 810–840 x 403–419 (length x width, n=3). Podonotum and opisthonotum setation like in the female. Reticulation of the podonotum not discernible, the opisthonotum scale-like reticulated. Dorsal suture well pronounced. Peritreme – length 343–353, ending anteriorly as in the females.

Ventral idiosoma — Sternal and opisthogastral setation like in the female. Sternal region (Fig. 4A) – the genital lamina anterior margin slightly concaved, anterolateral corners rounded. Presternal plates subtriangular with rounded posterior corners and irregular margins. The sternum with gland pores gv1 located adaxially, at the setae st3 level. Gland pore gv2 with two openings, pore iv5 between st5 and ZV1, in 1/4 distance closer to seta st5. Pores ivo2, ivo3, and gv3 well discernible.

Gnathosoma — Gnathotectum (Fig. 4B) similar to that in the female. Corniculi slim, settled on the arcuate bases (genae). Hypostome with 10 rows of denticles, 2-3 anterior rows barely visible. Hypostomatic and palpcoxal setae simple, h2 shorter than the others. Palptrochanter v1 seta no more than half-length of the v2 seta and located on the tubercle, seta v2 in distal half barbed on one side (Fig. 4C). Chelicerae – when observed ventrally, the fixed digits are straight and regularly tapered, whereas the movable digits shorter and hooked terminally. In the lateral view (Fig. 4D) fixed digit obtuse terminally, bearing two teeth ahead and one larger tooth just behind the pilus dentilis. Regarding the teeth ahead of the pilus dentilis, the anterior one is acute, whereas the posterior tooth is rounded. The movable digit with a hooked tip, bearing two teeth in digit midway, followed by indentation of the digit margin proximally. Several arthrodial corona processes are thick.

Legs — Leg II (Fig. 5A–C) spurred as follows: when viewed from the ventral side (Fig. 5A) or the anteroventral side (Fig. 5B), the femoral main spur is irregular and obliquely ended, the axillary process relatively large, wedge-shaped and curved posterolaterally. Genual and tibial spurs ventrally oval, but anteroventrally both spurs like in the lateral view: genual one subrectangular with rounded corners, located on a distinct article protrusion, and tibial spur conical, pointed distally. From the lateral view (Fig. 5C), the femoral main spur subtriangular and pointed apically, the axillary process narrow, wedge-shaped and straight. All spurs and axillary process striped. Setae on leg II simple, femoral seta al1 slightly shortened, setae al2 and ad2 shortened, whereas ad3 short and needle-like. Seta pv1 on the genu located just behind the spur-bearing protrusion, seta pv1 on the tibia posterolaterally to the tibial spur. Leg IV: setae pv1 on genu and av1, pv1 on tibia, as well as setae av2, av3 and pv2 on the tarsus somewhat thickened, tarsal av1 thicker than pv1. Tactile dorsal seta on Ta IV 150–167 long. Ta IV 245–260 long. Co IV and Tr IV smooth.

Material examined

Holotype — Female (slide no. 2980 A), Tinovul Mohoș peat bog, Bodoc Mts, Harghita county, Romania, 46.1353°N, 25.9000°E, alt. ca. 1051 m a.s.l., 7 June 2022, peat bog with sphagnum, bog rosemary and blueberries. Leg. Prof. W. M. Weiner.

Paratypes — three females (slides no. 2980 B, F) and two males (slides no. 2980 C, D), collection data, as in the holotype.

Other material — three females and one male (slides no. 2979 A, 2980 E, G), ibid.

Type deposition — holotype and paratypes are deposited in the Zoological Division of the Nature Education Centre, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland. The other material remains in the Author's own collection.

Etymology

The species name parasiculiger refers to some similarities with Anchigamasus siculiger (Athias-Henriot, 1967), both in the females and males.

Anchigamasus cribrogynus n. sp.

ZOOBANK: 965D7C26-B088-4D80-9E58-30A2E01DD038

(Figures 6–11)

Diagnosis

Female and male — Idiosoma well sclerotised; dorsal setae long; podonotum with 22 pairs of setae (r1 and z3 absent), opisthonotum with up to 26 setae pairs (24 regular setae pairs plus 1 or 2 supplementary pairs); opisthogaster with 10 pairs of setae (SV1 and SV3 present).

Female — Central prong of the epigynial shield regularly tapered; central subapical thickening T-shaped type, with the arms rounded laterally or slightly acute anterolaterally; the lateral subapical thickenings of the epigynium arcuate, ending anteriorly behind the epigynium tip and somewhat wider in the posterior parts; behind subapical thickening a relatively wide band (ca. 16) of slightly more sclerotised cuticle runs transversally; endogynium saccular (ca. 75–95 x 82–105), spherules elongated, protrusions or teeth in the endogynium absent; at the level of the posterior ends of the metagynial thickenings a plate looking like perforated, frequently concaved posteriorly, is observed.

Male — Chelicera fixed digit hooked terminally and bearing a row of little denticles, as well as a larger tooth by the pilus dentilis side; leg II ventrally: the femoral main spur finger-shaped, with the tip obliquely cut, the axillary process hooked posterolaterally; leg II laterally: the femoral main spur straight, finger-shaped and rounded terminally or slightly arcuate and terminally tapered, axillary process hooked or subtriangular, genual spur rounded, the tibial one conical.

Description

Female (Figures 6–9)

Idiosoma (Fig. 6) — Oval, well sclerotised, 785 x 460 in holotype (length x width), in paratypes 745–800 x 425–470 (n=5). The margins of the dorsal shield bent ventrally and visible as a thicker narrow margin in dorsal/ventral body view. Podonotum – 22 pairs of setae (r1 and z3 absent), setae long, ca. 70–90, but 24–30 (z1), 36-40 (s1, s2), 41–50 (r2), 26–35 (r4) and 110–133 (r3). Six pairs of pore openings (idj4, idj6, idz1, idz3, idz6, ids4) and four pairs of gland openings (gdj2, gdz5, gdz6, gds4) are observed. Opisthonotum – with up to 26 pairs of setae, as one or two supplementary pairs (Sx, Zx) are discernible. Opisthonotal setae range from ca. 70–85. Eleven pairs of pore openings (idJ1, idJ2, idJ4, idJ5, idZ1, idZ3, idZ5, idZ6, idS2–idS4) and one pair of gland openings (gdS2))are discernible. Gland pores gdZ4 absent. Dorsal setae simple, podonotum smooth, with transversal lines at z2 and j5 setae. opisthonotum with a scale-like reticulation. Peritreme – length 315 in holotype, and 305–325 in paratypes, ending anteriorly at the Co I level.

Ventral idiosoma (Fig. 7) — Setae length: 44–52 (st1–st5), opisthogaster with ten pairs of setae, 59–65, 21–24 (Aa, Pa). Ventral setae simple, reticulation of the sternum and opisthogaster scale-like. The presternal plates subtriangular, with a rear margin straight or slightly convex. The area between the presternal plates with 1–2 fine lines. The pores gv1 located at st3 setae level towards axial line. Paragynial shields (Figs 7, 8A) with metagynial sclerites narrow and arcuate (Fig. 7). Central prong of the epigynial shield (Figs 7, 8B–D) regularly tapered; central subapical thickening T-shaped type, with the arms rounded laterally or slightly acute anterolaterally. Behind the subapical thickening a relatively wide band (ca. 16) of more sclerotised cuticle runs transversally. The lateral subapical thickenings are arcuate, ending anteriorly just behind the tip of epigynial central prong, in the posterior parts they are slightly wider. At the level of the posterior ends of the metagynial thickenings a perforated plate, frequently concaved posteriorly, is observed (Figs. 7, 8D, 9A). Endogynium (Fig. 8A, E, F) saccular (ca. 75 in diameter and 105 long), with two elongated spherules located laterally. There are no thorns or teeth in the endogynium. Gland pores gv2 with two openings, iv5, ivo2, ivo3, ivp pores and gv3 gland pores well discernible.

Gnathosoma — Gnathotectum (Fig. 9B) trispinate, prongs acute, the central one slightly longer than the lateral ones. Corniculi conical, hypostome with 10–11 rows of denticles, the anterior ones straight and barely visible. Hypostomatic and palpcoxal setae simple, h2 somewhat shorter than the others. Palptrochanter v1 seta simple, v2 in the distal half barbed. Chelicera (Fig. 9C) – movable digit with three teeth, the fixed digit with two teeth ahead and two behind the pilus dentilis, as well as one tooth by the side of pilus dentilis.

Legs — Leg IV: tarsal tactile seta pd1 145–155, tarsal seta av1 thicker than pv1. Coxa IV with an anterolateral rectangular protuberance (Fig. 9D), Tr IV smooth. Ta IV 240 (holotype) and 230–247 (paratypes) long.

Male (Figure 10, 11)

Idiosoma — Oval, with a shallow lateral incision at the legs III/IV level, well sclerotised, 670–730 x 365–380 (length x width, n=5). Podonotum and opisthonotum setation like in the female. Dorsal setae simple. Reticulation of the podonotum not discernible, the opisthonotum scale-like reticulated. Dorsal suture well pronounced. Peritreme – length 295–305, ending anteriorly as in the females.

Ventral idiosoma — Sternal and opisthogastral setation like in the female. Sternal region (Fig. 10A) – the genital lamina anterior margin slightly concaved, corners are laterally protruded and rounded. Presternal plates subtriangular or irregular, with an anterior protrusion. The sternum with the gland pores gv1 located adaxially, at the setae st3 level. Gland pore gv2 with two openings, pores iv5 close behind st5 seta toward seta ZV1. Pores ivo2, ivo3, and gv3 well discernible.

Gnathosoma — Gnathotectum (Fig. 10B) with similar prongs, wider than in the females. Corniculi slim, settled on the arcuate bases (genae) (Fig. 10C). Hypostome with 11 rows of denticles, Q1 and Q2 arcuate anteriorly. Hypostomatic and palpcoxal setae simple, h2 shorter than the others. Palptrochanter v1 seta shorter than v2 and located on the tubercle (Fig. 10C, D), seta v2 in distal half barbed. Chelicerae – when observed ventrally (Fig. 10E), the fixed digits are regularly tapered, whereas the movable digits are shorter and terminally curved. Laterally (Fig. 10F), the fixed digit terminally hooked, bearing a row of dozen or so denticles and one larger denticle by the side of the pilus dentilis. The movable digit with two teeth in digit midway and the tooth-like protrusion of digit margin proximally.

Legs — Leg II (Fig. 11A–D) spurred as follows: when viewed from the ventral side (Fig. 11A), the femoral main spur finger-shaped, with the tip cut obliquely, the axillary process pointed and curved posterolaterally. Genual spur oval, whereas the tibial one acute distally. In the lateral view (Fig. 11B–D), the femoral main spur finger-shaped and rounded terminally (Fig. 11B), or slightly arcuate and terminally tapered (Fig. 11C). The axillary process either hooked (Fig. 11C, D), or subtriangular (Fig. 11B). The genual spur rounded, the tibial one conical. Setae on leg II simple, femoral seta al1 slightly shortened, setae al2 and ad2 shortened, whereas ad3 short and needle-like. Seta pv1 on the genu located behind the spur, seta pv1 on the tibia posterolaterally to the tibial spur. Leg IV: setae av1 and pv1 on genu and tibia, as well as setae av2, av3 and pv2 on the tarsus somewhat thickened, tarsal av1 thicker than pv1. Tactile dorsal seta on Ta IV 145–160 long. Ta IV 230–238 long. Co IV and Tr IV smooth.

Material examined

Holotype — Female (slide no. 2096 A), Freibach Stausee, Karawanks Mts, Austria, 46.5058°N, 14.4468°E, alt. ca. 760 m a.s.l., 14 Sept. 2006, floor litter in a mixed forest.

Paratypes — 16 females (slides no. 2096 B–F, H, I) and 9 males (slides no. 2096 E–I), collection data as in the holotype.

Other material — 12 females and 11 males (slide no. 2101), ibid.

Type deposition — holotype and paratypes are deposited in the Zoological Division of the Nature Education Centre, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland. The other material remains in the Author's own collection.

Etymology

The specific name cribrogynus refers to the plate which looks like a perforated one, located behind the endogynium in the female (lat. cribrum means a sieve).

Anchigamasus siculiger (Athias-Henriot, 1967)

Pergamasus siculiger Athias-Henriot, 1967:42, figs 100 – 103, 123, 136 – 140, 142 – 145, 241 – 244, photo 18

(Figures 12, 13)

Supplemental description to the characteristics originally presented by Athias-Henriot (1967)

Female (Figure 12)

Idiosoma — Moderately sclerotised, oval and relatively wide. Podonotum and opisthonotum – long setae (well reaching the next setae row), ca. 72–85, but some other available setae ca. 68, (j1), 97 (j2), 26 (z1), 150 (r3). Dorsal setae simple. Gland pores gdZ4 absent. Podonotum not reticulated, opisthonotum with a scale-like reticulation. Peritreme – length 335–337, ending anteriorly at the Co I level.

Ventral idiosoma (Fig. 12A–C) — Setae length: 65 (st1), 56 (st2), 65 (st3), opisthogaster with ten pairs of setae. Ventral setae simple, reticulation of the sternum and opisthogaster scale-like. The presternal plates (Fig. 12A) subtriangular, with a rear margin nearly straight. The area between the presternal plates and the sternum with 2–3 fine lines. The pores gv1 located in some distance from the posterior sternal margin and axially to setae st3.

Central prong of epigynial shield (Fig. 12B) regularly tapered; central subapical thickening T-shaped type, with arms rounded laterally (Fig. 12B, C). Behind subapical thickening a narrow band (ca. 7–9) of more sclerotised cuticle runs transversally. The lateral subapical thickenings are arcuate, ending anteriorly behind the tip of the epigynial central prong, in the posterior parts they are somewhat wider.

Endogynium large and pouchy (ca. 100–110 long), spherules are elongated and run along the walls, on the dorsal endogynium wall two long, tapered protrusions directed posteriad are discernible (see Athias-Henriot, 1967: Fig. 139). Between the posterior ends of the metagynial thickenings a plate covered with a number of ridges, looking like a perforated plate, when the focus is adjusted, is observed. Gland pores gv2 with two openings, iv5, ivo2, ivo3, ivp pores and gv3 gland pores well discernible.

Gnathosoma — Gnathotectum (Fig. 12D) trispinate, central prong twice longer than the lateral ones. Corniculi conical, hypostome with 10 rows of denticles. Hypostomatic and palpcoxal setae simple and of similar length. Palptrochanter v1 seta simple, v2 in the distal half barbed on both sides. Chelicera – movable digit with three teeth, the fixed digit (Fig. 12E) with two teeth ahead of the pilus dentilis, one tooth just behind and by the side of the pilus dentilis, followed by two somewhat larger teeth proximally.

Legs — Leg IV: tarsal tactile seta pd1 155–175, tarsal seta av1 thicker than pv1. Ta IV ca. 256–288 long. Coxa IV with an anterolateral tubercle (Fig. 12F), Tr IV smooth.

Male (Figure 13)

Idiosoma — Oval, with lateral incisions at the legs III/IV level, moderately to well sclerotised. Podonotum and opisthonotum setation like in the female. Dorsal setae simple. Reticulation of the podonotum not discernible, whereas the opisthonotum scale-like reticulated. Dorsal suture moderately pronounced. Peritreme – length ca. 315–339, ending anteriorly as in the females.

Ventral idiosoma — Sternal and opisthogastral setation like in the female. Sternal region – the genital lamina (Fig. 13A) anterior margin slightly convex, corners are laterally protruding and rounded. Presternal plates subtriangular with rounded posterior corners. The sternum with gland pores gv1 located adaxially at setae st3 level. Gland pore gv2 with two openings, pores iv5 close behind st5 seta toward seta ZV1. Pores ivo2, ivo3, and gv3 well discernible.

Gnathosoma — Gnathotectum with similar, short triangular prongs. Corniculi conical, settled on the arcuate bases (genae). Hypostome with barely visible rows of denticles. Hypostomatic and palpcoxal setae simple. Palptrochanter v1 seta slightly thickened, half-length of v2 seta and located on the tubercle (Fig. 13B). Seta v2 like in the female. Chelicerae – when observed laterally (Fig. 13C), fixed digit terminally blunt, bearing one tooth ahead of the pilus dentilis and one larger tooth by the side and just behind the pilus. The movable digit hooked apically, with two teeth in digit anterior half and tooth-like protrusion of the digit margin proximally.

Legs — Leg II (Fig. 13D, E) in lateral view spurred as follows: the femoral main spur finger-shaped and relatively short, the axillary process narrow, sharply pointed and hooked out of article body. Genual spur located on article elevation, whereas tibial spur subtriangular and pointed terminally. Setae on leg II simple, femoral seta al1 slightly shortened, setae al2 and ad2 shortened, whereas ad3 short and needle-like. Seta pv1 on the genu located behind the spur-bearing protrusion, seta pv1 on the tibia posterolaterally to the tibial spur (Fig. 13D). Leg IV: setae pv1 on genu and av1, pv1 on tibia, as well as setae av2, av3 and pv2 on the tarsus somewhat thickened, tarsal av1 thicker than pv1. Tactile dorsal seta pd1 on Ta IV 170–183 long. Ta IV 270–275 long. Co IV and Tr IV smooth.

Material examined

Two females (H266, H281) and two males (H282, H330), kindly loaned from the Athias-Henriot collection in the Natural History Museum of Geneva, were examined. All examined specimens were collected in Hungary and were not a holotype. Their data are as follows: H266: Mg27: Bükk hegys, Nagyaezö, 7 June 1957, Balogh. (S. Mahunka coll.); H281: Mg29: Kaposvár, Nov. 1940, Márk, Hungary (S. Mahunka coll.); H282: Mg29: Kaposvár, Nov. 1940, Márk, Hungary (S. Mahunka coll.); H330: Mg15, Kaposvár, 1940, Márk, Hungary (S. Mahunka coll.).

Remarks and differential taxonomy

Both newly described species, A. parasiculiger n. sp. and A. cribrogynus n. sp., as well as A. siculiger, females and males are characterized with long dorsal setae, whereas in the other Anchigamasus species, the dorsal setae are evidently shorter. Furthermore, in the females, there is a characteristic solid plate, named perforated plate, extended between the posterior ends of the metagynial sclerites, not observed in the other Anchigamasus species.

In both newly described species several additional seta pairs on the opisthonotal side can be observed. For the A. parasiculiger n. sp. females, the most characteristic is the central prong of the epigynium, with subapical thickening showing the wing-like lateral arms, which are not present in such form in A. siculiger and A. cribrogynus. Farther, a subapical thickening in A. parasiculiger n. sp., A. siculiger and A cribrogynus n. sp. is followed by a narrow transversal band of slightly more sclerotised cuticle. Such band measured along the mite axis in A cribrogynus n. sp. (ca. 16) is ca. twice wider than in A. siculiger (ca. 8), and even wider than in A. parasiculiger n. sp. (ca. 6). For A. siculiger and A. parasiculiger n. sp. females the other characteristic feature is a large saccular endogynium with two long and acute protrusions near its entrance. In A. cribrogynus n. sp. endogynium is smaller and there are no protrusions.

In the male, leg II armature in all three species under consideration is different, especially in respect of femoral and genual spurs, since tibial spurs are conical and very similar. Genual spur in A. siculiger and A. parasiculiger n. sp. is located on the distinct article protrusion, whereas in A. cribrogynus n. sp. the article protrusion is barely pronounced. Laterally, the main femoral spur in A. siculiger is narrow, finger-shaped (in the original Athias-Henriot description), or finger-shaped, but relatively shorter and wider (in the material examined by the author). In A. parasiculiger n. sp., the main femoral spur is wider basally, as well as in the ventral or ventrolateral view (not available in A. siculiger specimens examined by the author) is apically obliquely cut. The axillary process in A. parasiculiger n. sp. and A. siculiger is relatively large and pointed, frequently hooked towards the main femoral spur, whereas in A. cribrogynus n. sp. the axillary process is evidently shorter, either hooked or triangular.

The cheliceral fixed digit in A. siculiger and A. parasiculiger n. sp. is terminally obtuse, whereas in A. cribrogynus n. sp., it is hooked. Also, a number of teeth on the fixed cheliceral digit in compared species is quite different: three teeth in A. parasiculiger n. sp., dozen or so in A. cribrogynus n. sp., but only two teeth in A. siculiger.

Finally, A. siculiger is referenced also by Karg (1993), who provides a description and some drawings, as well as he inserts the species into the key. However, entire description, as well as the drawing are identical as in the original Athias-Henriot description.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks are extended to Dr. Ilinca Juvara-Balş and Dr. Lionel Monod, whose courtesy made it possible to have the Athias-Henriot original material, as deposited in the Natural History Museum of Geneva, thoroughly examined for comparative purposes.

The study was partly supported by a grant allocated by the Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland (Grant Ref. No N18/DBS/000005).

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References

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7. Moraza M.L., Peña M.A. 2005. The family Pachylaelapidae Vitzthum, 1931 on Tenerife Island (Canary Islands), with description of seven new species of the genus Pachylaelaps (Acari, Mesostigmata: Pachylaelapidae). Acarologia, 45: 103-129.
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12. Witaliński W. 2025. Two new mite species of Anchigamasus Athias-Henriot, 1971 (Parasitiformes: Parasitidae). Acarologia, 65: 854-867. https://doi.org/10.24349/v0z2-t67t

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