A new hypertrichous larval Erythrites (Erythraeinae) from Banks Peninsula, New Zealand

Abstract

Erythrites otamahua sp. n. is described from three unfed larvae recovered from pitfall traps on Otamahua (Quail) Island, Lyttelton Harbour, and Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. This hypertrichous mite bears an idiosoma clothed in 99 dark, dorsal setae; has up to 5 pairs of scutalae all longer than 100 microns and a scutum much wider (W) than long (L), (L:W = 0.673). All legs are long; >800 microns and genua I bears one σ solenidion. It is most similar to Erythrites reginae (Hirst, 1928) and Erythrites urrbrae (Womersley, 1934), both Australian species. It is posited that the hypertrichous idiosoma confers solar gain advantage to these larvae seeking a host at higher latitudes.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:373A48AE-5C58-4A2F-8536-CC825DE0C4AD

Keywords:

• Erythrites otamahua sp. nov.
• Banks Peninsula
• New Zealand
• hypertrichous
• Erythraeinae

Acknowledgements

Mike Bowie of Lincoln University is thanked for collecting the mites. Leslie Chisholm supplied information on the Erythrites collection at SAMA. Two anonymous referees are thanked for comments that greatly improved the paper.