Fig. 2. – A-E. Austrophthiracarus gomerensis sp. nov. (holotype): A – left genitoaggenital plate, B – left anoadanal plate, C – mentum of infracapitulum, D – notogaster, lateral view, E – trochanter and femur of leg I, lateral view. F-I. Atropacarus (Atropacarus) paraserratus sp. nov. (holotype): F – pro-dorsum, dorsal view, G – right genitoaggenital and anoadanal plates, H – lateral view of body, I – trochanter and femur of leg I, lateral view.

Phthiracarus schusteri sp. nov. setae: c₁ 83.5, h₁ 86.0, ps₁ 75.9; genitoaggenital plate _{(Figs 1 A-E)} 88.5x60.7, anoadanal plate 88.5x50.6.

_{Description. Measurements of holotype: prodorsum:} Rather small species. Colour dark yellow brown. Integlength 202, width 149, height 83.5, sensillus 25.3, setae: ^{ument densely porous.} interlamellar 78.4, lamellar 53.1, rostral 43.0, exobothrid-Prodorsum with distinct and long lateral carinae. Sigilial 17.7; notogaster: length 352, width 238, height 250, lar fields present, median longer than lateral ones. Sensilli

short, spindle-shaped, pointed distally, smooth. Setae of medium length, attenuate, in>le>ro>ex.

Notogaster with 15 pairs of non vestigial, fairly long setae, setae c₁ shorter than distance c₁-d₁. Setae of row c near the anterior border, setae c₂ slightly more remote than setae c₁ and c₃. Vestigial setae f₁ far anteriad of setae h₁. Two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present.

Ventral region. Setae h of mentum longer than distance between them. Formula of genital setae: 4+3: 2. Anoadanal plates with well-developed anal and adanal setae. All setae except shorter ad₃ setae similar in length.

Setation of legs complete. Setae d of femora I located in the middle of article.

Types. Holotype. Turkey, RS 576a (detailed list of localities is accessible from the collection of Prof. R. Schuster, University of Graz).

Etymology. The specific epithet is chosen in honour of the owner of the sample, an excellent acarologist – Prof.

R. Schuster. Comparison. The new species is similar to some other Palaearctic species but is distinguishable by the following characters: setae of row c of notogaster located near of anterior border, vestigial setae f₁ placed anteriorly to setae h₁ and adanal setae ad₁ and ad₂ not longer than anal setae. Comparison to similar species: Phthiracarus opacus Niedbała, 1986 has vestigial setae f₁ located posteriorly to h₁ setae and adanal setae ad₁ and ad₂ longer than other setae of the plates; P. assimilis Niedbała, 1983 has longer setae of body, h setae of infracapitulum shorter than distance between them and adanal setae ad₁ and ad₂ longer than other setae; P. clavatus Parry, 1979 has setae of row c of notogaster more remote from border, setae h of infra-capitulum not longer than distance between them and adanal setae ad₁ and ad₂ vestigial or shorter than other setae; P. dominiaki Niedbała, 1984 has longer setae of body, especially adanal setae, setae of row c remote from anterior border, and vestigial setae f₁ located posteriorly of h₁; P. peristomaticus Willmann, 1948 has setae c₁ and c₂ of notogaster remote from anterior border vestigial, setae f₁ located posteriorly of h₁ and longer adanal setae ad₁ and ad₂; P. similis Niedbała, 1981 has setae of row c

remote from border and adanal setae and setae ad₁ and ad₂vestigial.

Austrophthiracarus gomerensis sp. nov (Figs 1 F-G; 2 A-E) Description. Measurements of holotype: prodorsum: length 278, width 202, height 106, sensillus 45.5, setae: interlamellar 180, lamellar 45.5, rostral 55.7, exobothridial 20.2; notogaster: length 575, width 364, height 353, c₁131, c₂ 172, c₃ 35.3, h₁ and ps₁ 116; genitoaggenital plate

151x101, anoadanal plate 197x106.

Colour light brown. Surface of body punctate.

Prodorsum with indistinct sigillar fields, median longer than lateral ones. Lateral carinae distinct, long. Sensilli club-like, smooth, rounded distally. Interlamellar setae rigid, erect, bent posteriorly covered sparsely with small spines in distal half. Lamellar and rostral setae simple, smooth, in>ro>le>ex.

Notogaster with 17 pairs non vestigial, rather short (c₁<c₁-d₁) setae, bent anteriorly as interlamellar setae covered sparsely with small spines in distal half. Additional setae in rows h and ps. Only setae c₂, c₃ and cp smooth. Setae c₂ very long, setae c₃ very short. Setae of row c_1-3 remote from anterior border in equal distance. Vestigial setae f₁ posteriorad of h₁ setae.

Ventral region. Setae h of mentum equal to distance between them. Genitoaggenital plates with 9 pairs of genital setae with arrangement 4+2: 3. Anoadanal plates each with 5 pairs of setae, anal setae shorter than adanal, setae ad₂ the longest, flagelliform, smooth.

Legs. Formulae of setae and solenidia of “complete type”. Spiniform setae d of femora I located at the end of article.

Types. Holotype and 15 paratypes. Canary Islands (no MMMCCCVII), La Gomera, 4km S of Hermigua, bushes above road, 3 III 2002, leg. W. Niedbała. One paratype. Canary Islands (no MMMCCCIX), La Gomera, El Convento, banana plantation, 3 III 2002, leg. W. Niedbała.

Etymology. The specific epithet gomerensis refers to the locality of this species in Gomera island.

Comparison. The new species may be differentiated from its congeners by the presence of smooth setae c₂, c₃and cp, unusual length of setae c₂ (very long) and setae c₃(very short) as well as by the very long adanal setae ad₂.

Remark. The species of this genus have been found mostly in the southern hemisphere. However, the ranges of individual species have reached further to the North, namely to the Palearctic Region especially in its eastern margins, more specifically to the islands of Japan (1) and northern India (2).

Atropacarus (Atropacarus) paraserratus sp. nov. (Figs 2 F-I) Description. Measurements of holotype: prodorsum: length 220, width 152, height 86.0, sensillus 81.0, setae: interlamellar 37.9, lamellar 22.8, rostral 30.4; notogaster: length 424, width 263, height 242, setae: c₁ 40.5, h₁ 63.2, ps₁ 58.2, ps₂ 32.9; genitoaggenital plate 101x70.8, anoadanal plate 101x63.2, the longest setae of anoadanal plates

17.7. Small species. Colour grey-brown. Sculpture of body strong, surface covered with deep, regular concavities. Prodorsum with distinct median ridge. Sigillar fields narrow, joined. Posterior furrows feeble. Lateral carinae absent. Sensilli long, narrow, slightly dilated in distal half, covered with small spines. Setae short, pointed distally covered with small spines; in>ro>le. Notogaster with 20 pairs of non vestigial, obtuse, thick, rather short (c₁<c₁-d₁) setae, only setae h₁ and ps₁ longer; all setae covered with small spines. Neotrichy in setae of rows c, h and ps. Setae c_1-3 slightly remote from anterior border. Vestigial setae f₁ located slightly anteriad of h₁. Lyrifissures invisible because strong tegument. Ventral region. Setae h of mentum shorter than distance between them. Formula of genital setae: 6: 3. Anoadanal plates with very short setae, diminishing posteriorly, setae ad₃ minuscule.

Setation of legs of “complete type”. Setae d of femora I spiniform and slightly remote from distal end of article.

Type. Holotype. Ukraine (no U 96-23), „Tovtra Puszcza”, Miodobory locality, wood dust from sycamore trunk in oakhornbeam forest, 28 VIII 1996, leg. A. Szeptycki.

Etymology. The prefix para is Latin meaning “near” and refers to similarity of the new species to the species Atropacarus (A.) serratus (Feider et Suciu, 1957).

Comparison. The new species is similar to Atropacarus (A.) serratus (Feider et Suciu, 1957) in the longest setae h and ps of notogaster but the notogastral setae are not so inflated and the number is 20, not 19 pairs. The second similar species A. (A.) csiszarae (Balogh et Mahunka, 1979) has also 19 pairs of notogastral setae of similar length and sigillar fields of prodorsum not joined.