Asperemaeus striganovae, a new species of soil mite from the lake Hövsgöl area, northern Mongolia (Acari: Oribatida: Eremaeidae)

Abstract

A new species of oribatid mite, Asperemaeus striganovae is described, based on adult specimens collected from the epiphytic and edaphic lichens in a cool temperate larch forest, surrounding the Lake Hövsgöl, Northern Mongolia. Asperemaeus striganovae n. sp. is a second member of the genus previously known only from the Russian Far East. By definition, the only known species, A. longipilus Behan-Pelletier, 1982 sensilli have relatively short stalk with clavate heads, posterior notogastral seta p 2 situated very close to setae p 1 and h 1 , and femora I-IV strongly hypertrichous. However, A. striganovae n. sp. shows relatively long sensillar stalk with less swollen club-shaped heads, the normal position of seta p 2 that situated apart from setae p 1 and h 1 , and the different number of setae on femora I-IV and trochanter IV, which distinguish it from the type species. Habitat characteristics as well as known ecology of the newly described species are discussed.