Holotype: female, Hungary, Pest county, Farmos, 47°22'30"N, 19°52'08"E, 10 m a.s.l, from the leaves of the Hungarian statice, Limonium gmelinii subsp. hungaricum, 2 August 2014, Ripka, G. coll. Paratypes: one female, three deutonymphs, three protonymphs and one larva, locality and date same as for holotype. Other paratypes: four females, Hungary, Farmos, 47°22'30"N, 19°52'08"E, 10 m a.s.l, from the leaves of Limonium gmelinii subsp. hungaricum, 2 August 2017, Kontschán, J. and Ripka, G. coll.

(based on female). Tarsal claws uncinate. Anterior margin of prodorsal shield with paired projections, prodorsum weakly sculptured, with few irregular lines. Opisthosoma with polygonal reticulation. Propodosomal and opisthosomal setae smooth and simple; seta f2 present. Length of dorsal setae 6–14. Dorsal opisthosomal pores close to e1. Rostrum extending to middle of tibia I. Genital flap smooth. Intercoxal area between 3a and 4a smooth.

(females; n = 6). Idiosoma reddish-brown (Figure 27), oval in shape, body measured from v2 to h1 240–245; from tip of rostrum 260–266; width 143–147 near setae sc2; distance between setae sc2 120–125; length of legs I–IV (without coxa), leg I 105–110, leg II 80–87, leg III 72–78, leg IV 80–88.

Dorsum (Figure 1): Anterior margin of prodorsal shield with paired projections, depth of notch 7–8. Propodosoma finely lineate. Opisthosoma with polygonal reticulations; polygons longitudinally elongate medially, transversally elongate anterolaterally. Propodosomal and opisthosomal setae simple and smooth. Opisthosomal pores present close to e1. Prodorsal setae v2 shorter than half distance between their bases. Length of dorsal setae: v2 11–12, sc1 12–14, sc2 11–13, c1 8–9, c2 8–9, c3 9–10, d1 9–10, d2 8–9, d3 7–8, e1 8–9, e2 7–8, e3 8–9, f2 7–8, f3 6–8, h1 6–7, h2 7–8.

Venter (Figure 2): Surface of ventral idiosoma smooth, except lateral to ag, genital and anal plates where longitudinal striations visible. Genital and anal plates smooth. Length of ventral setae, 1a 53–57, 3a 11–12, 4a 8–9, 1b 7–8, 2b 8–9, 3b 8–9, 4b 9–10, 1c 11–12, 2c 10–13, ag 8–9, g1 9–10, g2 7–8. Pseudanal setae, all 6–8. All ventral setae simple and smooth.

Gnathosoma (Figure 3): Rostrum extending to middle of tibia I; palp setal counts: tarsus with one solenidion and two eupathidia, tibia with two setae, genu without seta and femur with one simple dorsal seta. All setae smooth. Subcapitulum with setae m (4–5).

Legs (Figures 4–8): Setal formula for leg I-IV (coxae to tarsi): 3-1-4-3-3-9, 2-1-4-3-3-9, 2-2-2-1-3-5, 2-1-1-0-3-5. A supplementary lateral (l’) seta present on femora I. Solenidia on tarsi I and II 8–10 long, broad, leaf-like. Tarsal claws uncinate and empodium pad-like.

Figure 1. 

Dorsal view of Aegyptobia bozaii sp. n., holotype, female.

Figures 2–8. 

Aegyptobia bozaii sp. n., holotype, female 2 Ventral view of idiosoma 3 Ventral view of gnathosoma 4 Ventral view of leg I 5 Ventrolateral view of tarsus I 6 Ventral view of leg II 7 Ventral view of leg III 8 Ventral view of leg IV.

(n = 3; Figures 9–15). Idiosoma oval in shape, body measured from v2 to h1 190–200; width 130–140 near setae sc2.

Dorsum (Figure 9) covered with a few striae, all setae short, simple and needle-like. Length of all setae 5–7.

Venter covered with very few striae with one pair of setae 1a, 1b, 2b, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a and 4b, one pair of aggenital, one pair of genital and three pairs of anal setae, all simple and smooth 1a 15–16, other setae on venter 5–7 (Figure 10). Palp setal counts: tarsus with one solenidion and two eupathidia, tibia with two setae, genu without seta and femur with one simple dorsal seta (Figure 11). Legs as Figures 12–15 and Table 1.

Figure 9. 

Dorsal view of Aegyptobia bozaii sp. n., paratype, deutonymph.

Figures 10–15. 

Aegyptobia bozaii sp. n., paratype, deutonymph 10 Ventral view of idiosoma 11 Ventral view of palp 12 Ventral view of leg I 13 Ventral view of leg II 14 Ventral view of leg III 15 Ventral view of leg IV.

(n = 3; Figures 16–21). Idiosoma oval in shape, body measured from v2 to h1 149–155; width 94–100 near setae sc2.

Dorsum (Figure 16). Surface without striae, all setae short, simple and needle-like. All setae 4–6 in length.

Venter covered with very few striae with one pair of setae 1a, 1b, 2b, 3a and 3b, one pair of aggenital and three pairs of anal setae, all simple and smooth. 1a 13–15, other setae on venter 5–6 (Figure 17). Legs as Figures 18–21 and Table 1.

Figure 16. 

Dorsal view of Aegyptobia bozaii sp. n. paratype, protonymph.

Figures 17–21. 

Aegyptobia bozaii sp. n., paratype, protonymph 17 Ventral view of idiosoma 18 Ventral view of leg I 19 Ventral view of leg II 20 Ventral view of leg III 21 Ventral view of leg IV.

(n = 1; Figures 22–26). Idiosoma oval in shape, body measured from v2 to h1 109; width 82 near setae sc2.

Dorsum (Figure 22). Covered with a few striae, all setae short, simple and needle-like. Length of setae: v2 30–31; sc1 30–37; sc2 28–36; c1 29–38; c2 26–39; c3 31–37; d1 5; d3 37–43; e1 3; e3 40–54; f2 3–4; f3 64–66; h1 2–3; h2 2–5.

Venter covered with few striae with one pair of setae 1a and three pairs of anal setae, all simple and smooth (Figure 23). Legs as Figures 24–26 and Table 1.

Figure 22. 

Dorsal view of Aegyptobia bozaii sp. n., paratype, larva.

Figures 23–26. 

Aegyptobia bozaii sp. n., paratype, larva 23 Ventral view of idiosoma 24 Ventral view of leg I 25 Ventral view of leg II 26 Ventral view of leg III.

We dedicate the new species to Dr. József Bozai, former Hungarian tenuipalpid specialist.

The host plant, Hungarian statice (Limonium gmelinii subsp. hungaricum) (Plumbaginaceae), is an endemic subspecies occurring on salt meadows in Central-Hungary. The mites appeared to prefer leaves of the host plant that were lying close to the surface of the soil. The alkali steppe where the host plant was found is hot and dry in summer, typical habitat for tenuipalpid species, which prefer warm and dry conditions. Up until now, only one species has been reported from Limonium plants: Capedulia maritima Gerson & Smith Meyer, 1980 was found on the roots of Limonium meyeri in Israel (Ueckermann et al. 2018).

The new species has uncinate claws and therefore belongs to the Aegyptobia tragardhi species group (Khanjani et al. 2008). It is very similar to A. iranensis Khanjani et al., 2008 and A. wainsteini Bagdasarian, 1962 based on the claw-like empodium, the slender prodorsal setae, the deeply emarginated notch and the medially smooth prodorsum. The most important differences among three species are summarized in Table 2.

Only one species, Aegyptobia wainsteini Bagdasarian, 1962, was previously reported from Hungary from a Biota orientalis tree (Cupressaceae) close to the town Kecskemét (Bozai 1969). Other new occurrences have not been given since this first report. The two Aegyptobia species reported from Hungary differ in the shape of the dorsal setae, which are short and smooth in A. bozaii sp. n. and longer and finely pilose on Aegyptobia wainsteini.

Holotype: female, HNHM Astig-242, Szarvas, 8 October 1968, from Picea excelsa Lk. No. 1250, Bozai, J. coll.

(based on female). Anterior margin of prodorsal shield with forked projection; prodorsum smooth medially, with some striae laterally; anterolateral projections carrying setae sc2 weakly formed. Opisthosoma smooth anteriorly, with posteromedial reticulation and posterolateral longitudinal striation. Propodosomal setae as follows: v2 short and smooth, sc1 broad and obovate, sc2 long and phylliform. Opisthosomal setae: c1, c3 and d1 broad, long, oblanceolate, d3 short and oblanceolate, e1 short and smooth, h1, f1, f2 and e3 long, oblanceolate, h2 very long and smooth. Rostrum extending to middle of tibia I. Genital flap smooth. Intercoxal area between 3a and 4a smooth, 1a and 4a very long, 1b, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 4b, ag, g1, g2 short. Legs with large, broad and phylliform, smooth and pilose setae.

(female holotype). Colorization of idiosoma not observable in the holotype. Idiosoma (Figure 27) pentagonal in shape, body measured from v2 to h1 305; from tip of rostrum 350; width between setae sc2 190.

Dorsum (Figure 29): Anterior margin of prodorsal shield with paired projections, depth of notch 16. Prodorsum smooth medially, with some striae laterally; anterolateral projections carrying setae sc2 weakly formed. Opisthosoma smooth anteriorly, with posteromedial reticulation and posterolateral longitudinal striation. Propodosomal setae as follows: v2 short and smooth, sc1 broad and obovate, sc2 long and phylliform. Opisthosomal setae: c1, c3 and d1 broad, long, oblanceolate, d3 short and oblanceolate, e1 short and smooth, h1, f1, f2 and e3 long, oblanceolate, h2 very long and smooth. Rostrum extending to middle of tibia I. Opisthosomal pores between d1 and e1. Length of dorsal setae: v2 9–10, sc1 30–32, sc2 65, c1 45–46, c3 32–34, d1 38–40, d3 12–14, e1 12, e2 45–47, f2 and f3 45–46, h1 36–37, h2 105–110.

Figure 27. 

Photos of the female of Aegyptobia bozaii sp. n., paratype.

Figure 28. 

Habitat and details of the host plant. a Habitat b Host plant c–d Leaves of host plant.

Figure 29. 

Dorsal view of Tenuipalpus szarvasensis Bozai, 1970, holotype, female.

Venter (Figure 30): Very few striations observable in the holotype, only a few longitudinal striations visible posterior to g1–g2. Genital and anal plates smooth. Length of ventral setae, 1a 120–122, 3a 26–27, 4a 130–133, 1b 16, 2b 16–17, 3b 18–19, 4b13, 1c and 2c 24–25, ag 12, g1–g2 14–16. Pseudanal setae, all 12–13. All ventral setae simple and smooth.

Gnathosoma: Rostrum extending to middle of tibia I; palp setal counts as in Figure 31.

Legs: Setal formula for leg I–IV (coxae to tarsi): 3-1-4-2-5-9, 2-1-4-2-4-9, 2-2-2-1-3-5, 2-1-1-0-3-5. Shape of the setae on legs illustrated on Figures 32–35.

Figures 30–35. 

Tenuipalpus szarvasensis Bozai, 1970, holotype, female 30 Ventral view of idiosoma 31 Dorsal view of palp 32 Ventral view of leg I 33 Ventral view of leg II 34 Ventral view of leg III 35 Ventral view of leg IV.

Bozai’s (1970) noted in his detailed description of Tenuipalpus szarvasensis, that the species is very similar to T. cheladzeae, but he mentioned some easy to observe differences (like shape and length of setae c1, d1) between these two species. Despite these known differences, Mitrofanov and Strunkova (1979) synonymized the name under Tenuipalpus cheladzeae. Mitrofanov and Strunkova (1979) did not study the type specimens of T. szarvasensis, therefore their opinion was questionable.

This year, we studied the types of Bozai’s T. szarvasensis in order to confirm Bozai’s hypothesis that T. szarvasensis differs from Gomelauri’s T. cheladzeae. The differences are presented in Table 3 and are illustrated in Figures 36, 37.

Tenuipalpus is the largest genus of flat mites, but very few are known from Pinaceae. Apart from the above-mentioned two species, the only other species is T. hondurensis Evans, in Evans et al. (1993) (Mesa et al. 2009), which is considerably different from both the above species. Tenuipalpus cupressoides Smith, Meyer & Gerson, 1980 is very similar to T. szarvasensis, but the shape of v2 and e2 and the length of sc1, c1 and d1 are different. In addition, the host plant, Cupressus sempervirens of T. cupressoides belongs to the family Cupressaceae and not to Pinaceae (Ueckermann et al. 2018).

Figures 36–37. 

Illustrated differences between T. szarvasensis (36) and T. cheladzeae (37) Drawing of T. cheladzeae modified after Mitrofanov and Strunkova (1979).