A New, Sexually Reproducing Representative of Balaustium (Acariformes: Parasitengona: Erythraeidae) from Zakynthos, Greece

A new, petrophilous species, Balaustium helladicum sp. nov., collected in Zakynthos, Greece, represents the sixth member of the genus for which both females and males have been recognized. The identity of the species was supported with morphological and molecular evidence. Adults of Balaustium helladicum sp. nov. are characterized by i/. stout palpal genu (PaGe L/W = 1.0–1.7), ii/. semipectinalae on palpal tibia, iii/. different shape of the extreme forms of dorsal opisthosomal setae. The most pronounced sexually dimorphic traits relate to the length of legs, with special reference to leg I. The existence of parthenogenetic and sexually reproducing species within the genus Balaustium is discussed.