Genus-level revision of the Heterozerconoidea (Parasitiformes: Mesostigmata) Author Klompen, Hans klompen.1@osu.edu Author Gerdeman, Beverly S. klompen.1@osu.edu text Zootaxa 2023 2023-07-28 5322 1 1 66 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5322.1.1 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.5322.1.1 1175-5326 8203657 DD295EE6-AB3F-4377-900E-CC76F1C6BC2D Afroheterozercon Fain 1989 Afroheterozercon Fain 1989: 147 [ type species. Heterozercon spirostreptus Fain 1988 , by original designation]. Afroheterozercon .— Evans 1992: 426 ; Klompen et al . 2013: 302 . Diagnosis. Spermatodactyl of male of compressed type (7, except in Af . spirostreptus ); cornicula with a distal notch (24; Fig. 34 , arrow); sclerotized areas near insertion sternal setae st 2 in female fused to endopodal shields (38); sclerotized areas near sternal setae st2 and st 3 in male completely fused (51.0); endopodal and sternitiventral shield in male fused (58, shared with Maracazercon ); metapodal and sternitiventral shields in male fused (59); sternitiventral and anal shields in male fused, but line of fusion still visible (66.1, shared with several species in other genera); marginal opisthosomal setae anchor-like (78.2); lyrifissures iv 5 in male absent (79). Remarks. Of the 12 characters that can be distinguished in Fain’s (1989) diagnosis of the genus, two (marginal opisthosomal region with numerous anchor-like spines (78), metapodal and sternitiventral shields fused (59)) are unique derived characters, the remainder are either primitive at this level, or are subject to multiple optimizations. Distinct structures directly posterior to coxae IV of the females ( Fig. 67 , arrow) are assumed to be secondary genital openings (solenostomes). They are present in females of most species of Afroheterozercon examined (see Klompen et al . 2013 ) and absent in all males. The exception is Af . spirostreptus where females lack the structures posterior to coxae IV. This is also the only species where the male has a spermatodactyl that resembles the “straight”, rather than the “compressed”, type ( Klompen et al . 2013 ).