Review of the genus Laelaspisella Marais & Loots, with the description of a new species from Iran (Acari, Laelapidae).

A new species of mite is described from Iran, Laelaspisella elsae sp. n. (Acari: Laelapidae). The new species was collected from bark of elm trees in Isfahan province. A revised diagnosis for Laelaspisella, as well as a key to the world species of the genus, are presented. Two species groups of Laelaspisella are proposed: those with seta pd3 on genu I and those without pd3 on genu I. Pseudoparasitus (Gymnolaelaps) tonsilis Karg, 1989a is transferred to Laelaspisella, based on its hypertrichous holodorsal shield, metasternal setae st4 absent and genu IV with ten setae. The problems with Laelaspisella canestrinii are explained and Laelaspisella canestrinii sensu Berlese (1903), (1904) and Costa (1962) is provided with a new name, Laelaspisella berlesei Joharchi, nom. n.

Introduction

The genus Marais & Loots, 1969 was described for two species found in soil in southern Africa. was considered as a subgenus of sensu lato by Karg (1989b), who also included Karg, 1989b and Karg, 1982 in this genus. Then Karg (2013) considered as genus of Vitzthum, sensu Karg (2000) and regarded this genus as a sister genus of Berlese.

The most recent taxonomic work on the genus was by Joharchi and Halliday (2013), who clarified the diagnosis of genus , and transferred Bhattacharyya, 1968 and (Berlese) sensu Costa, 1962 to , and excluded the two species described by Karg from . Before the present study, only four species of had been reported, Marais & Loots, 1969; Marais & Loots, 1969; (Berlese) sensu Costa and (Bhattacharyya). A further new species is described and a key is presented for the identification of species. One species is transferred from to . Using these additional data, the genus is redefined more precisely.

Materials and methods

Samples were collected from bark of elm trees over a period of two years (2002–2004), in Isfahan Province. Mites were removed from the bark by extraction using Tullgren funnels. Mites were cleared in Nesbitt’s solution and mounted in Hoyer’s medium (Walter and Krantz 2009). The line drawings and examinations of the specimens were performed with an Olympus BX51 phase contrast microscope equipped with a drawing tube. All measurements in the descriptions are given in micrometres (µm). Dorsal shield length and width were taken from the anterior to posterior margins along the midline, and at its broadest point, respectively. Length and width of the sternal shield were measured from the anterior point to the posterior point at the full length and broadest point, respectively. Genito-ventral shield length and width were measured along the midline from the posterior margin of the sternal shield to the posterior margin of the genito-ventral shield, and at the maximum, respectively. Leg lengths were measured from base of the coxa to the apex of the tarsus, excluding the pre-tarsus. Lengths for the fixed and movable cheliceral digits were taken from the base of the digits to their tips. The nomenclature used for the dorsal idiosomal chaetotaxy is that of Lindquist and Evans (1965), the leg chaetotaxy is that of Evans (1963), and names of other anatomical structures mostly follow Evans and Till (1979). We use the term “lyrifissures” to refer to slit-shaped sensilli, and “pore” for circular or oval-shaped cuticular openings of unspecified function. Holotype and paratypes of the new species are deposited in the Acarological collection, Department of Plant Protection, ; one paratype is deposited in the and one paratype is also deposited in the .

Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University

Jalal Afshar PageBreakZoological Museum, College of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Iran

Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Canberra, Australia

Taxonomy

Marais & Loots, 1969

Marais & Loots, 1969: 1.

Type species.

Marais & Loots, 1969, by original designation.

Notes on the genus.

The presence of pre-sternal plates and an expanded epigynal shield suggests a superficial similarity to . However, has a hypertrichous dorsal shield, two ventral setae on genu IV, and lacks metasternal setae st4. has a normal complement of 40 pairs of setae on the dorsal shield, one ventral seta on genu IV, and the metasternal setae are always present.

Diagnosis.

The genus is characterised by a well sclerotised hypertrichous holodorsal shield, (podonotal area hypertrichous or with normal chaetotaxy), convex dorsal shield and flat venter, and a large genito-ventral shield, expanded posterior to the genital setae, with strong reticulated ornamentation. Pre-sternal plates present (lightly sclerotised in the new species); female sternal shield deeply concave in posterior margin and lateral corners extended to the level of coxa III, with three pairs of simple sternal setae; endopodal shields between coxae II and III fused with sternal shield. Metasternal setae st4 always absent; pores iv3 present on the posterolateral extensions of sternal shield; exopodal plate behind coxa IV triangular, more or less contiguous with but separate from peritrematal shields; peritrematal shield extending posteriorly well past coxae IV; genito-ventral shield with rounded posterior margin separate from anal shield, or with straight posterior margin touching anal shield; opisthogastric membrane with eight to nine pairs of smooth setae (r6 is not included), setae Jv5 and Zv5 longer than other opisthogastric area setae or normal (not longer than the other dorsal setae); anterior margin of epistome smooth or with irregular minute denticulation; chelicera with small and robust digits with few teeth, dorsal seta sometimes absent. Hypostomal groove with four to six rows of denticles. Corniculi well-sclerotised; palp tarsal claw with two pointed tines. Legs shorter than idiosoma, genu IV with ten setae (2 2/1 3/1 1), genu I with seta pd3 absent (2 3/2 2/1 2) or present (2 3/2 3/1 2).

These characters are variable within the genus : (1) dorsal seta of chelicera present or absent; (2) podonotal shield hypertrichous or with normal chaetotaxy; (3) setae Jv5 and Zv5 expanded or normal; (4) seta pd3 on genu I present or absent; (5) extra opisthogastric setae present or absent; (6) genito-ventral shield with rounded posterior margin separate from anal shield, or with straight posterior margin touching anal shield; (7) Anterior margin of epistome smooth or with irregular minute denticulation.

To separate from , the following characters can be used: has (1) opisthonotal area of dorsal shield hypertrichous; (2) metasternal PageBreaksetae absent; (3) genu IV with two ventral setae; (4) pore iv3 on sternal shield. has (1) opisthonotal area of dorsal shield not hypertrichous; (2) metasternal setae present; (3) genu IV with one ventral seta; (4) pore iv3 in soft skin.

Results

sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/E5F8EAC9-F6EF-4242-9B3C-BBACA0A9B0DB

Figures 1–5 , 6–9

Figures 1–5.

sp. n., female. 1 Dorsal shield 2 Ventral idiosoma 3 Hypostome 4 Epistome 5 Chelicera.

Figures 6–9.

sp. n., female. 6 Genu and tibia I (dorsal aspect) 7 Genu and tibia II (dorsal aspect) 8 Genu and tibia III (dorsal aspect) 9 Leg IV (ventral aspect).

Type material.

Holotype, female, Iran, Isfahan, March-April 2002, A. Jalalizand coll., from bark of elm trees (in YIAU). Paratypes, five females same data as holotype (in YIAU, JAZM and ANIC).

Description of the female.

Dorsal idiosoma (Fig. 1). Dorsal shield length 400–449, width 281–333 (n = 6). Shield oval shaped, convex, well-sclerotised, reticulated; with about 109–111 simple and long setae, with some unpaired and asymmetrical setae in opisthonotal area, setae similar in length (30–40) and thickness, most long enough to reach well past base of next posterior seta, except j1 and z1 (13–15) and some posterio-lateral setae (14–16). Shield with 12 pairs of pore-like structures, apparently including three pairs of gland pores and eight pairs of poroids; lyrifissures near the base of z1 large and slit-like, others smaller and ovoid.

Ventral idiosoma (Fig. 2). Tritosternum with paired pilose laciniae (33–36), columnar base (12–13 × 5–6 wide); presternal area with transverse lightly sclerotised presternal lines. Sternal shield (length 35–43) narrowest between coxae II (99–100), widest at level between coxae II and III (120–128), with convex anterior margin; posterior margin deeply concave; shield bearing three pairs of smooth pointed setae (st1 27–32, st2 35–40, st3 40–43) and two pairs of lyrifissures, one pair adjacent to setae st1 and the other between st2 and st3; surface with distinct reticulate ornamentation. Metasternal setae st4 apparently absent but metasternal poroids present on the posterolateral extensions of sternal shield; endopodal plates II/III fused to sternal shield, endopodal plates III/IV elongate, narrow, curved, but not fused to large triangular podal shields posterior to coxae IV. Genito-ventral shield broad, length 258–267, maximum width 188–195, posterior edge rounded, reticulate throughout, bearing genital setae st5 (50–55) and two additional pairs of setae on its surface, Jv1, Zv1 (50–62), paragenital poroids present. Anal shield oval, large (64–73 × 82–88 wide), reticulate throughout, anal pores indistinct, para-anal setae (12) shorter than post-anal seta (20), cribrum relatively narrow. Opisthogastric skin with eight pairs of smooth setae (55–65) and four pair of pores; elongate metapodal plates (34–37 × 9–11) close to genito-ventral shield. Peritreme extending from mid-coxa IV to anterior level of coxa I, peritrematal shield wide, with a very wide outer margin, bearing three pairs of discernible pore-like structures, two pairs of poroids opposite coxae II–III and another pair opposite coxae I–II.

Gnathosoma. Hypostomal groove with four rows of denticles each bearing 2–5 small teeth (Fig. 3). Corniculi robust and hornlike. Internal malae complex, with two pairs of lobes, inner lobes narrow and long, with smooth edges, outer lobes very short, narrow, branched. Hypostome with four pairs of setae, internal posterior hypostomal setae h3 longest (67–70), h1 (42–45), h2 (28–30), palpcoxal pc (32–35) (Fig. 3). Palp chaetotaxy: trochanter 2, femur 5, genu 6, tibia 14, tarsus 15, all setae smooth and needle-like; palp tarsal claw with two pointed tines of equal length, without any hyaline membranes (Fig. 3). Epistome somewhat subtriangular, with a smooth margin (Fig. 4). Fixed digit (40–41) of chelicera with two small pointed teeth (Fig. 5); pilus dentilis moderately thick, dorsal seta not detected, movable digit (36-38) with two large teeth; arthrodial membrane with a row of short filaments.

Legs. Legs II and III shorter (309-320, 302-310), I and IV longer (349-360, 431-447) (excluding pre-tarsus). Leg I: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 0/2 1/1 1, femur 2 2/1 3/3 2, genu 2 3/2 3/1 2 (Fig. 6), tibia 2 3/2 3/1 2 (Fig. 6). Leg II: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 0/2 0/1 1, femur 2 3/1 2/2 1, genu 2 3/1 2/1 2 (Fig. 7), tibia 2 2/1 2/1 2 (Fig. 7). Leg III: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 0/2 0/1 1, femur 1 2/1 1/0 1, genu 2 2/0 2/1 0 (Fig. 8), tibia 2 1/1 2/1 1 (Fig. 8). Leg IV (Fig. 9): 0 0/1 0/0 0, trochanter 1 0/2 0/1 1, femur 1 2/1 1/0 1, genu 2 2/1 3/1 1, tibia 2 1/1 3/1 2; all setae fine and needle-like. Tarsi I-IV with 18 setae 3 3/2 3/2 3 + mv, md. All pre-tarsi with a pair of claws and a long thin membranous ambulacral stalk.

Insemination structures.

Not seen, apparently unsclerotised.

Etymology.

It is with great pleasure that we name this species after Elsa Joharchi, the new-born daughter of the first author.

Remarks.

sp. n. differs from all other species in the genus in having the genito-ventral shield broad and bearing genital setae st5 and two additional pairs of setae on its surface, hypostomal groove with four rows of denticles, genu I with seta pd3 (2 3/2 3/1 2) and two ventral setae on genu IV (2 2/1 3/1 1), also dorsal seta of chelicera absent.

(Karg, 1989) comb. n.

Karg, 1989a: 335.

Specimens examined.

The paratype specimen of Karg’s collection was examined by the first author and this information is as follows: Slide ZMB Kat. Nr. 41473, labeled Karg, 1989a, Nr. 3942♀, paratypus, St. Lucia, Antillen, Castries, Vigie point, Eins.: Dr. Mahunka, Budapest, 11.7.80.

shares all important character states with the genus : dorsal shield hypertrichous, two ventral setae on genu IV (2 2/1 3/1 1), genu I (2 3/2 3/1 2) seta pd3 present, lacks metasternal setae st4, seta Jv5 long (Karg 1989a in his description named this seta as Z5). Therefore we consider as a member of .

Joharchi nom. n.

(Berlese, 1903) sensu Costa, 1962: 491.

The identity of is very confused. In Berlese, 1892, the female has a very wide genito-ventral shield carrying four pairs of setae in addition to st5, and has a straight posterior margin. There are no setae between the genito-ventral and anal shields. The sternal shield has only two pairs of setae, the metasternal PageBreakplates and setae are absent, the anal shield is wider than long, and the movable digit of the chelicera has three teeth. In the male the anal shield is fused to the genito-ventral shield, with the fusion marked by a distinct line. Berlese (1903) referred to this species as . Berlese (1904) then added some morphological information and illustrations for a species that he called . In these illustrations the genito-ventral shield of the female carries only one pair of setae and has a rounded posterior margin. The anal shield is narrow, and there is a pair of setae between the genito-ventral shield and the anal shield. In the male, the anal shield is clearly separate from the genito-ventral shield. These descriptions appear to refer to two different species. Hunter (1967) referred to this problem but did not resolve it. does not belong to the genera or , and a solution to the identification of the true genus of Berlese, 1892 can only come from a detailed study of Berlese’s specimens. The 1904 re-description is only a misidentification of the 1892 species. Costa (1962) re-described and illustrated a species he called (Berlese, 1903), but he did not mention Berlese, 1892. Costa was wrong about this species because only the 1892 description and illustrations refer to the true species of . Therefore sensu Berlese (1903), (1904) and Costa (1962) does not have a name. Therefore, we rename this species as Joharchi, nom. n. (= Berlese, 1903 = Berlese, 1904 = (Berlese, 1903) sensu Costa, 1962) in honour of Antonio Berlese. In view of this confusion, it is difficult to determine the identity of the specimens cited under these names by other authors.

Discussion

All six species of share four important diagnostic character states: (1) hypertrichous dorsal shield (in both the podonotal and opisthonotal region or only in the opisthonotal region); (2) two ventral setae on genu IV (2 2/1 3/1 1); (3) metasternal setae st4 absent but metasternal poroids present on the posterolateral extensions of sternal shield; (4) Palp tarsal claw with two pointed tines.

Some of the diagnostic characters of the were unique within the known species (such as: presternal area with transverse lightly sclerotised presternal lines, genito-ventral bearing genital setae st5 and two additional pairs of setae on its surface and hypostomal groove with four rows of denticles each bearing 2-5 small teeth) but at the present time, creating a new monotypic genus to accommodate the new species would not help to clarify the taxonomic problems existing within the family . Therefore, this species is provisionally placed in until a comprehensive revision of all these genera resolves its relationships.

The key below distinguishes the six species of . In this key we recognise two distinct groups of species within the genus. All species group of have 12 setae on genu I (2 3/2 2/1 2), with seta pd3 absent. Group species have 13 setae on genu I (2 3/2 3/1 2), with seta pd3 present.

1	Genu I with 12 setae (2 3/2 2/1 2) pd3 absent epigynalis species group	2
–	Genu I with 13 setae (2 3/2 3/1 2) pd3 present elsae species group	3
2	Genito-ventral shield tapered posteriorly, opisthogastric area with eight pairs of setae	Laelaspisella macrodorsalis Marais & Loots, 1969
–	Genito-ventral shield rounded posteriorly, opisthogastric area with nine pairs of setae	Laelaspisella epigynialis Marais & Loots, 1969
3	Dorsal shield hypertrichous in both the podonotal and opisthonotal region	4
–	Dorsal shield hypertrichous only in the opisthonotal region	5
4	Post-stigmatal section of peritrematal shield elongate, extending well behind exopodal shield	Laelaspisella tonsilis (Karg, 1989a)
–	Post-stigmatal section of peritrematal shield short and wide	Laelaspisella kabitae (Bhattacharyya, 1968)
5.	Genito-ventral shield bearing genital setae st5 and two additional pairs of setae on its surface, dorsal shield with long setae	Laelaspisella elsae sp. n.
–	Genito-ventral shield bearing only genital setae st5 on its surface, dorsal shield with short setae	Laelaspisella berlesei Joharchi, nom. n.