Prolixus splendens, Xu & Zhang & Zhang, 2018

Xu, Yun, Zhang, Fei-Ping & Zhang, Zhi-Qiang, 2018, Description of a new species of Prolixus (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae from Austroderia splendens (Poaceae) in New Zealand, with discussion of its ontogenetic patterns in chaetotaxy, Zootaxa 4540 (1), pp. 158-177 : 159-176

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4540.1.11
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:40437776-EE3C-4BDB-90A8-A96711C11C4B
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5992997
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/AB085348-F15F-47D8-BB1B-4008A9132829
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:AB085348-F15F-47D8-BB1B-4008A9132829
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Prolixus splendens
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Prolixus splendens sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–15 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 )

Type specimens. Holotype ♀. New Zealand, Auckland, Muriwai Beach, Maori Bay Car Park, 5 May 2018, by Nicholas A. Martin, ex. Austroderia splendens (Poaceae) . Paratypes. 13 females, 3 males, 12 deutonymphs, 9 protonymphs, 6 larvae, same data as holotype. The holotype and paratypes will be deposited in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection (NZAC), Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand.

Adult Female (n=14)

Gnathosoma. ( Figs. 1B View FIGURE 1 , 4C View FIGURE 4 ) Subcapitulum with setae m, or 1 and or 2, subcapitular seta m setiform, m =13 (13–15), m–m =11 (7–11). Palp 3-segmented, setal formula: 0, 2, 2; tarsus with two eupathidia 5 (5–6), 5 (5–6).

Idiosoma. ( Figs. 1A View FIGURE 1 ) 465 (460–465) long, 105 (105–110) wide. Body elongate, more than 4 times longer than wide. Prodorsum smooth, covered with broken longitudinal striations sublaterally, bearing three pairs of setae (v 2, sc 1 and sc 2), setae v 2 setiform, sc 1 and sc 2 barbed, sc 1 about 4 times as long as v 2. Lengths: v 2 7 (7–8), sc 1 30 (28–31), sc 2 50 (45–50); distances: v 2 – v 2 38 (37–40), v 2 – sc 1 50 (47–52), sc 1 – sc 1 70 (70–74), sc 1 – sc 2 38 (38–40), sc 2 – sc 2 105 (105–110). Body with broken, corrugated transverse striations between sc 2 and c 3; smooth mesally between c 3 and c 3, and broken oblique striae laterally; and broken transversal striae between d 1 and d 1; and posterior to d 1 smooth and broken longitudinal striae laterally. Bearing one pair of humeral setae (c 3), 2 pairs of dorsocentral setae (d 1 and e 1), and 6 pairs of dorsolateral setae (d 3, e 3, f 2, f 3, h 2 and h 1). All setae barbed, except h 2 elongate, ending in minute club. Setae d 1 and e 1 subequal in length. Lengths: d 1 13 (13–14), e 1 14 (13–15), c 3 33 (27–33), d 3 15 (10–15), e 3 32 (30–33), f 2 36 (33–36), f 3 37 (33–37), h 2 135 (125–135), h 1 37 (28–37); distances: d 1 – d 1 40 (40–47), e 1 – e 1 36 (36–39), c 3 – c 3 105 (105–135), d 3 – d 3 85 (85–92), d 3 – e 3 140 (135–140), e 3 – e 3 85 (85–97), e 3 – f 2 25 (25–27), f 2 – f 2 77 (77–90), f 2 – f 3 21 (21–23), f 3 – f 3 62 (62–67), f 3 – h 2 22 (18–25), h 2 – h 2 35 (35–45), h 2 – h 1 12 (12–15), h 1 – h 1 12 (12–15).

Venter. ( Figs. 1B View FIGURE 1 , 2 View FIGURE 2 ) Venter with fine broken transverse striation between coxa II and III, broken longitudinal striae between coxa III and IV, longitudinal and oblique striae posterior to g 1. All coxal setae setiform, except for setae 1a, 1b, 4a 1 and 4a 2 flagelliform. Lengths: 1a 140 (105–140), 1b 50 (50–75), 1c 19 (18–21), 2b 30 (28–31), 2c 30 (28–31), 3a 20 (20–26), 3b 17 (17–25), 4a 1 75 (75–88), 4a 2 82 (82–87), 4b 15 (15–23). Distances: 1a–1a 12 (12–13), 3a–3a 15 (15–18), 4a 1 – 4a 1 6 (6–7), 4a 1 – 4a 2 7 (6–7), 4a 2 – 4a 2 17 (15–17). Genital and ventral plates with flap of cuticle ( Figs. 1B View FIGURE 1 , 2 View FIGURE 2 ), bearing two pairs of setiform gential setae (g 1 and g 2). Anal plate with two pairs of pseudanal setae (ps 1 and ps 2), setiform and subequal in length. Setal lengths: ag 17 (17–20), g 1 22 (22–24), g 2 17 (17–22), ps 1 24 (20–24), ps 2 11 (8–11); distances: ag–ag 22 (15–22), g 1 – g 1 22 (20–22), g 1 – g 2 21 (15–21), g 2 – g 2 33 (33–35), ps 1 – ps 2 26 (26–28).

Spermatheca. ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ) A short, narrow, unsclerotised tube extending from genital opening and ending in a bulbiform vesicle with minute spinules.

Legs. ( Figs. 3, 4 View FIGURE 4 A–B) Lengths of legs I–IV: 130 (130–135), 100 (97–105), 85 (85–93), 105 (100–105). Chaetotaxy: coxae 2-2-1-1; trochanters 1-1-2-1; femora 4-4-2-2; genua 2-2-0-0, tibiae 5-5-3-3, tarsi 7+ω-7+ω-5-5. Dorsal and lateral setae on femora lanceolate and barbed, and on genua and tibiae setiform; ventral setae setiform, except bv′′ on femur II lanceolate and barbed. Setae ft′ on tarsi I–IV flagelliform, ft’’ absent; unguinal setae u pectinate and

equal in length; proral setae p′ζ and p′′ζ eupathidial; tectal setae tc setiform. Lengths of solenidia: I ω′′ 6 (6–7), II ω′′ 6 (6–7). Claws developed with tenent hairs on each side.

Adult Male (n=3)

Gnathosoma. ( Figs. 5B View FIGURE 5 , 7C View FIGURE 7 ) Subcapitulum with setae m, or 1 and or 2, subcapitular seta m setiform, m =10–12, m–m =10–11; palp 3-segmented, setal formula: 0, 2, 2; tarsus with two eupathidia 5, 5–6.

Idiosoma. ( Fig. 5A View FIGURE 5 ) 360–400 long, 100–105 wide. Body elongate. Prodorsum smooth, with a narrow band of transverse striatons in sejugal furrow immediately anterior to setae c 3; setae v 2 setiform, sc 1 and sc 2 thin and barbed. Lengths: v 2 7–10, sc 1 21–27, sc 2 30–37; distances: v 2 – v 2 30–32, v 2 – sc 1 37–40, sc 1 – sc 1 70, sc 1 – sc 2 27–30, sc 2 – sc 2 100–105. Hysterosoma divided into metapodosoma and opisthosoma by narrow band of horizontal striations; with same setae as adults. All setae barbed, except h 2 elongate, ending in minute club. Setae d 1 and e 1 subequal in length. Lengths: d 1 13–16, e 1 13 –16, c 3 20–25, d 3 16–17, e 3 25 –28, f 2 27–32, f 3 28–33, h 2 110–140, h 1 19–25; distances: d 1 – d 1 30–33, e 1 – e 1 23 –25, c 3 – c 3 100–105, d 3 – d 3 72–74, d 3 – e 3 110–115, e 3 – e 3 67–70, e 3 – f 2 20–23, f 2 – f 2 68–70, f 2 – f 3 20–21, f 3 – f 3 60–62, f 3 – h 2 20–23, h 2 – h 2 38–39, h 2 – h 1 9–12, h 1 – h 1 17–18.

Venter. ( Figs. 5 View FIGURE 5 B–C) Venter with fine transverse and oblique striae between coxae II and III, forming an inverted “V” shape anterior to 3a. Lengths: 1a 96–100, 1b 38–52, 1c 20–22, 2b 17–24, 2c 22–30, 3a 18–22, 3b 20–22, 4a 1 77–86, 4a 2 70–95, 4b 15–20. Distances: 1a–1a 13, 3a–3a 16–18, 4a 1 – 4a 1 7–8, 4a 1 – 4a 2 5–6, 4a 2 – 4a 2 17–20. Genital and ventral plates bearing two pairs of setiform gential setae (g 1 and g 2);. Anal plate with two pairs of pseudanal setae (ps 1 and ps 2), setiform, ps 1 about twice as long as ps 2. Setal lengths: ag 21–22, g 1 20–23, g 2 19–22, ps 1 13–17, ps 2 5–7; distances: ag–ag 2 17–19, g 1 – g 1 12–15, g 1 – g 2 5, g 2 – g 2 20–21, ps 1 – ps 2 11–12.

Aedeagus. ( Fig. 5C View FIGURE 5 ) A narrow, elongate, sclerotised aedeagus tapering to a point posteriorly (at genital opening); very long membranous duct running from sclerotised aedeagus to flared, lightly sclerotised, cone-shaped cup distally, appearing to open into a soft membranous vesicle. Aedeagus is broken in drawn specimen ( Fig. 5B View FIGURE 5 ), intact aedeagus as shown in Fig. 5C View FIGURE 5 .

Legs. ( Figs. 6 View FIGURE 6 , 7 View FIGURE 7 A–B) Lengths of legs I–IV: 120–125, 95–100, 95–97, 105–115. Chaetotaxy: coxae 2-2-1-1; trochanters 1-1-2-1; femora 4-4-2-2; genua 2-2-0-0, tibiae 5-5-3-3, tarsi 7+2 ω -7+2 ω -5+ ω -5. Dorsal and lateral setae on trochanters, femora and genua lanceolate and barbed, and on tibiae setiform except on tibia III lanceolate and barbed; ventral setae setiform, except bv′′ on femur II lanceolate and barbed. Setae ft′ on tarsi I–IV flagelliform; unguinal setae u pectinate and equal in length; proral setae p ′ζ and p′′ζ eupathidial; tectal setae tc setiform. Lengths of solenidia: I ω′ 11–13, ω′′ 11–12, II ω′ 8–10, ω′′ 8–10, III ω′ 5–6. Claws developed with tenent hairs on each side.

Deutonymph (n=12)

Gnathosoma. ( Figs. 8B View FIGURE 8 , 9C View FIGURE 9 ) Subcapitulum with setae m, or 1 and or 2, subcapitular seta m setiform, m =12–13, m–m =10–12; palp 3-segmented, setal formula: 0, 2, 2; tarsus with two eupathidia 4–5, 4–5.

Idiosoma. ( Fig. 8A View FIGURE 8 ) 305–475 long, 97–100 wide. Body elongate, with strong corrugated transverse striations between sc 2 and d 1, and weak, broken longitudinal and oblique striae, posterior to d 1. Setae v 2 setiform, sc 1 and sc 2 thin and barbed. Lengths: v 2 4–5, sc 1 30–37, sc 2 33–38; distances: v 2 – v 2 31–33, v 2 – sc 1 41–51, sc 1 – sc 1 70–75, sc 1 – sc 2 23–28, sc 2 – sc 2 97–100. Hysterosoma with same setae as adults. Setae v 2, d 1, e 1 and d 3 setiform, c 3, e 3, f 2, f 3 and h 1 barbed, and setae h 2 elongate, ending in minute club. Lengths: d 1 10–12, e 1 8 –9, c 3 22–30, d 3 7–10, e 3 20 –24, f 2 30–31, f 3 26–33, h 2 100–125, h 1 17–27; distances: d 1 – d 1 30–34, e 1 – e 1 25 –31, c 3 – c 3 98–105, d 3 – d 3 72–82, d 3 – e 3 86–110, e 3 – e 3 67–78, e 3 – f 2 13–17, f 2 – f 2 65–72, f 2 – f 3 13–17, f 3 – f 3 53–62, f 3 – h 2 15–20, h 2 – h 2 31–35, h 2 – h 1 12, h 1 – h 1 11–13.

Venter. ( Figs. 8B View FIGURE 8 , 10C View FIGURE 10 ) Venter similar to female. All coxal setae setiform. Setae 1a, 1b and 4a 1 flagelliform. Lengths: 1a 70–105, 1b 45–54, 1c 12–17, 2b 14–18, 2c 20–33, 3a 12–17, 3b 12–16, 4a 1 55–67, 4b 14–17. Distances: 1a–1a 15–16, 3a–3a 13–15, 4a 1 – 4a 1 7–13. Posterior opisthosoma with transverse striae surrounding setae g 1, and longitudianal striations laterally. Setal lengths: ag 13–14, g 1 10–15, ps 1 8–11, ps 2 5–6; distances: ag–ag 11–17, g 1 – g 1 12–15, ps 1 – ps 2 17–23.

Legs. ( Figs. 9 View FIGURE 9 A–B, 10A–B) Lengths of legs I–IV: 95–100, 70–75, 70–75, 70–75. Chaetotaxy: coxae 2-2-1-1; trochanters 1-1-2-0; femora 4-4-2-2; genua 2-2-0-0, tibiae 5-5-3-3, tarsi 7+ω-7+ω-5-5. Dorsal and lateral setae on trochanters, femora and genua lanceolate and barbed, and on tibiae setiform; ventral setae setiform, except bv′′ on femur II lanceolate and barbed. Setae ft′ on tarsi I–IV flagelliform; unguinal setae u pectinate and equal in length; proral setae p′ζ and p′′ζ eupathidial; tectal setae tc setiform. Lengths of solenidia: I ω′′ 5–6, II ω′′ 4–6. Claws developed with tenent hairs on each side.

Protonymph (n=9)

Gnathosoma. ( Figs. 11B View FIGURE 11 , 12C View FIGURE 12 ) Subcapitulum with setae m, or 1 and or 2, subcapitular seta m setiform, m =7–10, m–m =10–12; palp 3-segmented, setal formula: 0, 2, 2; tarsus with two eupathidia 4, 4.

Idiosoma. ( Fig. 11A View FIGURE 11 ) 310–325 long, 87–105 wide. Body smooth, similar to deutonymph; setae v 2 setiform, sc 1 and sc 2 thin and barbed. Lengths: v 2 3–4, sc 1 26–33, sc 2 29–35; distances: v 2 – v 2 25–30, v 2 – sc 1 34–40, sc 1 – sc 1 59–70, sc 1 – sc 2 25–31, sc 2 – sc 2 87–105. Hysterosoma with same setae as adults. Setae v 2, d 1, e 1 and d 3 setiform, c 3, e 3, f 2, f 3 and h 1 barbed, and setae h 2 elongate, ending in minute club. Lengths: d 1 7–10, e 1 7 –9, c 3 18–28, d 3 6–8, e 3 11 –17, f 2 20–30, f 3 21–27, h 2 85–110, h 1 12–22; distances: d 1 – d 1 17–30, e 1 – e 1 17 –24, c 3 – c 3 90–100, d 3 – d 3 63–70, d 3 – e 3 60–64, e 3 – e 3 53 –61, e 3 – f 2 7–12, f 2 – f 2 51–60, f 2 – f 3 8–13, f 3 – f 3 40–47, f 3 – h 2 9–13, h 2 – h 2 26–28, h 2 – h 1 8–10, h 1 – h 1 8–10.

Venter. ( Figs. 11B View FIGURE 11 , 13C View FIGURE 13 ) Venter similar to female. All coxa setae setiform, except 1a and 1b flagelliform. Lengths: 1a 59–97, 1b 35–50, 1c 9–13, 2c 13–16, 3a 8–15, 3b 7–13. Distances: 1a–1a 15–17, 3a–3a 11–14. Pseudanal setae ps 1 and ps 2 setiform. Setal lengths: ag 7–10, ps 1 4–8, ps 2 3–5; distances: ag–ag 11–13, ps 1 – ps 2 10–13.

Legs. ( Figs. 12 View FIGURE 12 A–B, 13A–B) Lengths of legs I–IV: 73–80, 57–63, 59–60, 54–57. Chaetotaxy: coxae 2-1-1-0; trochanters 0-0-1-0; femora 3-3-2-2; genua 1-1-0-0, tibiae 5-5-3-3, tarsi 7+ω-7+ω-3-3. Dorsal and lateral setae on trochanters, femora and genua I–II lanceolate and barbed, and on tibiae setiform; ventral setae setiform, except bv′′ on femur II lanceolate and barbed. Setae ft′ on tarsi I–IV flagelliform; unguinal setae u pectinate and equal in length; proral setae p′ζ and p′′ζ eupathidial; tectal setae tc setiform. Lengths of solenidia: I ω′′ 4–5, II ω′′ 3–4. Claws developed with tenent hairs on each side.

Larva (n=6)

Gnathosoma. ( Figs. 14B View FIGURE 14 , 15D View FIGURE 15 ) Subcapitulum with or 1 and or 2; palp 3-segmented, setal formula: 0, 2, 2; tarsus with two eupathidia 2–3, 6–7.

Idiosoma. ( Fig. 14A View FIGURE 14 ) 240–260 long, 80–94 wide. Body elongate, smooth, similar to deutonymph and protonymph; setae v 2 setiform, sc 1 and sc 2 thin and barbed. Lengths: v 2 3–7, sc 1 25–28, sc 2 28–33; distances: v 2 – v 2 18–21, v 2 – sc 1 28–33, sc 1 – sc 1 58–60, sc 1 – sc 2 17–22, sc 2 – sc 2 80–94. Hysterosoma with same setae as adults. Setae v 2, d 1, e 1 and d 3 setiform, c 3, e 3, f 2, f 3 and h 1 barbed, and setae h 2 elongate, ending in minute club. Lengths: d 1 10–13, e 1 8 –10, c 3 18–22, d 3 5–9, e 3 9 –13, f 2 21–25, f 3 20–24, h 2 83–125, h 1 13–17; distances: d 1 – d 1 22–25, e 1 – e 1 10 –13, c 3 – c 3 80–86, d 3 – d 3 53–58, d 3 – e 3 35 –39, e 3 – e 3 47 –51, e 3 – f 2 5–7, f 2 – f 2 44–48, f 2 – f 3 5–7, f 3 – f 3 35–38, f 3 – h 2 9–10, h 2 – h 2 20–21, h 2 – h 1 6–8, h 1 – h 1 7–9.

Venter. ( Figs. 14B View FIGURE 14 , 15E View FIGURE 15 ) Venter similar to deutonymph. All coxal setae setiform except 1a and 1b flagelliform. Lengths: 1a 45–72, 1b 25–35, 3a 10–16. Distances: 1a–1a 13–17, 3a–3a 14–15. Pseudanal setae ps 1 and ps 2 setiform. Setal lengths: ps 1 6–10, ps 2 4–7; distances: ps 1 – ps 2 7–9.

Legs. ( Figs. 15 View FIGURE 15 A–15C) Lengths of legs I–III: 60–64, 50, 53–58. Chaetotaxy: coxae 1-0-0; trochanters 0-0-0; femora 3-3-2; genua 1-1-0, tibiae 5-5-3, tarsi 5+ω-5+ω-3. Dorsal and lateral setae on trochanters, femora and genua lanceolate and barbed, and on tibiae setiform; ventral setae setiform, except bv′′ on femur II lanceolate and barbed. Setae ft′ on tarsi I–IV flagelliform; unguinal setae u pectinate and equal in length; proral setae p′ζ and p′′ζ eupathidial. Lengths of solenidia: I ω′′ 3, II ω′′ 3. Claws developed with tenent hairs on each side.

Etymology. The species name refers to the specific name of the plant on which it was collected, Austroderia splendens (Poaceae) .

Remarks. Before this paper, five species of Prolixus had been described and all of them were recorded from Gahnia (Cyperaceae) , residing in the tight grooves along the leaf blades of host plants. Prolixus splendens sp. nov. was collected from Austroderia splendens (Poaceae) , which is a new host plant for this mite genus.

Prolixus splendens sp. nov. is similar to Prolixus forsteri Beard, Fan & Walter, 2005 in having six pairs of dorsolateral setae (f 2 present) and a pair of aggenital setae ag (setae f 2 and ag absent in all other known species of Prolixus ), but mainly differs in the following characters: adult female with spermatheca ending in a bulb-shaped vesicle; setal counts (legs I–IV): coxae 2-2-1-1; femora 4-4-2-2; genua 2-2-0-0; adult male with 7+2 ω -7+2 ω -5+ ω -5 setae on tarsi (adult female with spermatheca ending in a cylinder-shaped vesicle; coxae 1-2-1-1; femora 4-4-2-1; genua 2-1-0-0; adult male with 7+2 ω -7+2 ω -5-5 setae on tarsi in P. forsteri ).

There have been several papers discussing the ontogeny of Prolixus recently ( Beard et al. 2005; Beard & Ochoa 2011; Xu & Zhang 2014; Xu et al. 2017b): setae 1a, 3a, ps 1 and ps 2 are present from the larval stage; 1c, 2c, 3b and ag, if present, appear in the protonymph; 2b and 4b and 4a 1, if present, appear in the deutonymph; genital setae g 1 appear in deutonymph; 4a 2 (if present) and g 2 are added in the adult. All of these setae appear in their expected life stage for the Tenuipalpidae ( Lindquist 1985; Beard et al. 2014).

The ontogenetic changes in the chaetotaxy of leg segments are presented in Table 1. For Tenuipalpidae , females and males share similar chaetotaxy in most cases, and on adult male a solenidion is usually added to tarsi I–II ( Lindquist 1985), sometimes to tarsi III–IV, such as on Acaricis urigersoni ( Xu & Zhang 2013) . In contrast, differences in chaetotaxy are usually present between females and males of Prolixus (e.g. P. forsteri and P. corruginus ), even throughout their entire ontogenetic cycle (e.g. P. setifolius ). In this new species Prolixus splendens sp. nov., females and males have similar leg chaetotaxy except that the male adds a solenidion to tarsi I–III.

Coxa Trochanter Femur Genu Tibia Tarsus

Leg I -

Larva 1a, 1b - d, bv′′, v′ l′ d, (v), (l) (u), (pζ), ft′, ω′′

Protonymph 1c - - - - (tc)

Deutonymph - v′ l′ l′′ - -

Adult female - - - - - -

Adult male - - - - - ω′

Leg II

Larva - - d, bv′′, v′ l′ d, (v), (l) (u), (pζ), ft′, ω′′

Protonymph 2c - - - - (tc)

Deutonymph 2b v′ l′ l′′ - -

Adult female - - - - - -