Acaricis danutae, Beard & Gerson, 2009

Beard, J. J. & Gerson, U., 2009, A new flat mite genus, Acaricis (Prostigmata: Tenuipalpidae), from Australian sedges (Cyperaceae), Zootaxa 2073 (2073), pp. 31-44 : 32-36

Acaricis danutae sp. nov. Beard & Gerson

( Figs 1–5)

Types. Holotype. ♀. Australia, New South Wales, Cooyal, private property of E. & R. McGanigles, 11.i.1998, ex. native sedge Carex sp. (Cyperaceae) , D. Knihinicki, deposited in ASCU. Paratypes. Same data as holotype (all on separate slides): 1 ♀, 1 ♂, deposited in ANIC; 1 ♀, 1 ♂ in QM; 1 ♀ in DEFARI.

Female. Dorsum. ( Fig. 1) Body measurements: length between setae v2-h1 399–423, width between setae sc2-sc2 164–172, c3-c3 168–170, f2-f2 128–136. Dorsal cuticle relatively smooth; prodorsum mostly smooth with light longitudinal sculpturing; light coarse transverse striations between setae sc1 and d1; smooth between setae d1 and e1; light longitudinal striations laterad setae e1, forming u-shaped pattern posterad setae e1. Elongate, forked rostral shield present (internal depth 25-29). Most dorsal setae short, smooth; setae f2, f3 and h1 thick, broadly lanceolate, barbed; setae h2 elongate, with minute distal club. Dorsal setae measurements: v2 5–7, sc1 6–9, sc2 7–11, c3 6–7, d1 7–9, d3 5–7, e1 6 –7, e3 7 –8, f2 16–19, f3 19–23, h1 18–26, h2 144–176.

Palpi. (see Fig. 2) Palpi four segmented. Setal formula: 0, 0, 2, 0 (2 eupathidia). Palpal tarsus with two eupathidia (6–7, 7–8).

Venter. ( Fig. 2) Cuticle almost completely plicate, covered with fine, mostly transverse striae, except small smooth area between setae 1a and coxa I; fine striae becoming coarse along anterolateral margin of body; striae longitudinal laterad genital area and setae 4a2. Setae g1 inserted anterior to setae g2 on genital flap. Setae 1a, 4a1 and 4a2 elongate, fine (difficult to determine full length); setae 1a and 4a1 each with minute distal club. Setal measurements: 1a 163–191, 1b 13–18, 1c 15–18, 2b 21–27, 2c 18–23, 3a 16–21, 3b 21–25, 4a1 116–134, 4a2 87–120, 4b 20–23, ag1 13–18, g1 16–20, g2 16–18, ps1 15–21, ps2 14–17.

Spermatheca. ( Fig. 3) A short, narrow, unsclerotised tube from the genital opening (mesad setae ps2) becoming sclerotised for 12 µm before ending in a rounded to dome-shaped vesicle.

Legs. ( Figs 1, 2) Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi): 2-1-4-2-5-8(1), 2-1-4-2-5-8(1), 1-1-2-1-3-5, 1-0-2-0-3-5 respectively. Tarsi I and II each with one abaxial solenidion (ta I 7–10; ta II 7–9) and two eupathidia distally (ta I 10–11, 8–9; ta II 10–11, 8–9).

Male. Dorsum. ( Fig. 4): Body measurements: length between setae v2-h1 318–329, width between setae sc2-sc2 131-142, c3-c3 131–132, f2-f2 82–88, width at “waist” (level with coxae IV) 73–77. Dorsal cuticle relatively smooth; prodorsum mostly smooth with light longitudinal sculpturing; light coarse transverse striations in a band anterior to row C setae; narrow band of transverse striae at level of coxae IV; light longitudinal striations along lateral margin of body forming a u-shaped pattern posterad setae e1. Elongate, forked rostral shield present (internal depth 23-25). Most dorsal setae short, smooth; setae f2, f3 and h2 broadly lanceolate, barbed; setae h1 elongate, ending in a minute club. Setal measurements: v2 6–7, sc1 5–6, sc2 6–8, c3 5–7, d1 6–7, d3 5–6, e1 6 –7, e3 6 –7, f2 16–17 (one specimen with one aberrant f2 = 110 long), f3 12–18, h1 14–18, h2 124–146.

Palpi. (see Figs 4, 5) Palpi four segmented. Setal formula: 0, 0, 2, 0 (2 eupathidia). Palp tarsus with two eupathidia (7, 8).

Venter. ( Fig. 5) Ventral cuticle almost completely plicate, covered in mostly transverse striae; cuticle smooth between setae 1a and coxae I, and around setae ag1; a band of strong, transverse striae located between coxae IV. Setae 1a and 4a1 elongate, ending in minute clubs. Setal measurements: 1a 138–165, 1b 14–16, 1c 11–14, 2b 18–24, 2c 16–18, 3a 12–17, 3c 17–21, 4a1 124–140, 4a2 13–18, 4b 16–20, ag1 14–19, g1 14–20, g2 15–20, ps1 12–15, ps2 10–11.

Aedeagus. (see Fig. 5) Aedeagus narrow, elongate and sclerotised (66–70), tapering to a point posteriorly (at genital opening); a narrow unsclerotised tube runs from the sclerotised aedeagus to a broad, lightly sclerotised, cone-shaped vesicle (16 wide, 7 deep).

Legs. ( Figs 4, 5) Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi): 2-1-4-2-5-9(2), 2-1-4-2-5-9(2), 1-1-2-1-3-5, 1-0-2-0-3-5 respectively. Tarsus I and II each with two solenidia (one adaxial, one abaxial) (ta I 9, 10–12; ta II 8–10, 9–12 respectively) and two eupathidia (ta I 9–10, 7–9; ta II 8–10, 8–9).

Host. Carex sp. (Cyperaceae) .

Distribution. AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Cooyal.

Remarks. All specimens examined were measured for the description. Acaricis danutae (A. d.) can be separated from A. plana (A. p.) by the following: A. danutae is a larger mite with the length of the female (v2- h1) ranging from 399–423, and the length of the male (v2-h1) ranging from 318–329; seta sc2 is short and barbed; the dorsolateral seta on femur III is short and stout; whereas A. plana is smaller, with the length of the female (v2-h1) ranging from 345–361, and the length of the male (v2-h1) ranging from 255–269; seta sc2 is broadly lanceolate and finely barbed; and the dorsolateral seta on femur III is broadly lanceolate and finely barbed.

Etymology. This species is named after person who collected it, Danuta Knihinicki.