Gaeolaelaps farajii, Nemati, Alireza & Mohseni, Mastaneh, 2013

Nemati, Alireza & Mohseni, Mastaneh, 2013, Two new species of Gaeolaelaps (Acari: Laelapidae) from Iran, Zootaxa 3750 (1), pp. 71-82 : 72-76

Gaeolaelaps farajii sp. nov.

( Figures 1–11 )

Specimens examined. Holotype, female, Iran, Khuzestan province, Izeh (31° 49´52" N, 49° 52´9" E, alt. 845 m), from soil, coll., A. Nemati, 2012 (in Acarological Laboratory of Shahrekord University, Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari province, Iran). Paratypes: 13 females, same data as holotype (ten in Shahrekord University, Iran; three in Senckenberg Museum fur Naturkunde Gorlitz Am Museum 1 0 2826 Gorlitz Germany).

Description. Female.

Dorsal idiosoma. Dorsal shield oval-shaped, 408–439 Μm, long, width at level of setae r3 205–218 Μm, (n= 7) ( Fig. 1 ); polygonal reticulation more distinct posterior to setae j6, in podonotum restricted to lateral parts, central area smooth, shield with 39 pairs of fine and simple setae, 22 pairs on podonotum (j1 – 6; z1 – 6; s1 – 6; r2 – 5) and 17 pairs on opisthonotum (J1 – 5, Z1 – 5, S1 – 5), including Px2 – 3 between J and Z series. Dorsal shield setae nearly uniform in length (18–26 Μm), with Z5 longest (27–31 Μm). Cuticle between dorsal and ventral sides of body bearing r6 = 18 µm (between s6 and Z1). Podonotal and opisthonotal regions with 18 pairs of pore-like structures, each with 9 pairs ( Fig. 1 ).

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 2 ). Tritosternum with columnar base (26–34 Μm) and pilose laciniae (80–82 Μm). Presternal area granulate, with a pair of lightly sclerotised plates bearing linear striation. Sternal shield with fine lineate reticulation in lateral regions, 109–112 Μm long, 127–133 Μm wide (at level of projection between coxae II– III) and 88–94 Μm at level of st2, with an indentation anteromedially, posterior margin irregular. Sternal setae smooth, st 1 26–31 Μm, st2 and st 3 26–29 Μm, iv1 slit-like, located slightly behind st1, iv2 pore-like, between st2 – st3. Metasternal plates absent. Setae st4 (18–23 Μm) and pore-like iv3 located on soft integument. Tongue-shaped genital shield 104–109 Μm long (excluding hyaline flap), 52–57 Μm wide, ratio of length to width (L/W) = 1.95–2, shield with one pair of setae (st5 = 13–18 Μm), surface reticulate, with a pair of inverted v-shaped lines enclosing eight cells, epigynal shield separated from anal shield by about the length of the anal shield, paragenital pores on soft integument between genital seta and coxa IV. Anal shield reticulated, with semi-circular anterior margin, straight postero-lateral margins, and a pair of minute angular lateral projections, 55–62 Μm long, 57–60 Μm wide, para-anal setae (21–22 Μm) slightly longer than post-anal seta (18 Μm). Cribrum extending laterally to level of post-anal seta. Opisthogastric surface with one pair of suboval metapodal plates; two pairs of minute platelets (between metapodal plate and paragenital platelet), one pair of narrow, slightly elongate paragenital platelets, seven pairs of smooth setae, Zv1 – 2 and Jv1 – 5: 15–25 Μm long; and five pairs of pore-like structures, plus one pair of pores on lateral margin of angular portion of anal shield. Stigmata surrounded by narrow, and pointed stigmatal plate. Stigmata located in middle level of coxa IV. Peritremes narrow and short, extending to anterior margin of coxa II, peritrematal plate wider in middle part, and with one glandular poroid gp and one lyrifissure ip ( Fig. 2 ), separated from exopodal shield. Post-stigmatal plate with three pores, and extending nearly from middle part of coxa IV to its posterior level. Exopodal plates small and angular between coxae III–IV; narrow, crescent-shaped and expanded posterior to coxae IV, almost joining narrow platelets mediad of coxae IV. Endopodal plates II/III fused to lateral margins of sternal shield, and III–IV elongate, narrow and angular.

Gnathosoma . Hypostome ( Fig. 3 ) with three pairs of smooth simple setae; h1 (33–38 Μm), h2 (24–25 Μm) and h3 (16–18 Μm). Palpcoxal setae 27–30 Μm long. Deutosternal groove with six rows of 5–12 denticles each, the anteriormost row smooth, first row of denticles angled medially, and other rows slightly curved. Corniculi normal, horn-like. Epistome rounded with finely denticulate anterior margin ( Fig. 4 ). Chelicerae ( Fig. 5 ) normal for genus, arthrodial processes present, moveable digit (47–55 Μm) with two teeth ( Fig. 7 ), middle article (70–83 Μm) ending in fixed digit (51–58 Μm) ( Fig. 6 ), bearing an offset moderately small tooth near terminal hook and a row of three teeth (two small teeth and a larger proximal tooth) above short setaceous pilus dentilis, followed by three teeth.

Palp chaetotaxy normal (sensu Evans & Till, 1965), with simple and fine setae except al on femur, and al1 and al2 on genu slightly thickened; palp-tarsal claw two-tined, basal tine smaller ( Fig. 8 ).

Legs. Tarsi I–IV with claws and ambulacra. Legs I and IV longer than legs II and III. Leg I 393–426 Μm, coxa (60–65 Μm), trochanter (29–34 Μm), basi-femur (13–24 Μm), telo-femur (57–67 Μm), genu (52–62 Μm), tibia (60– 65 Μm), tarsus (109–117 Μm). Leg II 273–304 Μm (excluding stalk and pretarsus), coxa (36–44 Μm), trochanter (34–44 Μm), basi-femur (13–18 Μm), telo-femur (31–42 Μm), genu (39–50 Μm), tibia (44–47 Μm), tarsus (49–78 Μm). Leg III 244–278 Μm (excluding stalk and pretarsus), coxa (21–36 Μm), trochanter (42–47 Μm), basi-femur (13–21 Μm), telo-femur (31–47 Μm), genu (26–36 Μm), tibia (29–34 Μm), tarsus (55–73 Μm). Leg IV 371–410 Μm (excluding stalk and pretarsus), coxa (36–44 Μm), trochanter (60–70 Μm), basi-femur (21–31 Μm), telo-femur (52– 62 Μm), genu (42–52 Μm), tibia (50–52 Μm), tarsus (101–107 Μm). Chaetotaxy of all leg segments normal for Gaeolaelaps (sensu Beaulieu, 2009). All leg setae smooth and pointed. Chaetotaxy of legs is as follows: 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; tibia 2 3/2 3/1 2. 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; tibia 2 2/1 2/1 2; tarsus 3,3/2,3/2,3 + mv, md (pl1 and al1 slightly thickened) ( Fig. 9 ). 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 2/1 2/1 1; tibia 2 1/1 2/1 1; tarsus 3 3/2 3/2 3 + mv, md. Leg IV: coxa 0 0/1 0/0 0; trochanter 1 0/2 0/1 1; femur 1 2/1 1/0 1 (ad1, ad2 and pd slightly thickened) ( Fig 10 ); genu 2 2/1 3/0 1 ( Fig 10 ); tibia 2 1/1 3/1 2; tarsus 3,3/2,3/2,3 + mv, md (pl1 and al1 slightly thickened, pd2, pd3 and al3 slightly longer than the others, as much as 0.27–0.33 × the length of tarsus IV) ( Fig 11 ). Ventral setae on femur, genu, tibia and tarsus of legs II, III and IV slightly thicker than dorsal and lateral setae on those segments.

Insemination structures. Not seen.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Dr. Farid Faraji (MITOX Consultants, AG Amsterdam, The Netherlands).

Remarks. Some species of Gaeolaelaps such as G. brevipellis (Karg, 1979) , G. brevipilis (Hirschmann, 1969) , G. kargi (Costa, 1968) , G. pugni (Krag, 1979) , G. tridentifera (Karg, 1978) , and G. vanpletzeni (Van Aswegen & Loots, 1970) , may be similar to G. farajii sp. n., but can be distinguished as follows. Gaeolaelaps brevipellis has the dorsal setae very short, (10–12 Μm long), podonotum with 20 pairs of setae, and anal shield with anterior margin nearly straight. In contrast in G. farajii , the dorsal setae are longer (18–26 Μm), the podonotum has 22 pairs of setae, and the anal shield has a semi-circular anterior margin.

Gaeolaelaps brevipilis has very short dorsal setae; the length of J1 is nearly 1/3 distance of J1 – J2; the fixed digit of the chelicerae has nine teeth; the sternal shield is completely reticulate and has a concave posterior margin, iv2 is slit-like; the widest area of genital shield is located behind the genital setae; the opisthogastric area of the dorsal shield has 14 pairs of setae; the anal shield is reticulate with nearly rounded lateral margins; and the idiosoma is large (550 Μm). In G. farajii , the dorsal setae are longer, the length of J1 is nearly more than 1/2 distance of J1 – J2; the fixed digit of the chelicerae has 6–7 teeth; the sternal shield has lineate reticulation only on its lateral surfaces; the posterior margin of the sternal shield is irregular but not concave; iv2 is pore-like; the lateral margins of the genital shield are parallel; the opisthogastric area of the dorsal shield has six pairs of setae; and the anal shield has straight lateral edges.

Gaeolaelaps kargi has two elongate setae on tarsus IV; 38 pairs of setae on the dorsal shield (lacking z3); and its anal shield has nearly rounded lateral margins. In contrast, G. farajii lacks elongate setae on tarsus IV; 39 pairs of dorsal shield setae; and anal shield has a semi-circular anterior margin and straight lateral margins.

Gaeolaelaps pugni has the sternal shield reticulate throughout; spur-like seta on femur II; the anal shield is longer than the sternal shield; and the idiosoma is large (760 Μm long), while G. farajii has a sternal shield with lineate reticulation only on the lateral surfaces; lacks spur-like seta on femur II; and the sternal shield is longer than the anal shield.

Gaeolaelaps tridentifera has a podonotum with 17 pairs of setae (lacking j4, z3, s2, s3, r4); the anterior margin of the anal shield is nearly straight; its epistome has a three tined process in the middle part of ventral side that extends out of its anterior margin; the deutosternal groove has 30–35 teeth in each row; and the presternal shield is fused to the anterior margin of the sternal shield. In G. farajii , the podonotum has 22 pairs of setae; the anal shield has a semi-circular anterior margin; the epistome does not have an antero-median process; the deutosternal groove has 5–12 teeth in each row; and the presternal plates are separate from the anterior margin of the sternal shield.

Gaeolaelaps vanpletzeni has 38 pairs of setae on the dorsal shield (lacking z2), it lacks the R series setae, it has only one pair of Px setae (Px2); it has a spine-like seta on femur II; some of the dorsal setae are long enough to reach to the base of the next seta in the series; setae st4 are located on endopodal plates; the peritrematal plates apparently abut the exopodals; the deutosternal groove has seven rows of denticles; while G. farajii has 39 pairs of dorsal shield setae with r6 on soft cuticle, and Px2 – 3 present; it lacks the spine-like seta on femur II; the dorsal setae are short, and none of them reaches to the base of next seta in the series; setae st4 are located on soft cuticle; the peritrematal plates are separated from the exopodal plates; and the deutosternal groove has six rows of denticles.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Gaeolaelaps farajii sp. n., Female: 1, dorsal shield; 2, ventral idiosoma.

FIGURES 3 – 8. Gaeolaelaps farajii. Female: 3, hypostome; 4, epistome; 5, chelicera; 6, middle article; 7, movable digit and fixed digit; 8, palp.

FIGURES 9 – 11. Gaeolaelaps farajii. Female: 9, tarsus II; 10, femur and genu IV; 11, tarsus IV.