Laminamichaelia furcula, Uusitalo & Ueckermann & Theron, 2020

Uusitalo, Matti, Ueckermann, Edward A. & Theron, Pieter D., 2020, A review of the family Alycidae (Acari, Acariformes) from South Africa, Zootaxa 4858 (3), pp. 301-340 : 332

Laminamichaelia furcula sp. nov.

( Figs. 119–132 )

Description. Dorsum ( Figs. 119, 120 ). Length 560 μm; primary pattern comprising stellate rosettes of about 8, often trigonal, cells around a seta and 5–6 setae at the orbit, secondary pattern of densely packed small lamellae in rows inside cells, tens (ca. 30) of cilia per seta, dorsal and ventral neotrichy well developed; additional setae on soft prodorsum and in -area, roundish naso with fine striae, tripartite crista flanked by strips of large lamellae and a midline with polygons from naso to sensillar area, densely ciliated sensilla ve branched distally.

Venter ( Figs. 121, 124 ). Sclerotized genital valves each with 9–10 genital setae; anal setae 7–8 per valve.

Gnathosoma ( Figs. 122, 123 ). Chelicerae straight; subcapitulum neotrichous; palpal solenidion in contact with two eupathids.

Legs ( Figs. 125–127 ). Solenidial formula for tarsi, tibiae, genua and femora on legs I, II, III and IV, respectively: 3B-2B-0-0, 2B1P-2B-2B-1B, 4P-1B2P-1P-1P, 3P-1B-0-0, baculiform solenidia on tibiae I, II and III clearly separated from each other, rod-like famulus I abaxially near distal end of tarsus I.

Larva (n=20, Figs. 131, 132 )

Dorsum. Neotrichous.

Venter. Neotrichous; genital valves absent.

Legs. Solenidial formula for tarsi, tibiae, genua and femora on legs I, II, and III, respectively: 1B-1B-0, 2B-2B- 2B, 3P-1B1P-1P, 2P-1B-0.

Other life stages:

Protonymph (n=2, Fig. 130 ), 1 genital seta per valve.

Deutonymph (n=6, Fig. 129 ), 4 genital setae per valve.

Tritonymph (n=1, Fig. 128 ), 6–7 genital setae per valve.

Adult female (n=5, Figs. 121, 124 ), 9–10 genital setae per valve, 3 pairs of eugenital setae.

Type material. Holotype female from Acacia -biotope, Potchefstroom, NORTH-WEST PROVINCE, 8 May 1967, P.D. Theron; one paratype female from Acacia -biotope, Potchefstroom, 12 December 1967, P.D. Theron; one paratype female from kikuyu grass, Potchefstroom, May 1967, C.A. Verhoop; one paratype tritonymph, 2 paratype deutonymphs, 2 paratype protonymphs, and 2 paratype larvae from Acacia -biotope, Potchefstroom, 15 May 1967, P.D. Theron; 3 deutonymphs from Acacia -biotope, Potchefstroom, 23 August 1967, P.D. Theron; 2 paratype females, from Acacia -biotope, Potchefstroom 5 May 1969, P.D. Theron; one paratype deutonymph from Acaciabiotope, Potchefstroom, 3 March 1969, P.D. Theron. Deposited at ARC-Plant Health and Protection, Pretoria, South Africa.

Differential diagnosis. This species has character states typical of the arbusculosa -group, such as the stellate pattern of large lamellae, presence of additional plumose setae on both the soft prodorsum and sclerotized in -area and three baculiform solenidia on tarsi I ( Figs. 119, 125 ). The species is closely related to L. arbusculosa , which also has branched sensilla ve ( Uusitalo 2010: fig. 130), but can be segregated from it by having famulus I in a distal position (not close to solenidion ω2) and a clear gap between the two baculiform solenidia on tibiae I, II and III.

Etymology. The specific name is a feminine gender of the Latin word furculus meaning small fork and refers to the forked sensilla ve.

Figures

FIGURES 119−125. Laminamichaelia furcula sp. nov. 119—Prodorsum, neotrichous soft integument and in-area, sensilla ve branched, button-like naso, reticulated pattern of large lamellae on crista between strips; 120—Dorsal habitus, strong neotrichy; 121—Vental habitus, neotrichy, 9–10 genital setae per valve, 7–8 anal setae per valve; 122—Palp tarsus; 123—Subcapitulum, neotrichy; 124—Genital area, 10 genital setae per valve, 3 pairs of eugenital setae; 125—Tarsus I (3B), famulus I (arrow), Tibia I (3B1P).

FIGURES 126−130. Laminamichaelia furcula sp. nov. 126—Tarsus II (2B), Tibia II (2B); 127—2 slightly bent claws and a setulated empodium; 128—Tritonymph, venter, 6−7 genital setae per valve, 5−6 anal setae per valve; 129—Deutonymph, venter, 4 genital setae per valve, 4−6 anal setae per valve; 130—Protonymph, venter, 1 genital seta per valve, 4 anal setae per valve.

FIGURES 131−132. Laminamichaelia furcula sp. nov. 131—Larva, ventral habitus, slight neotrichy, genital valves absent, 2−3 anal setae per valve; 132—Larva, dorsal habitus, neotrichy. 119−132 from RSA, near Potchefstroom.