New flat mite genera (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) associated with Australian sedges (Cyperaceae)
Author
Beard, Jennifer J.
Author
Ochoa, Ronald
text
Zootaxa
2011
2941
1
37
journal article
46477
10.5281/zenodo.204686
4d30eb9e-47cf-4408-a9a8-f70b0f8f1add
1175-5326
204686
Gahniacarus tuberculatus
sp. nov.
Beard & Ochoa
(
Figs 1
a, 2–8)
Types
.
Holotype
.
Ƥ.
Australia
,
Queensland, Base of Mt Hedley, Home Rule, Far North Queensland, 15°44’56”
S 145°17’17”
E,
21.vi.2005
, ex. rough saw sedge
Gahnia aspera
(R.Br.) Spreng.
sensu lato
(
Cyperaceae
) in margin of notophyll vineforest (BRI voucher PIF31002), J.J. Beard (QM, UQIC #89123).
Paratypes
.
22 Ƥ, 8 3, 5 deutonymphs, 3 protonymphs, larva, all same data as
Holotype
(QM; UQIC#
16 specimens
, 14 slides: Ƥ 89108– 128 (Ƥ with long
sc1
89119, 89128); Ƥ, 3, DN, PN, larva 89140; Ƥ+DN 89141; 3 89129–34; 3+DN 89142; DN 89135–36; PN 89137–38;
L 89139
).
Diagnosis. Adult female.
(
Figs 1
a, 2
–
4) As per genus, in addition to: setae
sc1
similar in length to other dorsal setae, inserted on large rounded tubercles; setal pairs
c1–c1
and
d1–d1
each inserted on single tubercle;
f2
and
f3
tubercles contiguous; large tubercles (not bearing setae) present between
sc1–c1
, laterad
c1
, posterad
c1
, posterad
d1
. Dorsal opisthosomal setae
e3
,
f2
,
f3
present.
Immatures.
(
Figs 6
–
8
). Larva with posterior opisthosomal setae
e3
,
f3
,
h1
minute, setae
f2
similar to other dorsal setae. Protonymph with posterior opisthosomal setae
f3
,
h1
minute and setae
f2
,
e3
similar to other dorsal setae. Deutonymph with posterior opisthosomal setae
h1
minute and setae
f2
,
f3
,
e3
similar to other dorsal setae (
f3
obviously shorter than
f2
,
e3
). Opisthosomal setae
f3
migrate anteriorly with each nymphal moult, and are inserted anterior to
f
2
in the adult (
Figs 2
,
6
,
7
). Differences in how an individual mite is mounted and the direction in which setae are flattened can alter the apparent insertion point of setae
f3
(
Fig. 6
). The tubercles on which setae
f2
,
f3
are inserted are contiguous.
FIGURE 1.
DIC image of adult female dorsum. a.
Gahniacarus tuberculatus
sp. nov.
; b.
Gahniacarus gersonus
sp. nov.
; c.
Cyperacarus naomae
sp. nov.
(scale bar = 50μm).
Remarks.
Setae
f2
and
f3
are inserted on contiguous tubercles on adult
Gahniacarus tuberculatus
, whereas setae
f2
and
f3
are inserted on well separated tubercles on
G. gersonus
; prodorsal setae
sc1
are similar in size to other dorsal setae in
G. tuberculatus
, whereas
sc1
are elongate and tapered in
G. gersonus
.
Adult female.
(15 measured).
Dorsum
.
(
Figs 1
a, 2) Body measurements:
v2
–h1
210
–
237 [235] (
v2
–
tip of protuberance 217
–
246 [245]),
sc2– sc2
74
–
80 [77],
c3–c3
87
–
92 [89],
f3–f3
45
–
59 [57]. All dorsal setae, except
h1–h2
, inserted on large tubercles: setae
sc1
inserted on a pair of large rounded tubercles; setal pairs
c1–c1
and
d1–d1
each inserted on single tubercle; tubercles
f2–f3
contiguous; additional non-seta bearing tubercles present posterad
sc1
, laterad
c1
, mesad
c3
and posterad
d1
. Setae
h1–h2
inserted beneath a tubercle-like posterior projection. Dorsal cuticle mostly smooth, with some minor transverse grooves and plicae posterior to setae
c1
and some oblique plicae posterior to setae
d1
. Most dorsal setae thick, barbed, of subequal length; setae
h1
minute;
h2
elongate, barbed with minute distal club; all other dorsal setae thick, heavily barbed; barbs on prodorsal setae longer than those on opisthosoma:
v2
37
–
41 [40
–
41],
sc1
57
–
91 [67
–
80] (two specimens with elongate
sc1
, 115
–
126 (89119, 89128)),
sc2
33
–
43 [39
–
42],
c1
52
–
66 [59
–
60],
c3
34
–
40 [35
–
40],
d1
57
–
66 [61],
d3
40
–
46 [45],
e3
46
–
53 [47
–
48],
f2
44
–
55 [49
–
54],
f3
41
–
50 [49],
h1
2
–
4 [3
–
4],
h2
126
–
148 [141].
Gnathosoma
.
(
Fig. 2
)
Gnathosoma
extends to genu I. Dorsal cuticle with longitudinal plicae laterally; ventral cuticle anterior to setae
1b
finely papillate, longitudinal plicae between
1b–1b
and
1b–1a
. Ventral setae
m
absent. Palps three segmented; setal formula: 0, 2, 0(2); tibia with two setae (
d
11
–
12;
v
10
–
11
); tarsus with two eupathidia (6
–
7; 5
–
6) [7; 5]. Cheliceral stylets 115
–
127.
FIGURE 2.
Gahniacarus tuberculatus
sp. nov.
adult female—dorsum, with detail of seta
h2
.
FIGURE 3.
Gahniacarus tuberculatus
sp. nov.
adult female—posterior venter; with details of variation in spermatheca.
Venter
.
(
Fig. 3
) Cuticle of ventral
gnathosoma
finely papillate; remaining cuticle completely plicate, covered with fine, mostly transverse plicae; transverse plicae between setae
1a–g1
; plicae longitudinal in coxal fields III
–
IV and laterad genital flap; plicae oblique on genital flap. Setae
g1
inserted anterior to
g2
on genital flap. All setae fine, smooth; setae
1a
,
1b
,
4a1
,
4a2
elongate, fine (difficult to consistently determine full length). Setal measurements:
1a
69
–
119 [69],
1b
54
–
82 [67
–
82],
2b
22
–
32 [30
–
32],
2c
20
–
28 [24
–
25],
3a
30
–
37 [32
–
36],
3b
19
–
32 [20],
4a1
53
–
105 [76],
4a2
64
–
99 [99],
4b
19
–
26 [21],
ag
19
–
25 [19],
g
1
23
–
32 [32],
g
2
21
–
31 [27
–
30],
ps
1
15
–
19 [16
–
18],
ps
2
15
–
18 [16].
FIGURE 4
.
Gahniacarus tuberculatus
sp. nov.
adult female—legs I
–
IV (legs I
–
II dorsal-paraxial view; legs III
–
IV dorsalantiaxial view).
FIGURE 5.
Gahniacarus tuberculatus
sp. nov.
adult male—dorsum, with detail of legs; detail of aedeagus.
Spermathecal apparatus
.
(
Fig. 3
) Cylindrical vesicle, curled distally (27
–
32) [28].
Legs
.
(
Fig. 4
) Setal formulae for legs I
–
IV: 1-1-3-0-5-7(1), 2-1-3-0-5-7(1), 1-1-2-0-3-3, 1-1-2-0-3-3 respectively. Tarsi I and II each with one antiaxial solenidion ω
”
(5
–
6, 4
–
5 respectively) and two distal eupathidia
p
ζ
’- p
ζ
”
(7
–
8, 7
–
8; 6
–
7, 7 respectively); ta I
–
IV with
u’-u”
asymmetrically barbed. Femur I with long, barbed dorsal seta (31
–
40) [32
–
37].
Colour
.
This species is yellow with small black spots visible internally (presumed to be food in the gut).
Adult male.
(8 measured).
Dorsum
.
(
Fig. 5
) Body measurements:
v2
–h1
181
–
200,
sc2–sc2
68
–
72,
c3–c3
70
–
75,
f3–f3
45
–
46. Dorsal cuticle mostly smooth; band of weak transverse plicae anterior to setae
c1
. Setae
sc1
,
c3
,
d3
,
e3
,
f2
inserted on large rounded tubercles; setae
v2
,
sc2
,
c1
,
d1
,
f3
inserted on smaller tubercles (tubercles
f2
,
f3
contiguous); setae
h1–2
inserted under posterior tubercle-like protuberance. Setae
h1
short;
h2
elongate with minute distal club; all other dorsal setae thick, heavily barbed. Setal measurements:
v
2
29
–
32,
sc
1
27
–
30,
sc
2
30
–
39,
c
1
24
–
28,
c
3
29
–
32,
d
1
20
–
26,
d
3
30
–
34,
e3
36
–
40,
f2
35
–
39,
f3
33
–
36,
h1
5
–
7,
h2
114
–
148.
Gnathosoma
.
(
Fig. 5
)
Gnathosoma
extends just past genu I. Dorsal cuticle with longitudinal plicae laterally; ventral cuticle with fine longitudinal plicae anterior to setae
1b
. Ventral setae
m
absent. Palps three segmented; setal formula: 0, 2, 0(2); tibia with two setae (
d
10
–
11
,
v
9); tarsus with two eupathidia (6
–
7; 4
–
6). Cheliceral stylets 89
–
92.
Venter
.
Cuticle completely plicate, covered with fine, mostly transverse plicae; plicae longitudinal between
gnathosoma
–1a
, transverse between
1a–4a2
; band of strong plicae and folds between coxae IV; plicae longitudinal in coxal fields III
–
IV; plicae oblique posterior
4a1–2
, oblique to transverse
ag–g1
(plicae longitudinal/oblique laterad anus, arching anteriorly to become transverse anterior
g1–2
). Setae
ps1
modified to short thick spurs. All setae fine; setae
1a
,
1b
,
4a1
,
4a2
elongate (difficult to consistently determine full length). Setal measurements:
1a
77
–
117,
1
b 44
–
76,
2
b 22
–
26,
2
c 19
–
24,
3
a 28
–
31,
3
b 17
–
20,
4
a1 63
–
78,
4
a2 42
–
72,
4
b 15
–
20,
ag
14
–
17,
g
1
13
–
19,
g
2
14
–
15,
ps1
6
–
7,
ps
2
11
–
15.
Aedeagus
.
(
Fig. 5
) Sclerotised elongate, narrow arrow-head shaped aedeagus (28
–
33), with long, narrow membranous tube (up to 85), indistinguishable distally.
Legs
.
(
Fig. 5
) Setal formulae same as adult female except ω
’
present on ta I
–
IV: 1-1-3-0-5-8(2), 2-1-3-0-5- 8(2), 1-1-2-0-3-4(1), 1-1-2-0-3-4(1) respectively. Tarsi I and II each with two solenidion (ta I paraxial ω
’
8
–
9, antiaxial ω
”
7
–
8; ta II paraxial ω
’
8, antiaxial ω
”
6
–
7) and two distal eupathidia
p
ζ
’-p
ζ
”
(7
–
8, 8
–
9; 8, 6
–
7 respectively); tarsi III and IV each with one paraxial solenidion ω
’
(8, 8
–
9 respectively); ta I
–
IV
u’-u”
asymmetrically barbed. Femur I with long, barbed dorsal seta (27
–
32).
Deutonymph.
(5 measured).
Dorsum
.
(
Fig. 6
) Body measurements:
v2
–h1
170
–
228,
sc2–sc2
64
–
73,
c3–c3
70
–
82,
f3–f
3
31
–
43. Cuticle mostly smooth with some transverse plicae mesally
sc2–d1
. Setae
sc1
,
c1
,
c3
,
d1
,
d3
,
e3
,
f2
inserted on rounded tubercles (tubercles
f2
,
f3
contiguous); additional tubercles between setae
sc1
, anterior
c3
, on posterior margin of opisthosoma. Setae
h1–2
inserted under posterior tubercle-like protuberance. Setae
f3
short;
h1
minute; setae
h2
elongate, barbed, with minute club; all other setae thick, heavily barbed. Setal measurements:
v
2
30
–
35,
sc
1
31
–
47,
sc
2
24
–
31,
c
1
24
–
34,
c
3
28
–
30,
d
1
23
–
35,
d
3
27
–
32,
e
3
29
–
36,
f
2
27
–
32,
f
3
13
–
18 (one specimen 6),
h1
1
–
2,
h2
112
–
126.
Gnathosoma
.
Gnathosoma
extends to genu I. Ventral cuticle anterior to setae
1b
finely papillate; cuticle with longitudinal plicae between setae
1b–1b
and
1b–1a
. Ventral setae
m
absent. Palp with three segments; setal formula: 0, 2, 0(2); tibia with two setae (
d
10,
v
8
); tarsus with two eupathidia (6, 5). Cheliceral stylets 97
–
103.
Venter
.
Cuticle completely plicate, covered mostly with transverse plicae; plicae longitudinal from
gnathosoma
to setae
1a
; plicae transverse between
1a–g1
; plicae oblique laterad
ps1–2
. All ventral setae fine; setae
1a
,
1b
,
4a1
,
4a2
elongate (difficult to determine full length). Setal measurements:
1a
63
–
104,
1
b 37
–
56,
2
b 15
–
20,
2
c 16
–
20,
3
a 13
–
23,
3
b 13
–
20,
4
a1 38
–
53,
4
b 10
–
12,
ag
7
–
11,
g
1
5
–
12,
ps1
6
–
7,
ps2
6.
Legs
.
Setal formulae same as adult female except tr IV nude: 1-1-3-0-5-7(1), 2-1-3-0-5-7(1), 1-1-2-0-3-3, 1-0- 2-0-3-3 respectively. Tarsi I and II each with one antiaxial solenidion ω
”
(4
–
5; 4 respectively) and two distal eupathidia
p
ζ
’-p
ζ
”
(6, 6; 6, 6 respectively); ta I
–
IV
u’-u”
asymmetrically barbed. Femur I with long, barbed dorsal seta (25
–
34).
Protonymph.
(3 measured).
Dorsum
.
(
Fig. 7
) Body measurements:
v2
–h1
161,
sc2–sc2
65,
c3–c3
66,
f3–f3
29. Cuticle with smooth area anteriorly on prodorsum and posteriorly between setae
d1–h1
; transverse plicae between setae
sc2–d1
. Setae
sc1
,
c1
,
d3
,
e3
,
f2
inserted on rounded tubercles (tubercles
e3
,
f2
contiguous); additional tubercles between setae
sc1
, laterad
c1
, posterior margin of opisthosoma. Setae
h1
,
h2
inserted under posterior tubercle-like projection. Setae
f3
,
h1
minute;
h2
elongate, barbed, with minute club; all other setae thick, strongly barbed:
v
2
28
–
31,
sc1
34
–
35,
sc
2
31
–
32,
c
1
25
–
29,
c
3
26
–
27,
d
1
22
–
23,
d
3
27
–
28,
e
3
24
–
28,
f
2
20
–
21,
f3
1
–
2,
h1
1,
h2
95.
Gnathosoma
.
Gnathosoma
extends beyond genu I. Ventral cuticle anterior setae
1b
finely papillate; cuticle with longitudinal plicae between setae
1b–1b
and
1b–1a
. Ventral setae
m
absent. Palps with three segments; setal formula: 0, 2, 0(2); tibia with two setae (
d
8
–
9,
v
7
); tarsus with two eupathidia (6, 4). Cheliceral stylets 88.
FIGURE 6
.
Gahniacarus tuberculatus
sp. nov.
deutonymph—dorsal opisthosoma.
FIGURE 7
.
Gahniacarus tuberculatus
sp. nov.
protonymph—dorsal opisthosoma.
Venter
.
Cuticle completely plicate, mostly covered with transverse striae; plicae longitudinal from
gnathosoma
to
1a
; plicae transverse
1a–ag
; plicae oblique laterad
ps1–2
. Setae fine; setae
1a
,
1b
elongate (difficult to determine full length). Setal measurements:
1a
57
–
61,
1
b 43,
2
c 7
–
10,
3
a 30,
3
b 8,
ag
4,
ps1
4,
ps2
4.
Legs
.
Setal formulae for legs I
–
IV: 1-0-3-0-5-7(1), 1-0-3-0-5-7(1), 1-0-2-0-3-3, 0-0-2-0-3-3 respectively. Tarsi I and II each with one antiaxial solenidion ω
”
(4; 3 respectively) and two distal eupathidia
p
ζ
’-p
ζ
”
(6, 6; 5, 5 respectively); ta I
–
IV
u’-u”
asymmetrically barbed. Femur I with long, barbed dorsal seta (24
–
25).
Larva.
(3 measured)
FIGURE 8
.
Gahniacarus tuberculatus
sp. nov.
larva—dorsum, with detail of legs.
Dorsum
.
(
Fig. 8
) Body measurements:
v2
–h1
132,
sc2–sc2
63,
c3–c3
70,
f3–f3
26. Cuticle almost entirely plicate with mostly transverse plicae between setae
sc2–d1
; central prodorsum and posterior opisthosoma with smooth cuticle. Dorsum with large rounded tubercle anterior to setae
c1
. Most opisthosomal setae set on small tubercles, except
e3
,
f3
,
h1
. Most dorsal setae of subequal length, thick, strongly barbed, except setae
e3
,
f3
,
h1
minute;
h2
elongate, lightly barbed basally:
v2
23
,
sc
1
29
–
31,
sc
2
28
–
29,
c
1
22
–
23,
c
3
25
–
26,
d
1
26
–
29,
d
3
26
–
27,
e3
2
,
f
2
26
–
27,
f3
1
–
2,
h1
1
–
2,
h2
98
–
100.
Gnathosoma
.
(
Fig. 8
)
Gnathosoma
extends beyond tibia I. Ventral cuticle longitudinal; ventral setae
m
absent. Palps with three segmented; 0, 2, 0(2); tarsus with two eupathidia (6; 2); tarsus with two setae (
d
7
–
9,
v
6
–
7
). Cheliceral stylets 80.
Venter
.
Plicae on cuticle fine, difficult to see, mostly transverse with longitudinal plicae between setae
1b–1a
; transverse plicae between setae
1a–ps2
, oblique laterad
ps1–2
. Setal measurements:
1a
79
–
94,
1
b 32,
3
a 25,
ps1
2,
ps2
3.
Legs
.
(
Fig. 8
) Setal formulae for legs I
–
IV: 1-0-3-0-5-6(1), 0-0-3-0-5-6(1), 0-0-2-0-3-3 respectively. Tarsi I and II each with one antiaxial solenidion ω
”
(3, 3 respectively) and two distal eupathidia
p
ζ
’-p
ζ
”
(5, 6; 5, 5 respectively); ta I
–
IV
u’-u”
asymmetrically barbed. Femur I with long, barbed dorsal seta (17
–
18).
Host.
Rough saw sedge,
Gahnia aspera
sensu lato
(
Cyperaceae
) growing along margin of notophyll vineforest.
Distribution.
Mt Hedley, Far North Queensland.
Remarks.
Live individuals of this species are yellow in colour and live within grooves on the ventral surface of the leaf blade of its sedge host plant.
Etymology.
This species is named for the tubercles present over the dorsum. The Latin word “tuber” means swelling.