Soil-inhabiting mites of the family Laelapidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Assiut Governorate, Egypt
Author
Joharchi, Omid
Author
Negm, Mohamed W.
text
Zootaxa
2020
2020-04-06
4759
4
488
510
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.4759.4.2
e1164817-0460-473b-a804-de01f676575d
1175-5326
3741001
7EF7164C-3886-4148-B5A4-6C3038F2DCDB
Cosmolaelaps longus
(Hafez, Elbadry & Nasr)
Figures 6–27
.
Hypoaspis
(
Cosmolaelaps
)
longus
Hafez, Elbadry & Nasr, 1982: 8
.
Cosmolaelaps longus
.—
Zaher, 1986: 201
;
Nasr & Nawar, 1989: 77
;
Soleimani & Joharchi, 2012: 411
; Moreira
et al
., 2014: 319;
Nasr & Momen, 2016: 263
.
Specimens examined.
Seven females, one male;
26°57’ N
,
31°22’ E
, Sedfa,
Assiut
;
22 December 2014
; coll. A.S. Abdelgayed; ex. soil under mandarin trees.
Diagnosis
(adult female and male). Dorsal shield not covering all of the idiosoma, with well reticulate ornamentation over whole surface, soft cuticle surrounding dorsal shield with ten pairs of simple setae (
r6
,
R1–R6
and
UR4–6
) (
Figs 6
&
11
). Dorsal shield narrowing from level of setae
r3
, progressively tapering until rounded posteriorly, bearing 39 pairs of subequal scimitar-shaped setae (22 pairs of podonotal setae and 17 pairs of opisthonotal setae, including two pairs of
Zx
setae) except
j1
,
z1
(
Fig. 13
). Adult female presternal area with faintly transverse lines and merged with sternal shield; sternal shield smooth medially (or faintly reticulated), reticulated laterally, posterior margin almost straight (
Figs 7
&
16
), bearing three pairs of setae and two pairs of slit shape pore-like structures, ratio of shield length/width (at broadest level) 0.85. Genital shield ratio of length/width (at broadest level) 2.72, almost tongue-shaped, shield reticulated with≃longitudinal irregular lines in anterior region, inverse Y-shaped≃ ornamentation medially and almost completely smooth (or faintly reticulated) posteriorly (
Figs 7
&
15
). Anal shield ratio of length/width (at broadest level) 1.1 and cribrum well developed. Peritreme long, reaching anterior of coxa I (near
gd1
) (
Figs 6 & 7
). Fixed digit of≃chelicera with seven various size of teeth (including gabelzhan) (
Fig. 10
). Some dorsal and ventral setae on femur–tibia of legs I–IV thickened and inserted on small tubercle (see
Figs 18
&
19–22
). Male with strongly sclerotised holoventral shield, except a longitudinally small median part between
st2
level to
st4
smooth (or faintly reticulated) (
Figs 23
&
26
); spermatodactyl very short (0.3× as long as movable digit) and curved (
Fig. 24
);
ad1
and
ad2
on femur of leg IV spur-shape, inserted on small tubercles (
Fig. 27
).
Redescription
. Female (n=7).
Dorsal idiosoma
(
Figs 6
,
11, 13 & 14
). Body length 560–663 and width 328–349. Dorsal shield not covering all of the idiosoma, length 510–537, width 257–264, well reticulated over whole surface, narrowing from level of setae
r3
, progressively tapering until rounded posteriorly. Shield with 39 pairs of scimitarshaped setae, 22 pairs of podonotal setae (44–47) (
j1–6
;
z1–6
;
s1–6
;
r2–5
), and 17 pairs of opisthonotal setae (36–41) (
J1–5
;
Z1–5
;
S1–5
and two pairs of
Zx
setae) except
j1
(34–36),
z1
(20–22) simple (
Fig. 13
) and two unpaired supernumerary setae (
Jx
) present (
Figs 6
,
11, 13 & 14
),
Z5
(26–29) slightly swollen at base (
Fig. 14
). A wide soft cuticle surrounding dorsal shield with ten pairs of simple setae (
r6
,
R1–R6
and
UR4–6
) (
Figs 6
&
11
). Shield with about 21 pairs of discernible pore-like structures, including 15 poroids (
id1–2
,
id4–6
,
idm1–6
,
idx
,
is1
,
idl1
,
idl3
) and six gland openings (
gd1
,
gd4
,
gd5
,
gd6
,
gd8
,
gd9
), others indistinct (see
Figs 6
&
11
).
Ventral idiosoma
(
Figs 7
,
12, 15 & 16
). Tritosternum with paired pilose laciniae (74–80), fused basally (7–9), columnar base 27–30 × 12–14 wide; presternal area with faint transverse lines and merged with sternal shield. Sternal shield (length 118–131) narrowest between coxae II (94–106), widest (143–153), posterior margin almost straight; with three pairs of smooth pointed setae (
st1
38–40,
st2
38–40,
st3
33–35) and two pairs of slit-shaped pore-like structures (
iv1
adjacent to setae
st1
;
iv2
between
st2
and
st3
); shield smooth medially (or faintly reticulated), reticulated laterally. Metasternal setae
st4
(30–32) and metasternal poroids located on soft integument; metasternal platelets absent. Endopodal plates II/III completely fused to sternal shield, endopodal plates III/IV elongate, narrow and curved. Genital shield almost tongue-shaped, length 213–218, maximum width 74–80, shield reticulated with longitudinal irregular lines in anterior region, inverse Y-shaped ornamentation medially and almost completely smooth (or faintly reticulated) posteriorly; bearing a pair of simple setae
st5
(28–30); paragenital poroids
iv5
located on soft cuticle lateral to shield near seta
st5
. A pair of narrow paragenital platelets flanked genital shield. Anal shield subtriangular, rounded anteriorly, length 81–86, width 70–77, anterior half lineate-reticulate, para-anal setae (19–22) shorter than post-anal seta (19–22), cribrum developed, consisting of a terminal tuft and pair of anterior arms reaching about to mid-level of distance between post-anal and para-anal setae; anal poroids
gv3
on anterolateral margin of anal shield. Soft opisthogastric cuticle surrounding genital and anal shields with eight pairs of subequal length setae (21–32) (
Jv1–Jv5
,
Zv1–Zv3
) and one pair of poroids (excluding
iv5
). One pair of narrow platelets laterad
Zv1
. Metapodal plates divided into two small platelets, primary metapodals (most lateral) larger (20–26), narrow, oriented, oblique, and secondary metapodals (more median) minute, oriented transversely. Exopodal and parapodal platelets fused, strip-like extending narrowly behind coxae IV. Peritreme long, reaching anterior level of coxa I (near
gd1
) (
Figs 6 & 7
); peritrematal shield narrow, free from exopodal shields, protrusion band of cuticle lateral to the peritreme at the level of coxae II–III, a lyrifissure
ip
and a gland pore
gp
at level of coxa II and post-stigmatic section bearing three pore-like structures, two lyrifissures
ip
and a gland pore
gp
(
Fig. 7
).
Gnathosoma
(
Figs 8–10
&
17
). Hypostomal groove with six transverse rows of denticles, each row with about 11–25 small teeth (
Figs 8
&
17
), groove wider anteriorly. Hypostome with four pairs of setae,
h1
(42–44),
h2
(28–30),
h3
(41–43), palpcoxal setae (
pc
) (30–32) (
Figs 8
&
17
). Epistome subtriangular and irregularly denticulate (
Fig. 9
). Corniculi robust and horn-like, extending slightly beyond palp trochanter. Internal malae with median and lateral projections, fringed, inner lobes touching with outer lobes; labrum with pilose surface. Chaetotaxy of palps: trochanter 2, femur 5, genu 6, tibia 14, tarsus 15, all setae smooth and needle-like, palp tarsal apotele two-tined. Fixed digit of chelicera with an offset and most distal large tooth (gabelzhan) followed by six variously sized teeth, a setaceous pilus dentilis, dorsal cheliceral setae prostrate, arthrodial membrane with a rounded flap and normal filaments and cheliceral lyrifissures indistinct, movable digit with two teeth (
Fig. 10
).
Legs
(
Figs 19–22
). Legs II and III short (400–406, 402–388), I and IV longer (530–532, 575–569). Chaetotaxy normal for free-living
Laelapidae
: Leg I (
Fig. 19
): coxa 0-0/1, 0/1-0, trochanter 1-1/2, 0/1-1, femur 2-2/1, 3/3-2 (
ad1
,
pd1-3
thickened, inserted on small tubercles), genu 2-3/2, 3/1-2 (
al2
and all dorsal setae inserted on small tubercles), tibia 2-3/2, 3/1-2. Leg II (
Fig. 20
): coxa 0-0/1, 0/1-0, trochanter 1-0/1, 0/2-1, femur 2-3/1, 2/2-1 (
ad1
,
ad3
&
pd1
inserted on small tubercles), genu 2-3/1, 2/1-2 (
av
thick or spur-like, apically blunt) and
ad2
inserted on small tubercles), tibia 2-2/1, 2/1-2 (ventral setae thickened (or spur-like)). Leg III (
Fig. 21
): coxa 0-0/1, 0/1-0, trochanter 1-1/1, 0/1-1, femur 1-2/1, 1/0-1 (
pd
thickened), genu 2-2/1, 2/1-1 (
ad1
&
pd1
thickened, inserted on small tubercles), tibia: 2-1/1, 2/1-1 (ventral setae thickened (or spur-like, apically blunt)). Leg IV (
Figs 18
&
22
): coxa 0-0/1, 0/0-0, trochanter 1-0/1, 1/1-1, femur 1-2/1, 1/0-1 (
ad1
&
ad2
thickened and apically spatulate and blunt, respectively, both including with
av
inserted on small tubercles), genu 2-2/1, 3/0-1 (
ad1
,
ad2
&
av
inserted on small tubercles,
av
thick (or spur-like, apically blunt)), tibia 2-1/1, 3/1-2 (
pl1
and all ventral setae thickened). Tarsi II–IV with 18 setae (3- 3/2, 3/2-3 +
mv
,
md
). All pretarsi with well-developed paired claws and rounded pulvilli and a long thin stalk, ventral and lateral setae on tarsus II–IV thickened.
Insemination structures
: Not seen, apparently unsclerotised.
Male (n=1).
(
Figs 23–27
).
Dorsal idiosoma
. Dorsal shield (400) long, (232) wide; ornamentation and chaetotaxy as in female (
Fig. 25
).
Ventral idiosoma
(
Figs 23
&
26
). Sternal, genital, endopodal, ventral and anal shields fused into holoventral shield, strongly sclerotised, except a longitudinally small median part between
st2
level to
st4
smooth (or faintly reticulated), bearing
st1-5
, five pairs of opisthogastric setae (
Jv1–Jv3
,
Zv2
,
Zv3
) in addition to circumanal setae; six pairs of poroids and a pore-like (
gv3
) laterad para-anal setae, gland pore
gv2
behind coxa IV not discerned, cribrum with 3-4 irregular rows of spicules and a pair of anterior arms reaching about to mid-level of distance between postanal and para-anal setae. Soft opisthogastric cuticle with five pairs of setae.
FIGURES 6–10.
Cosmolaelaps longus
(
Hafez, Elbadry & Nasr, 1982
)
, female. 6, dorsal idiosoma; 7, ventral idiosoma; 8, subcapitulum; 9, epistome; 10, chelicera.
FIGURES 11–18.
DIC micrographs of
Cosmolaelaps longus
(
Hafez, Elbadry & Nasr, 1982
)
, female. 11, idiosoma in dorsal view; 12, idiosoma in ventral view; 13, general view of some dorsal podonotal setae; 14, general view of some dorsal opisthonotal setae; 15, genital shield; 16, sternal shield; 17, subcapitulum; 18, femur, genu and tibia of leg IV.
FIGURES 19–22.
Cosmolaelaps longus
(
Hafez, Elbadry & Nasr, 1982
)
, female. 19, leg I (trochanter-tibia); 20, leg II; 21, leg III; 22, leg IV.
Gnathosoma
. Epistome and subcapitulum similar to female. Fixed digit of chelicera with large distal hook and slender pilus dentilis. Movable digit of chelicera with one median tooth, spermatodactyl very short (0.3× as long as movable digit) and curved dorsally, with round tip, fringed hyaline arthrodial process at base of movable digit (
Fig. 24
). Palps similar to those of female.
Legs
. Chaetotaxy as in female. Setae
ad1
and
ad2
on femur of leg IV spur-like, inserted on small tubercles (
Fig. 27
).
FIGURES 23–24.
Cosmolaelaps longus
(
Hafez, Elbadry & Nasr, 1982
)
, male. 23, ventral idiosoma; 24, chelicera.
FIGURES 25–27.
DIC micrographs of
Cosmolaelaps longus
(
Hafez, Elbadry & Nasr, 1982
)
, male. 25, idiosoma in dorsal view; 26, idiosoma in ventral view; 27, dorsal view of femur, genu and tibia of leg IV.
Remarks.
Cosmolaelaps longus
was described from debris of West Indian Lantana at
Giza Governorate
,
Egypt
(
Hafez
et al
., 1982
).
Cosmolaelaps longus
is closely related to
C
.
weeversi
(
Oudemans, 1926
)
and
C
.
panniculus
(
Karg, 1981
)
in the shape of the dorsal setae.
Cosmolaelaps longus
differs from both species easily by the 39 pairs of dorsal setae (22 pairs of podonotal setae and 17 pairs of opisthonotal setae, including with two pairs of
Zx
setae), while in
C
.
weeversi
and
C
.
panniculus
dorsal shield with 37 (21 pairs of podonotal setae (
s6
missing), and 16 pairs of opisthonotal setae, including just one pair of
Zx
setae) and 35 (19 pairs of podonotal setae and 16 pairs of opistho- notal setae, missing a pair of
Z
series setae, including two pairs of
Zx
setae) pairs of setae, respectively. In the classification of
Karg (1981)
,
Cosmolaelaps longus
falls into the
nasoseta
species group of
Hypoaspis
(
Cosmolaelaps
)
, because almost all dorsal shield setae are swollen at the base and pointed at the tip (scimitar-shape), all dorsal setae are the same shape and sub-equal in length except setae
j1
,
z1
and
Z5
, but
C
.
longus
is distinguished easily from all species in
nasoseta
species group and also from
C
.
weeversi
and
C
.
panniculus
by following combination of unique character states: (1) dorsal shield with well reticulate ornamentation over whole surface and narrowing from level of setae
r3
, progressively tapering until rounded posteriorly, bearing 39 pairs of scimitar-shaped setae and almost all setae uniform in length and thickness except
j1
,
z1
and
Z5
shorter; (2) setae
J3
located far from
J4
, distance of
J3–J4
95–100; (3) sternal shield smooth medially (or faintly reticulated), reticulated laterally; (4) genital shield reticulated with longitudinal irregular lines in anterior region, inverse Y-shaped ornamentation medially and almost completely smooth (or faintly reticulated) posteriorly; (5) distance between genital and anal shield is longer than (about 1.3x) length of anal shield; (6) fixed digit of chelicera with seven various size of teeth (including gabelzhan); (7) leg I shorter than length of idiosoma; (8) male with very short spermatodactyl and curved dorsally, free portion of spermatodactyl much shorter than movable digit (0.3× as long as movable digit).
Cosmolaelaps paulista
Freire & Moraes, 2007
shares almost all above-mentioned character states with
C
.
longus
. We have not had the opportunity to examine
type
specimens of
C
.
paulista
, but by comparing the description and figures provided by
Freire & Moraes (2007)
we could not find any distinguishing authentic morphological differences. So, we suspect that
C
.
paulista
may be a junior synonym of
C
.
longus
.