Prolixus splendens sp. nov.

(Figs. 1–15)

Type specimens. Holotype ♀. New Zealand, Auckland, Muriwai Beach, Maori Bay Car Park, 5 May 2018, by Nicholas A. Martin, ex. Austroderia splendens (Poaceae) . Paratypes. 13 females, 3 males, 12 deutonymphs, 9 protonymphs, 6 larvae, same data as holotype. The holotype and paratypes will be deposited in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection (NZAC), Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand.

Adult Female (n=14)

Gnathosoma. (Figs. 1B, 4C) Subcapitulum with setae m, or 1 and or 2, subcapitular seta m setiform, m =13 (13–15), m–m =11 (7–11). Palp 3-segmented, setal formula: 0, 2, 2; tarsus with two eupathidia 5 (5–6), 5 (5–6).

Idiosoma. (Figs. 1A) 465 (460–465) long, 105 (105–110) wide. Body elongate, more than 4 times longer than wide. Prodorsum smooth, covered with broken longitudinal striations sublaterally, bearing three pairs of setae (v 2, sc 1 and sc 2), setae v 2 setiform, sc 1 and sc 2 barbed, sc 1 about 4 times as long as v 2. Lengths: v 2 7 (7–8), sc 1 30 (28–31), sc 2 50 (45–50); distances: v 2 – v 2 38 (37–40), v 2 – sc 1 50 (47–52), sc 1 – sc 1 70 (70–74), sc 1 – sc 2 38 (38–40), sc 2 – sc 2 105 (105–110). Body with broken, corrugated transverse striations between sc 2 and c 3; smooth mesally between c 3 and c 3, and broken oblique striae laterally; and broken transversal striae between d 1 and d 1; and posterior to d 1 smooth and broken longitudinal striae laterally. Bearing one pair of humeral setae (c 3), 2 pairs of dorsocentral setae (d 1 and e 1), and 6 pairs of dorsolateral setae (d 3, e 3, f 2, f 3, h 2 and h 1). All setae barbed, except h 2 elongate, ending in minute club. Setae d 1 and e 1 subequal in length. Lengths: d 1 13 (13–14), e 1 14 (13–15), c 3 33 (27–33), d 3 15 (10–15), e 3 32 (30–33), f 2 36 (33–36), f 3 37 (33–37), h 2 135 (125–135), h 1 37 (28–37); distances: d 1 – d 1 40 (40–47), e 1 – e 1 36 (36–39), c 3 – c 3 105 (105–135), d 3 – d 3 85 (85–92), d 3 – e 3 140 (135–140), e 3 – e 3 85 (85–97), e 3 – f 2 25 (25–27), f 2 – f 2 77 (77–90), f 2 – f 3 21 (21–23), f 3 – f 3 62 (62–67), f 3 – h 2 22 (18–25), h 2 – h 2 35 (35–45), h 2 – h 1 12 (12–15), h 1 – h 1 12 (12–15).

Venter. (Figs. 1B, 2) Venter with fine broken transverse striation between coxa II and III, broken longitudinal striae between coxa III and IV, longitudinal and oblique striae posterior to g 1. All coxal setae setiform, except for setae 1a, 1b, 4a 1 and 4a 2 flagelliform. Lengths: 1a 140 (105–140), 1b 50 (50–75), 1c 19 (18–21), 2b 30 (28–31), 2c 30 (28–31), 3a 20 (20–26), 3b 17 (17–25), 4a 1 75 (75–88), 4a 2 82 (82–87), 4b 15 (15–23). Distances: 1a–1a 12 (12–13), 3a–3a 15 (15–18), 4a 1 – 4a 1 6 (6–7), 4a 1 – 4a 2 7 (6–7), 4a 2 – 4a 2 17 (15–17). Genital and ventral plates with flap of cuticle (Figs. 1B, 2), bearing two pairs of setiform gential setae (g 1 and g 2). Anal plate with two pairs of pseudanal setae (ps 1 and ps 2), setiform and subequal in length. Setal lengths: ag 17 (17–20), g 1 22 (22–24), g 2 17 (17–22), ps 1 24 (20–24), ps 2 11 (8–11); distances: ag–ag 22 (15–22), g 1 – g 1 22 (20–22), g 1 – g 2 21 (15–21), g 2 – g 2 33 (33–35), ps 1 – ps 2 26 (26–28).

Spermatheca. (Fig. 2) A short, narrow, unsclerotised tube extending from genital opening and ending in a bulbiform vesicle with minute spinules.

Legs. (Figs. 3, 4 A–B) Lengths of legs I–IV: 130 (130–135), 100 (97–105), 85 (85–93), 105 (100–105). Chaetotaxy: coxae 2-2-1-1; trochanters 1-1-2-1; femora 4-4-2-2; genua 2-2-0-0, tibiae 5-5-3-3, tarsi 7+ω-7+ω-5-5. Dorsal and lateral setae on femora lanceolate and barbed, and on genua and tibiae setiform; ventral setae setiform, except bv′′ on femur II lanceolate and barbed. Setae ft′ on tarsi I–IV flagelliform, ft’’ absent; unguinal setae u pectinate and

equal in length; proral setae p′ζ and p′′ζ eupathidial; tectal setae tc setiform. Lengths of solenidia: I ω′′ 6 (6–7), II ω′′ 6 (6–7). Claws developed with tenent hairs on each side.

Adult Male (n=3)

Gnathosoma. (Figs. 5B, 7C) Subcapitulum with setae m, or 1 and or 2, subcapitular seta m setiform, m =10–12, m–m =10–11; palp 3-segmented, setal formula: 0, 2, 2; tarsus with two eupathidia 5, 5–6.

Idiosoma. (Fig. 5A) 360–400 long, 100–105 wide. Body elongate. Prodorsum smooth, with a narrow band of transverse striatons in sejugal furrow immediately anterior to setae c 3; setae v 2 setiform, sc 1 and sc 2 thin and barbed. Lengths: v 2 7–10, sc 1 21–27, sc 2 30–37; distances: v 2 – v 2 30–32, v 2 – sc 1 37–40, sc 1 – sc 1 70, sc 1 – sc 2 27–30, sc 2 – sc 2 100–105. Hysterosoma divided into metapodosoma and opisthosoma by narrow band of horizontal striations; with same setae as adults. All setae barbed, except h 2 elongate, ending in minute club. Setae d 1 and e 1 subequal in length. Lengths: d 1 13–16, e 1 13 –16, c 3 20–25, d 3 16–17, e 3 25 –28, f 2 27–32, f 3 28–33, h 2 110–140, h 1 19–25; distances: d 1 – d 1 30–33, e 1 – e 1 23 –25, c 3 – c 3 100–105, d 3 – d 3 72–74, d 3 – e 3 110–115, e 3 – e 3 67–70, e 3 – f 2 20–23, f 2 – f 2 68–70, f 2 – f 3 20–21, f 3 – f 3 60–62, f 3 – h 2 20–23, h 2 – h 2 38–39, h 2 – h 1 9–12, h 1 – h 1 17–18.

Venter. (Figs. 5 B–C) Venter with fine transverse and oblique striae between coxae II and III, forming an inverted “V” shape anterior to 3a. Lengths: 1a 96–100, 1b 38–52, 1c 20–22, 2b 17–24, 2c 22–30, 3a 18–22, 3b 20–22, 4a 1 77–86, 4a 2 70–95, 4b 15–20. Distances: 1a–1a 13, 3a–3a 16–18, 4a 1 – 4a 1 7–8, 4a 1 – 4a 2 5–6, 4a 2 – 4a 2 17–20. Genital and ventral plates bearing two pairs of setiform gential setae (g 1 and g 2);. Anal plate with two pairs of pseudanal setae (ps 1 and ps 2), setiform, ps 1 about twice as long as ps 2. Setal lengths: ag 21–22, g 1 20–23, g 2 19–22, ps 1 13–17, ps 2 5–7; distances: ag–ag 2 17–19, g 1 – g 1 12–15, g 1 – g 2 5, g 2 – g 2 20–21, ps 1 – ps 2 11–12.

Aedeagus. (Fig. 5C) A narrow, elongate, sclerotised aedeagus tapering to a point posteriorly (at genital opening); very long membranous duct running from sclerotised aedeagus to flared, lightly sclerotised, cone-shaped cup distally, appearing to open into a soft membranous vesicle. Aedeagus is broken in drawn specimen (Fig. 5B), intact aedeagus as shown in Fig. 5C.

Legs. (Figs. 6, 7 A–B) Lengths of legs I–IV: 120–125, 95–100, 95–97, 105–115. Chaetotaxy: coxae 2-2-1-1; trochanters 1-1-2-1; femora 4-4-2-2; genua 2-2-0-0, tibiae 5-5-3-3, tarsi 7+2 ω -7+2 ω -5+ ω -5. Dorsal and lateral setae on trochanters, femora and genua lanceolate and barbed, and on tibiae setiform except on tibia III lanceolate and barbed; ventral setae setiform, except bv′′ on femur II lanceolate and barbed. Setae ft′ on tarsi I–IV flagelliform; unguinal setae u pectinate and equal in length; proral setae p ′ζ and p′′ζ eupathidial; tectal setae tc setiform. Lengths of solenidia: I ω′ 11–13, ω′′ 11–12, II ω′ 8–10, ω′′ 8–10, III ω′ 5–6. Claws developed with tenent hairs on each side.

Deutonymph (n=12)

Gnathosoma. (Figs. 8B, 9C) Subcapitulum with setae m, or 1 and or 2, subcapitular seta m setiform, m =12–13, m–m =10–12; palp 3-segmented, setal formula: 0, 2, 2; tarsus with two eupathidia 4–5, 4–5.

Idiosoma. (Fig. 8A) 305–475 long, 97–100 wide. Body elongate, with strong corrugated transverse striations between sc 2 and d 1, and weak, broken longitudinal and oblique striae, posterior to d 1. Setae v 2 setiform, sc 1 and sc 2 thin and barbed. Lengths: v 2 4–5, sc 1 30–37, sc 2 33–38; distances: v 2 – v 2 31–33, v 2 – sc 1 41–51, sc 1 – sc 1 70–75, sc 1 – sc 2 23–28, sc 2 – sc 2 97–100. Hysterosoma with same setae as adults. Setae v 2, d 1, e 1 and d 3 setiform, c 3, e 3, f 2, f 3 and h 1 barbed, and setae h 2 elongate, ending in minute club. Lengths: d 1 10–12, e 1 8 –9, c 3 22–30, d 3 7–10, e 3 20 –24, f 2 30–31, f 3 26–33, h 2 100–125, h 1 17–27; distances: d 1 – d 1 30–34, e 1 – e 1 25 –31, c 3 – c 3 98–105, d 3 – d 3 72–82, d 3 – e 3 86–110, e 3 – e 3 67–78, e 3 – f 2 13–17, f 2 – f 2 65–72, f 2 – f 3 13–17, f 3 – f 3 53–62, f 3 – h 2 15–20, h 2 – h 2 31–35, h 2 – h 1 12, h 1 – h 1 11–13.

Venter. (Figs. 8B, 10C) Venter similar to female. All coxal setae setiform. Setae 1a, 1b and 4a 1 flagelliform. Lengths: 1a 70–105, 1b 45–54, 1c 12–17, 2b 14–18, 2c 20–33, 3a 12–17, 3b 12–16, 4a 1 55–67, 4b 14–17. Distances: 1a–1a 15–16, 3a–3a 13–15, 4a 1 – 4a 1 7–13. Posterior opisthosoma with transverse striae surrounding setae g 1, and longitudianal striations laterally. Setal lengths: ag 13–14, g 1 10–15, ps 1 8–11, ps 2 5–6; distances: ag–ag 11–17, g 1 – g 1 12–15, ps 1 – ps 2 17–23.

Legs. (Figs. 9 A–B, 10A–B) Lengths of legs I–IV: 95–100, 70–75, 70–75, 70–75. Chaetotaxy: coxae 2-2-1-1; trochanters 1-1-2-0; femora 4-4-2-2; genua 2-2-0-0, tibiae 5-5-3-3, tarsi 7+ω-7+ω-5-5. Dorsal and lateral setae on trochanters, femora and genua lanceolate and barbed, and on tibiae setiform; ventral setae setiform, except bv′′ on femur II lanceolate and barbed. Setae ft′ on tarsi I–IV flagelliform; unguinal setae u pectinate and equal in length; proral setae p′ζ and p′′ζ eupathidial; tectal setae tc setiform. Lengths of solenidia: I ω′′ 5–6, II ω′′ 4–6. Claws developed with tenent hairs on each side.

Protonymph (n=9)

Gnathosoma. (Figs. 11B, 12C) Subcapitulum with setae m, or 1 and or 2, subcapitular seta m setiform, m =7–10, m–m =10–12; palp 3-segmented, setal formula: 0, 2, 2; tarsus with two eupathidia 4, 4.

Idiosoma. (Fig. 11A) 310–325 long, 87–105 wide. Body smooth, similar to deutonymph; setae v 2 setiform, sc 1 and sc 2 thin and barbed. Lengths: v 2 3–4, sc 1 26–33, sc 2 29–35; distances: v 2 – v 2 25–30, v 2 – sc 1 34–40, sc 1 – sc 1 59–70, sc 1 – sc 2 25–31, sc 2 – sc 2 87–105. Hysterosoma with same setae as adults. Setae v 2, d 1, e 1 and d 3 setiform, c 3, e 3, f 2, f 3 and h 1 barbed, and setae h 2 elongate, ending in minute club. Lengths: d 1 7–10, e 1 7 –9, c 3 18–28, d 3 6–8, e 3 11 –17, f 2 20–30, f 3 21–27, h 2 85–110, h 1 12–22; distances: d 1 – d 1 17–30, e 1 – e 1 17 –24, c 3 – c 3 90–100, d 3 – d 3 63–70, d 3 – e 3 60–64, e 3 – e 3 53 –61, e 3 – f 2 7–12, f 2 – f 2 51–60, f 2 – f 3 8–13, f 3 – f 3 40–47, f 3 – h 2 9–13, h 2 – h 2 26–28, h 2 – h 1 8–10, h 1 – h 1 8–10.

Venter. (Figs. 11B, 13C) Venter similar to female. All coxa setae setiform, except 1a and 1b flagelliform. Lengths: 1a 59–97, 1b 35–50, 1c 9–13, 2c 13–16, 3a 8–15, 3b 7–13. Distances: 1a–1a 15–17, 3a–3a 11–14. Pseudanal setae ps 1 and ps 2 setiform. Setal lengths: ag 7–10, ps 1 4–8, ps 2 3–5; distances: ag–ag 11–13, ps 1 – ps 2 10–13.

Legs. (Figs. 12 A–B, 13A–B) Lengths of legs I–IV: 73–80, 57–63, 59–60, 54–57. Chaetotaxy: coxae 2-1-1-0; trochanters 0-0-1-0; femora 3-3-2-2; genua 1-1-0-0, tibiae 5-5-3-3, tarsi 7+ω-7+ω-3-3. Dorsal and lateral setae on trochanters, femora and genua I–II lanceolate and barbed, and on tibiae setiform; ventral setae setiform, except bv′′ on femur II lanceolate and barbed. Setae ft′ on tarsi I–IV flagelliform; unguinal setae u pectinate and equal in length; proral setae p′ζ and p′′ζ eupathidial; tectal setae tc setiform. Lengths of solenidia: I ω′′ 4–5, II ω′′ 3–4. Claws developed with tenent hairs on each side.

Larva (n=6)

Gnathosoma. (Figs. 14B, 15D) Subcapitulum with or 1 and or 2; palp 3-segmented, setal formula: 0, 2, 2; tarsus with two eupathidia 2–3, 6–7.

Idiosoma. (Fig. 14A) 240–260 long, 80–94 wide. Body elongate, smooth, similar to deutonymph and protonymph; setae v 2 setiform, sc 1 and sc 2 thin and barbed. Lengths: v 2 3–7, sc 1 25–28, sc 2 28–33; distances: v 2 – v 2 18–21, v 2 – sc 1 28–33, sc 1 – sc 1 58–60, sc 1 – sc 2 17–22, sc 2 – sc 2 80–94. Hysterosoma with same setae as adults. Setae v 2, d 1, e 1 and d 3 setiform, c 3, e 3, f 2, f 3 and h 1 barbed, and setae h 2 elongate, ending in minute club. Lengths: d 1 10–13, e 1 8 –10, c 3 18–22, d 3 5–9, e 3 9 –13, f 2 21–25, f 3 20–24, h 2 83–125, h 1 13–17; distances: d 1 – d 1 22–25, e 1 – e 1 10 –13, c 3 – c 3 80–86, d 3 – d 3 53–58, d 3 – e 3 35 –39, e 3 – e 3 47 –51, e 3 – f 2 5–7, f 2 – f 2 44–48, f 2 – f 3 5–7, f 3 – f 3 35–38, f 3 – h 2 9–10, h 2 – h 2 20–21, h 2 – h 1 6–8, h 1 – h 1 7–9.

Venter. (Figs. 14B, 15E) Venter similar to deutonymph. All coxal setae setiform except 1a and 1b flagelliform. Lengths: 1a 45–72, 1b 25–35, 3a 10–16. Distances: 1a–1a 13–17, 3a–3a 14–15. Pseudanal setae ps 1 and ps 2 setiform. Setal lengths: ps 1 6–10, ps 2 4–7; distances: ps 1 – ps 2 7–9.

Legs. (Figs. 15 A–15C) Lengths of legs I–III: 60–64, 50, 53–58. Chaetotaxy: coxae 1-0-0; trochanters 0-0-0; femora 3-3-2; genua 1-1-0, tibiae 5-5-3, tarsi 5+ω-5+ω-3. Dorsal and lateral setae on trochanters, femora and genua lanceolate and barbed, and on tibiae setiform; ventral setae setiform, except bv′′ on femur II lanceolate and barbed. Setae ft′ on tarsi I–IV flagelliform; unguinal setae u pectinate and equal in length; proral setae p′ζ and p′′ζ eupathidial. Lengths of solenidia: I ω′′ 3, II ω′′ 3. Claws developed with tenent hairs on each side.

Etymology. The species name refers to the specific name of the plant on which it was collected, Austroderia splendens (Poaceae) .

Remarks. Before this paper, five species of Prolixus had been described and all of them were recorded from Gahnia (Cyperaceae), residing in the tight grooves along the leaf blades of host plants. Prolixus splendens sp. nov. was collected from Austroderia splendens (Poaceae), which is a new host plant for this mite genus.

Prolixus splendens sp. nov. is similar to Prolixus forsteri Beard, Fan & Walter, 2005 in having six pairs of dorsolateral setae (f 2 present) and a pair of aggenital setae ag (setae f 2 and ag absent in all other known species of Prolixus), but mainly differs in the following characters: adult female with spermatheca ending in a bulb-shaped vesicle; setal counts (legs I–IV): coxae 2-2-1-1; femora 4-4-2-2; genua 2-2-0-0; adult male with 7+2 ω -7+2 ω -5+ ω -5 setae on tarsi (adult female with spermatheca ending in a cylinder-shaped vesicle; coxae 1-2-1-1; femora 4-4-2-1; genua 2-1-0-0; adult male with 7+2 ω -7+2 ω -5-5 setae on tarsi in P. forsteri).

There have been several papers discussing the ontogeny of Prolixus recently (Beard et al. 2005; Beard & Ochoa 2011; Xu & Zhang 2014; Xu et al. 2017b): setae 1a, 3a, ps 1 and ps 2 are present from the larval stage; 1c, 2c, 3b and ag, if present, appear in the protonymph; 2b and 4b and 4a 1, if present, appear in the deutonymph; genital setae g 1 appear in deutonymph; 4a 2 (if present) and g 2 are added in the adult. All of these setae appear in their expected life stage for the Tenuipalpidae (Lindquist 1985; Beard et al. 2014).

The ontogenetic changes in the chaetotaxy of leg segments are presented in Table 1. For Tenuipalpidae, females and males share similar chaetotaxy in most cases, and on adult male a solenidion is usually added to tarsi I–II (Lindquist 1985), sometimes to tarsi III–IV, such as on Acaricis urigersoni (Xu & Zhang 2013) . In contrast, differences in chaetotaxy are usually present between females and males of Prolixus (e.g. P. forsteri and P. corruginus), even throughout their entire ontogenetic cycle (e.g. P. setifolius). In this new species Prolixus splendens sp. nov., females and males have similar leg chaetotaxy except that the male adds a solenidion to tarsi I–III.

Coxa Trochanter Femur Genu Tibia Tarsus

Leg I -

Larva 1a, 1b - d, bv′′, v′ l′ d, (v), (l) (u), (pζ), ft′, ω′′

Protonymph 1c - - - - (tc)

Deutonymph - v′ l′ l′′ - -

Adult female - - - - - -

Adult male - - - - - ω′

Leg II

Larva - - d, bv′′, v′ l′ d, (v), (l) (u), (pζ), ft′, ω′′

Protonymph 2c - - - - (tc)

Deutonymph 2b v′ l′ l′′ - -

Adult female - - - - - -

Adult male - - - - - ω′

Leg III

Larva 3a - d, ev′ - d, (v) (u), ft′

Protonymph 3b l′ - - - (tc)

Deutonymph - v′ - - - -

Adult female - - - - - -

Adult male - - - - - ω′

Leg IV

Protonymph - - d, ev′ - d, (v) (u), ft′

Deutonymph 4a 1, 4b - - - - (tc)

Adult female 4a 2 v′ - - - -

Adult male 4a 2 v′ - - - -