Rogerzetes samueli, Colloff, Matthew J., 2012

Colloff, Matthew J., 2012, New eremaeozetid mites (Acari: Oribatida: Eremaeozetoidea) from the south-western Pacific region and the taxonomic status of the Eremaeozetidae and Idiozetidae, Zootaxa 3435, pp. 1-39 : 16-18

Rogerzetes samueli sp. nov.

( Figs. 9 , 10 )

Dimensions. Holotype female length 525 μm, breadth 303 μm. Paratype females lengths 504, 517 μm, breadths 271, 267 μm. Ratio of prodorsum to total length: 0.36 (holotype).

Female. Cerotegument: reticulate pattern of cells or vesicles densely covering prodorsum, notogaster and ventral surface; centrodorsal region bare in vicinity of setae dm ( Fig. 9 a).

Prodorsum: Lamellae broad, extending laterally well beyond margins of bothridia, fused posteriomedially, foveolate on anteriolateral margins, otherwise smooth, separated along anterior quarter by broad, oval fissure. Lamellar cuspides strongly curved medioventrally, converging along broad apices ( Fig. 10 a). Lamellar fissure expanded, ovoid; anteriomedial margin of fused portion of lamellae transverse. Posteriolateral lamellar margins transverse, incised anteriomedial of bothridia ( Fig. 9 b). Rostral seta (ro) thin, short (3 μm long), pointing posteriorly, emerging from alveoli ( Figure 10 a). Lamellar seta (le) spiniform, long (32 μm), pointing medially, emerging from alveolus on medial margin of lamellar cusp. Lamellar setae overlapping. Centre of prodorsum with trapezoid region. Interlamellar setae 11 μm long, with bacilliform cerotegument, slightly expanded apically, on transbothridial ridge. With V-shaped median spur on transbothridial ridge, projecting posteriorly beyond dorsosejugal suture. Bothridial seta 61 μm long; head broad, club-shaped, strongly barbed. Bothridium prominent, broad, cup-shaped, rim not undulating.

Notogaster: Length 345 μm; ratio of length to breadth 1.19; notogaster broad, oval, broadest at level between dm and la; pteromorphs not projecting beyond margin. Dorsosejugal suture transverse-convex; not projecting anteriorly ( Fig. 9 b). Dorsosejugal lobe triangular, broader than long, extending anteriorly as far as bothridium, medial margin straight. Lenticulus removed posteriorly from dorsosejugal suture, 28 μm long, 35 μm broad, ovoid, with paired lateral ‘lenses’; margin ridged. Notogastral cuticle with sparse, faint angular foveolae and faint, paired undulating longitudinal ridges with posteriolateral lobes projecting as far as setae lp. Ten pairs of smooth, short (5–10 μm) thin setae on squat tubercles. Setae lm in centrodorsal region, close together. Sacculus (sa) present medial to opening of gla. Lyrifissure ih acute, 15 μm long, anterior of seta lm. Caudal region of notogaster rounded, with tubercles of h and p series projecting beyond margin.

Subcapitulum: Mentum U-shaped, 1.3 × as long as broad; anterior margin slightly reflexed; region immediately posterior of margin concave, striate ( Fig. 10 a). Central region of mentum with reticulations. Seta h 11 μm long, m 9 μm.

Coxisternum: Epimeral setae short, sub-equal (5–8 μm long), spiniform, formula 3-1-2-2 ( Fig. 10 a). Genital and anal plates separated by distance of three quarters length of genital plate. Genital plates sub-rectangular, reticulate; each plate 71 μm long, 41 μm broad, with six spiniform setae; g 1 positioned lateral of g 2-6; g 2 slightly longer than others. Aggenital seta thin, spiniform, 5 μm long, positioned posteriolateral of genital plate. Ventral plate reticulate.

Anogenital Region: Anal plates sub-rectangular ( Fig. 10 a); each anal plate 79 μm long, 45 μm broad, reticulate; posteriomedian margins of plates produced into short, spine-like projection. Anal setae spiniform, 17 μm long. Adanal setae spiniform, shorter than anal setae; ad 1-2 on ridge immediately posterior of anal plates; distance between ad 1 and ad 2 twice mutual distance between ad 1; ad 3 positioned laterally.

Lateral aspect: Rostrum curved, slightly reflexed apically ( Fig. 10 c). Rostral seta minute, spiniform, on squat tubercle some distance from apex of rostrum. Tutorium narrow, fused apically with rostrum – without free apices. Lamellar cuspides curved anterioventrally, pointed apically, not reflexed; lamellae curved, free of prodorsum for two thirds of entire length, with posterior septum connecting with tutorium ventrally. Lamellar setae positioned some distance posterior of apex of lamellar cusp. Lamellae smooth, strongly curved, slightly reflexed apically; lateral margin ridged. Pedotectum I smooth, curved, lacking tooth. Interbothridial region flat. Lenticulus bulbous, curved, projecting above dorsal surface. Dorsosejugal lobe extending as far as bothridium. Pteromorph narrow, smooth, extending as far as ventral surface, 72 μm long, 54 μm broad basally; anterior margin straight, acutely angled apically; posterior margin strongly concave. Centrodorsal region of notogaster slightly convex from posterior of lenticulus to position level with seta h 2; posterior notogaster between h 1 and p 1 slightly concave; strongly concave between p 1 and ad 1.

Legs: Pretarsi heterotridactylous. Solenidion σ as long as genu ( Fig. 10 b). Solenidion φ 2 in apical position on short apophysis; φ1 posterior of apophysis.

Material examined. Holotype female and two paratype females, ANIC 961, grass and moo-oo ( Cyperus lucidus R.Br. ) area, Ball Bay, Norfolk Island, 29°03'S 167°59'E., coll. J.E. Feehan, 3.iv.1984. Holotype and paratypes deposited in the Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Canberra.

Etymology. This species is named for my youngest step-son, Samuel Darchy Killen.

Remarks. Rogerzetes samueli differs from other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: 1) the presence of interlamellar setae; 2) the long, well-developed lamellar setae, originating on the medial margin of the lamellae, and with their apices overlapping; 3) the lamellar cuspides are strongly curved medioventrally and converge along their broad apices; 4) the anteriomedial margin of the fused portion of the lamellae is transverse, giving the posterior part of the lamellar fissure a truncated appearance; 5) the tutoria are not fused apically and project on either side of the rostrum; 6) the notogaster is covered in sparse, faint angular foveolae; 7) the notogaster with faint, paired undulating longitudinal ridges with posteriolateral lobes; 8) the presence of a pair of sacculi on the notogaster; 9) the reflexed anterior margin of the mentum; 10) solenidion φ2 is positioned apically on a short apophysis and φ1 posterior of the apophysis.

Rogerzetes samueli is morphologically most similar to R. betschi ( Fernández & Cleva, 2009) and R. lacouturieri Fernández, Theron & Cleva, 2011 both from Madagascar, though notogastral sacculi have not been described for these species.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Rogerzetes samueli sp. nov., holotype female; a) dorsal, with cerotegument; b) dorsal, cerotegument removed.

FIGURE 10. Rogerzetes samueli sp. nov., holotype female, cerotegument removed; a) ventral; b) left genu and tibia I, antiaxial aspect; c) lateral aspect.