Allotanaupodus williamsi, Zhang, Zhi-Qiang & Fan, Qing-Hai, 2007

Zhang, Zhi-Qiang & Fan, Qing-Hai, 2007, Allotanaupodidae, a new family of early derivative Parasitengona (Acari: Prostigmata), Zootaxa 1517, pp. 1-52 : 8-20

Allotanaupodus williamsi sp. nov.

( Figs 1–10 )

Description

Adult female ( Figs 1–5 ): Idiosoma ovoid; a relatively large allotanaupodid mite, length 1250–1300 µm, maximum width 900–910 µm. Sejugal furrow clearly evident, hysteronotum slightly more than twice as long as prodorsum ( Fig. 1 ).

Prodorsum ( Fig. 4 A). About half as long (410 µm) as wide (750 µm). Prodorsal plate longer (410 µm) than wide (350 µm), not extending beyond anterior edge of propodosoma, with 11–12 pairs of lanceolate setae on each side, anteriormost pair 106–107 µm long. Crista metopica linear, rod-like, 275–300 µm long, widest anteriorly, ca 20–23 µm. 2–3 pairs of lanceolate setae posterolateral to prodorsal plate (two of them laterad of eyes), each on a platelet; these setae ca 75 µm long. Lateral prodorsal plate absent. Eye plates 85– 90 x 54–55 µm, diameter 31–33 µm for anterior eyes and 26–28 µm for posterior eyes.

Hysterosomal dorsum. Hysterosoma with some indication of segmentation, each with large lateral plates bearing several to numerous setae; C and D separated by an evident furrow.

C row with a pair of sublateral plates each bearing 10–12 setae; other setae each on a platelet; a few of these lateral to sublateral plates.

D row with a pair of sublateral plates each bearing 3–5 pairs of setae; lateral and medial setae of the row each on a platelet, except a pair of submedian plates, each bearing two setae.

E row with a pair of sublateral plate each bearing 4–5 setae; lateral and medial setae each on a platelet.

F row with a pair of sublateral plate each bearing 7–9 setae; other setae of this row each on a platelet, except a pair of submedian plates near posterior margin of this row, each bearing two setae.

H row with two pairs of plates each bearing 5–6 pairs of setae; a few lateral and medial setae each on a platelet.

PS row with a pair of terminal plates each bearing several pairs of setae.

Idiosomal venter ( Fig. 2 ). Intercoxal area of leg I normally with 6 pairs of short setae (<50 µm long; posterolateral pair 1a the longest, over 100 long); intercoxal area of leg II with about 7 pairs of setae. Intercoxal area of leg III with numerous pairs of setae and that of leg IV with numerous setae not separable from those anterior to genital area. Between coxa II and coxa III on each side a plate of numerous setae.

Coxal I with 22–26 setae. Coxa II with 17–20 setae. Coxa III with 16–18 setae. Coxa IV with 16–19 setae. Opisthoventer with numerous short setiform setae similar to coxal setae. Genital opening 230–245 µm long. A pair of central valves each bearing 7–9 setae (ca 50 µm long). A pair of lateral valves each bearing 11 setae of similar size. Eugenital setae absent. Anal opening 168–185 µm long, its valves each with three pairs of setae.

Legs ( Fig. 5 ). Length of legs in decreasing order: leg I> leg IV> leg III> leg II.

Leg I 1330–1333 µm. Trochanter I with numerous setulose setae. Basifemur I 155–190 µm, Telofemur I 208–225 µm. Genu I 250–258 µm long, with numerous setulose setae, three solenidia and one microseta (35 µm long). Tibia I 280 µm long, with numerous setulose setae and solenidia, and one microseta (44 µm long).

Tarsus I more than twice as long (335–350 µm) as wide (150 µm), with many setulose setae and solenidia; famulus ca. 20 µm long.

Leg II 830–890 µm. Trochanter II with 12–13 setae. Basifemur II 140 µm long with numerous setulose setae. Telofemur II 136 µm long with numerous setulose setae and a distal solenidion. Genu II 146 µm long, with numerous setulose setae, one solenidion and one microseta (30 µm long). Tibia II 157 µm long, with numerous setulose setae and two solenidia. Tarsus II 235 µm long, with numerous setulose setae, 3 dorsal solenidia, one famulus (13 µm long) and two distal eupathidia.

Leg III 960–985 µm. Trochanter III with 13–17 setae. Basifemur III 140 µm long with numerous setae. Telofemur III 136 µm long with numerous setulose setae and a distal solenidion. Genu III 164 µm long with numerous setulose setae and three solenidia. Tibia III 195 µm long with numerous setulose setae and two solenida. Tarsus III 233 µm long, with numerous setulose setae and three solenidia.

Leg IV 1280–1350 µm. Trochanter IV with 17–22 setae. Basifemur IV 200 µm long with numerous setae. Telofemur IV 176 µm long with numerous setae and 1 distal solenidion (45 µm long). Genu IV 230 µm long with numerous setulose setae and 4 solenidia. Tibia IV 306 µm long with numerous setulose setae and four solenidia, of which the two distal ones are twice as long as others. Tarsus IV 282 µm long with many setulose setae and three solenidia.

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 3 ). Subcapitulum with two pairs of adoral setae and one pair of subcapitular setae ( Fig. 3 B). Adoral setae: or1 37–40 µm, or2 35–40 µm. Subcapitular setae 70 µm.

Cheliceral base 225 µm long, cheliceral blade 65 µm long ( Fig. 3 A).

Palp 488–570 µm long ( Fig. 3 C). Palptrochanter with two setae, 75 and 100 µm long, respectively. Palpfemur with 11 setae. Palpgenu with 12–15 setae. Palptibia with 14 nude setae, a strong terminal seta (i.e. tibial claw, 33 µm long) and a ventral enlarged seta (27 µm long) near base of tibial claw, ratio of tibial length excluding tibial claw and maximum tibial width 2.3–2.5. Palptarsus with a basal solenidion (20 µm long), two nude setiform setae, and six terminal eupathidia (18–21 µm long).

Adult male ( Figs 6–10 ). Idiosoma ovoid; length 1250–1450 µm, maximum width 860–950 µm. Sejugal furrow clearly evident, hysteronotum about three times as long as prodorsum ( Fig. 6 ).

Prodorsum. About half as long (385 µm) as wide (725 µm). Prodorsal plate longer (375 µm) than wide (275 µm), not reaching anterior end of propodosoma, with 12–14 pairs of lanceolate setae on each side, anteriormost pair 100–125 µm long ( Fig. 9 A). Crista metopica linear, rod–like, 275–325 µm long, widest anteriorly, ca 15–22 µm. 3–9 pairs of lanceolate setae posterolateral to prodorsal plate (one or two of them laterad of eyes), each on a platelet, ca 75–80 µm long. Prodorsal lateral plates absent. Eye plates 75– 95 x 50–60 µm, diameter 32–37 µm for anterior eyes and 25–30 for posterior eyes.

Hysterosomal dorsum. Hysterosoma with traces of segmentation, each with large lateral plates bearing several to numerous setae, division between C and D a clearly evident furrow.

C row with a pair of sublateral plates each bearing 7 setae; other setae each on a platelet.

D row with a pair of sublateral plates each bearing 3–5 pairs of setae; lateral and medial setae each on a platelet (except a single medial pair together on one plate).

E row with a pair of sublateral plates each bearing 5–7 setae, lateral and medial setae each on a platelet.

F row with a pair of sublateral plate each bearing 8–9 pairs of setae, lateral and medial setae each on a platelet.

H segment with two pairs of plates each bearing 5–6 pairs of setae; a few other setae each on a platelet.

PS segment with a pair of terminal plates each bearing several pairs of setae.

Idiosomal venter ( Fig. 7 ). Intercoxal area of leg I with 9–10 pairs of short setae (<50 µm long; posterolateral pair the longest, 1a over 100 µm long), intercoxal area of leg II with 5–9 pairs of setae. Intercoxal area of leg III with numerous pairs of setae and that of leg IV with numerous setae not separable from those anterior to genital area. Coxal I with 22–26 setae. Coxa II with 17–22 setae. Coxa III with 16–20 setae. Coxa IV with 17–24 setae. Opisthoventer with numerous short setiform setae similar to coxal setae. Genital opening 190– 250 µm. A pair of central valves each bearing 7–9 setae. A pair of lateral valves each bearing 7–15 setae of similar size. With three or five pairs of eugenital setae, all nude, setiform. Anal opening 145–195 µm long, its valves each with 1–4 pairs of setae.

Legs ( Fig. 10 ). Length of legs in decreasing order: leg I> leg IV> leg III> leg II.

Leg I 1075–1445 µm. Trochanter I with 12–15 setae. Basifemur I 140–175 µm. Telofemur I 185–215 µm. Genu I 190–265 µm long, with numerous setulose setae, two solenidia and a microseta (32 µm long). Tibia I 200–350 µm long with numerous setulose setae and solenidia, and one microseta (35 µm long). Tarsus I more than twice as long (255–360 µm) as wide (95–163 µm), with many setulose setae and solenidia; famulus peglike, 3 µm long.

Leg II 760–830 µm. Trochanter II with 9–15 setae. Basifemur II 130 µm long with numerous setulose setae. Telofemur II 130 µm long with numerous setulose setae and a distal solenidion. Genu II 135 µm long, with numerous setulose setae, one solenidion and one microseta (22 µm long). Tibia II 143 µm long, with numerous setulose setae and two solenidia. Tarsus II 205 µm long, with numerous setulose setae, five dorsal solenidia, one famulus (15 µm long) and two distal eupathidia.

Leg III 900–1085 µm. Trochanter III with 16–20 setae. Basifemur III 130 µm long with numerous setae. Telofemur III 130 µm long with numerous setulose setae and a distal solenidion. Genu III 160 µm long with numerous setulose setae and three solenidia. Tibia III 180 µm long with numerous setulose setae and two solenida. Tarsus III 230 µm long, with numerous setulose setae and two solenidia.

Leg IV 1200–1375 µm. Trochanter IV with 19–22 setae. Basifemur IV 175 µm long with numerous setae. Telofemur IV 160 µm long with numerous setae and 1 distal solenidion (48 µm long). Genu IV 220 µm long with numerous setulose setae and 4 solenidia. Tibia IV 295 µm long with numerous setulose setae and four solenidia, of which two distal ones are twice as long as others. Tarsus IV 270 µm long with many setulose setae and one solenidion (30 µm long).

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 8 ). Subcapitulum with two pairs of large adoral setae (in addition, one minute pair also seen in some specimens) and one pair of subcapitular setae (in the holotype, the left side has abnormally three setae). Adoral setae: or1 35 µm, or2 35 µm.

Cheliceral base 208–232 µm long, cheliceral blade 65–70 µm long ( Fig. 8 A).

Palp 490–597 µm long ( Fig. 8 C). Palptrochanter with two setae, 75 and 100 µm long. Palpfemur with 9– 11 setae. Palpgenu with 13–15 setae. Palptibia with 14–18 nude setae, a strong terminal seta (i.e. tibial claw, 35 µm long) and a ventral enlarged seta (25 µm) near base of tibial claw. Ratio of tibial length excluding tibial claw to maximum width 2.2–2.8. Palptarsus with a basal solenidion (15 µm long), two nude setiform setae, and six terminal eupathidia (22 µm long).

Etymology

Named after the collector, D. Williams.

Type specimens

Holotype female New Zealand, AK: Kawau I. (36.42°S, 174.85°E), 15 June to 10 August 1992, Malaise trap, D. Williams. Allotype male, one paratype one and two paratype females, same data. Four paratype males, same data except collected during 13 October to 12 November 1992.

Biology

The feeding habit of this species is unknown. All nine specimens were caught in Malaise traps; presumably they are free-living predators of small arthropods in the soil.

The winter sample (15 June to 10 August) includes three males and two females. The spring sample (12 October to 12 November) includes four males only.

Remarks

This species has the largest series of specimens and multiple males and females are represented. Some variation among specimens was observed in the female holotype, the C row has a median plate with three setae, whereas the other two specimens have all median setae of the C row on a single small platelet.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Allotanaupodus williamsi sp. n. (adult female). Dorsal view of idiosoma.

FIGURE 2. Allotanaupodus williamsi sp. n. (adult female). Ventral view of idiosoma.

FIGURE 3. Allotanaupodus williamsi sp. n. (adult female). A, chelicerae; B, subcapitulum; C, palp; D, palpal tarsus.

FIGURE 4. Allotanaupodus williamsi sp. n. (adult female). A, prodorsal shield; B, genital opening; C, anal opening; D, dorsal idiosomal seta; E, ventral idiosomal seta.

FIGURE 5. Allotanaupodus williamsi sp. n. (adult female). A, leg I; B, leg II; C, leg III; D, leg IV; E, detail view of tarsus I.

FIGURE 6. Allotanaupodus williamsi sp. n. (adult male). Dorsal view of idiosoma.

FIGURE 7. Allotanaupodus williamsi sp. n. (adult male). Ventral view of idiosoma.

FIGURE 8. Allotanaupodus williamsi sp. n. (adult male). A, chelicerae; B, subcapitulum; C, palp; D, palpal tarsus; E, anal opening.

FIGURE 9. Allotanaupodus williamsi sp. n. (adult male). A, prodorsal shield; B, genital opening; C, eugenital structure; D, dorsal idiosomal seta; E, ventral idiosomal seta.

FIGURE 10. Allotanaupodus williamsi sp. n. (adult male). A, leg I; B, leg II; C, leg III; D, leg IV; E, detail view of tarsus I.