Zercon tripolisensis, Urhan & Karaca & Kassen, 2024

Urhan, Raşit, Karaca, Mehmet & Kassen, Zhanerke, 2024, A new zerconid mite (Mesostigmata: Zerconidae) from Southwestern Türkiye: Zercon tripolisensis sp. nov., Acarological Studies 6 (1), pp. 52-59 : 53-56

Zercon tripolisensis sp. nov.

( Figures 1-7 )

https://zoobank.org/ 46BBE88F-8DF5-4F2A-A0B5- BA31446BD822

Type material. Holotype (F), soil and litter samples under Quercus coccifera ( Fagaceae ), 38°2.812' N, 28°57.463' E, 815 m a.s.l., vicinity of neighborhood cemetery, Tripolis ancient city, Buldan county, Denizli province, Türkiye, 16 August 2018 ( Fig. 1 ). Paratypes: 257 F, 119 M, 87 DN, 49 PN, same data as holotype. 10 females, 29 males, 14 DN, 16 PN: soil and litter samples under Quercus coccifera ( Fagaceae ), 38°2.226' N, 28°57.466' E, 546 m a.s.l., vicinity of neighborhood cemetery, 18 June 2018. 135 F, 41 M, 22 DN, 11 PN: soil, litter and moss samples under various plants ( Table 1), 38°2.106' N, 28°57.965' E, 600 m a.s.l., entrance of ancient city, 18 July 2018. 98 F, 51 M, 44 DN, 19 PN: soil and litter samples under Pyrus elaeagrifolia ( Rosaceae ), 38°2.368' N, 28°56.960' E, 668 m a.s.l., vicinity of ancient city walls, 17 September 2018. 192 F, 145 M, 56 DN, 25 PN: soil, litter and moss samples under various plants ( Table 1), 38°2.324' N, 28°56.981' E, 651 m a.s.l., vicinity of ancient city bath, 18 October 2018. 155 F, 96 M, 50 DN, 32 PN: soil, litter and moss samples under various plants ( Table 1), 38°2.670' N, 28°57.521' E, 620 m a.s.l., east side of ancient city, 15 November 2018. 47 F, 37 M, 11 DN, four PN: soil, litter and moss samples under Lolium sp. ( Poaceae ), 38°2.563' N, 28°56.913' E, 208 m a.s.l., vicinity of ancient city walls, 21 December 2018. 106 F, 86 M, 28 DN, 25 PN: soil, litter and moss samples under various plants ( Table 1), 38°2.288' N, 28°57.287' E, 571 m a.s.l., vicinity of ancient city walls, 18 January 2019. 58 F, 49 M, 13 DN, 11 PN: soil, litter and moss samples under various plants ( Table 1), 38°2.391' N, 28°56.947' E, 672 m a.s.l., vicinity of ancient theatre, 16 February 2019. 97 F, 122 M, 71 DN, 40 PN: soil, litter and moss samples under various plants ( Table 1), 38°2.497' N, 28°56.794' E, 705 m a.s.l., vicinity of Hierapolis street, 21 March 2019. 27 F, 32 M, 71 DN: soil, litter and moss samples under various plants ( Table 1), 38°2.698' N, 28°57.147' E, 862 m a.s.l., vicinity of necropolis areas, 15 April 2019. All samples were collected by Zhanerke Kassen from Tripolis ancient city. Seven F, four M, five DN, three PN: soil, litter and moss samples under Quercus coccifera ( Fagaceae ), 37°58.599' N, 28°48.411' E, 361 m a.s.l., vicinity of Kızıldere neighbourhood, Buharkent county, Aydın province, 2 February 2019, leg. Mehmet Karaca. One F: soil and litter samples under Pinus brutia ( Pinaceae ), 37°51.078' N, 28°52.953' E, 419 m a.s.l., vicinity Acıdere place, Acıpayam county, Denizli province, 12 February 2020, leg. Esat Enis Karnak.

Diagnosis. Anterior margin of ventrianal shield with two setae (seta JV1 present, seta ZV1 absent). Most of podonotal setae short, smooth and needle-like (except seta j1–2 and marginal setae s2–3, s6, r2 and r4–5). Setae j1–2 and all marginal setae on podonotum finely barbed. Most opisthonotal setae elongated, finely barbed with hyaline endings (except marginal setae). Pores gdS2 located between setae Z2 and S3 or Z2 and S4, gdZ3 located between setae J4 and Z4, closer to Z4. Dorsal cavities distinct and strongly developed. Podonotum and anterior margin of opisthonotum covered with tile-like patterns, mid-area to posterior margin of opisthonotum covered by irregular punctate patterns.

Female ( Figs 2-3 ). Length (without gnathosoma) and width in holotype 468 and 302, respectively. Measurements of 10 paratypes: length 456–471, width 276–308.

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 2 ). Podonotal shields with 20 pairs of setae, including six pairs in j row (j1–6), five pairs in z row (z2–6), six pairs in s row (s1–6), and three pairs in r row (r2 and r4–5). Setae r1 and r3 inserted ventrally, on peritrematal shields. Setae j1–2 and all marginal setae (s2–3, s6, r2 and r4–5) finely barbed, remaining podonotal setae short, smooth and needle-like. Setae j1 obviously longer than the others. None of podonotal setae reaching the margin of posterior part of podonotum. Podonotal shield covered with tile-like patterns.

Opisthonotal shields with 21 pairs of setae, including five pairs in J row (J1–5), five pairs in Z row (Z1–5), five pairs in S row (S1–5), and six pairs in R row (R1–6). Most of opisthonotal setae elongated, finely barbed with hyaline endings (except marginal setae S1 and R1–6). Setae J1 and Z1 similar in appearance and length, both of them finely barbed without hyaline endings. Setae J2–5, Z2–5 and S2– 5 finely barbed with hyaline endings. In the marginal row, all setae finely barbed and shorter than the other opisthonotal setae. None of setae reaching the insertions of the following seta in J, Z and S rows. Setae Z5 and S5 reaching beyond margin of opisthonotum. The intervals between Z5–Z5 89–106 and Z5–JV5 24–31, respectively. Opisthonotal shield covered with tile-like patterns in anterior parts, remaining parts covered by irregular punctate patterns ( Fig. 2 ).

Gland pores gdj2 located on the line connecting setae j2 and j3, closer to j2, gdj4 located on the line connecting setae j4 and z4, closer to z4, gds4 located on the line connecting setae s4 and z6, closer to s4, gdZ1 located above the insertion of seta Z1, gdS2 located on the line connecting setae Z2 and S3 or Z2 and S4, closer to S2, gdZ3 located on the line connecting setae J4 and Z4, closer to Z4, gdS5 located below the insertion of seta S5 ( Fig. 2 ). All podonotal and opisthonotal gland pores about the same size.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 3 ). Posterolateral tips of peritrematal shield reaching the level of setae S1–R1. Chaetotaxy and ornamentation of peritrematal shield characteristical for Zercon species. Peritrematal shield with two pairs of setae (r1 and r3), r1 short, smooth and needle-like, r3 elongated and finely barbed without hyaline ending. Peritreme slightly twisted anteriorly, and gland pore gv1 located closer to anterior part of peritreme. Sternal shield with three pairs of setae (st1–3). Epigynal shield with one pair of setae (st5). Seta st4 located between posterior part of sternal shield and anterior part of epigynal shield. All the above-mentioned setae (st1–5) short, smooth and needle-like. Gland pore gv2 present between posterolateral part of epigynal shield and anterior part of ventrianal shield. Anterior margin of ventrianal shield with one pair of setae (seta JV1 present, seta ZV1 absent). Ventrianal shield with nine pairs of short, smooth and needle-like setae (JV1–5, ZV2– 4, Ad), postanal longest, one pair of gland pores, and one single postanal seta (Pa). Seta JV5 similar to opisthonotal setae Z5 and S 5 in terms of shape, but shorter them. Gland pore gv3 located closer to the insertions of adanal setae. Anterior part of ventrianal shield covered with squamous patterns, continuously extending the insertions of setae JV3 and ZV4 ( Fig. 3 ).

Average lengths and distances of opisthonotal setae (J, Z and S rows) are given in Table 2 for F, M, DN and PN specimens of Z. tripolisensis sp. nov.

Male ( Figs 4-5 ). Length and width of idiosoma 345–364 and 212–228, respectively (n=10). With an exception, chaetotaxy of idiosomal setae, location of gland pores on idiosoma and ornamentation of dorsal and ventral shields similar to those of females. Unlike female specimens, in which the opisthonotal seta Z4 not reaching the beyond of opisthonotum, this seta reaching the beyond of opisthonotum in male specimens. Also, all podonotal and opisthonotal setae shorter than female specimens. Ventral idiosoma as in Figure 5 . Distances between setae Z5–Z5 80–93 and Z5–JV5 13–19, respectively.

Deutonymph ( Fig. 6 ). Length and width of idiosoma 326– 350 and 228–238, respectively (n=10). Dorsal cavities uniform, equal in size, saddle-like and weakly sclerotised. Podonotal setae j1, s3 and s6 finely barbed, all the others short, smooth and needle-like. Only gland pore gds4 visible on podonotum, located on the line connecting setae z6 and s4, closer to s4. On opisthonotum, setae J1–5, Z1–2 and R3–6 short, smooth and needle-like. Setae Z3–5 and S3–5 finely barbed with hyaline endings. Remaining marginal setae (S1 and R1–2) finely barbed without hyaline endings. Seta Z3 reaching the insertion of seta Z4. Setae Z4–5 and S5 elongated, all of them reaching beyond margin of opisthonotum. Setae S3 and S4 similar in appearance and length. Four pairs of gland pores visible on opisthonotum, gdZ1 located above the insertion of seta Z1, gdS2 located on the line connecting setae Z2 and S3, closer to S3, gdZ3 located on the line connecting setae J4 and Z4, gdS5 located below the insertion of seta S5. The intervals between Z5–Z5 84-95 and Z5–JV5 12-18, respectively. Podonotum covered by irregular tile-like patterns, opisthonotum with irregular punctate patterns ( Fig. 6 ).

Protonymph ( Fig. 7 ). Length and width of idiosoma 263– 278 and 153–169, respectively (n=10). Features of dorsal cavities as in deutonymph specimens. All podonotal setae smooth and needle-like (except seta j1). Seta j1 finely barbed. All gland pores invisible on podonotum. On opisthonotum, setae J1–5, Z1–2 and R1 short, smooth and needle-like. Setae Z3–5 and S2–5 finely barbed with hyaline endings. Remaining marginal setae (S1 and R2–6) invisible. Seta Z3 reaching the insertion of seta Z4. Setae Z4–5 and S5 as in deutonymph specimens, all of them elongated and reaching beyond margin of opisthonotum. Setae Z3 and S2–4 similar in appearance and length. Four pairs of gland pores visible on opisthonotum, gdZ1 located above the insertion of seta Z1, gdS2 located on the line connecting setae Z2 and S3, gdZ3 located on the line connecting setae J4 and Z4, gdS5 located below the insertion of seta S5. The intervals between Z5–Z5 56 – 71 and Z5–JV5 11 – 19, respectively. There is no pattern in both podonotum and opisthonotum ( Fig. 7 ).

Larva. Not found.

Etymology. The specific epithet ‘ tripolisensis ’ refers to the ancient city of Tripolis (Buldan County, Denizli province) where the new species was collected.

Remarks. Z. tripolisensis sp. nov. is quite similar to Z. colligans Berlese, 1920 , Z. kallimcii Urhan, 2010 and Z. turcicus Urhan and Ayyıldız, 1994 . These species have common morphological features as follows: most of podonotal setae short, smooth and needle-like, most of marginal setae both podonotum and opisthonotum finely barbed without hyaline endings, none of podonotal setae reaching the margin or beyond to posterior part of opisthonotum, opisthonotal setae J1 and Z1 smooth and needle-like (except Z. tripolisensis sp. nov.), opisthonotal setae J3–5 and Z3–5 finely barbed with hyaline endings, gland pore gdS2 located closer to the insertions of setae Z2–3 or S2–3, gland pore gdZ3 located between J and Z setal rows, none of setae in Z and S rows reaching the insertions of the following setae in the same rows, dorsal cavities equal in size and parallel to transverse axis. On the other hand, the morphological distinguishing characters of these four species are given in Table 3, where all species are compared in terms of shapes of some setae on the podonotal and opisthonotal regions. Opisthonotal seta JV5 is finely barbed with hyaline ending in Z. tripolisensis sp. nov. as well as Z. kallimci , but this seta is finely barbed without hyaline ending in Z. colligans and Z. turcicus . Compared with the other species in Table 3, presence of finely barbed without hyaline endings setae J1 and Z1 is an important distinguishing character for Z. tripolisensis sp. nov.

Figures

Figure 1. General view from the type locality of Zercon tripolisensis sp. nov. Tripolis ancient city (Photograph was taken on 16 August 2018 by Z. Kassen).

Figures 2-3. Zercon tripolisensis sp. nov. 2. Dorsal view of female, 3. Ventral view of female. Scale bar 100.

Figures 4-5. Zercon tripolisensis sp. nov. 4. Dorsal view of male, 5. Ventral view of male. Scale bar 100.

Figures 6-7. Dorsal views of immature stages of Zercon dilekicus sp. nov. 6. Deutonymph, 7. Protonymph. Scale bar 100.