Proctolaelaps drosophilae Karg, Baker & Jenkinson

Abo-Shnaf, Reham I. A. & De Moraes, Gilberto J., 2016, Proctolaelaps species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Melicharidae) from Egypt, with description of a new species and complementary descriptions of other five species, Zootaxa 4162 (3), pp. 479-503 : 483-487

Proctolaelaps drosophilae Karg, Baker & Jenkinson

( Figs 10–22 )

Proctolaelaps drosophilae Karg, Baker & Jenkinson, 1995: 187 . Proctolaelaps drosophilae . — Moraes et al., 2016: 210 .

Specimens examined. Paratype female (6671), ZMB: 45372 and paratype male (6673), ZMB: 45374 from Drosophila culture, at the University of Leeds, Leeds, England, October 21, 1992, collected by W. Karg, R.A. Baker & L. Jenkinson .

Adult female (paratype female measured)

Dorsum of idiosoma ( Fig. 10 ): dorsal shield 453 long and 260 wide at widest level. Podonotal region of the dorsal shield mostly reticulate, smooth between j5 and j6; with 23 pairs of setae (j1–j6, z1–z6, s1–s6, r2–r6), five pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures and two pairs of distinguishable pores. Opisthonotal region reticulate, with reticules longest transversely between J1 and J4; with 20 pairs of setae (J1–J5, Z1–Z5, S1–S5, R1–R5) (left R4 missing; apparently with R6, what could not be confirmed because of the position of mounted specimen), nine pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures and two pairs of distinguishable pores. Most dorsal shield setae of uniform length and shape and shorter than distance to respective subsequent setae, aciculate and smooth, except Z5, longest and slightly serrate. Unsclerotised lateral cuticle with three pairs of setae (UR1–UR3) (right UR1 missing), all short and aciculate. Setal lengths: j1 28, j2 26, j3 31, j4 29, j5 28, j6 29, z1 16, z2 30, z3 31, z4 37, z5 30, z6 30, s1 24, s2 25, s3 33, s4 37, s5 37, s6 36, r2 28, r3 34, r4 25, r5 30, r6 28, J1 26, J2 (broken), J3 32, J4 (broken), J5 15, Z1 32, Z2 33, Z3 36, Z4 35, Z5 62, S1 30, S2 32, S3 29, S4 30, S5 28, R1 25, R2 20, R3 18, R4 18, R5 18, UR1 16, UR2 18, UR3 21.

Venter of idiosoma ( Figs 11–13 ): all setae aciculate and smooth. Base of tritosternum 17 long and 9 wide at medium level; laciniae 65 long, divided for about 54% of their total length. Presternal region with light transverse striae. Sternal shield fused with anterior portion of endopodal plate; 101 long and 96 wide at level of st2, with three pairs of setae (st1–st3) and two pairs of lyrifissures. Posterior portion of endopodal plate represented by a large vshaped fragment between coxae III–IV. Metasternal plate seemingly rounded, with the fourth sternal seta (st4); lyrifissure iv3 not visible because of the damage in the specimen examined. Genital shield reticulate, 164 long, including hyaline flap; with lateral margins slightly diverging posteriorly; posterior margin slightly convex, 81 wide at posterior corners, bearing genital setae (st5); distance between genital setae 58; paragenital lyrifissures (iv5) on unsclerotised cuticle, posterolaterad of st5. Anal shield ovate, reticulate, 76 long and 64 wide at widest level, with circumanal setae; pair of marginal pores posterolaterad of para-anal setae not possible to see because of position of mounted specimen; anal opening relatively large, 34 long including frame. Exopodal plate distinct from posterior margin of coxa IV to anterior margin of coxa II; with a pore near posterior end. Unsclerotised cuticle around anal shield with 13 pairs of opisthogastric setae and two pairs of lyrifissures. Apparently with a pair of elongate metapodal plate on the right side, there is one structure outside the plate, and it should be as expected the other plate, but it is not possible to see well because of position of mounted specimen. Setal lengths: st1 26, st2 23, st3 23, st4 29, st5 23, JV1 21, JV2 22, JV3 17, JV4 22, JV5 34, ZV1 18, ZV2 15, para-anal 22 and post-anal 44.

Peritrematic plate and peritreme ( Figs 10, 13 ): peritrematic plate fused with dorsal shield at level of r2, but not fused posteriorly to exopodal plate; with a lyrifissure and a pore in region between coxae II–III (ip2, gp1), with a distinct lyrifissure and a pore behind stigma (ip3, gp2); posterior end of peritrematic plate truncate or with a small notch of variable depth. Peritreme extending forward to level of z1.

Spermatheca: not distinguishable.

Gnathosoma ( Figs 14, 15 ): anteromedian region of epistome convex and denticulate. Chelicera broken. Hypostome with h1 about as thick as h2, h3 and sc; with a small, spine-like membranous process near basal paraxial margin of corniculus. Deutosternum with nine transverse lines, delimited by subparallel lateral lines from first to eighth transverse lines; first (most distal) line smooth; second to ninth lines respectively with 1, 3, 3, 3, 3, 11, 30 and 8 denticles. Corniculi parallel to each other, distally pointed, about 27 long and 7 wide at the base. Setal lengths: h1 (probably as long as h3), h2 21, h3 41 and sc 22; palp trochanter setae av 25 and pv 22.

Legs ( Fig. 16 ): pretarsi I–IV each with a pair of claws and pulvillus with three rounded lobules. Leg lengths: I, 358; II, 318; III, 295 and IV, 374. Leg chaetotaxy—genua: I—2 3/2 3/1 2; II—2 3/1 2/1 2; III—2 2/1 2/1 1; IV—2 2/1 3/0 1; tibiae: I—2 3/2 3/1 2; II—2 2/1 2/1 2; III—2 1/1 2/1 1; IV—2 1/1 3/1 2. Without distinct macrosetae.

Adult male (paratype male measured)

Dorsum of idiosoma ( Fig. 17 ): dorsal shield 425 long and 303 wide at widest level. Podonotal and opisthonotal regions of the dorsal shield with reticulations and setation as in adult female. Most dorsal shield setae of uniform length and shape and longer than distance to respective subsequent setae, aciculate and smooth; left S1 and R1 missing; setae j3, Z1, Z5, S4 and S5 not measurable. Unsclerotised lateral cuticle without setae, but with a lyrifissure (Rp) between R3 and R4 (right Rp on dorsal shield). Setal lengths: j1 32, j2 35, j4 34, j5 34, j6 35, z1 14, z2 36, z3 39, z4 46, z5 39, z6 35, s1 27, s2 27, s3 42, s4 44, s5 45, s6 42, r2 29, r3 30, r4 29, r5 33, r6 29, J1 32, J2 32, J3 32, J4 30, J5 9, Z2 36, Z3 36, Z4 34, S1 38, S2 35, S3 29, R1 24, R2 23, R3 22, R4 21, R5 21, R6 19.

Venter of idiosoma ( Fig. 18 ): shape of setae as in adult female. Tritosternum broken. Presternal region apparently smooth. Sternogenital shield with lateral longitudinal reticulation, fused with whole endopodal plate, with a pair of pore (gst1) on distal end of extension between coxae I–II, 185 long and 90 wide at level of st2, with five pairs of setae (st1–st5) and three pairs of lyrifissures, posterior margin indistinct. Exopodal plate distinct from posterior margin of coxa IV to anterior margin of coxa II; with a lyrifissure (ip4) at level of median region of coxa IV. Ventrianal shield subtriangular, reticulate, median section of anterior margin indistinct, 180 long and 229 wide at anterior corners, with seven pairs of opisthogastric setae (JV1–JV4 and ZV1–ZV3) in addition to circumanal setae, a pair of lyrifissures at anterior corner and a pair of marginal pores posterolaterad of para-anal setae; anal opening not enlarged, 31 long including frame. Unsclerotised cuticle laterad and posteriad of ventrianal shield with two pairs of setae (JV5, ZV5) and a pair of distinguishable lyrifissures. Setal lengths: st2 33, st3 29, st5 31, JV2 29, JV4 28, JV5 32, ZV1 19, ZV3 25, ZV5 25, para-anal 20 and post-anal 25; setae st1, st4, JV1, JV3 and ZV2 broken.

Peritrematic plate and peritreme ( Figs 17, 18 ): peritrematic plate fused with dorsal shield at level of r2; but not fused posteriorly to exopodal plate; with a lyrifissure and a pore in region between coxae II–III (ip2, gp1); with a pore behind stigma (gp2); posterior end of peritrematic plate truncate or with a small notch of variable depth. Peritreme extending forward to level of z1.

Gnathosoma ( Figs 19–21 ): anteromedian region of epistome apparently convex and denticulate (only section of left margin distinguishable). Cheliceral dorsal and antiaxial lyrifissures distinct; dorsal seta indistinct. Fixed digit 34 long, with nine teeth, membranous lobe indistinct; movable digit 35 long, with a single tooth and a long, curved and distally tapering spermadactyl, about 63 long. Hypostome with h1 about as thick as h2, h3 and sc; apparently with a small, spine-like membranous process near basal paraxial margin of corniculus. Deutosternum with nine transverse lines, delimited by lateral lines from first to eighth transverse lines; first (most distal) line smooth, followed by apparently five hardly distinguishable and undulate lines and then by three lines of tiny denticles (about 20, 25 and 20 respectively), seventh line v-shaped; lateral lines posteriorly convergent. Corniculi slightly divergent from each other, distally pointed, about 27 long and 9 wide at the base. Setal lengths: h1 18, h2 22, h3 36 and sc 23; palp trochanter setae av 25 and pv 23.

Legs ( Fig. 22 ): similar to those of female. Leg lengths: I, 368; II, 288; III, 345 and IV, 420. Leg chaetotaxy as in adult female. Without distinct macrosetae.

Remarks. This species was originally described from the holotype female, four paratype females, four paratype males and two deutonymphs, collected in the University of Leeds, Leeds, England . It has not been reported from Egypt, but a complementary description is presented in this paper because of its similarity with the new species subsequently described. The original description was reasonably detailed, with illustrations and some setal measurements.

Figures

FIGURES 10 – 16. Proctolaelaps drosophilae, paratype female: 10. Dorsum of idiosoma; 11. Tritosternum; 12. Venter of idiosoma; 13. Peritrematic and exopodal plates; 14. Epistome; 15. Hypostome; 16. Leg IV.

FIGURES 17 – 22. Proctolaelaps drosophilae, paratype male: 17. Dorsum of idiosoma; 18. Venter of idiosoma; 19. Epistome; 20. Chelicera; 21. Hypostome; 22. Leg IV.