Nidilaelaps annectans (Womersley) Womersley, 2012

Shaw, Matthew D., 2012, Re-evaluation of Pseudoparasitus (Gymnolaelaps) annectans (Womersley): a new genus and two new species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae), Zootaxa 3453, pp. 25-42 : 28-30

Nidilaelaps annectans (Womersley) n. comb.

( Figs 1–8 , 24 )

Gymnolaelaps annectans Womersley, 1955: 419 ; 1956: 584; Domrow, 1961: 61; 1962: 274; 1963: 201; 1967: 769; 1973: 63; 1977: 187; 1988: 828; Ramsay, 1977: 389; Roberts, 1991a: 780; 1991b: 787; Farrier & Hennessey, 1993: 73; Tenquist & Charleston, 2001: 501.

Hypoaspis (Gaeolaelaps) nidicorva Evans & Till, 1965: 288 . Synonomy by Domrow 1973: 63.

Hypoaspis nidicorva . — Evans & Till, 1966: 159; Tenquist & Charleston, 2001: 505; Radovsky et al., 1979: 331. Synonomy by Domrow 1973: 63.

Pseudoparasitus annectans .— Hunter, 1966: 12; Halliday, 1998: 129; Swift & Goff, 2001: 31; Beaulieu et al., 2006: 30.

Pseudoparasitus (Gymnolaelaps) annectans . — Karg, 1978: 206; 1981: 218; Tenorio, 1982: 268; Radovsky, 1985: 450.

Hypoaspis (Laelaspis) nidicorva . — Karg, 1979: 100; 1989a: 101; 1989b: 120. Synonomy by Domrow 1973: 63.

Specimens examined. Australia. Holotype female, 4 male paratypes (including “allotype”), 13 female paratypes, SAM J 9436-9451, 9453 (SAM). Fisher Island, Bass Strait, 15 Jan 1953, R. Mykytowycyz coll., ex burrow Puffinus tenuirostris Short-tailed shearwater.

Argentina. 1 female, Argentina, 17 Dec 1958, on Amaryllis bulbs intercepted at Washington, D.C., F. Kenworthy coll. (USNM).

Papua New Guinea. 4 females, Wau Creek, 1500m, 31 Mar 1963, P. Shanahan coll., ex Giant Rat BBM-NG 27576 (BBM); 2 females, Coviak, 4000’, 19 Feb 1963, H. Clissold coll., ex rat, BBM-NG 20332 (BBM); 1 female, Mairala, Fa Valley, West Irian, May 1976, P. Blum coll., BUSO 19-B92650; 2 females, Mt Missim, 7 Mar 1985, Pat Woolley coll., ex nest of Murexia longicaudata Short-furred Dasyure.

Australia. From nests or hosts. 9 females, Yellingbo, Victoria, 37º 49’ S 145º 30’E, 13 May 2002, D. Harley coll., ex nestbox containing Gymnobelideus leadbeateri Leadbeater’s Possum, NEST 486; 4 females, The Bluff, Rosewood, 27º 39’S 152º 36’E, 4 July 2000, M(argaret) Shaw coll., kerofloated from Antechinus flavipes Yellowfooted Antechinus nest in house, NEST 344; 1 female, 1 male, Bridle Creek, NE Qld, 18 Apr 2000, P. Keiper coll., ex nest of Isoodon obesulus peninsulae Cape York Short-nosed Bandicoot, NEST 342; 1 male, Bridle Creek, NE Qld, 18 Apr 2000, P. Keiper, ex nest of Isoodon obesulus peninsulae Cape York Short-nosed Bandicoot, NEST 343; 2 females, Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Is, S. Australia, 35º 37’ S 137º 12’E, 1 Jun 1999, L. Pedler coll., ex tree hollow nest of Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus Glossy Black Cockatoo with 10 wk old nestling, NEST 245- KO; 1 female, Waldeck, Cygnet R, Kangaroo Is, S. Australia, 35º 42’S 137 º 31’E, 3 Jun 1999, L. Pedler coll., ex tree hollow nest of Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus Glossy Black Cockatoo with 4wk old nestling, NEST 244; 1 female, Cygnet R, Kangaroo Is, S. Australia, 35º 42’ 137º 12’, 20 Mar 1999, L. Pedler coll., ex active tree hollow nest Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus Glossy Black Cockatoo , NEST 239; 1 female, Boho South, Victoria, June 2005, J. Hufschmid coll., ex nestbox used by Trichosurus caninus Mountain Brushtail Possum ; 1 female, Mt Clunie, NSW, 15 Jul 2001, J. Standing coll., ex small mammal nest in fallen hollow log, NEST 409; 2 females, Two People’s Bay, W. Australia, 34º 58’S 118º 07’E, 21 Aug 2002, L. Reinhold coll., ex nest of captive Potorous gilbertii Gilbert’s Potoroo, NEST 490.

From suspended collections of soil or litter. 1 female, Numinbah Valley, SE Qld, 28º 14’S 153º 15’E, 2 Mar 1996, ex Asplenium australicum litter, D. Rodgers coll.; 1 female, 1 male, Enoggera Ck, Scrub Creek Rd, Mt Glorious, SE Qld, 27º 26’S 152º 51’E, 14 Jul 1999, ex tree hole bulk collection, D.E. Walter coll.; 1 female, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 17 Apr 1994, humus in treehole 30 metres above ground, D.E. Walter coll.; 1 female Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 14’ 153º 08’, 21 Jun 1994, ex Asplenium australicum at 1.5 metres, D.E. Walter coll.; 1 female, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 2 Jan 1995, Asplenium australicum in rainforest canopy, D. Rodgers, D.E. Walter coll.; 1 female, 1 male, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 5 Jan 1995, Asplenium australicum in rainforest canopy, D. Rodgers, D.E. Walter coll.; 1 female, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 13 Jan 1995, Asplenium australicum in rainforest canopy, D. Rodgers, D.E. Walter coll.; 3 females, 5 males, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 12 Nov 1995, ex Asplenium australicum, D. Rodgers coll.; 60 females 11 males, Border Track, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 14’S 153 º 09’E, 21 Apr 2002, roots and suspended litter of Asplenium australicum, F. Beaulieu coll.; 1 male, Border Track, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 14’S 153 º 09’E, 18 May 2002, roots and suspended litter of Asplenium australicum, F. Beaulieu coll.; 1 male, Border Track, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 12’S 153 º 11’E, 21 Nov 2002, roots and suspended litter of Asplenium australicum, F. Beaulieu coll.; 3 females, 8 males, Border Track, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 12’S 153 º 11’E, 27 Apr 2002, Asplenium australicum litter, F. Beaulieu coll.; 1 male, 2 females, Border Track, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 12’S 153º 11’E, Asplenium australicum litter, 26 Jul 2003, F. Beaulieu coll.; 15 females, 2 males Border Track, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 12’S 153º 11’E, Asplenium australicum roots and litter, 11 Jun 2002, F. Beaulieu coll.; 1 female 7 males, Tenison Woods Mt, SE Qld, 27º 18’S 152º 45’E, 2 Jul 2003, Asplenium australicum, F. Beaulieu coll.; 1 female, Tenison Woods Mt, SE Qld, 27º 18’E 152º 45’S, 2 Jul 2003, ex fallen Platycerium bifurcatum, F. Beaulieu coll.

From soil or litter, ground collections. 1 female, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 15’S 153º 09’E, 22 May 1996, ex rotting fungi, D.E. Walter coll.; 1 female, Frankston, Melbourne, 5 Jun 1991, ex compost heap, D.E. Walter coll.; 5 females, Tenison Woods Mt, SE Qld, 27º 18’S 152º 45’E, 2 Jul 2003, ex rainforest litter and soil, F. Beaulieu coll.; 1 male, Tenison Woods Mt, SE Qld, 27º 18’S 152º 45’E, 26 Aug 2003, ex dry sclerophyll litter and soil, F. Beaulieu coll.; 1 female, Tenison Woods Mt, SE Qld, 28º 12’S 153 º 11’E, 1 Nov 2002, ground litter, F. Beaulieu coll.; 1 female, 1 male, Caves Circuit, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 12’S 153º 11’E, 24 Oct 2002, rainforest soil, F. Beaulieu coll.; 12 females, 7 males, Duck Creek Road, Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 13’S 153º 09’E, 1 Jun 2002, rainforest soil and litter, F. Beaulieu coll.; 5 females, 2 males, Mike O’Reilly’s Farm, nr Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 14’S 153º 07’E, 27 July 2002, wet sclerophyll ground litter, F. Beaulieu coll.; 2 females, Mike O’Reilly’s Farm, nr Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 14’S 153º 07’E, 28 July 2002, rainforest ground litter, F. Beaulieu coll.; 4 males, Mike O’Reilly’s Farm, nr Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 14’S 153º 07’E, 28 July 2002, Acacia ground litter, F. Beaulieu coll.; 2 males, Mike O’Reilly’s Farm, nr Lamington NP, SE Qld, 28º 14’S 153º 07’E, 27 July 2002, wet sclerophyll ground litter, F. Beaulieu coll.; 6 males, 2 females, Gambubal Forest Station, SE Qld, 27º 08’S 152º 09’E, 20 Jan 2003, sclerophyll soil and litter, F. Beaulieu coll.; 3 females, Barker Ck, Bunya Mountains NP, SE Qld, 26 º 52’ 18” S, 151º 35’ 42” E 21 Aug 2003, dry sclerophyll litter, F. Beaulieu coll.; 1 female, same data, but rainforest litter; 4 females, 1 male, Mount Cain Babel, SE Qld, 28º 08’S 153º 07’E, 28 Jul 2002, rainforest litter, F. Beaulieu, coll.; 1 female, Tangalooma, Moreton Island, SE Qld, leaf litter, 20 Nov 2007, M. Shaw coll.

Redescription of females (n=10). Dorsum: Dorsal shield 580 (510–606) x 375 (320–380) ( Fig. 1 ). Dorsal shield covers dorsum, bearing 39 pairs setae plus one to two supernumerary Jx setae between J4 setae. Seta j1 34 (24–38). Marginal and anterior podonotal setae moderately long, j2 45 (37–67), r3 63 (45–66), S1 62 (42–62), S5 50 (40–59), Z5 51 (39–57), J5 36 (28–48). Central setae shorter, j6 45 (30–49), z5 42 (33–50). All setae smooth except Z5 rarely has a few barbs.

Gnathosoma: Movable digit 85 (62–85). Fixed digit with well developed apically divided tip (Gabelzahn) and 3 additional teeth ( Fig. 2 ). The two distalmost teeth of the fixed digit are moderately strong and oppose corresponding teeth in the movable digit. The middle tooth is immediately proximal of pilus dentilus. The proximalmost tooth is a much smaller cusp. Internal malae fused medially, fringed, with weak lateral arms that extend to less than half the length of the corniculi. Fimbriae without swollen tips. Corniculi strong, 49 (30–49) long; h1 53 (38–54), h2 30 (16–30), h3 53 (40–55), capitular setae 39 (26–39). Deutosternal groove slightly wider anteriorly with 6 (rarely 5 or 7) deutosternal rows of ca. 5–8 denticles. Groove flanked by 4, or rarely 3, transverse lines. Second cheliceral segment 195 (148–202), first cheliceral segment 60 (48–86). Epistome is a simple lobe with a smooth edge ( Fig. 4 )

Venter: Tritosternal base 37 (31–38) long to suture. Laciniae fork ca. 4–11 above suture. Free portion of laciniae 99 (77–100) long. Anterior edge of sternal shield well-defined. Sternal shield slightly wider 137 (109–137) than deep 115 (94–115). Cornua (anterolateral extensions of shield) are narrow sclerites that arch over to mid-coxa II. Lateral position of st1 is immediately external to central puncta of first lyrifissure. Sternal shield setae 1–3; 57 (37–67), 61 (45–74), 57 (43–70). Posterior margin of sternal shield usually with mild medial point, sometimes straight. Genito-ventral shield 185 (135–202) long, 104 (90–107) wide at level of st5. Maximum width, between Zv1 and Jv1 is 175 (138–187). Genito-ventral shield furnished with lateral zone of longitudinally aligned cells. Setae (st5, Zv1, Jv1, Jv2) borne within this zone or on shield margin. Serially-regular, broadly transverse striae present medially in 7–9 rows, with 5–7 striae at or below level of Zv1 ( Fig. 3 ). Holotype slide ( Fig. 5 ) does not show a full series of striae due to age and compression of mounting medium (see Fig. 3 for a typical appearance). Genito-ventral shield almost reaches anal shield, at most 4 μm apart. Endopodal plate narrow at surface, underlying, but not capturing st4. Metasternal plate absent. Principal metapodal platelet 35 (27–41) long and 10 (5–10) wide. Secondary (inner) metapodal platelet greatly reduced, absent or tiny ca. 3 long x 2 wide. Paragenital platelets absent. Poststigmatal plate bearing usual 3 pore-like structures. Median and posterior pore-like structures closely spaced, lying in individual lacunae, not in a common gutter, and widely separated, 28 (22–31), from first lyrifissure due to extension of middle section of plate. Poststigmatal plate shield fused to exopodal IV. R series appears holotrichous with R1–3 (and r6) present anterior of pore Rp. Baseplates surrounding alveoli of opisthogastric setae expanded posteriorly for less than diameter of setal insertion. Anal shield 81 (52–84) long by 93 (68–108) wide at cribral pores. The maximum width varies from 93 (71–123). Anterolateral corners of anal shield variously developed; some specimens have rounded corners (e.g. holotype, Fig. 5 ) whereas there are strongly-developed, acute corners on other specimens (e.g. paratype SAM J 9446). Two, or more rarely three, rows of cribral spicules present. Paranal setae 26 (24–32), postanal 46 (37–51).

Legs: Chaetotaxy as for genus. Tarsus II–IV bear 5 thick pointed ventral setae. Leg segment lengths shown in Table 1. Pretarsal opercula with 5–6 tines.

Redescription of male (n=10) As for female, except where noted.

Dorsum: Dorsal shield 355–455 x 240–295. Seta j1 (19–30). Marginal, anterior podonotal and terminal setae moderately long, j2 (37–64), r3 (34–52), S1 (37–60). Central and posterior setae shorter, j6 (23–44), z5 (26–51), S5 (30–36), Z5 (30–48), J5 (23–45). Z5 and J5 sometimes barbed.

Gnathosoma: Movable digit 37–48 with a single tooth. Fixed digit usually with a single tooth, distal of pilus dentilus ( Fig. 7 ). The lower individual on paratype slide J9440 has intra-individual variation with a single tooth on the right hand fixed digit but two teeth on the left hand fixed digit. Spermadactyl free from movable digit for most of its length, tapering gradually. Spermadactyl has a sharp tip. Corniculi 24–28, h 1 28–39, h 2 17–20, h 3 26–36, capitular setae 20–31. Deutosternal groove usually with 6 denticulate rows, but occasionally 7 [Paratypes J 9439, J 9441 (SAM)]. Second cheliceral segment 96–125, first cheliceral segment 40–50.

Venter: Male opening wider than deep, 15–19 x 10 –13 μm. Anterior edge of male opening level with st1 ( Fig. 6 ). Poststigmatal plate fused with exopodal IV, and these plates are subsumed into holoventral.

Legs: Femur II av1 stout ( Fig. 8 ). Sometimes av1 has a blunt tip on both sides (e.g. paratype J 9437-8, 9441, Tenison Woods Mt ground collections), and sometimes a sharp tip on both sides (e.g. paratype 9440, Tenison Woods Mt ground collections). Blunt tips are smoothly rounded, and there is no evidence they are broken-off sharp tips. Leg segment lengths shown in Table 2.

I II III IV Femur 62–80 40–60 39–53 60–82 Genu 40–71 42–59 27–38 43–53 Tibia 50–73 38–52 28–40 45–56 Tarsus 83–107 61–85 60–87 90–123

Remarks. The variation observed within this species does not assort to geographic area or to ecological habit. The thickened seta on male femur II is interpreted here as av1, not av2 as designated by Evans & Till (1965 p. 288). Their figure shows a lateral view, and designation is difficult with such mounts.

The number of N. annectans that are attributed to nests in Specimens Examined are underestimated because at least three (and probably many more) of the suspended soil habitats from within epiphytic ferns were also simultaneously nest habitats used by scansorial small mammals. This is demonstrated by the presence of nestrestricted life stages of co-collected mite species: males and protonymphs of Trichonyssus praedo (Micherdzinski & Domrow) , male “ Androlaelaps ” laertes (Domrow), and male Mesolaelaps bandicoota (Womersley) . These three samples were collected from Tenison Woods Mt, SE Queensland. Thus Nidilaelaps annectans’ frequent occurrence in the litter trapped in basket-shaped epiphytes ( Beaulieu et al. 2010) could largely reflect its association with nests. Additional host records for N. annectans can be found in Domrow (1988).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Female Nidilaelaps annectans (Womersley). 1, Dorsal shield, holotype (SAM J 9436), scale = 100 μm; 2, Chelicera, holotype, scale = 50 μm; 3, Genito-ventral shield, Border Track, 11 Jun 2002, scale = 100 μm; 4, Epistome, Lamington NP, scale = 50 μm; 5, Ventral idiosoma, holotype, scale = 100 μm.

FIGURES 6 – 8. Male Nidilaelaps annectans (Womersley). 6, Ventral idiosoma, paratype (SAM J 9437), scale = 100 μm; 7, Chelicera, paratype (SAM J 9440), scale = 100 μm; 8, Femur II, paratype (SAM J 9440), scale = 50 μm.

FIGURES 21 – 24. Female Nidilaelaps lisae sp. nov. 21, Gnathosoma, holotype, scale = 100 μm; 22, Chelicera, holotype, scale = 50 μm; 23, Chelicera, paratype, BBM-NG 21245, same scale; 24, Leg II, lateral view, paratype, ex Poponomys, scale = 100 μm.