Alliphis halleri (G. & R.Canestrini, 1881)

Mašán, Peter & Halliday, Bruce, 2010, Review of the European genera of Eviphididae (Acari: Mesostigmata) and the species occurring in Slovakia 2585, Zootaxa 2585, pp. 1-122 : 26-28

Alliphis halleri (G. & R. Canestrini)

( Figs 11, 12, 89, 98)

Gamasus halleri G. & R. Canestrini, 1881: 1077.

Laelaps Halleri. — G. & R. Canestrini, 1882a: 59.

Iphis halleri .— Berlese, 1882a: 348; 1892b: 6.

Emeus halleri .— Oudemans, 1902: 7.

Euiphis halleri .— Oudemans, 1913: 198.

Eviphis halleri .— Schweizer, 1922: 42.

Copriphis (Alliphi s) halleri .— Halbert, 1923: 369.

Copriphis halleri .— Schweizer, 1949: 76; Castagnoli & Pegazzano, 1985: 175.

Alliphis chirophorus Willmannn, 1956: 224 ; Shoemake, 1970: 98; Karg, 1971: 123; Karg, 1993: 95; Mašán, 1994a: 18. Synonymy by Athias-Henriot (1980), based on pers. comm. from C. Willmann.

Pelethiphis siculu s.— Götz & Hirschmann, 1957: 115.

Alliphis halleri .— Hyatt, 1959: 22; Costa, 1963: 37; Karg, 1963: 273; Ishikawa, 1968: 213; Shoemake, 1970: 98; Karg, 1976: 3; Samšiňák & Daniel, 1978: 96; Evans & Till, 1979: 192; Koyumdjieva, 1981: 22; Christie, 1983: 241; Farrier & Hennessey, 1993: 58; Mašán, 1994a: 19; Takaku et al., 1994: 306; Urhan & İpek, 2007: 165; Halliday, 2008: 55; Mašán & Halliday, 2009a: 46.

Alliphis alpinus Schweizer, 1961: 142 . Synonymy by Shoemake (1970).

Alliphis siculu s.— Karg, 1962: 67; Karg, 1963: 273; Ogandzhanyan, 1970: 64; Shoemake, 1970: 78, 98; Karg, 1971: 123; Lapiņa, 1976: 26; Athias-Henriot, 1980: 23; Lapiņa, 1988: 178; Karg, 1993: 95; Urhan & İpek, 2007: 167 [not Alliphis siculus ( Oudemans, 1905) ].

Diagnosis (adults). Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 11). Dorsal shield suboval, 420–500 µm long and 270–320 µm wide in females, 370–405 µm long and 240–265 µm wide in males, distinctly reticulate over almost whole surface. Dorsal setae short, subequal in length; measurements of some dorsocentral setae in females: j1 14–16 µm, j2 19–21 µm, j3 19–25 µm, j4 21–25 µm, j5 13–19 µm, J3 12–18 µm, J5 12–15 µm, Z5 12–17 µm.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 12). Presternal platelets present. Sternal shield longer than wide, 94–113 µm long, 69–90 µm wide, smooth or with weak anteromarginal ornamentation lines; first pair of sternal pores slit-like, oriented obliquely. Epigynal shield narrow, 45–62 µm wide. Post-genital sclerites absent. Anal shield wider than long, 74–90 µm long, 80–106 µm wide, subtriangular, with widely rounded anterior margin and distinct reticulation on surface. Peritrematal shields relatively wide, well developed along the whole peritreme, posterior margin almost truncate, with two parallel longitudinal lines along outer margin of the shield ( Fig. 89); peritremes long, anterior tip reaching beyond seta z1. Opisthogastric integument with a pair of elongate metapodal platelets and eight pairs of setae (nine pairs in males). Sterno-genital shield of male 160–173 µm long, anal shield 73–83 µm long and 78–87 µm wide.

Gnathosoma . Cheliceral dentition typical for genus. Epistome with elongated central projection and well developed wing-like lateral elements, densely serrated on distal margin ( Fig. 98).

Legs. Chaetotaxy typical for genus ( Table 3). Femora II and IV of male normally setaceous, without spurlike setae.

Remarks. In Europe, the most commonly cited species in the genus Alliphis are Alliphis halleri and Alliphis siculus , but their true identity and taxonomic status has often been confused. Both species names occur frequently in various acarological studies, as documented by Halliday (2008). Although A. siculus was formally synonymised with A. halleri by Samšiňák & Daniel (1978), they did not base this decision on the original type material. This synonymy was accepted by some subsequent authors ( Christie 1983; Mašán 1994a), but both names have remained in widespread use ( Urhan & İpek 2007). Halliday (2008) found that the type specimens of A. siculus do not agree with the species widely referred to as A. halleri . They also differ from “ A. siculus ” as illustrated by Karg (1971, 1993), specifically in the presence of an extra pair of dorsal J-setae, and the lengths of some dorsal shield setae. According to Halliday (2008), A. siculus is clearly not a synonym of A. halleri , only a common misidentification of A. halleri .

Alliphis halleri is a sapro-coprophilous detriticole showing wide ecological plasticity. It is commonly phoretic on many coprophilous insects, especially Scarabaeidae . It is very common and abundant in various types of decomposing organic matter, mainly in the dung of large herbivores, dunghills, stable manure, compost heaps, rotting vegetables and mushrooms, rotting silage and hay, decaying animal fodder, highly organic soils, etc. It also occurs in other substrates that contain a high proportion of manure or decaying organic matter, for example manured arable and meadow soils, soil detritus in pastures, nests of mammals, birds and bumblebees, mixed organic refuse, cadavers, carcasses, etc. It can colonise fresh dung with a high content of water and nitrates as well as older dung at later stages of succession, but can also be found in soil detritus that does not contain visible manure. It is distributed from lowlands up to the subalpine zone, and has been found for example in dung of the marmot Marmota marmota in Západné Tatry Mts. at 1,750 m a.s.l., and at an altitude of 2,355 m in the Rheatian Alps in Italy (Stelvio Pass, lgt. P. Fenďa).

Occurrence in Slovakia. (a) Verified or reliable published data. Bodvianska Pahorkatina Wold: Janík [7491] (published as Alliphis siculus by Kováč et al. 1999). Borská Nížina Lowland: Jakubov, Jakubovské Rybníky Ponds [7567] (Fenďa 2005; Fenďa & Schniererová 2005). Morava River, 12 th –16 th km [7767, 7667] (published as Alliphis siculus by Kalúz et al. 2000). Vysoká Pri Morave [7667] ( Mašán & Krištofík 1995). Bukovské Vrchy Hills: Nová Sedlica, Dolina Zbojského Potoka [6901]; Nová Sedlica, Stužica, Pod Kremencom [6901]; Nová Sedlica, Zakasárenský Potok [6901]; Zboj [6901] ( Fenďa & Mašán 2003). Ulič [7000] ( Samšiňák & Daniel 1978; Fenďa & Mašán 2003). Cerová Vrchovina Highland: Hajnáčka, Pohanský Hrad [7785]; Petrovce, Fenek [7886]; Šiatorská Bukovinka, Šomoška [7885] (Mašán 1995). Ipe ľ ská Pahorkatina Wold: Žemberovce [7778] (published as Alliphis siculus by Kalúz 1994a). Košická Kotlina Basin: Kechnec [7493] ( Mašán & Stanko 2005; Halliday 2008). Peder [7491]; Šebastovce [7393]; Valaliky [7393] (published as Alliphis siculus by Kováč et al. 1999). Malé Karpaty Mts.: Borinka, Jaskyňa Trojuholník [7768] ( Halliday 2008). Podunajská Rovina Flatland: Bratislava, Topoľové Hony [7969]; Hamuliakovo [7969]; Jurová [8071] (published as Alliphis siculus by Čarnogurský et al. 1994). Bratislava, Podunajské Biskupice, Ostrov Kopáč [7968] (published as Alliphis siculus by Kalúz 2007). Dolný Štál [8072]; Rohovce [7970] ( Krištofík et al. 1993). Ercséd [8171]; Hajóšok [8070] ( Fenďa & Lengyel 2007). Ostrov Orliaka Morského [8170] ( Fenďa & Lengyel 2007; Halliday 2008). Gabčíkovo, Istragov [8171] (published as Alliphis siculus by Kalúz 1995). Veľké Blahovo [7991] ( Krištofík et al. 2001). Svätý Jur, Šúr, Šúrsky Rybník [7769] (Fenďa 2005). Považský Inovec Mts.: Hrádok [7373] ( Mašán 1994b). Slovenský Kras Karst: Jablonov Nad Turňou, Dolný Vrch, Obrovská Priepasť [7490] ( Papáč et al. 2007). Silica, Majkova Jaskyňa [7489] ( Papáč et al. 2006). Spišská Magura Mts.: no other data (published as Alliphis siculus by Kramárová 1973). Trnavská Pahorkatina Wold: Brunovce [7373] ( Mašán 1994b). Tur č ianska Kotlina Basin: Slovenské Pravno, Dvorec [7078] (published as Alliphis siculus by Fenďa et al. 1998a). Vihorlatské Vrchy Hills: Úbrež [7298]; Vinné [7197] ( Halliday 2008). Východoslovenská Pahorkatina Wold: Egreš [7395]; Trhovište [7296, 7297] (published as Alliphis siculus by Kováč et al. 1999). Without collection data (published as Alliphis siculus by Mrciak 1977). Východoslovenská Rovina Flatland: Čičarovce [7498]; Hraň [7496]; Parchovany [7296]; Svätá Mária [7597] (published as Alliphis siculus by Kováč et al. 1999). Oborín, Malčice [7497] (published as Alliphis siculus by Mrciak 1977). Strážne [7697]; Streda Nad Bodrogom [7696]; Svätuše [7597] ( Mašán & Stanko 2005). Vysoké Tatry Mts.: Kežmarské Žľaby [6887] ( Halliday 2008). Without specific data: Published as Alliphis siculus by Fenďa et al. (1998b).

(b) New data. Biele Karpaty Mts.: 2 ♀♀, 3 October 1999, Nová Bošáca (compost) [7173]. Borská Nížina Lowland: 6 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, 20 October 1992, Jakubov [7568]; 3 ♀♀, 3 April 2005, Borský Svätý Jur, Šaštínsky Les [7368]; 9 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂, 8 January 2006, Borský Svätý Jur [7368]. Ipe ľ ská Kotlina Basin: 1 ♀, 23 June 1997, Ipeľské Predmostie, Ryžovisko (litter) [7980]. Ipe ľ ská Pahorkatina Wold: 1 ♀, 1 ♂, 25 May 2004, Horša, Horšianska Dolina [7778]. Malé Karpaty Mts. : 17 ♀♀, 7 ♂♂, 30 May 1991, Bratislava, Železná Studienka [7768]; 41 ♀♀, 18 ♂♂, 55 DN, 14 May 1993, Bratislava , zoopark [7868]; 8 ♀♀, 5 July 2001, Bratislava , zoopark [7868]; 1 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂, 1 DN, 5 May 2004, Bratislava, Patrónka [7868]; 2 ♀♀, 14 June 2006, Bratislava, Koliba [7768]. Muránska Planina Plateau: 11 ♀♀, 8 ♂♂, 1 DN, 20 May 2002, Muráň, Nemecké Lúčky ( A. stercorosus ) [7286]; 1 ♀, 21 May 2002, Muráň, Poludnica, Klin [7286]. Podunajská Rovina Flatland: 1 ♀, 26 May 1993, Bratislava, Podunajské Biskupice [7869]; 2 ♀♀, 11 May 1994, Bodíky, Bodícka Brána [8070]; 7 ♀♀, 21 April 1998, Veľký Meder (litter) [8172]; 13 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂, 17 May 1999, Veľké Kosihy [8273]; 2 ♀♀, 19 May 2004 Bratislava, Rusovce (forest) [7968]. Po ľ ana Mts.: 1 ♂, 17 August 1997, Hriňová, Zadná Poľana [7382]. Popradská Kotlina Basin: 2 ♀♀, 10 July 2003, Lučivná [6986]. Považský Inovec Mts. : 23 ♀♀, 20 ♂♂, 31 DN, 23 August 1992, Hrádok, Hrádocká Dolina [7373]; 10 ♀♀, 4 DN, 7 June 1998, Lúka (dung) [7373]; 1 ♂, 7 June 1998, Lúka (nest) [7373]; 18 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, 10 May 1998, Lúka [7373]; 10 ♀♀, 1 June 2002, Lúka [7373]. Revúcka Vrchovina Highland: 2 ♀♀, 21 June 2005, Hrušovo, Hrušovské Škrapy [7486]. Rimavská Kotlina Basin: 1 ♂, 21 June 2005, Veľký Blh, Vereš [7586]. Trnavská Pahorkatina Wold: 4 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 2 May 1993, Brunovce ( Aphodius ) [7373]; 382 ♀♀, 174 ♂♂, 157 DN, 3 May 1993, Brunovce [7373]; 13 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, 1 DN, 28 April 2002, Horná Streda [7373]; 4 ♀♀, 26 May 2005 Šenkvice, Šenkvický Háj [7770]. Ve ľ ká Fatra Mts .: 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 21 July 2004 Liptovské Revúce [7081]. Vihorlatské Vrchy Hills: 2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, 1 DN, 17 June 2004 Vinné, Viniansky Hradný Vrch [7197]. Východoslovenská Pahorkatina Wold: 4 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, 16 June 2004, Úbrež, Karná [7298]. Východoslovenská Rovina Plain: 1 ♀, 1 DN, 1 June 2004, Malé Trakany, Tisa [7598]. Západné Tatry Mts. : 2 ♀♀, 27 July 2005, Zuberec, Smutná Dolina (excrement) [6884]. Zemplínske Vrchy Hills: 14 ♀♀, 9 ♂♂, 10 November 2006 Ladmovce (field) [7596]. Žilinská Kotlina Basin: 10 ♀♀, 26 June 1997, Varín [6879] .