Ulyxes autolycus, Shaw, 2014

Shaw, Matthew D., 2014, Ulyxes, a new Australopapuan mite genus associated with arboreal nests (Acari: Laelapidae), Zootaxa 3878 (3), pp. 261-290 : 266-268

Ulyxes autolycus sp. nov.

( Figs1–5 )

Specimens examined. 1 holotype female, 2 paratype females, Collin’s Sawmill , Mt Otto, Papua New Guinea, 7 Aug 1959, H. M. Van Deusen coll., ex “ Pseuocheirus cupreus ” = Pseudochirops cupreus Coppery Ringtail, 2215 metres, A. E. (Archbold Expedition) No 16229. Holotype and paratypes in BBM .

Description of female (n=3). Dorsum. Dorsal shield 850 (840–850) x 610 (610–660), with 39 paired setae and 2–3 unpaired Jx setae (between J4 to mid J3–4) ( Fig. 1 ). Podonotal j1 46 (41–48), j2 55 (55–57), z1 28 (28–33), z3 45 (41–45). Discal setae shorter, opisthonotal J2 27 (27–28). Z5 49 (49–53). Marginal setae r2 46 (46–50), r3 48 (48–60), r4 49 (49–52), r5 57 (57–61), S1 55 (54–55), S2 53 (53–54), S4 51 (51–57), S5 49 (49–55). Fine reticulations over opisthonotal and lateral portions of shield. Discal portion of podonotum glabrous. Z5 smooth. Distinctive gland pore posterolaterad px2, only weakly encircled by striae.

Gnathosoma . Epistome a somewhat triangular lobe with weakly–toothed edge ( Fig. 4 ). Corniculi protrude 24. Hypostomal setae: h1 43(42–43), h2 26 (23–26), h3 60(56–60), capitular seta 30 (30–32). Fixed digit edentate except for divided tip. Movable digit 52 (50–52) long with two weak teeth ( Fig. 3 ). Cheliceral seta dorsal, 15 long. Second cheliceral segment 153 (148–153), first cheliceral segment 65 (62–65). Six denticulate deutosternal rows, Q2–5 with 4–8 denticles and Q6–7 with 12 or more very fine bead-like denticles ( Fig. 2 ). Deutosternal groove flanked by 2–3 lateral lines. Inner palp trochanteral setae setiform. Palp genu al1 short with blunt tip. Palp genu al2 with subparallel sides and distally compressed. Lateral arms of malae short, fimbriae tips distinctly expanded ( Fig. 2 ). Labrum projects to level of mid palp genu.

Venter. ( Fig. 5 ) Smooth tritosternal base, 41 (38–41) between origin and suture. Lacinae fuse 0–4 distad suture. Sternal shield wider 154 (137–154) than long 94 (90–94). Anterior edge of sternal shield is subcuticular, obscured, giving the appearance of st1 being off shield. Moderately long cornua present. Sternal shield with usual two lyrifissures, with st1 situated immediately external to level of first lyrifissure; third lyrifissure is free. St1 52 (52–58), st2 59 (59–63), st3(55–58). Sternal shield extending only to level of anterior edge coxa III, posterior edge a strong concave arch. Genito-ventral shield with 6 strongly transverse and serially-regular striae, 5–6 rows at or below level of Zv1. Zv1 missing from RHS holotype and LHS of a paratype. Genitoventral shield 221 (221–241) long x 150 (142–150) wide at st5. Maximum width 253 (246–253) at Jv1. Longitudinal striae extend only to level of Zv1. Genito-ventral shield bearing only st5, associated lyrifissure (iv5) is off shield in soft cuticle. Peritreme extends past middle of coxa I. Principal (= external) metapodal platelet oval, 50 (39–50) x 14 (14–21). Inner metapodal a small broad oval 20 (13–20) x 12 (12–14). Paragenital platelet present. 12–14 pairs of setae on unarmed ventral opisthogaster (count excludes Jv 1–3 and Zv 1–2). Post-stigmatal plate abbreviated, with 3 porelike structures, very narrowly rebordered externally. Median and posterior pore-like structures are connected by short gutter. Genito-ventral shield extends to within 9 (5–9) of anal plate. Anal plate 108 (108–109) long x 126 (122–126) wide between cribral pores. Maximum width 142 (140–144). Cribrum of two apparent rows, in holotype a short third row appressed to second. Para-anal setae 37 (37–39), postanal 55 (55–65).

Legs. Leg setation holotrichous as defined by Evans (1963), genu IV with a single pl seta, proximally positioned. Apically bifid setae on femur I ad1, pd2; femur II ad1, pd2; femur III ad1, pd1 and femur IV ad1, ad2 and trochanter IV pl. Leg segment lengths as in Table 4 .

Etymology. All members of this genus are named after characters in Homer’s Odyssey. Autolycus was a thief and a relative of Ulysses.

Remarks. This is the first pseudocheriid-associated Ulyxes species to have podonotal z3 present. This disrupts the formerly neat morphological divide between petaurid- and pseudocheriid-associated species, and confounds the implication of cophylogeny made by Domrow (1981). Based on its small edentate chelicerae this species is assumed to be parasitic ( Table 3 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1–5. Ulyxes autolycus female. 1, dorsum, note gland pores (gd), holotype, scale = 100 µm; 2, gnathosoma, note fimbriae with inflated tips (f), labrum (la), paratype, scale = 50 µm; 3, chelicera, holotype, scale = 50 µm; 4, epistome, paratype, scale = 50 µm; 5, venter, holotype, suture (s) marking top of tritosternal base, exopodal IV shown on LHS only, scale = 100 µm.