Euryparasitus calcarator (Banks)

Hagele, Thomas, Kaufman, Bruce, Whitaker, John O., Jr & Klompen, Hans, 2005, The genus Euryparasitus in North America (Mesostigmata: Euryparasitidae), Zootaxa 1036, pp. 1-20 : 14-18

Euryparasitus calcarator (Banks) ( Figs. 1 EF, 2D, 6)

Gamasus calcarator Banks, 1910 , Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 12: 4

Parasitus calcarator Banks, 1915 , U.S. Dept. Agric. Rep. 108: 83

Euryparasitus calcarator Lee, 1970 , Rec. S. Aust. Mus . 16: 154; Hennessey & Farrier, 1988, North Carolina Agric. Res. Serv., Tech. Bull. 285:16.

Diagnosis. Very large species Some idiosomal and all hypostomal setae barbed. Chelicerae with 6 teeth on the fixed, 3 teeth on the movable digit. Gnathotectum with serrate anterior, free, margin. Acrotarsus on legs I absent.

Description. Idiosomal length 1183 (132), width 773 (91) (N= 6).

Gnathosoma. Chelicerae with 6 teeth on the fixed digit, 2 of which are small, and 3 large teeth on the movable digit ( Fig. 1 F). Lyrifissures id and i present, well developed; dorsal seta vestigial or absent; pilus dentilis as in E. maseri . Gnathotectum developed into a single median point and with serrate anterior margin ( Fig. 1 E); serrations less robust than in E. maseri . Subcapitulum ( Fig. 2 D), including relative size and shape of the hypostomal setae, quite similar to that of E. maseri . Deutosternum with 13–15 rows of irregular teeth. Palps as in E. maseri .

Idiosoma. Podonotal shield slightly larger than opisthonotal shield ( Fig. 6 A). Most setae inserted on dorsal shields smooth, but setae r 4, and most marginal opisthosomal setae barbed. Setal complement on shields as in E. occidentalis . Number of marginal setae in soft cuticle as in E. maseri . Shield setae r 4, Z 3, and Z 5 distinctly longer than remaining dorsal setae; setae j 2 only slightly longer than setae z 2 and z 3; setae j 1 and z 1 similar in length to most other podonotal setae; setae Z 5 distinctly longer than setae Z 3; both at least twice as long as all other opisthonotal setae; marginal setae not shorter than opisthonotal ones. Gland pattern and lyrifissure complement as in E. occidentalis .

Venter ( Fig. 6 B). Sternal shield large. Stigmatal position, peritremes and peritrematal shields as in E. occidentalis ; metapodal shields relatively large; anal shield distinctly wider than long (see Table 1 ). All sternal and most marginal opisthogastral setae barbed, remaining opisthogastral setae with weak barbs or smooth; opisthogastral setal complement identical to that in E. maseri ; para­anal setae positioned slightly posterior to the anus. Lyrifissure and gland pattern as in E. maseri .

Legs. Leg setation pattern similar to that in E. occidentalis . Leg morphology more similar to that in E. maseri : acrotarsus I absent and ventral setae of tarsus and tibia II thickened and barbed, although less obviously so.

Material examined (unless indicated otherwise all specimens are deutonymphs). CANADA: British Columbia, Hope, 11.5 mi SW of, 49°23'N, 121°26'W, ex Zapus trinotatus (GSJ1704), 6 Jul 1973, coll. Jones, G. S., OSAL 014022; Cottonwood River & BC94 Jct, 59°06'03"N, 129°46'46"W, ex Zapus princeps (GSJ1207), 30 Jul 1972, coll. Jones, G. S., OSAL 013984; Fraser River valley, 25 km W jct. BC1 & BC3 on BC1, 53 °29'N, 122°43'W, ex Microtus sp. (GSJ1166), 23 Jul 1972, coll. Jones, G. S., OSAL 014023; New Brunswick, Mt. Carleton Park, 47°23'00"N, 066°53'00"W, ex Condylura cristata (Talpidae) (TF102), 16 Jun–20 Jul 1980, coll. French, T. W., OSAL 013992; ex Blarina brevicauda (Soricidae) (TF644), coll. French, T. W., OSAL 013993; ex Blarina brevicauda (TF675), coll. French, T. W., OSAL 013994; ex Sorex cinereus (TF764), coll. French, T. W., OSAL 013999; ex Sorex fumeus (TF118), coll. French, T. W., OSAL 013989–90; ex Sorex fumeus (TF479), coll. French, T. W., OSAL 013996; ex Sorex gaspensis (TF372), coll. French, T. W., OSAL 013991; ex Microtus chrotorrhinus (TF601), coll. French, T. W., OSAL 014000–01; ex Microtus pennsylvanicus (TF107), coll. French, T. W., OSAL 014002; ex Napaeozapus insignis (Dipodidae) (TF765), coll. French, T. W., OSAL 013997–98; up the Tabusintac River, ex Blarina brevicauda (TF761), 15 Jun 29 Jul 1980, coll. French, T. W., OSAL 013995.

U.S.A.: Colorado, Routt Co., 40°31'N, 106°59'W, ex Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Sciuridae) (CM2360), 7 Sep 1970, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 014006; ex Tamias quadrivittatus (Sciuridae) (CM1736), 30 Jul 1969, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 014008; Colorado, ex Clethrionomys gapperi (DMA1972), coll. Armstrong, D. M., OSAL 014020; Illinois, Clark Co., Marshall, 10 km NE of, 39°23'29"N, 087°41'37"W, ex Microtus pinetorum (DDP76), 20 Nov 1967, coll. Pascal, D. D., Jr., OSAL 014018; ex Microtus pinetorum (DDP500), 5 Dec 1968, coll. Pascal, D. D., Jr., OSAL 014019; Indiana, Jasper Co., 41°02'29"N, 087°09'05"W, ex Sorex cinereus (REM6323), 20 Mar 1970, coll. Whitaker, J. O., Jr., OSAL 014017; Pulaski Co., 41°03'05"N, 086°36'11"W, ex Tamias striatus ( JOW 9225), 30 Mar 1975, coll. Whitaker, J. O., Jr., OSAL 013982; Vigo Co., Terre Haute, 39°28'00"N, 087°24'50"W, 153 m, ex Scalopus aquaticus (Talpidae) ( JOW 7587), 17 Oct 1971, coll. Whitaker, J. O., Jr., OSAL 014015; New York, Delaware Co., Dry Brook Ridge, Catskills, 42°06'08"N, 074°35'51"W, ex Microtus chrotorrhinus (TF1197), 23 Sep 1981, coll. French, T. W., OSAL 014025; ex Microtus chrotorrhinus (TF1564), 8 Oct 1981, coll. French, T. W., OSAL 014024; Otsego Co., Milford, 42°35'26"N, 074°56'44"W, ex Tamias striatus ( JOW 5926), 24 Jun 1970, coll. Whitaker, J. O., Jr., OSAL 013983; Schuyler Co., Arnot Forest, 42°25'N, 076°28'W, ex Blarina brevicauda , 14 Sep 1974, coll. Northam, M., UMMZ; Tompkins Co., jct. Warren Rd & Rte 13, 42 °27'N, 076°28'W, ex Microtus pennsylvanicus , 6 Mar 1975, coll. OConnor, B. M., UMMZ; jct. Rte 13 & Rte 366, ex Blarina brevicauda , 24 Feb 1976, coll. OConnor, B. M., UMMZ (Female); North Carolina, Clay Co., Fire Creek, Bristol cabin, 35°04'05"N, 083°52'06"W, ex Ochrotomys nuttalli (Muridae) ( JOW 8266), 22 Apr 1973, coll. Whitaker, J. O., Jr., OSAL 014016; Oregon, Benton Co., 4429'N, 123°25'W, ex Sorex bendirii (CM1046), 25 Mar 1968, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 014012; Clackamas Co., Estacada Quadrangle, 45°17'23"N, 122°19'57"W, ex Mustela erminea , 31 Jul 1969, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 013980; Coos Co., Bandon, SE of, 43°07'09"N, 124°24'26"W, ex Sorex pacificus (CM2962), 27 Dec 1971, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 014009; Coos Co., 43°29'N, 124°00'W, ex Sorex vagrans (CM1795), 26 Aug 1969, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 014013; Harney Co., 43°10'N, 119°00'W, ex Lemmiscus curtatus (CM6981), 3 Aug 1975, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 013979; Lane Co., H.J. Andrews Exp. Forest, 43°55'N, 122°50'W, ex Sorex trowbridgii (CM3359), 31 Aug 1972, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 013977; ex Tamias townsendii (CM5606), 28 Sep 1972, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 014007; Lane Co., 43°55'N, 122°50'W, ex Sorex bendirii (CM6100), 15 Aug 1972, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 014011; ex Sorex trowbridgii (CM1104), 8 May 1968, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 013976; Lincoln Co., Cascade Head Exp. Forest, 45°02'03"N, 123°55'20"W, ex Microtus oregoni (CM2570), 13 Apr 1971, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 014004; ex Microtus longicaudus (CM2801), 24 Aug 1971, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 014005; ex Arborimus albipes (RML63010), 19 Aug 1972, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 014010; Linn Co., 44°29'N, 122°35'E, ex Sorex trowbridgii (CM4134), 26 Sep 1972, coll. Maser, C. O., OSAL 013978; Washington, Clallam Co., Olympic Nat. Pk, E border Nat. For. nr rd349, 48 °12'N, 124°23'W, ex Sorex trowbridgii (GSJ 1102), 19 Jul 1972, coll. Jones, G. S., OSAL 013988; Clallam Co., Olympic Nat. Pk., 48°16'00"N, 124°40'30"W, ex Phenacomys intermedius (Muridae) (MLJ594349), 15 Sep 1976, coll., OSAL 013985; Pierce Co., Tacoma, 16 km SE of, between McChord & Spanaway, 47°06'15"N, 122°26'00"W, ex Peromyscus maniculatus (PGF979), 18 Apr 1972, coll. Fish, P. G., OSAL 014021; Snohomish Co., Gold Bar, 48°03'N, 121°43'W, ex Sorex bendirii ( JOW 6945), 24 Jun 1971, coll. Whitaker, J. O., Jr., OSAL 013987; ex Neurotrichus gibbsii ( JOW 6953), coll. Whitaker, J. O., Jr., OSAL 013986; Wyoming, Carbon Co., Medicine Bow Natl. For., 41°15'N, 106°15'W, ex Zapus sp. (GSJ 2136), 12 Aug 1973, coll. Jones, G. S., OSAL 013981.

No locality information, ex Scalopus aquaticus (71777), 17 Nov 1971, coll. Forsyth, D. J., OSAL 014026; ex Scalopus aquaticus (71772), 14 Nov 1971, coll. Forsyth, D. J., OSAL 014027; ex Scalopus aquaticus (DJF82), coll. Forsyth, D. J., OSAL 014028; ex Scalopus aquaticus (DJF83), coll. Forsyth, D. J., OSAL 014029.

Deposition of specimens. Specimens deposited in collection of OSAL, CNC, JOW, NMNH, UMMZ, and ZIN.

Remarks. Euryparasitus calcarator was described and redescribed for the adults only ( Banks, 1910; Hennessey & Farrier, 1988). The species is quite similar to E. emarginatus , but differs by the presence of 3, rather than 4, teeth on the movable digit. The association of this name with the series of deutonymphs described below is tentative. It is based on similarity in the structure of the chelicerae, and the fact that so far only one type of deutonymph of a very large Euryparasitus has been collected in eastern North America, despite extensive collecting.

Within North America, this deutonymph is most similar to that of E. maseri n. sp. The two species share a serrate anterior margin of the gnathotectum, presence of a large complement of opisthosomal setae, position of the para­anal setae posterior to the anus, absence of an acrotarsus on tarsus I, and the morphology of the ventral setae of tarsus and tibia II. The two species differ in absolute size, presence/absence of setae S 3, the relatively larger size of legs II and the smaller size of the opisthonotal shield in E. maseri , and the dentition of the fixed digit of the chelicerae.

This species also shows some clear intraspecific variation. Specimens from western North America (Oregon, Washington) are larger than those from eastern North America (New Brunswick, New York, Indiana), e.g. podonotal shield length 747 (63) vs. 576 (12). However, these size differences did not correlate with qualitative characters, and may be allometric changes representing an East–West cline. The available collections were insufficient to exclude that possibility, and we therefore elect to retain all specimens in a single species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Euryparasitus deutonymphs, gnathotectum (A, C, E) and chelicerae (B, D, F). A, B: E. occidentalis n. sp.; C, D: E. maseri n. sp.; E, F: E. calcarator (Banks).

FIGURE 2. Euryparasitus deutonymphs, subcapitulum. A: E. occidentalis n. sp.; B: E. longicheta Bondartchuk & Buyakova; C: E. maseri n. sp.; D: E. calcarator (Banks).

FIGURE 6. Euryparasitus calcarator (Banks), deutonymph. A: dorsal view; B: ventral view.