Zercon tekirdagensis, Karaca, Mehmet & Urhan, Raşit, 2016

Karaca, Mehmet & Urhan, Raşit, 2016, Five new species of Zercon C. L. Koch, 1836 (Acari: Zerconidae) from northwestern Turkey, Zootaxa 4127 (1), pp. 31-59 : 49-55

Zercon tekirdagensis sp. nov.

Materials examined. Holotype (female), 16 females and 4 males, moss samples on soil layer, 40°39' N, 27°5' E, 157 m, vicinity of centre of district, Şarköy district (Tekirdağ province), March 2014; 7 females and 1 protonymph, soil and litter samples under pine trees ( Pinus sp.) and Mediterranean cypress ( Cupressus sempervirens ), 40°53' N, 26°55' E, 192 m, vicinity of centre of district, Malkara district (Tekirdağ province), March 2014; 1 female, soil, litter and moss samples under juniper trees ( Juniperus sp.), 40°45' N, 26°59' E, 305 m, vicinity of Çimendere and Çokal villages, Malkara district (Tekirdağ province), March 2014.

Female ( Figure 12 ). Length of idiosoma in holotype 441, width 297. Measurements in females paratype: mean length 437 (405–453), mean width 299 (287–311) (n=10).

Dorsum ( Figure 12 ). Twenty pairs of setae present on podonotum: j-row with six pairs, z-row with two pairs, srow with six pairs and r-row with six pairs. Seta j1 finely barbed, remaining setae on podonotum short and smooth. Opisthonotum with 21 pairs of setae: J-row with six pairs, Z-row with five pairs, S-row with three pairs and R-row with seven pairs. Setae J1, Z1 and S1 smooth, J2–J5 finely barbed, inserted on distincy swellings, setae in J series not reaching base of following seta. Setae Z3–Z4 and S4 similar in appearance to seta J6, Z3 and Z4 long, finely barbed, with hyaline ending. Seta Z3 not reaching base of Z4, Z5 short, smooth, inserted ventrally. Seta S2 finely barbed on one side, not reaching beyond opisthonotum, S3 absent. Seta S4 long, finely barbed with hyaline ending. All setae in R series short, inserted on edge of opisthonotum. Podonotum covered with irregular tile-like pattern. Anterolateral parts of opisthonotum covered with tile-like pattern, central region with sparse punctate pattern. Dorsal cavities distinct and dark coloured, well sclerotised, their axes parallel to that of the body.

Pores ( Figure 12 ). Pore po1 below base of seta s1, po2 behind a line connecting setae j4–s4, pore po3 located on line connecting z1–s6. Pore Po1 above the base of seta S1, Po2 outside a line connecting Z4–S2, Po3 located on a line connecting setae J5–Z4 (closer to seta J5), pore Po4 above the base of S4.

Venter. Shapes of ventral shields and peritremes, chaetotaxy are typical for genus Zercon . Two pairs of setae on ventral podosoma, p1 short, smooth and thorn-like, p2 long, finely plumose, feather-like, with hyaline ending. Peritremes slightly bent. Lateral ends of peritremal shield reach to seta R1. Adgenital shields with two opening valves. Ventrianal shield with nine pairs of setae. Anterior margin of ventrianal shield with four setae and unpaired postanal seta, all short, smooth and needle-like.

Male ( Figure 13 ). Mean length of idiosoma 334 (314–357), mean width 241 (222–256) (n = 3). Dorsal idiosoma, ventral idiosoma, shapes of setae on idiosoma, sculpture of podonotum and opisthonotum, size and appearance of dorsal cavities basically similar to those of female, except seta S4 absent.

Deutonymph. Unknown.

Protonymph. Length of idiosoma 309, width 186 (n = 1).

Seta j1 finely barbed, all other setae on podonotum short and smooth. Setae J1–J5, Z1–Z2 and S1–S2 short and smooth, J6 long, pilose with hyaline ending, setae in R series short, smooth and needle-like.

Remarks. Average lengths of opisthonotal setae and distances between setae within longitudinal rows of females, males and protonymph specimens: see Table 11 . Zercon tekirdagensis sp. nov. is closely related to Z. quadricavum Urhan , Z. magdae Ivan & Călugăr , Z. juvarae Ivan & Călugăr and Z. cokelezicus Urhan. The distinguishing characters of these five related species are shown in Table 12 .

Etymology. This species is named after its type locality, Tekirdağ province( Turkey).

Materials examined. Holotype (female), soil, litter and moss samples under beech trees ( Fagus sp.), 41°58' N, 27°55' E, 109 m, vicinity of Sislioba village, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; Paratypes: 2 females, 4 males, 1 deutonymph and 2 protonymphs, same data as holotype; 3 females, 14 deutonymphs and 2 protonymphs, soil and litter samples under oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 41°56' N, 26°46' E, 390 m, vicinity of Küçünlü and Hacılar villages, Lalapaşa district (Edirne province), December 2013; 3 females, 1 male, soil and litter samples under oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 41°57' N, 26°47' E, 370 m, vicinity of Kalkansöğüt village, Lalapaşa district (Edirne province), December 2013; 3 females, 6 males, 11 deutonymphs and 7 protonymphs, soil and litter samples under Turkish pine ( Pinus brutia ), 41°57' N, 27°23' E, 525 m, vicinity of Çağlayık village, Centre of Kırklareli province, December 2013; 13 females and 5 males, soil, litter and moss samples under beech trees ( Fagus sp.) and oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 41°50' N, 27°33' E, 375 m, vicinity of Dupnisa cave, Centre of Kırklareli province, March 2014; 25 females, 13 males, 18 deutonymphs and 7 protonymphs, soil and litter samples under beech trees ( Fagus sp.), 41°50' N, 27°28' E, 514 m, vicinity of Armutveren and Çukurpınar villages, Centre of Kırklareli province, March 2014; 4 females, 4 males and 14 deutonymphs, soil and litter samples under oak trees ( Quercus sp.) and Turkish pine ( Pinus brutia ), 41°48' N, 27°27' E, 418 m, vicinity of Üsküp village, Centre of Kırklareli province, March 2014; 4 females, soil and litter samples under beech trees ( Fagus sp.), 41°47' N, 27°53' E, 250 m, vicinity of İğneada village, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), September 2013; 44 females, soil and litter samples under dog-rose ( Rosa canina ) and Aleppo oak ( Quercus infectoria ), 41°48' N, 27°54' E, 196 m, vicinity of İğneada village, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), September 2013; 8 females, 1 male and 1 deutonymph, soil and litter samples under beech trees ( Fagus sp.), 41°51' N, 27°56' E, 29 m, vicinity of İğneada village, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), December 2013; 95 females and 12 males, soil and litter samples under Turkish pine ( Pinus brutia ) and tree heath ( Erica arborea ), 41°51' N, 27°52' E, 230 m, vicinity of centre of district, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), September 2013; 9 females, 3 males, 5 deutonymphs and 3 protonymphs, moss on soil layer, 41°45' N, 27°50' E, 490 m, vicinity of centre of district, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 9 females, 8 males, 11 deutonymphs and 3 protonymphs, soil, litter and moss samples under oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 41°57' N, 28°0' E, 93 m, vicinity of Beğendik village, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 41 females, 7 males and 3 deutonymphs, soil, litter and moss samples under beech trees ( Fagus sp.), 41°57' N, 27°54' E, 44 m, vicinity of Sislioba village, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 2 females and 2 males, soil, litter and moss samples under oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 41°55' N, 27°55' E, 87 m, vicinity of Sislioba village, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 35 females, 49 males and 15 deutonymphs, soil, litter and moss samples under beech trees ( Fagus sp.), 41°54' N, 27°56' E, 32 m, vicinity of Sislioba village, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 42 females, 13 males and 5 deutonymphs, soil, litter and moss samples under oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 41°53' N, 27°52' E, 172 m, vicinity of Avcılar village, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 28 females, 19 males, 13 deutonymphs and 9 protonymphs, soil and litter samples under beech trees ( Fagus sp.), 41°53' N, 27°49' E, 322 m, vicinity of Hamdibey village, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 4 females, 4 males and 1 deutonymph, soil and litter samples under beech trees ( Fagus sp.), 41°53' N, 27°48' E, 373 m, vicinity of Hamdibey village, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 3males and 1 deutonymph, soil and litter samples under scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ), 41°52' N, 27°43' E, 428 m, vicinity of Yeşilce village, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 31 females, 11 males and 3 deutonymphs, soil and litter samples under beech trees ( Fagus sp.) and oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 41°52' N, 27°35' E, 410 m, vicinity of Sarpdere village, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 28 females, 7 males, 8 deutonymphs and 2 protonymphs, soil, litter and moss samples under beech trees ( Fagus sp.) and oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 41°51' N, 27°33' E, 330 m, vicinity of Dupnisa cave, Demirköy district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 1 female, 3 males, 8 deutonymphs and 4 protonymphs, soil and litter samples under oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 41°59' N, 27°7' E, 475 m, vicinity of Terzidere village, Kofçaz district (Kırklareli province), December 2013; 7 females, 4 males, 7 deutonymphs and 59 protonymphs, soil and litter samples under Turkish pine ( Pinus brutia ), 42°2' N, 27°9' E, 580 m, vicinity of Topçular village, Kofçaz district (Kırklareli province), December 2013; 5 females, 2 males, 12 deutonymphs and 8 protonymphs, soil, litter and moss samples under oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 42°0' N, 27°9' E, 600 m, vicinity of Kocayazı village, Kofçaz district (Kırklareli province), December 2013; 13 females and 2 males, soil and litter samples under oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 42°2' N, 27°12' E, 640 m, vicinity of Ahmetler village, Kofçaz district (Kırklareli province), December 2013; 16 females, soil, litter and moss samples under poplar trees ( Populus sp.), 41°42' N, 27°55' E, 248 m, vicinity of Kışlacık village, Vize district (Kırklareli province), September 2013; 17 females and 2 males, soil, litter and moss samples under beech trees ( Fagus sp.), 41°44' N, 27°50' E, 395 m, vicinity of centre of district, Vize district (Kırklareli province), September 2013; 23 females, 14 males and 5 deutonymphs, soil and litter samples under oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 41°39' N, 27°53' E, 320 m, vicinity of Kömürköy village, Vize district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 31 females, 16males, 93 deutonymphs and 28 protonymphs, soil and litter samples under blackberry ( Rubus sp.) and oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 41°42' N, 27°51' E, 345 m, vicinity of Kızılağaç village, Vize district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 1 female and 1 male: soil and litter samples under oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 41°43' N, 27°50' E, 421 m, vicinity of Sivriler village, Vize district (Kırklareli province), March 2014; 1 deutonymph: soil, litter and moss samples under Aleppo oak ( Quercus infectoria ), 41°1' N, 27°13' E, 161 m, vicinity of Kaşıkçı village, Centre of Tekirdağ province, March 2014; 18 females and 7 males, soil and litter samples under Hungarian oak ( Quercus frainetto ), 41°22' N, 28°4' E, 214 m, vicinity of Pınarcı and Safaalan villages, Çerkezköy district (Tekirdağ province), September 2014; 11 females, 7 males and 5 deutonymphs, soil and litter samples under oriental beech ( Fagus orientalis ), 41°29' N, 28°5' E, 394 m, vicinity of Kıyıköy village, Saray district (Tekirdağ province), September 2013; 13 females and 4 males, soil and litter samples under dog-rose ( Rosa canina ) and Hungarian oak ( Quercus frainetto ), 41°28' N, 28°3' E, 384 m, vicinity of Güngörmez village, Saray district (Tekirdağ province), September 2013; 2 deutonymphs, soil and litter samples under stone pine ( Pinus pinea ), 40°39' N, 27°5' E, 200 m, vicinity of centre of district, Şarköy district (Tekirdağ province), December 2013; 72 females, 42 males, 22 deutonymphs and 18 protonymphs, soil and litter samples under oak trees ( Quercus sp.), juniper trees ( Juniperus sp.) and moss samples on soil layer, 40°45' N, 27°13' E, 751 m, vicinity of Mursallı village, Şarköy district (Tekirdağ province), March 2014; 14 females, 4 males, 8 deutonymphs and 1 protonymph: soil and litter samples under oak trees ( Quercus sp.), 40°46' N, 27°13' E, 425 m, vicinity of Ormanlı village, Şarköy district (Tekirdağ province), March 2014.

Female ( Figure 14 ). Length of idiosoma in holotype 479, width 384. Measurements in females paratype: mean length 476 (457–490), mean width 385 (377–394) (n=10).

Dorsum ( Figure 14 ). Podonotum with 20 pairs of setae: j-row with six pairs, z-row with two pairs, s-row with six pairs and r-row with six pairs. All setae on podonotum short and smooth except j1 and r1–r6. Seta j1 slightly barbed, r1–r6 long, with one or two barbs. Opisthonotum with 22 pairs of setae: J-row with six pairs, Z-row with five pairs, S-row with four pairs and R-row with seven pairs. Setae J1–J2, Z1–Z2 and S1 smooth J3–J4 slightly barbed, J5 short, finely barbed with hyaline ending, J6 long, apically finely barbed with hyaline ending. Setae in J series not long enough to reach to base of following setae in series, Z3 and Z4 similar in appearance to seta J6. Seta Z3 long enough to reach to base of Z4, half as long as Z4, Z5 short and smooth, S2 not finely barbed but with hyaline ending, and not reaching beyond opisthonotum, S3 similar in appearance to seta Z3, S4 similar in appearance to J6. Setae in S series not reaching base of following setae in the series, only S4 reaching beyond opisthonotum. Setae R1–R5 long, with two barbs, R6–R7 short with one barb. Podonotum covered with irregular tile-like pattern. Anterolateral parts of opisthonotum covered with tile-like pattern, anteromedial parts covered with reticulated pattern, these patterns reaching to setae J3 and Z2. Remaining region between these setae and dorsal cavities, covered with sparse, irregular punctate pattern. Dorsal cavities distinct, weakly sclerotised, their axes parallel to that of the body.

Pores ( Figure 14 ). Pore po1 located on line connecting setae j3–s1, po2 located on line connecting j4–s4, po3 located on line connecting z2–s5 (closer to seta s5). Pore Po1 above base of seta Z1, Po2 located on line connecting setae Z2–S3, Po3 located on line connecting setae J5–Z4 (closer to seta Z4) and pore Po4 below the base of seta.

Venter. Shapes of ventral shields, peritremes, and chaetotaxy typical for genus Zercon . Two pairs of setae present on ventral side of podonotum, p1 short, smooth and needle-like, seta p2 long, finely plumose, feather-like, without hyaline ending. Peritremes slightly bent. Lateral ends of peritremal shield reach to seta R1. Adgenital shields with four opening valves. Ventrianal shield with nine pairs of setae. Anterior margin of ventrianal shield with four setae and unpaired postanal seta, all short, smooth and needle-like.

Male ( Figure 15 ). Mean length of idiosoma 378 (371–386), mean width 283–296 (289) (n=10). Dorsal idiosoma, ventral idiosoma, shapes of setae on idiosoma, sculpture of podonotum and opisthonotum, size and appearance of dorsal cavities basically similar to those of female.

Deutonymph. Mean length of idiosoma 366 (352–375), mean width 289 (283–296) (n = 10). Seta j1 finely barbed, setae in r series slightly barbed, remaining setae on podonotum short and smooth. Setae J6, Z4 and S4 on opisthonotum long, pilose with hyaline ending, R series long and slightly barbed.

Protonymph. Mean length of idiosoma 293 (281–302), mean width 238 (232–245) (n = 10). Seta j1 and setae in r series finely barbed, remaining setae on podonotum short and smooth. Setae J1–J5, Z1–Z2 and S1–S2 on opisthonotum short and smooth, J6, Z4 and S4 long, pilose with hyaline ending, all setae in R series short, smooth and needle-like.

Zercon thracicus sp. nov. Z. carpathicus Sellnick, 1958 Z. inonuensis Urhan, 2007 Remarks. Average lengths of opisthonotal setae and distances between setae within longitudinal rows of females, males, deutonymphs and protonymphs specimens: see Table 13 . Zercon thracicus sp. nov. is closely related to Z. carpathicus Sellnick and Z. inonuensis Urhan. The distinguishing characters of these three related species are shown in Table 14 . This species was the third abundant specimens of genus Zercon in the study area.

Etymology. The specific name thracicus reflects the Thrace region of Turkey where the new species were collected.

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 13. Dorsal views of Zercon tekirdagensis: 12. female, 13. male (Scale bar = 100 µm).

FIGURES 14 – 15. Dorsal views of Zercon thracicus: 14. female, 15. male (Scale bar = 100 µm).

Tables

TABLE 11. Lengths of opisthonotal setae and the distances between their bases in J -, Z -, and S - rows of Zercon tekirdagensis sp. nov. (F: female, M: male, PN: protonymph).

Seta	F	M	PN	Seta	F	M	PN	Seta	F	M	PN
J1	1 6	1 1	8	Z1	1 8	9	7	S1	1 6	9	1 9
J1-J2	45	38	19	Z1-Z2	50	42	20	S1-S2	42	28	20
J2	16	12	8	Z2	17	16	7	S2	28	13	29
J2-J3	34	30	14	Z2-Z3	19	26	20	S2-S3	-	-	22
J3	17	14	7	Z3	30	16	10	S3	-	-	28
J3-J4	37	19	16	Z3-Z4	34	29	13	S3-S4	-	-	25
J4	20	15	7	Z4	47	30	51	S4	37	-	47
J4-J5	2 5	2 5	1 1	Z4-Z5	5 0	3 3	-
J5	20	13	6	Z5	9	5	-
J5-J6	3 9	3 1	1 3
J6	42	45	52
J6-J6	130	117	80

TABLE 12. Comparison of Z. tekirdagensis sp. nov. with related species.

Zercon tekirdagensis sp. nov.	Z. quadricavum Urhan, 2001	Z. magdae Ivan & Călugăr, 2004	Z. juvarae Călugăr, 2005	Z. cokelezicus Urhan, 2009
Seta J2 finely barbed	smooth	finely barbed	finely barbed	smooth
Setae J3-J5 without hyaline ending	with hyaline ending	with hyaline ending	with hyaline ending	with hyaline ending
Seta Z5 smooth	one barbed	finely barbed	finely barbed	finely barbed
Pore Po2 outside of line connecting setae Z4-S2	on line connecting setae Z3-S2	outside of line connecting setae Z4-S2	on line connecting setae Z4-S2	on line connecting setae Z2-S2
Seta S2 finely barbed on one side, without hyaline ending	finely barbed on both sides, with hyaline ending	finely barbed on both sides, with hyaline ending	finely barbed on both sides, with hyaline ending	finely barbed on both sides, with hyaline ending
Seta S3 absent	present	absent	present	absent
Setae in R series short, smooth, on edge of opisthonotum	R1-R2 finely barbed, remainder short and smooth	finely barbed	finely barbed	short with one barb
Zercon thracicus sp. nov.

TABLE 13. Lengths of opisthonotal setae and the distances between their bases in J -, Z -, and S - rows of Zercon thracicus sp. nov. (F: female, M: male, DN: deutonymph, PN: protonymph).

Seta	F	M	DN	PN	Seta	F	M	DN	PN	Seta	F	M	DN	PN
J1	15	14	15	12	Z1	18	17	17	11	S1	21	18	19	13
J1-J2	48	34	35	28	Z1-Z2	50	30	38	24	S1-S2	37	28	33	22
J2	22	17	18	12	Z2	28	18	23	15	S2	22	20	20	13
J2-J3	43	28	30	23	Z2-Z3	43	23	28	20	S2-S3	33	39	35	27
J3	16	17	17	12	Z3	36	24	28	19	S3	28	26	25	15
J3-J4	34	24	22	17	Z3-Z4	37	32	31	21	S3-S4	55	49	47	38
J4	22	14	18	11	Z4	64	56	59	43	S4	63	48	51	28
J4-J5	32	24	25	17	Z4-Z5	55	60	50	48
J5	15	15	14	11	Z5	19	24	20	10
J5-J6	42	52	45	38
J6	76	55	61	43
J6-J6	121	97	102	74

TABLE 14. Comparison of Z. tekirdagensis sp. nov. with related species.

Setae J3 and J4	finely barbed	smooth	smooth
Seta J5	finely barbed with hyaline ending	smooth	smooth
Seta Z4	reaching beyond opisthonotum	not reaching beyond opisthonotum	not reaching beyond opisthonotum
Seta S2	with hyaline ending	smooth	smooth
Seta S3	finely barbed with hyaline ending	smooth	finely barbed with hyaline ending
Seta S3	not reaching beyond opisthonotum	not reaching beyond opisthonotum	reaching beyond opisthonotum
Setae in R series	long, with one or two barbs	short and smooth	short and smooth