Alycidae, G.Canestrini & Fanzago, 1877

Uusitalo, Matti, Ueckermann, Edward A. & Theron, Pieter D., 2020, A review of the family Alycidae (Acari, Acariformes) from South Africa, Zootaxa 4858 (3), pp. 301-340 : 303

Key to subfamilies and tribes of Alycidae

1. Cuticular pattern comprising striae with many small lamellae ( Figs. 3 , 29 , 48 , 63 , 76 , 134 C–F); chelicerae chelate, with 2−6 teeth each, and with or without seta ( Figs. 18 , 34 , 135 D–F; Theron 1977: fig. 8); rutella well developed ( Figs. 6 , 20 , 36 , 52 , 70 ; Theron 1977: fig. 10; Uusitalo 2010: fig. 29); area from naso to anterior sensilla (=crista) more or less sclerotized ( Figs. 1 , 16 , 29 , 48 , 63 , 76 , 135A, B ). ( Alycinae )...................................................................... 2

- Cuticular patterning more complex, often reticulate or rosetted primary pattern, with many large lamellae or formed only by large lamellae ( Figs. 92 , 105 , 119 , 133 A–F, 134A, B); chelicerae stylet-like ( Figs. 94 , 108 ; Uusitalo 2010: fig. 123); rutella absent ( Figs. 95 , 109 , 123 ; Uusitalo 2010: fig. 92); crista sclerotized or smooth ( Figs. 90 , 105 , 119 ; Uusitalo 2010: figs. 90, 100, 110, 120, 130); posterior pair of sensilla globular ( Fig. 106 ); empodia clawless ( Figs. 100 , 113 , 127 ). ( Bimichaeliinae )..... 3

2. Both pairs of prodorsal sensilla are either filamentous ( Fig. 1 ) or slightly swollen ( Fig. 27 ); chelicerae with 1−2 strong teeth on each fixed digit ( Figs. 34 , 135E, F ; Uusitalo 2010: fig. 63); usually with a pair of rudimentary posterolateral eyes ( Figs. 1 , 16 , 63 ; Uusitalo 2010: figs. 12, 75, 82); empodia with an apical hook ( Figs. 13 , 22 , 37 , 57 , 73 , 83 )................... Alycini

- Anterior pair of sensilla globular ( Figs. 135A, B ); chelicerae with 3−6 teeth similar in size on each fixed digit ( Fig. 135D ; Theron 1977: fig. 8; Uusitalo 2010: fig. 143); eyes absent ( Figs. 135A, B ; Theron 1977: figs. 2, 16); empodia clawless ( Fig. 135D ; Theron 1977: figs. 11, 27)................................................................. Petralycini

3. Large lamellae in rosettes and in clumps, secondary pattern absent i.e. ridges glabrous ( Figs. 92 , 134A, B ; Uusitalo 2010: Appendix 3) cheliceral seta present ( Fig. 94 ); prodorsum with a pair of eyes ( Fig. 104 )........... Proteromichaeliini trib. nov.

- Large lamellae in rosettes or in clumps, secondary pattern granular or by small lamellae ( Figs. 105 , 119 , 133 A–F); cheliceral seta absent ( Figs. 108 , 120 ; Uusitalo 2010: fig. 102); prodorsum without eyes ( Fig. 105 )................... Bimichaeliini

Figures

FIGURE 133. Primary and secondary patterns of cuticle in the tribe Bimichaeliini (Bimichaeliinae). A, B—stellate primary pattern by large lamellae, secondary pattern by small lamellae, setae prominent in Laminamichaelia sp. of arbusculosa-group, C, D—primary pattern by clumps of large lamellae connected by small lamellae, setae prominent in Laminamichaelia sp. of subnuda-group, E, F—primary pattern by roundish cells of large lamellae, secondary pattern by small granulae, setae inconspicuous in Bimichaelia sp. Abbreviations: Ch—chelicera, P—palp, Gen—genitalia, C, D, E, F, H, PS—segments of opisthosoma.

FIGURE 134. Primary pattern of cuticle in the subfamilies Alycinae and Bimichaeliinae.A, B—primary pattern by clumps and rosettes of large lamellae, secondary pattern absent in Proteromichaelia sp. (Bimichaeliinae: Proteromichaeliini), C, D—striate integument with small lamellae in Amphialycus sp., E, F—striate integument with small lamellae in Petralycus sp. (Alycinae: Petralycini).

FIGURE 135. Details of Alycidae. A—prodorsum of Petralycus longicornis, B—prodorsum of P. brevicornis, C—palpal tarsi with solenidion ω extending partly over a pair of distal mucronate eupathids, Petralycus sp., D—strongly elongated chelicerae with 5 teeth similar in size on each fixed digit and 2 claws and a clawless empodium (arrow), Petralycus sp., E—cheliceral shafts abruptly tapering into chelae with 2 strong teeth on each fixed digit, Alycus sp., F—cheliceral shafts evenly tapering, elongated, Amphialycus sp. Abbreviations: Na—naso, Ch—chelicera, chb—cheliceral seta, P—palp, I—first leg.

FIGURES 1−5. Alycus augrabiensis sp. nov. 1—Prodorsum, integument mostly soft on crista, i.e. the area from naso to sensilla (from vi to ve), exp subequal in size with sce; 2—Dorsal habitus; 3—Integument and setal microplates; 4—Ventral habitus, 18–19 genital setae per valve, 2 eugenitals (female), 5 anal setae per valve on PA (cf. Fig. 2); 5—Genital valve of female, 19 genital setae, 1 pair of eugenital setae.

FIGURES 29−35. Amphialycus (Amphialycus) acaciae sp. nov. 29—Prodorsum, sclerotized crista, setae vi wide apart from each other; 30—Nasal area in lateral view; 31—Dorsal habitus, holotrichy; 32—Ventral habitus, 22 genital setae per valve, 8–9 anal setae per valve on PA (cf. Fig. 31); 33—Genital valve of female, 21 genital setae, 1 pair of eugenital setae; 34—Chelicera, smooth cheliceral seta more abaxially than the figure suggests; 35—Palp tarsus with 2 pairs of pseudacanthoid eupathids.

FIGURES 48−53. Amphialycus (Amphialycus) adustus sp. nov. 48—Prodorsum, sclerotized crista, tapering naso, distance between counterparts of setae vi and sensilla ve subequal; 49—Nasal area in lateral view; 50—Dorsal habitus, neotrichy; 51—Ventral habitus, 21–22 genital setae per valve, 9–10 anal setae per valve; 52—Subcapitulum, rutella with broad shaft, ventrodistal lobes and an apical point,1 pair of adorals; 53—Palp tarsus with 5 barbed eupathids.

FIGURES 63−67. Amphialycus (Amphialycus) mayteni sp. nov. 63—Prodorsum, sclerotized crista, reduced naso, distance between counterparts of setae vi and sensilla ve subequal; 64—Nasal area in lateral view; 65—Dorsal habitus, holotrichy; 66—Ventral habitus, neotrichy, 17–20 genital setae per valve, 6 anal setae per valve; 67—Genital valve of male, 21 genital setae, 10 (pairs of) eugenital setae.

FIGURES 76−83. Amphialycus (Orthacarus) oblongus (Halbert). 76—Prodorsum, naso missing, distance between counterparts of setae vi and sensilla ve smaller than between setae in, setae vi, sce and exp reduced; 77—Dorsal habitus, neotrichy; 78—Ventral habitus, 17 genital setae per valve, 8 anal setae per valve (cf. Fig. 77); 79—Genital valve of female, 16–18 genital setae, 1 pair of eugenital setae; 80—Subcapitulum, 1 pair of adorals; 81—Rutellum; 82—Palp, tarsus with 4 barbed and basally fused eupathids; 83—2 slightly bent claws and densely setulated, claw-like empodium.

FIGURES 16−22. Pachygnathus nasutus sp. nov. 16—Prodorsum, sclerotized crista, filamentous sensilla ve and sci ciliated, setae exp small; 17—Swollen naso; 18—Beak-like chelicerae, typical to genus; 19—Palp tarsus with 4 pseudacanthoid eupathids; 20—Subcapitulum, 1 pair of adoral setae; 21—Genital valve of female, 13 genital setae, 2 eugenital setae; 22—Tarsus I (2 solenidia), famulus I (arrow), Tibia I (2 solenidia).

FIGURES 6−13. Alycus augrabiensis sp. nov. 6—Rutellum, broad shaft, ventrodistal lobes, and apical point; 7—Subcapitulum, 3 pairs of adorals; 8—Palpal tarsi with 3 pairs of pseudacanthoid eupathids; 9—Genital valve of male, 16 genital setae per valve, 7 (pairs of) eugenitals; 10—Tarsus I (2 solenidia), famulus I (arrow); 11—Tibia I (1 solenidion), Genu I (4 solenidia), Femur I (1 solenidion); 12—Tarsus II (1 solenidion), Tibia II (2 solenidia), Genu II (2 solenidia); 13—Two claws with barbed shafts and a claw-like, oligosetulate empodium.

FIGURES 36−42. Amphialycus (Amphialycus) acaciae sp. nov. 36—Subcapitulum, rutellum with broad shaft and ventrodistal lobes, 2 pairs of adorals; 37—2 claws and multisetulate, claw-like empodium (cf. oligosetulate in Fig. 13); 38—Tarsus I (2 solenidia), famulus I (arrow); 39—Tibia I (2 solenidia), Genu I (3 solenidia), Femur I (2 solenidia); 40—Tarsus II (1 solenidion), famulus II (arrow), Tibia II (2 solenidia), Genu II (2 solenidia); 41—Tarsus III (no solenidia), Tibia III (2 solenidia), Genu III (2 solenidia); 42—Leg IV, Genu IV (1 solenidion).

FIGURES 68−75. Amphialycus (Amphialycus) mayteni sp. nov. 68—Chelicera, robust, elongated, without cheliceral setae; 69—Subcapitulum, rutella with broad shaft, ventrodistal lobes,1 pair of adorals; 70—Rutellum, without apical point; 71—Palp, tarsus with 4 barbed eupathids in 2 groups; 72—Genital valve of female, 24 genital setae, 1 (pair of) eugenital setae; 73—2 slightly bent claws and densely setulated, claw-like empodium; 74—Probably a male tritonymph, genital valve, 15 genital setae per valve, 4 eugenitals, see Kethley (1991); 75—Protonymph, venter, 1 genital seta per valve. 63−75 from RSA, near Potchef- stroom.

FIGURES 90−100. Proteromichaelia sila sp. nov. 90—Prodorsum, naso button-like, distance between counterparts of setae vi larger than between sensilla ve, setae in with some additional setae; 91—Dorsal habitus, neotrichy; 92—Dorsal integument; 93—Ventral habitus, 9–10 genital setae per valve, 4–6 anal setae per valve (cf. Fig. 97); 94—Chelicera, ciliated cheliceral seta; 95—Subcapitulum; 96—Palp tarsus; 97—Genital valve of female, 9 genital setae, 2 pairs of eugenital setae; 98—Tarsus I (2B = 2 baculiform solenidia), famulus I (arrow), Tibia I (1B2C = 1 baculiform solenidion and 2 ceratiform solenidia); 99—Tarsus II (2B), Tibia II (1B2C), Genu II (1B2C); 100—2 slightly bent claws and a setulated empodium.

FIGURES 105−111. Laminamichaelia shibai nom. nov. 105—Prodorsum, holotrichy, ciliated setae vi, sce and in, barbed sensilla ve, button-like naso, reticulated pattern of large lamellae on crista; 106—Dorsal habitus, strong neotrichy; 107—Vental habitus, neotrichy, 4–5 genital setae per valve, 5 anal setae per valve; 108—Straight chelicera; 109—Subcapitulum; 110—Palp tarsus, solenidion supported by 1 eupathid, other one is free; 111—Genital area of female, 5 genital setae per valve, 2 pairs of eugenital setae.

FIGURES 119−125. Laminamichaelia furcula sp. nov. 119—Prodorsum, neotrichous soft integument and in-area, sensilla ve branched, button-like naso, reticulated pattern of large lamellae on crista between strips; 120—Dorsal habitus, strong neotrichy; 121—Vental habitus, neotrichy, 9–10 genital setae per valve, 7–8 anal setae per valve; 122—Palp tarsus; 123—Subcapitulum, neotrichy; 124—Genital area, 10 genital setae per valve, 3 pairs of eugenital setae; 125—Tarsus I (3B), famulus I (arrow), Tibia I (3B1P).

FIGURES 112−116. Laminamichaelia shibai nom. nov. 112—Genital area of male, 5 genital setae per valve, 6 (pairs of) eugenital setae; 113—Tarsus I (2B), famulus I (arrow), Tibia I (2B1P = 2 baculiform solenidia and 1 piliform solenidion), Genu I (4P); 114—Tarsus II (1B), Tibia II (2B1P), Genu II (1B2P); 115—Deutonymph, venter, 3 genital setae per valve, 3 anal setae per valve; 116—Protonymph, venter, 1 genital seta per valve, 3–4 anal setae per valve.

FIGURES 126−130. Laminamichaelia furcula sp. nov. 126—Tarsus II (2B), Tibia II (2B); 127—2 slightly bent claws and a setulated empodium; 128—Tritonymph, venter, 6−7 genital setae per valve, 5−6 anal setae per valve; 129—Deutonymph, venter, 4 genital setae per valve, 4−6 anal setae per valve; 130—Protonymph, venter, 1 genital seta per valve, 4 anal setae per valve.

FIGURES 23−28. Pachygnathus nasutus sp. nov. 23—Genital valve of male, 15 genital setae per valve, 10 pairs of eugenitals; 24—Deutonymph, genital area, 5 genital setae per valve; 25—Protonymph, genital area, 1 genital seta per valve; 26—Protonymph, subcapitulum; 27—Dorsal habitus of larva, holotrichy, sensilla ve and sci slightly swollen, 1 pair of palpal eupathids; 28—Ventral habitus of larva, genital area absent, 3–4 anal setae per valve. 16−28 from RSA, near Potchefstroom.

FIGURES 54−59. Amphialycus (Amphialycus) adustus sp. nov. 54—Genital valve of male with 19 genital setae, 10 (pairs of) eugenital setae; 55—Tarsus I (2 solenidia); 56—Tarsus II (2 solenidia), famulus II (arrow); 57—2 slightly bent claws and densely setulated, claw-like empodium; 58—Tritonymph, venter, 12–15 genital setae per valve; 59—Deutonymph, venter, 6 genital setae per valve.

FIGURES 101−104. Proteromichaelia sila sp. nov. 101—Deutonymph, venter, 4 genital setae per valve; 102—Protonymph, venter, 1 genital seta per valve; 103—Larva, ventral habitus, holotrichy, genital valves absent; 104—Larva, dorsal habitus, neotrichy. 90−104 from RSA, near Potchefstroom.