Gaeolaelaps lenis Vatankhah & Nemati

Joharchi, Omid, Döker, Ismail & Khaustov, Vladimir A., 2021, Two new species and a new record of Gaeolaelaps Evans & Till (Acari: Laelapidae) from Altai Mountains, Russia, Zootaxa 4949 (2), pp. 240-260 : 255

Gaeolaelaps lenis Vatankhah & Nemati

( Figures 41–47 )

Gaeolaelaps lenis Vatankhah & Nemati, 2016: 567 .

Gaeolaelaps lenis . — Nemati et al., 2018: 140; Joharchi et al., 2020a: 489.

Specimens examined. one female and two males, Ulaganskiy Rayon, Chuysky Trakt, Altai Republic, Russia, 50°14’N 87°42’E, 30 July 2020, alt. 1533 m, O. Joharchi coll., in the nest of Formica sp. ( Hymenoptera : Formicidae ) (in TSUMZ).

Notes. Gaeolaelaps lenis was described from Iran ( Vatankhah & Nemati, 2016) where it was found from nest of Formica sp. and is now recorded in Russia for the first time, from the same host. Our specimens agree well with the description given by Vatankhah & Nemati (2016). The species is easily recognised by dorsal shield with nearly parallel lateral margins and distinct reticulation posterior to J1, with 38 pairs of simple acicular setae, z3 absent ( Fig. 41 ); sternal and epigynal shields smooth ( Figs 42, 43 ), anterior margin of sternal shield indistinct ( Figs 42, 43 ); peritremes short, extending to the middle-level of coxae II; tarsus of leg IV with two noticeably long setae (macrosetae) (pd2–3) ( Fig. 45 ). This species was described based on adult female. The male is described herein for first time.

Description. Male (n=2). ( Figs 46, 47 )

Dorsal idiosoma. Dorsal shield 350–356 long, 203–208 wide; ornamentation and chaetotaxy as in female (see Vatankhah & Nemati, 2016 and Fig. 41 ).

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 46 ). Sternal, genital, endopodal, ventral and anal shields fused into holoventral shield, 291–295 long from anterior to posterior margins of shield, (79–83) wide at level of st2, (70–74) at st3 level and (142–145) at broadest point (behind parapodals), anterolateral edges of shield fused to endopodals between coxae I-II; sternal and genital regions of shield almost smooth except lineate in lateral region between setae st1–5, and distinctly reticulate between ZV1 and para-anal setae, with five pairs smooth sternal setae (st1–5), and four pairs of smooth ventral setae (Jv1, Jv2, Zv1, Zv2), plus three smooth circumanal setae, post-anal seta (22–25) longer than para-anals (17–20), with six pairs of poroids and a pair of gland pore (gv3) on lateral margins of shield at anterior level of anal opening, iv1 slit-like; gland pore gv2 behind coxa IV not discerned; cribrum with 3–4 irregular rows of spicules, anterior arms reaching about to mid-level of distance between post-anal and para-anal setae; metapodal platelets fused to shield ( Fig. 46 ). Soft opisthogastric cuticle with one pair of simple setae, and two pairs of poroids. Peritremes and peritrematal shields similar to those in female (see Vatankhah & Nemati, 2016 and Figs 42–43 ).

Gnathosoma . Epistome and subcapitulum similar to female (see Vatankhah & Nemati, 2016). Fixed digit of chelicera with six teeth of various sizes, pilus dentilis setaceous. Movable digit of chelicera with one small tooth, spermatodactyl short and apically curved dorsally, with blunt tip, free portion of spermatodactyl shorter than movable digit, fringed hyaline arthrodial process at base of movable digit ( Fig. 47 ). Palps similar to those of female.

Legs. Chaetotaxy as in female (see Vatankhah & Nemati, 2016 and Fig. 45 ).

Figures

FIGURES 41–45. DIC micrographs of Gaeolaelaps lenis Vatankhah & Nemati, 2016, female. 41, idiosoma in dorsal view; 42, idiosoma in ventral view; 43, sternal & genital shields; 44, chelicera; 45, leg IV (femur-tarsus), in dorsal view.

FIGURES 46–47. Gaeolaelaps lenis Vatankhah & Nemati, 2016, male. 46, ventral idiosoma; 47, chelicera.