Heatherellidae, Walter, 1997

Seeman, Owen D., Minor, Maria, Baker, Michelle R. & Walter, David Evans, 2018, A revision of the Heatherellidae (Parasitiformes: Mesostigmata) with a new genus and two new species from Australasia, Zootaxa 4434 (3), pp. 441-465 : 464

Key to genera and species of Heatherellidae (adults)

1. Peritremes absent ( Figs 1 , 36 ); female with setae st3–4 on common shield or st 3 in soft cuticle; dorsal shields sexually dimorphic: female ( Figs 2 , 15 ) with podonotal-mesonotal shield; males ( Fig. 13 ) with podonotal shield and three mesonotal shields (one medial, two lateral); female latinotal shield undivided; ventral seta JF3 reduced, on anal rim ( Fig. 1 ); male st5 on separate shield from st1–4 ( Fig. 12 ) ... Heatherella ................................................................. 2

- Peritremes present, short ( Figs 16 , 37 ); female with st3 and st4 on separate platelets; dorsal shields monomorphic: both sexes with podonotal-mesonotal shield ( Fig. 17 ); latinotal shield divided into podonotal and mesonotal regions; ventral seta JF3 normal, removed from anus ( Fig. 16 ); male st5 on intercoxal shield ( Fig. 24 )........................... Aheatherella mira

2. Dorsal setae somewhat thickened, barbed, without ciliate crests, dissimilar to marginal (r -R) setae ( Fig. 15 ); seta z2 absent; marginal setae duplicated (22 pairs); anterior opisthogastric setae simple; 8–9 pairs of submarginal protuberances (always lacking protuberance P -s6, between s6 and S1); protuberance posterior to seta s5 a raised pustule, different from other protuberances............................................................................................. 3

- Dorsal setae bifurcate, with ciliate crests, similar to marginal (r -R) setae ( Fig. 2 ); seta z2 present; marginal setae highly hypertrichous (> 24 pairs); opisthogastric setae all short, bulbous and barbed; ten pairs of submarginal protuberances (with protuberance P -s6 between s6 and S1); protuberance posterior to seta s5 not obviously different from other protuberances................................................................................................ Heatherella osleri

3. Adult sternal shield (bearing st2) rounded anteriorly in both sexes, without endopodal elements; dorsum lacking protuberance P -s4 between setae z4 and s4; seta z6 posterior to s6, seta Z1 posterior to S1; seta z5 placed obliquely to seta j5; male with seta av1 on genu II unmodified............................................... Heatherella acanthocharis Walter, 1997

- Adult sternal shield (bearing st2) angular anterior corners in both sexes, endopodal elements fused to shield; dorsum with protuberance P -s4 ( Fig. 15 ); seta z6 anterior to s6, seta Z1 anterior to S1; seta z5 almost transversely aligned with seta j5; male with seta av1 on genu II modified into small blunt spur........................... Heatherella callimaulos Walter, 1997

Figures

FIGURE 1. Heatherella osleri n. sp. female holotype, venter.

FIGURE 2. Heatherella osleri n. sp. female holotype, dorsum.

FIGURE 15. Heatherella callimaulos walter, 1997, female holotype, dorsum. First pair of tubercles are somewhat concealed. The only marginal seta shown is r1. Two types of pores: 12 pairs large (shaded grey) and ten pairs of smaller pores (unshaded). Platelets behind main dorsal shield not obvious (dotted lines).

FIGURE 16. Aheatherella mira n. sp. female holotype, venter.

FIGURE 17. Aheatherella mira n. sp. female holotype, dorsum.

FIGURE 24. Aheatherella mira n. sp. male, venter.

FIGURES 34–37. (34) Heatherella acanthocharis walter, 1997, dorsomarginal protuberances, pustules and pores of paratype female (P-s5 pustule; P-s6 pore; P-S1 protuberance), dorsal view of flattened specimen, right side; (35) Aheatherella mira n. sp., dorsomarginal protuberances, pustules and pores of paratype female (P-s5 pustule; P-s6 protuberance with closely associated seta), dorsal view of ventrolateral fragment with broken r-setae, left side; (36) Heatherella osleri n. sp., peritreme of paratype female (ventral view, right peritreme of mite); (37) Aheatherella mira n. sp. peritreme of paratype female (ventral view, left peritreme of mite; sclerotised eXopodal portion of eXopodal-peritrematal shield shaded).

FIGURES 12–14. Heatherella osleri n. sp. male (12) venter; (13) dorsum (marginal shields not shown laterally; torn anteriorly from marginal shield); (14) leg II, anterior view.