Proctolaelaps holoventris Moraes, Britto, Mineiro & Halliday

Abo-Shnaf, Reham I. A. & De Moraes, Gilberto J., 2016, Proctolaelaps species (Acari: Mesostigmata: Melicharidae) from Egypt, with description of a new species and complementary descriptions of other five species, Zootaxa 4162 (3), pp. 479-503 : 490-494

Proctolaelaps holoventris Moraes, Britto, Mineiro & Halliday

( Figs 32–47 )

Proctolaelaps holoventris Moraes, Britto, Mineiro & Halliday, 2016: 212 .

Proctolaelaps n. sp. 2.— Nasr, 1978: 104 (unpublished thesis).

Proctolaelaps orientalis Nasr, in Zaher, 1986: 64 (primary homonym of Proctolaelaps orientalis Bhattacharyya, 1968 ).

Specimens examined. One female from debris, at Dokii (31° 12' E, 30° 2' N), Giza governorate, March 10, 1976, collected by A.K. Nasr, deposited in the mite reference collection of Zoology and Agricultural Nematology Department, the Faculty of Agriculture , Cairo University , Giza governorate. One female from litter underneath eggplant, at Senuris (30° 15' E, 29° 6' N), Fayoum governorate, September 17, 2002 ; five females from litter underneath citrus, at the same locality, June 3 and 20, 2003, January 25 and November 4, 2004 ; one male from litter underneath mango, at the same locality, November 6, 2004 ; one female from litter underneath peppermint, at the same locality, March 15, 2006 ; one female from litter underneath F. nitida , at the same locality and date; one female from litter underneath Calendula sp., at the same locality, April 23, 2006; one female from litter underneath parsley, at the Faculty of Agriculture Farm (29° 13' E, 28° 45' N), Cairo University , Giza governorate, March 10, 2007 ; one female from litter underneath celery, at the same locality and date; one female from litter underneath lily, at the same locality, January 13, 2008; three females from litter underneath marjoram, at Orman Botanical Garden (31° 12' E, 30° 1' N) , Giza governorate, December 5, 2006 and November 13, 2012 ; one female from litter underneath F. nitida , at the same locality, March 27, 2006 ; one female from litter underneath J. sambac , at the same locality and date; two females from litter underneath G. jasminoides , at the same locality, August , 24, 2006 and November 18, 2012 ; two females from litter underneath peppermint, at the same locality, November 13, 2006 and May 12, 2012 ; one female from litter underneath Celosia sp., at the same locality, December 5, 2006 ; one female from soil, at the same locality, January 18, 2007 ; two females from litter underneath parsley, at the same locality, June 10, 2012 ; one female from litter underneath spruce, at the same locality, June 13, 2012 ; one female from litter underneath P. purpurea , at the same locality, June 18, 2012 ; two females from litter underneath S. podopyllum , at the same locality, June 18 and November 13, 2012 ; one female from litter underneath Dodonaea sp., at the same locality, June 19, 2012 ; one female from litter underneath willow, at the same locality, June 27, 2012 .

Adult female (five specimens collected in this work and one specimen with same collection data as types of P. orientalis Nasr ; measurements of the latter in square brackets).

Dorsum of idiosoma ( Fig. 32 ): dorsal shield 406 (365–463) [458] long and 315 (271 – 355) [303] wide at widest level. Podonotal region of the dorsal shield with transverse striae that are less distinct centrally, where muscle scars are more evident, with 23 pairs of setae (j1–j6, z1–z6, s1–s6, r2–r6), five pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures and five pairs of distinguishable pores. Opisthonotal region transversely striate, with 21 pairs of setae (J1–J5, Z1–Z5, S1–S5, R1–R6), ten pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures and two pairs of distinguishable pores. Most dorsal shield setae of uniform length and shape, aciculate, smooth about as long as or slightly longer than distance to subsequent setae of the same series, except Z5 stout and longest. Unsclerotised lateral cuticle without setae (one specimen with one right UR), but with a lyrifissure (Rp) between R3 and R4. Setal lengths: j1 27 (24–31) [not adequately oriented], j2 10 (9–11) [12], j3 11 (10–12) [16], j4 21(20–22) [21], j5 22 (20–23) [23], j6 24 (21–26) [21], z1 5 (4– 5) [5], z2 11 (10–14) [14], z3 14 (13–15) [14], z4 21 (19–24) [21], z5 24 (23–24) [20], z6 21 (20–21) [21], s1 11 (11–12) [10], s2 10 (9–11) [8], s3 11 (9–12) [12], s4 20 (18–22) [23], s5 14 (10–16) [15], s6 20 (18–25) [21], r2 11 (10–11) [7], r3 11 (10–13) [7], r4 11 (10–12) [7], r5 11 (9–12) [8], r6 10 (9–11) [10], J1 25 (22–27) [broken], J2 24 (21–25) [26], J3 36 (36–37) [36], J4 35 (34–37) [35], J5 9 (9–10) [10], Z1 17 (15–19) [19], Z2 32 (31–34) [broken], Z3 35 (31–38) [36], Z4 30 (27–33) [33], Z5 76 (70–81) [74], S1 22 (20–24) [18], S2 22 (21–22) [19], S3 16 (15–18) [14], S4 23 (21–26) [24], S5 28 (27–30) [27], R1 10 (9–11) [9], R2 10 (9–11) [7], R3 9 (8–10) [7], R4 9 (8–10) [8], R5 11 (9–11) [9], R6 12 (10–14) [12], UR 9.

Venter of idiosoma ( Figs 33–35 ): all setae aciculate and smooth, except JV5 and post-anal seta, stout. Base of tritosternum 14 (13–15) [14] long and 10 (9–11) [11] wide at medium level; laciniae 60 (56–65) [56] long, divided for about 65 (62–66) [69]% of their total length. Presternal region transversely striate, with a pair of ellipsoidal punctuate anterior region. Sternal shield fused with anterior portion of endopodal plate, with a pair of pore (gst1) on distal end of extension between coxae I–II, mostly reticulate; 95 (90–100) [87] long and 98 (93–103) [86] wide at level of st2, with three pairs of setae (st1–st3) and two pairs of lyrifissures. Posterior portion of endopodal plate represented by a v-shaped fragment between coxae III–IV. Metasternal plate pear-shaped, with the fourth sternal seta (st4) and lyrifissure iv3 (in one specimen, left iv3 on unsclerotised cuticle and right iv3 at junction between abnormally fused sternal and metasternal shields). Genital shield with few longitudinal striae, 167 (165–171) [164] long, including hyaline flap; with posteriorly divergent lateral margins; posterior margin convex, 79 (74–83) [83] wide at posterior corners, bearing genital setae (st5); distance between genital setae 65 (58–71) [67]; paragenital lyrifissures (iv5) on unsclerotised cuticle, posterolaterad of st5. Anal shield ovate, mostly smooth, with a few arched anterolateral striae, 90 (85–98) [82] long and 83 (74–92) [84] wide at widest level, with circumanal setae and a pair of marginal pores posterolaterad of para-anal setae; anal opening large, 47 (46–48) [43] long including frame. Exopodal plate distinct from posterior margin of coxa IV to anterior margin of coxa II; with a pore near posterior end. Unsclerotised cuticle around anal shield with JV1–JV5, ZV1–ZV5 and three pairs of lyrifissures. With two pairs of metapodal plates, the most internal smaller. Setal lengths: st1 35 (34–37) [32], st2 32 (30–34) [27], st3 29 (28–31) [25], st4 19 (18–22) [18], st5 20 (19–21) [20], JV1 20 (18–21) [22], JV2 34 (31–36) [34], JV3 12 (10–13) [12], JV4 21 (18–24) [13], JV5 56 (53–58) [49], ZV1 12 (10–14) [12], ZV2 16 (13–18) [18], ZV3 15 (13–18) [9], ZV4 15 (13–18) [12], ZV5 15 (13–16) [13], para-anal 23 (20–27) [24] and post-anal 38 (36–43) [38].

Peritrematic plate and peritreme ( Figs 32, 35 ): peritrematic plate fused with dorsal shield at level of s2, but not fused posteriorly to exopodal plate; with a lyrifissure and a pore in region between coxae II–III (ip2, gp1), with two lyrifissures and a pore behind stigma (ip3, ip4, gp2). Peritreme extending forward to level of z1.

Spermatheca ( Fig. 36 ): spermathecal apparatus distinguishable as a mostly unsclerotised pair of tubuli, each about 90 long, with distal 12 long section lightly sclerotised; light sclerotisation suggests duct seemingly of variable diameter.

Gnathosoma ( Figs 37–39 ): anteromedian region of epistome triangular, with margin denticulate; with two transverse lines of denticles near base. Cheliceral dorsal and antiaxial lyrifissures and dorsal seta distinct; hyaline rim on paraxial face of chelicera with about 12 teeth, at a level slightly higher than row of teeth on fixed digit. Fixed digit 29 (28–29) [28] long, with 12 [12] teeth and large antiaxial membranous lobe; movable digit 29 (29–30) [27] long, with 3 [3] teeth. Hypostome with h1 slightly thicker than h2, h3 and sc; with distally bidentate membranous process near basal paraxial margin of corniculus. Deutosternum with eight transverse lines, delimited by subparallel lateral lines from first to sixth transverse lines; first (most distal) line smooth; second to eighth lines respectively with 5, 6, 8, 3, 28–30, 23–25 and 20–22 denticles. Corniculi subparallel to each other, distally pointed, about 25 (23–27) [24] long and 8 (7–8) [7] wide at the base. Setal lengths: h1 29 (28–31) [27], h2 16 (15–17) [15], h3 20 (19–21) [18] and sc 30 (27–32) [27]; palp trochanter setae av 20 (18–21) [19] and pv 17 (16–18) [15].

Legs ( Fig. 40 ): pretarsi I–IV each with a pair of claws and pulvillus with three rounded lobules. Leg lengths: I, 505 (481–542) [468]; II, 386 (351–423) [368]; III, 408 (376–459) [378] and IV, 556 (518–612) [530]. Leg chaetotaxy—genua: I—2 3/2 3/1 2; II—2 3/1 2/1 2; III—2 2/1 2/1 1; IV—2 2/1 3/0 1; tibiae: I—2 3/2 3/1 2; II—2 2/1 2/1 2; III—2 1/1 2/1 2; IV—2 1/1 3/1 2. Without distinct macrosetae.

Adult male (one specimen measured)

Dorsum of idiosoma ( Fig. 41 ): dorsal shield 378 long and 263 wide at widest level. Podonotal and opisthonotal regions of the dorsal shield with reticulations and setation as in adult female. Relative lengths and shape of setae as in adult female. Unsclerotised lateral cuticle without setae. Setal lengths: j1 23, j2 12, j3 16, j5 18, z1 4, z2 12, z4 18, z5 20, z6 21, s1 11, s2 7, s3 9, s4 18, s5 12, s6 18, r2 9, r3 9, r4 9, r5 10, r6 9, J5 8, Z1 15, Z2 37, Z4 28, Z5 60, S1 22, S2 22, S3 15, S4 23, S5 12, R1 9, R2 10, R3 8, R4 9, R5 8, R6 9; setae j4, j6, z3; J1–J4 and Z3 broken.

Venter of idiosoma ( Figs 42, 43 ): shape of setae as in adult female. Base of tritosternum 8 long and 10 wide at medium level; laciniae 54 long, divided for about 70% of their total length. Presternal region with lightly transverse striae and a transversely elongate platelet on right side. Holoventral shield reticulate, with a pair of pores (gst1) on distal end of extension between coxae I–II, 333 long and 172 wide at widest level, with ten pairs of setae (st1–st5, JV1–JV4, ZV2) in addition to circumanal setae, seven pairs of lyrifissures and a pair of marginal pores posterolaterad of para-anal setae; anal opening large, 43 long including frame. Unsclerotised cuticle posterolaterad of holoventral shield with JV5, ZV4 and a pair of lyrifissures. Exopodal plate fused with holoventral shield by a band anteriad of coxa II and a band behind coxa IV. Setal lengths: st1 26, st2 28, st3 27, st4 18, st5 19, JV1 11, JV2 20, JV3 28, JV4 11, JV5 32, ZV2 18, ZV4 12, para-anal 23 and post-anal 34.

Peritrematic plate and peritreme ( Figs 41, 43 ): peritrematic plate fused with dorsal shield at level of r4, but not fused posteriorly to exopodal plate; with a lyrifissure and a pore in region between coxae II–III (ip2, gp1), with two lyrifissures and a pore behind stigma (ip3, ip4, gp2). Peritreme extending forward to level of z1.

Gnathosoma ( Figs 44–46 ): anteromedian region of epistome subtriangular, with margin denticulate. Cheliceral dorsal lyrifissure distinct; antiaxial lyrifissure and dorsal seta indistinct. Fixed digit 28 long, with nine teeth, membranous lobe indistinct; movable digit 28 long, with a single tooth and spermadactyl strongly curved down distally, about 21 long. Hypostome with h1 slightly thicker than h2, h3 and sc; membranous process near basal paraxial margin of corniculus not possible to see because of position of mounted specimen. Deutosternal transverse lines not possible to count because of the position. Corniculi subparallel to each other, distally pointed, about 23 long and 7 wide at the base. Setal lengths: h1 27, h2 12, h3 17 and sc 22; palp trochanter setae av 19 and pv 16.

Legs ( Fig. 47 ): similar to those of female. Leg lengths: I, 471; II, 358; III, 371 and IV, 514. Leg chaetotaxy as in adult female. Without distinct macrosetae.

Previous records from Egypt. Giza governorate ( Nasr, 1978); Upper Egypt (Giza and Beni Suef governorates) ( Zaher, 1986).

Remarks. This species was originally described from the holotype female and several paratype females collected at the Ministry of Agriculture, Dokii, Giza governorate. The original description was reasonably detailed, with illustrations, but only with measurements of idiosoma. One of the specimens examined in this study has the same collection data as the holotype and the paratypes, but no indication as to whether it is one of the types. No specimen designated as type was found by the first author of this paper while examining the mite in the mite reference collection of Zoology and Agricultural Nematology Department, the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza governorate where the types were mentioned to be deposited. The illustration provided in this paper show most of the dorsal setae considerably longer than illustrated by Nasr (1978) and Zaher (1986). However, the examination of the specimen with the same collection data as the type specimens lead us to assume that most certainly the author could not see their tips, given that for being so thin, their tips were not easily seen under a regular phase contrast microscope. This species is most similar to Proctolaelaps nemathrix Krantz, 1962 and Proctolaelaps orientalis Bhattacharyya, 1968 ; the former differs by having dorsal shield smooth, h1 stout, male with a separate sternogenital and ventrianal shields and spermadactyl uncurved; the later differs by having unsclerotised opisthogastric cuticle with only eight pairs of setae (apparently ZV3 and ZV4, as interpreted in this publication, missing). The descriptions of P. orientalis provided in Nasr (1978) and Zaher (1986) indicated epistome to be round and smooth, h1 stout and h2 minute; all specimens we examined (including the female with the same collection data as the type specimens) had epistome triangular, with margin denticulate, h1 slightly thicker than other hypostomal setae and h2 about as long as h3. Differently from distinguished in Evans (1963) and agreeing with the original description of this species, setae pl2 present on tibia III (2, 1/1, 2/1, 2) in the females and male examined in this work. Proctolaelaps holoventris is apparently the only species of this genus whose male is known to have a holoventral shield.

Figures

FIGURES 32 – 40. Proctolaelaps holoventris, female: 32. Dorsum of idiosoma; 33. Tritosternum; 34. Venter of idiosoma; 35. Peritrematic and exopodal plates; 36. Spermathecae; 37. Epistome; 38. Chelicera; 39. Hypostome; 40. Leg IV.

FIGURES 41 – 47. Proctolaelaps holoventris, male: 41. Dorsum of idiosoma; 42. Tritosternum; 43. Venter of idiosoma; 44. Epistome; 45. Cheliceral fixed (a) and movable digit (b); 46. Hypostome; 47. Leg IV.