Neolaelaps windsori, Shaw, Matthew D., 2011

Shaw, Matthew D., 2011, Laelapidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) on megachiropteran bats: new records and a new species of Neolaelaps Hirst, Zootaxa 2807, pp. 41-56 : 51-53

Neolaelaps windsori sp. nov.

( Figs 20–25 )

Neolaelaps vitzthumi (partim, series from Mt Windsor) Domrow 1988: 931, Fig. 63–69.

Specimens examined. Holotype. Female, Mt Windsor, nr Mossman, North Queensland, January 1981, I.D. Fanning coll., ex Pteropus scapulatus Peters, S 88518 (in QM); 2 paratype females, same data, S 85519 –85520 (QM).

Dorsum: Dorsal shield 470–500 x 203–210 ( Fig. 20 ). Idiosoma 530–545 x 315–350. An unpaired medial seta present within dorsal hexagon in holotype and in one paratype. Prominent vertex bearing j1–2, z1. Podonotal j1 shorter than other setae, Z5 very long> 100. Podonotum with 22 pairs setae plus two pairs of ax setae ( Fig. 20 ) (n=3): j1 14 (11–15), j2 44 (49–51), j3 50 (49–50), j4 50 (50–52), j5 51 (51–55), j6 52 (52–53), z1 22 (22–29), z2 50 (50–53), z3 45 (45–48), z4 50 (50–54), z5 55 (51–55), z6 52 (52–56), s1 35 (35–40), s2 37 (37–39), s3 37 (34– 39), s4 50 (40–50), s5 50 (47–57), s6 45 (44–49), ax setae 40 (40–46), r2 25 (25–30), r3 33 (33–38), r4 31 (31–36), r5 47 (41–47). Opisthonotum with 15 pairs of setae, S3 missing on right side of holotype ( Fig. 20 , and Fig. 63 of Domrow, 1988): J1 50 (50–57), J2 55 (55–57), J3 51 (47–51), J4 44 (44–48), J5 35 (32–36), Z1 49 (49–53), Z2 48 (48–54), Z3 49 (47–52), Z4 50 (50–53), Z5 110 (100–119), S1 38 (38–46), S2 42 (39–46), S3 40 (40–45), S4 45 (44–45), S5 42 (36–43).

Venter: ( Fig. 21 ) Tritosternal base squat, 20 μm (19–21) to suture. Laciniae 71 (71–80) long, separate, arising directly from level of suture and bearing usual lateral cilia and also fine ventral spicules. Presternal shields absent. Sternal shield subquadrate, 129 (122–129) wide x 100 (95–100) deep, edges well-defined, posterior border a mild concave arch, cornua essentially absent. Sternal shield bearing very long and finely tapering setae, St 1–3: 108, 85, 105. Two pairs lyrifissures present. Metasternal plate appears absent, st4 on endopodal shield. Short genito-ventral shield 60 (57–60), 85 wide at st5, maximum width 110 (105–111), bearing three setae (st5 and associated pore plus Zv1 and Jv1). Exopodal IV a mere sliver posteriad coxa IV, 9 wide. Spiracular atrium massively enlarged, 45 across. Peritrematal channel very broad from spiracular atrium to posterior coxa II, then narrow, extends to anterior edge of coxa II. Metapodal plates, poorly sclerotised and difficult to discern, small and irregular, principal and secondary plates separate. Anal shield 66 (66–71) long, 80 (80–107) wide at straight anterior edge, 72 (66–72) wide at level of cribral pores, para-anal 17 (16–19), postanal 24 (23–26). Anal opening broad, subcircular.

Gnathosoma : ( Fig. 25 ) Corniculi poorly developed 16 μm (15–16). Chelicerae edentate ( Fig. 24 ). Fixed digit a thin, flat sheath, with subapical pilus dentilus and pore-like recess on apical tip. Movable digit 35 (30–35), with hyaline extension in distal third. A small hyaline flap also protrudes from the base of this digit. Hypostomal setae (h1–3) 14 (14–17), 11 (10–13), 42 (39–42). Deutosternum with eight denticles in a single row. Capitular setae 65 long, moderately broadened at base (4–5 wide). Internal malae a simple pair of long smooth unfused lobes. Palp chaetotaxy 2-5-5-14, genu missing al 2. Palp tibia bearing a pair of apicodorsal solenidia-like setae that end abruptly, their tips rounded and slightly swollen. Palp apotele 2-tined.

Legs: Leg chaetotaxy as in the majority of free-living Laelapidae ( Evans & Till, 1965) , except tibia I has pv 2 present (2, 3/2,3/2, 2) and genu I lacks av 2 (2, 3/1,3/1, 2) ( Fig. 22 ). Genu IV with eight setae (2, 2/1,2/1, 0). Tibia IV with eight setae, pd 3 missing (2, 1/1,2/1, 1). Tarsus I has swollen tip bearing two prominent medioventral ventral spur-like processes ( Fig. 22 ). Femur I has two curved retrose spurs, paraxial 23 long, antiaxial 28 long. Femur II with ad 1 and pd 1 inserted on raised boss. Femur I pd 1 macroseta (72), juxtaposed by genu I pd 2 macrosetae with very long trailing tip (95). Genu I pd 2 migrated proximally, genu I pd 3 short, migrated laterally ( Fig. 22 ). Genu II pd 2 (60) juxtaposed by very strong femur II pd 1 setae (92 when unbroken) ( Fig. 23 ). Femur III and IV ad 1 setae spinose; 32 and 26 long respectively. Anterior spur on coxa II stout triangle 5–7 long. Anterior setae coxa I and posterior seta I–III basally inflated. All coxal setae with filamentous tips when unbroken. Many ventral leg setae have long filamentous tips: trochanter-tarsus I-II, tibia-tarsus III, femora-trochanter III-IV. Leg measurements as in Table 4.

Etymology. This new species is named after the type locality, Mt Windsor.

Remarks. Domrow (1988) clearly recognised two forms of Neolaelaps vitzthumi . Figures of the specimens described here were labelled Ne. vitzthumi “Mt Windsor” ( Domrow, 1988) but without further comment, while a Ne. vitzthumi from Pteropus poliocephalus in NSW was denoted “typical” ( Domrow, 1992). Referring to the Mt Windsor specimens in a Corrigenda and Addenda, Domrow (1992, p. 1605) wrote: “the material illustrated in Figs 63-69 has been mislaid, but may not have been N. vitzthumi ”.

I II III IV

Femur 65 (65–67) 41 (36–42) 38 (35–38) 57 (47–57) Genu 50 (46–52) 45 (28–45) 34 (27–34) 52 (43–52) Tibia 53 (46–53) 39 (29–39) 33 (21–33) 49 (41–49) Tarsus 76 (68–76) 67 (60–67) 76 (49–76) 124 (111–124) Compared with paratypes of Ne. vitzthumi , and other Ne. vitzthumi material, the form from Mt Windsor differs in having two prominent medioventral cuticular spurs on tarsus I (absent in Ne. vitzthumi ), coxa II posterior setae swollen (setiform in Ne. vitzthumi ) and Z5 very long,>100 (30 long in Ne. vitzthumi ). These features are also clearly depicted in the figures provided by Domrow (1988, Figs 63–69).

It is possible that these two forms are conspecific, as stated initially by Domrow (1988), and polymorphism was also given as the interpretation for multiple forms in Spinturnix spp ( Domrow, 1972). However there is no evidence for polymorphism in Neolaelaps ; indeed I know of no reports of female polymorphism in the Laelapidae . Furthermore no Ne. vitzthumi were co-collected with this second form, judging from Queensland Museum specimens. The second form is a readily diagnosable entity and I interpret these specimens as a distinct species closely related to Ne. vitzthumi . Individual peculiarities of the dorsal setation identify the holotype as the same specimen depicted in Fig. 63 in Domrow (1988) and here refigured.

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 25. Neolaelaps windsori sp. nov., holotype female (QM S 88518). 20, Dorsum, scale = 50 μm; 21, Venter, scale = 50 μm; 22, Leg I scale = 50 μm; 23, Femur – Genu II, scale = 50 μm; 24, Chelicera, scale = 50 μm; 25, Gnathosoma, scale = 50 μm.