Weiseronyssus persicus, Kazemi, Shahrooz, Klompen, Hans, Moraza, María L., Kamali, Karim & Saboori, Alireza, 2008

Kazemi, Shahrooz, Klompen, Hans, Moraza, María L., Kamali, Karim & Saboori, Alireza, 2008, A new species of Weiseronyssus Samsinak 1962 (Acari: Mesostigmata: Diplogyniidae) from Iran, with a key for genera, Zootaxa 1824, pp. 17-27 : 19-23

Weiseronyssus persicus n.sp.

Figs. 1–14

Diagnosis. With the characteristics of the genus. Marginal dorsal shield free in posterior region. Sternal setae st2 and st 3 in the male distinctly shorter than st1. Mesogynial shield not fused to ventrianal shield. Gnathotectum with an anterior projection, triangular, with small denticles at each side of base and striation on dorsal basal surface, with a poorly developed median keel. Subcapitular setae denticulate in both adults.

Taxonomic remarks. The above character states differ from those in W. mirus as follows: in W. mirus the dorsolateral shield is fused to the dorsal shield in the posterior region, setae st2 and st 3 in the male are subequal in length to st1, the mesogynial shield is fused to the ventrianal shield, and the subcapitular setae are smooth in the female. All state determinations for W. mirus are based on data listed in the original description ( Samsinak 1962).

The only other Diplogyniidae described from Oryctes spp., Diplogynium oryctae Vishnupriya & Mohanasundaram 1988 , differs by the apparent fusion of the metasternal and latigynial shields, a smaller number of dorsal setae and, possibly, a different structure of the opisthogastral shields. Exact states are difficult to discern, as the description is inadequate by modern standards.

Description. FEMALE. Idiosoma. Length: 642±25 (630–670), maximum width: 410±10 (395–415) (N=5). Idiosoma, dorsum ( Fig. 1 ): Cuticle with reticulate ornamentation and a dense and distinctive punctation. Dorsal shield fused to dorsomarginal shields at level of setae s3. Podonotum with 22 setal pairs (j1, j3-j6, z1-z6, s1-s6, r2-r6) and one unpaired (j2) seta; opisthosoma with 17 pairs of setae (J1-J5, Z1-Z5, S1-S5, R1, R) one of them located on a distinctive marginal shield (R); all dorsal setae short and slightly denticulate, 12- 20 long. Poroidotaxy and adenotaxy on dorsal shield as in Fig. 1 , with six unpaired glands located along the midline: three podonotal (position gdj3, gdj5, gdj6) and three opisthonotal (position gdJ1, gdJ2, gdJ5); two pairs of podonotal glandular complexes (two or three glands associated) at positions gdz1 and gds2 and 13 pairs of isolated glands (seven pairs podonotal and six opisthonotal); 13 pairs of dorsal lyrifissures, eight podonotal and five opisthonotal); marginal shield with three additional pairs of opisthonotal lyrifissures, one pairs of complex glands (gdS 1) and one pairs of simple glands (gdS2).

Idiosoma, venter ( Fig. 5 ): Tritosternal base narrow and as long as laciniae; laciniae free and pilose. Sternal shield ( Fig. 14 : S) wider than long; 184 at the widest point (width at level of st2 setae 100), length from median anterolateral to median posterolateral corners 60; concave posteriorly; smooth striation restricted to anterior part of sternal shield; with three pairs of setae, st1 (33) barbed, st2 (37) and st 3 (37) smooth; st 3 set close together at posterior margin; with two pairs of lyrifissures and one pair of glands. Metasternal shields ( Fig. 14 : MS) fused together but free from sternal shield, with one pair of smooth st4 setae (13) and lyrifissures iv3; combined shield is 178 wide and 40 long (measured at the body midline). Latigynial shields ( Fig. 14 : L) triangular in shape, with smooth surface and rounded anterior paraxial corners; 108 long and 85 wide, with two pairs of smooth setae (23); anterior and median margins thickened. Mesogynial shield small and narrow (50 long). Vaginal sclerites club-like, with moderate well developed lateral projections. Spermathecal apparatus without distinctly sclerotized structures. Ventrianal shield fused with peritrematal and parapodal shields, with reticulate ornamentation; ventrianal region with five pairs of ventral and one pair of paranal setae, unpaired postanal seta absent. Length of setae JV1, JV2, JV5, ZV2, ZV3 and PA respectively: 25, 26, 36, 23, 18, 21; setae JV1, JV2, JV5, ZV2, ZV3 and paranal setae with one to three fine denticles; four pairs of lyrifissures (iv5 very conspicuous) and gv2; anal glands gv3 absent. Anal valves with euanal lyrifissures but without anal setae. Peritrematal shields with longitudinal, parallel striae; peritremes 158 long, extending from stigmata to the middle region of coxae II; ip1 associated with peritrematal sigillae; gp1 is a complex of two glands, gp2 is isolated; gp3 positioned anterior to stigmata with three glands, gp4 positioned at the stigmata level and gp5 posterior to the stigmata with two or three glands.

Gnathosoma ( Figs. 2 , 6–10 ): Gnathotectum triangular, dorsal side with some small denticles at both basal lateral sides and fine striations on base ( Fig. 2 ). Palptarsal apotele 3-tined, third tine small; palpi with standard setation for the family (2, 5, 7, 15, 14), palpgenual seta al-2 longer than al-1, setae of trochanter pilose, the others simple ( Figs. 8, 9 ). Chelicerae ( Figs. 6–7 ): length 139, dorsal seta small and smooth, near dorsal lyrifissure; antiaxial lyrifissure long; unsclerotized area at base fixed digit; fixed digit with several (12–14) minute teeth and a large basal tooth; pilus dentilis vestigial, only alveolus present; movable digit with 15 small teeth, the five most distal ones minute, and a large basal tooth; three brushy excrescences and a comb-like structure with short denticles ( Fig. 7 ) arising from proximolateral surface. Subcapitulum ( Fig. 10 ) with smooth hypostomal setae (hp1 = 28, hp2 = 34, hp3 = 18); subcapitular setae thicker and denticulate (21); deutosternum with five transversal rows, the two basal rows smooth, other rows with narrow denticles; all rows connected. Corniculi (co) narrow, spoon-like; internal malae (im) long and slender, pointed, finely fringed, and extending beyond the proximal margin of the palp tibia; paralaciniae (plc) as long as corniculi; labrum (lb) blade-like, not projecting beyond the apex of the subcapitulum, with plumose lateral margins.

Legs ( Figs. 3–4 ): Legs II to IV with paired claws and rounded pulvilli well developed, leg I without pretarsus but with a small acrotarsus. Legs of moderate length (respectively, 445, 380, 355, 453); legs I and IV not longer than the dorsal shield. Ventral surface of coxae with serrated ridges. Tarsi II–IV with apical setal processes ad-1, pd-1 conspicuous ( Fig. 4 ). Complement of setae of genua of legs I-II-III-IV, respectively, 9-9- 8-9; that of tibia 13-7-8-7.

MALE. Idiosoma. Length: 633±27 (605– 670), maximum width: 390±3 (388– 393) (N=5).

Idiosoma, dorsum: Dorsal shielding, chaetotaxy, adenotaxy and poroidotaxy similar to female.

Idiosoma, venter ( Figs. 11–12 ): Males with a holoventral shield (genito-ventrianal fused to peritrematal shield and podal elements) ( Fig. 11 ). Genital opening ( Fig. 12 ) totally covered by sternal shield, 22 long, 30 wide. Ventral region of the shield with reticulate ornamentation and peritrematal region with longitudinal parallel striae similar to female. Sternal setae st1 (23) thick and dentate; setae st2 (9), st3 (8), st4 (13) and st5 (19) thinner and smooth. Ventral idiosomal adenotaxy and poroidotaxy as in the female. Setae JV5 (38) longest ventral setae; four pairs of ventral lyrifissures and gv2 as in female. Anal valves as in the female.

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 13 ): Subcapitulum as in female. Chelicera 145 long, 40 wide; movable digit multidentate, 13 minute teeth and a large basal tooth, with one brushy excrescence and a thumb like structure as long as movable digit; fixed digit multidentate and with vestigial pilus dentilis; unsclerotized area at the base of the fixed digit.

Legs: Leg chaetotaxy as in the female. Length of legs I–IV respectively: 420, 360, 345, 439.

Type material. Holotype female: Iran, eastern part of Mazandaran province, Galugah region, latitude 36º 41´55", longitude 53º 50´24", taken from Oryctes nasicornis , 10 July 2005, H. Hajiqanbar coll. (deposited in Acarological Collection, Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran ( AETMU)); same locality and collection data: seven paratype females and 11 paratype males (deposited in AETMU); two paratype females and one paratype male (deposited in Acarology Laboratory, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio ( OSAL 006592-006594)); Iran, western part of Golestan province, Shast-kola region, latitude 36º 48´5˝, longitude 54º 23´42˝, taken from Oryctes nasicornis , 21 June 2007, Sh. Kazemi coll., 15 paratype females and 18 paratype males (deposited in AETMU); two paratype female and two paratype male (deposited in Museum of Zoology, Navarra University, Pamplona, Spain (MZUNAV)). Host deposited in 75% ethanol in Entomological Collection, Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

Etymology. The specific name of the new species is derived from the country of origin.

Biology. Females of W. persicus often contained eggs. The number of eggs in this species ranges from 4– 6. This mite may be quite host specific: in the three years in which the area has been investigated we did not find this mite on any other beetle species.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Weiseronyssus persicus n. sp., female: 1, idiosoma, dorsal aspect; 2, gnathotectum, anterolateral aspect; 3, genua II, dorsal aspect; 4, tarsus IV, ventral aspect.

FIGURES 5 – 10. Weiseronyssus persicus n. sp., female: 5, idiosoma, ventral aspect; 6, chelicera, antiaxial aspect; 7, details of the comb-like structure; 8, palp, anterolateral aspect; 9, palp-tarsus, posterolateral aspect; 10, subcapitulum.

FIGURES 11 – 14. Weiseronyssus persicus n. sp., 11, male, idiosoma, ventral aspect; 12, male, genital opening; 13, male, chelicera, antiaxial aspect; 14, female, sternal and genital shields. Abbreviations: L = latigynial shields; M = mesogynial shield, MS = metasternal shield; S = sternal shield.