Spinibdella pongolensis, Theron, Elizabeth Omukunda Pieter D & Ueckermann, E A, 2012

Theron, Elizabeth Omukunda Pieter D & Ueckermann, E A, 2012, Spinibdella Thor (Acari: Bdellidae) from southern Africa: descriptions of five new species and the redescription of S. thori (Meyer & Ryke), Zootaxa 3304, pp. 1-24 : 12-15

Spinibdella pongolensis sp. nov. Omukunda, Theron & Ueckermann

Figs 28–36

Description. Female (n = 2). Dimensions: Dimensions: length including gnathosoma 800–944 (800); width 290–382 (290); length of gnathosoma 220–244 (224); length of chelicerae 210–216 (210); DHS 21; length of palp segments: I 10–13 (13); II + III 191–210 (191); IV 23–25 (23); V 34 –38 (34); des 258–267 (258); ves 176–191 (191); length of legs: I 226–362 (226); II 281–342 (281); III 394–416 (394); IV 426–483 (426); length of setae: vi 55; ve 95–108 (108); sci 48; sce 77–93 (93); c1 75–79 (75); c2 137–147 (137); d 68–73 (73); e 63–66 (66); f1 114–121 (114); f2 85–108 (85); h1 146–158 (185); h2 125–139 (139); distance vi– vi 46–48 (46); first interspace (c1 to d) 69–75 (75).

Gnathosoma ( Figs 28–30 ). Chelicerae have weak continuous to sparsely broken longitudinal striations, a pair of strong setae inserted on each as shown in figure 28. Fixed digit rather short and straight, movable digit slightly longer. Palp extends beyond hypostome. Palp tibiotarsi have one long blunt solenidion on ventral side as shown in figure 29. Palp chaetotaxy from trochanter to tibiotarsus as follows: 0-9-1-4-4 sts, 1 ω, des, ves. Hypostome with continuous to rough longitudinal striations, base with fine transverse striations. Hypostome has two pairs of strong setae and adoral setae as shown in figure 30. Dorsal hypostomal setae exceptionally long (21 µm).

Dorsum ( Figs 31–32 ). Naso simple, detectable median eye posterior to naso. All dorsal setae simple. Setae ve straight, located in anterior half of prodorsum and longer than sce. Setae vi and sci lost in this specimen. Center of prodorsum with sparsely broken to continuous transverse striations that strongly curve outward towards anterior. Posterior striations slightly curve outward posteriorly as seen in Figure 31 . Five detectable eyes present, anterior pair separated from posterior pair by transverse striations. Distance between them equals diameter of anterior pair. Sejugal groove conspicuous. Setae c1 about half first interspace. Setae c2, twice length of c1 as shown in figure 32. Internal clunals (h1) long. Posterior annals (ps1) near anal cleft and two pairs of anal setae present.

Venter ( Figs 33–34 ). All ventral setae simple. Twenty-eight to 34 long blunt aggenital setae, first two unpaired between coxae IV. Some may be slightly branched distally. Ten to 11 pairs of blunt linearly arranged genital setae equally long as shown in figure 33. Three pairs of equal genital discs, first pair in anterior half and two pairs in posterior half. Genital tracheae well defined. Ovipositor with 18 setae and a characteristic lip as seen in figure 34. Ovipositor has longitudinal striations. Anal cleft has two pairs of anal setae (ad2 and an1).

Legs ( Figs 35–36 ). Legs shorter than idiosoma. Leg II shorter than leg I while rest increase progressively. All tactile setae simple. Genu I with an attenuate solenidion, tibia I has a distal trichobothrium, solid attenuate famulus and two closely associated attenuate solenidia as shown in figure 35. Tarsi I have one attenuate, two blunt solenidia. Claws nude and shorter than pretarsi. Tibiae II have one attenuate and one reduced blunt solenidion each. Tarsi II have only one blunt solenidion in proximal half as shown in figure 36. Genua, telofemora and basifemora each have a macroseta. Tibiae III have a distal attenuate solenidion while tarsi III have a proximal trichobothrium. Tibiae IV have a trichobothrium in distal half. Tarsi IV have an attenuate solenidion anterior to a proximal trichobothrium. Leg chaetotaxy as follows: coxae I–IV 7 (8-9)-6-9-4(3) sts; trochanters I–IV 1-1 -2-1 sts; basifemora I–IV 11-7 (8-9)-6-3(2) sts; telofemora I–IV 7 (8)-8(7)-5(6)-7(6) sts; genua I–IV 7 sts, lσ -6(7)-5(7)-5(6) sts; tibiae I–IV 16 (15) sts, 2φ, 1ĸ, 1tr -13(12) sts, 2φ -12 sts, 1φ -14(15) sts, 1tr; tarsi I–IV 29 (30) sts, 3ω -29 sts, lω, 1 ĸ -28(27) sts, 1tr -26 sts, 1tr, 1ω.

Tritonymph (n = 3). Dimensions: length including gnathosoma 714–756; width 277–382; length of gnathosoma 191–210; length of chelicerae 164–182; length of palp segments: I 10–12; II + III 143–162; IV 19–21 V 31–38; des 204–229; ves 134–162; length of legs: I 273–309; II 210–298; III 258–361; IV 317–407; length of setae vi 103–113; ve 336–46; sci broken off; sce 46; c 1 29–42; c2 61–80; d 32; e 34; f1 64; f2 49; h1 71–76; h2 61–66; DHS 13; distance: vi– vi 36–48; first interspace (c1 to d) 57–76.

Three pairs of genital discs, anterior pair in proximal half and posterior two pairs in distal half. Six pairs of blunt genital setae linearly arranged, of approximate length. Twenty two aggenital setae surround genital region. Anterior aggenital setae unpaired and occur between coxae IV. Ventrally, three pairs of anal setae (ad2, an1, an2) occur. Setae h1 are very long and flank anal cleft. Palp basifemora have seven setae each. Leg chaetotaxy differs from that of female as follows: coxae I–IV 7 (6) -5(4)-5-3 sts; trochanters I–IV 1-1 -2-1 sts; basifemora I–IV 7-7 -4- 3 sts; telofemora 1– IV 5-5 (4)-5(4)-4 sts; genua I–IV 5 sts, 1σ-5-5-4 sts; tibiae I–IV 12 sts, 2φ, 1ε, 1tr -8 sts, 2φ - 8 sts, 1φ - 11 sts, 1tr; tarsi I–IV 25 (24) sts, 3ω - 25 sts, 1ω, 1 ĸ -23 sts, 1tr - 22(21) sts, 1ω, 1tr.

Deutonymph (n = 2). Dimensions: Length including gnathosoma 622–648; width 227–238; length of gnathosoma 153–157 length of chelicerae 138–141; length of palp segments: I 8–13; II + III 113–117; IV 15–17; V 27–29; des 176–185; ves 124–128; length of legs: I 224; II 197–225; III 224–237; IV 227–269; length of setae: DHS 13–15; ve 33–34; sci broken off; sce, 29–31; c 1 25–29, c2 57; d 29; e 33; f1 57; f2 40; h1 64; h2 52; distance: vi– vi 31–33; first interspace (c1 to d) 54.

This developmental stage has two pairs of genital discs; two pairs of genital setae and 12 aggenital setae, first pair between coxae IV. Three pairs of anal setae (ad2, an1, an2) ventrally. Dorsally, anal cleft not yet visible and only posterior anal setae present. Palp basifemora have four setae each. Leg chaetotaxy differs from that of female as follows: coxae I–IV 5-4 -4(3)-2 sts; trochanters I–IV 1-1 -2-1 sts; basifemora I–IV 6-5 -3-1 sts; telofemora I–IV 5-4 - 3-4 sts; genua I–IV 5 sts, 1σ - 5 -5-4 sts; tibiae I–IV 6 sts, 2φ, 1ĸ-6 sts, 2φ -5 sts, 1φ -7 sts, 1tr; tarsi I–IV 20 sts, 3ω -21 sts, 1ω-20 sts, 1tr -18 sts, 1ω, 1tr.

Protonymph (n = 2). Dimensions: length including gnathosoma 459–631; width 191–243; length of gnathosoma 134–136; length of chelicerae 113–120; length of palp segments: I 8–10; II + III 103–113; IV 13–17; V 23–29; des 141–159; ves 86–103; length of setae: DHS 12–13; vi 63 –84; ve 27–29; sci 75; sce 21–27; c1 29; c2 44–57; d 27–28; e 29–31; f1 65–68; f2 41–42; h1 63; h2 50; distance: vi– vi 23–27; first interspace (c1 to d) 42–67.

This ontogenetic stage has one pair of genital discs, one pair of genital setae and seven aggenital setae, first unpaired seta occurring between coxae IV. Two pairs of anal setae ventrally. Tibiae have one seta each. Leg chaetotaxy differs from that of female as follows: coxae I–IV 4-2 -3-0 sts; trochanters I–IV 1-1 -1-0 sts; basifemora I–IV 2- 2 -1-0 sts; telofemora I–IV 5-4 -4-0 sts; genua I–IV 5 sts, 1σ -5-5-0 sts; tibiae I–IV, 4 sts, 2φ, 1ĸ, 1tr -5 sts; 2φ -5 sts, 1φ -1 sts; tarsi I–IV 16 sts, 2ω -16 sts, 1ω-16 sts, 1tr -6 sts.

Larva (n = 3). Dimensions: length including gnathosoma 382–407; width 172–191; length of gnathosoma 105–107; length of chelicerae 90–96; length of palp segments: I 8; II + III 84 –86; IV 10–15; V 21–23; des 118–122; ves 75; length of legs: I 151–143; II 145–147; III 183–191; length of setae: vi 61 –76; ve 19–21; sci 59; sce 23–28; c1 23; c2 38; d 21–25; e 22–24; f1 46–48; f 2 23–25; h1 60; h2 40–41; distance: vi– vi 19; first interspace (c1 to d) 38–46. Genital region not developed; three pairs of legs and basifemora not divided. Dorsally posterior annals have not yet developed. Ventrally three pairs of anal setae. Leg chaetotaxy differs from that of female as follows: coxae I–III 2 sts-1 sts-0; trochanters I–III 0-0-0; femora I–III 6-2 -4 sts; genua I–III 5 sts, 1σ -5-5 sts; tibiae I–III 5 sts, 2φ, 1ĸ -3 sts, 2φ -5 sts, 1φ; tarsi I–III 13 sts, 1ω -13 sts, 1ω -10 sts, 1tr.

Type material: SOUTH AFRICA, KwaZulu/ Natal Province: Holotype female, 1 female paratype, 3 tritonymph paratypes, 2 deutonymph paratypes, 2 protonymph paratypes and 3 larva paratypes, Pongola, from soil, 29 October 1968, Edenville, Free State, Coll. N. de L. Genis.

Etymology. The species was named after the type locality.

Differential diagnosis. This species resembles Spinibdella thori (Meyer & Ryke) but can be recognized on account of the transverse striations that curve anteromedially on the prodorsum, as seen in figure 31; tibiae I with two closely associated attenuate solenidia; tibiae II with one attenuate and one reduced blunt solenidia; tarsi II with one blunt solenidion in a distal position and genua I with an attenuate solenidion. Setae c2 about twice as long as c1.

Figures

FIGURES 28 – 34. Spinibdella pongolensis sp. n.: 28. Female chelicera; 29. Female palp; 30. Female hypostome; 31. Female prodorsum; 32. Female dorsal view; 33. Female ventral view; 34. Female ovipositor.

FIGURES 35 – 36. Spinibdella pongolensis sp. n.: 35. Female leg I; 36. Female leg II.