Spinibdella ankylotricha, 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 : 9-12

Spinibdella ankylotricha sp. nov. Omukunda, Theron & Ueckermann

Figs 20–27

Description. Female (n=5). Dimensions: Length including gnathosoma 938–1012 (980); width 403–420 (405); length of gnathosoma 258–292 (258); length of chelicerae 229–269 (240); length of palp segments: I 10–13 (12); II + III 115–132 (118); IV 38 –46 (46); des 168–197(183) ves 158–187 (161); length of legs: I 340–390 (345); II 300–390 (372); II 300–363 (321); III 363–426 (395); IV 432–539 (453); length of setae: vi – 156–164 (160); ve 37–44 (42); sci 174; sce 53–60 (56); c1 60–70 (64); c2 65 – 78 (72); d 60–70 (68); e 68 – 69 (68); f1 69–74 (74); f2 60–62 (61); h1 81–86 (84); h2 62–68 (62); distance: vi– vi 73; first interspace (c1 to d) 94.

Gnathosoma ( Figs 21–22 ). Chelicerae slender, with prominent longitudinal lines and small setae inserted as shown in Figure 20 . Movable digit relatively longer than fixed digit and bears a tooth-like structure. Palps ( Fig. 21 ) slightly shorter than hypostome; tibiotarsus with two long terminal sensory setae (des, ves), a long pointed solenidion (ω), on ventral side and a characteristic long curved seta in addition to three normal simple tactile setae. Length of palp genu twice width of tibiotarsus. Palp chaetotaxy from trochanter to tibiotarsus as follows: 0-(6) 7-1-3-4 sts, 1ω, 1 des, 1 ves. Gnathosomal base with fine, transverse striations, hypostome dorsally with same prominent roughly broken longitudinal striations as chelicerae, up to proximal hypostomal setae, venter irregularly striated. Two pairs of hypostomal setae present, inserted as shown in figure 22 but DHS setae apparently absent. Two pairs of adoral setae present.

Dorsum ( Figs 23–24 ). Naso lacking. Prodorsum anteriorly with roughly broken striations, posteriorly with striations sparsely broken to continuous transverse. Setae vi long (160), ve nude, straight and slender. Setae sci long (174), sce similar to ve but much thicker and longer. Setae ve occur in proximal half of prodorsum between vi and sci as shown in figure 23. Two pairs of well-defined unequal eyes, separated by diagonal striations. Distance between eyes about 1.4 times diameter of smaller posterior pair. Idiosomal setae nude; internal humeral (c1) three quarters of first interspace. Proximal idiosomal striation pattern roughly broken transversely while rest is fine, continuous and transverse dorsocentrally and fine longitudinal dorsolaterally ( Fig. 24 ). Following setae present: h1; h2; ps1; ps2; ps3.

Venter ( Fig. 25 ). All tactile setae simple. Eighteen to twenty aggenitals present, first pair posterior to level of coxae IV. Genital plates each with nine simple linearly arranged genital setae, which become progressively longer towards posterior as shown in figure 25. Three pairs of unequal genital discs, anterior pair largest and situated in proximal half with two small ones situated in distal half. Genital tracheae well defined. Eighteen setae present on ovipositor. Anal valves bordered by a pair each of an, ad1, ad2 and ps3.

Legs ( Figs 26–27 ). Legs shorter than idiosoma. Leg II shorter than leg I, rest increase in length progressively. Claws approximately equal to pretarsus with five strong lateral rays. Tarsi I with four dorsal setae simple and strongly curved, six or more pairs of setae plumose, rest smooth and a hollow peg, besides solenidia ( Fig. 26 ). Tarsi II with three setae strongly curved ( Fig. 27 ), seven or more pairs of plumose setae and a solid peg besides solenidia. Tarsi III and IV each have a proximal trichobothrium, latter with an attenuate solenidion lateral to trichobothrium. Tibiae I have attenuate solenidia spread over entire dorsal surface, long attenuate blunt solenidion, solid seta (modified famulus) and a trichobothrium in distal half. Tibiae II have an attenuate and reduced blunt solenidia each in distal half. Tibia III with a distal attenuate solenidion. Trichobothrium on tibia IV in proximal half. Genua I with four attenuate solenidia located in proximal and distal halves. A modified peg also present. Genua II, III and IV have a proximal attenuate solenidion each. Telofemora and basifemora each have a dorsal macro seta. Leg chaetotaxy as follows: coxae I–IV 5 (6)-3(4)-5(4)- 3 sts; trochanters I–IV 1-1 -2-1 sts; basifemora I–IV 10 (9)-8-9-4 sts; telofemora I–IV 11 (10)-10(9)-8-7(6) sts; genua I–IV 7 (6) sts, 5(4) σ, 1 ĸ -7 sts, 1σ – 7 sts, 1σ; tibiae I–IV 14 (12) sts, 5φ, 1ĸ, 1tr -13 (12) sts, 2φ – 12(13) sts, 1φ – 12 sts, 1tr; tarsi I–IV 29 sts, 5ω, 1 ĸ – 28 sts, 2ω, 1 ĸ -27 (26) sts, 1tr - 24 sts, 1ω, 1tr.

Male – unknown.

Tritonymph (n=1). Dimensions: length of body including gnathosoma, 777; length of gnathosoma 204; width 287; length of chelicerae 191; length of palp segments: I 10; II + III 84; IV 10; V 34; des 138; ves 124; length of legs: I 271; II 260; III 313; IV 348; length of setae: vi 127; ve 34; sci,?; sce 46; c1 43; c2 50; d 49; e 48; f1 56; f2 48; h1 65; h2 51; distance: vi– vi 54; c1 about ½ first interspace (c1 to d).

Eleven aggenital setae surround genital plates, first pair between coxae IV. Genital plates with four to five pairs of genital setae. Three pairs of genital discs increase progressively in size to rear as in female. On either side of anal cleft are five setae, ad1, ad2, an1, ps2, ps3. Dorsally it differs from female by having one pair of anal setae and posterior anal setae are on a horizontal line with end of anal cleft. Striation pattern in center of prodorsum only transverse, whereas in female it is both transverse and longitudinal. Palp basifemur has five setae. Tarsi I with same number of ventral setae as in female, but with fewer branched ones. Leg chaetotaxy differs from that of female as follows: coxae I–IV 5 (4)–3(2)–4–3 sts; trochanters I–IV 1-1 -2-1 sts; basifemora I-I 8(7)-7-7-3 sts; telofemora I–IV 8-6 -5-4 sts; genua I–IV 5 sts, 4σ, 1ε(only present on right leg) – 5 sts, 1σ – 5 sts, 1σ-5 sts, 1σ; tibiae I–IV 10 sts, 4φ, 1ĸ, 1tr-9 sts, 2φ – 9 sts, 1φ -8 sts, 1tr; tarsi I–IV 26 sts, 5ω, 1ε-23 sts, 2ω, 1 ĸ -23 sts, 1tr-19 sts, 1ω, 1tr.

Deutonymph (n=1). Dimensions: length of body including gnathosoma 611; length of gnathosoma 170; width 229; length of chelicerae 160; length of palp segments: I 10; II + III 67; IV 10; V 28; des 113; ves, 105; length of legs: I 216; II 191; III 252; IV 271; length of setae: vi, missing; ve 29; sci missing; sce 36; c1 34; c2 38; d 35; e 38; f1 49; f2 40; h1 54; h2 39; distance: vi– vi 46; c1 about 2/3 first interspace (c1 to d).

Eight aggenitals present, first pair posterior to level of coxae IV. Genital plates each with two genital setae and two pairs of genital discs. Ventral anal region has same number of setae as tritonymph while dorsal anal region has only posterior annals. Striation pattern differs slightly from female because anterior and posterior regions of prodorsum are not striated, medially it is faintly striated and anteriorly hysterosoma is non-striated. Rest of hysterosoma either faintly striated or non-striated. Palp basifemur has four setae. Leg chaetotaxy differs from that of female as follows: coxae I–IV 4-2 (1)-4-2 sts; trochanters I–IV 1-1 -2-1 sts; basifemora I–IV 5-4 -2-1 sts; telofemora I–IV 6-4 -4-4 sts; genua I–IV 4 sts, 4σ - 4 sts, 1σ - 4 sts, 1σ - 4 sts, 1σ; tibiae I–IV 6 sts, 3φ, lĸ, 1tr -5sts, 2φ -5sts, 1φ - 4sts, 1tr; tarsi I–IV 22 sts, 4ω, 1 ĸ - 20sts, 2ω, 1 ĸ -19sts, 1tr -18sts, 1ω, 1tr.

Protonymph (n=1). Damaged.

Type material: SOUTH AFRICA, Limpopo Province: Holotype female, 4 female paratypes, 1 tritonymph paratype, 1 deutonymph, paratype and 1 protonymph paratype, Polokwane, from debris mixed with soil under Acacia rhemanniana Schinz (Fabaceae) , 6 December 1973, Coll. J. den Heyer.

Etymology. Ankylos is Greek = bend (curved), trichos = hair, the name refers to the curved setae on the dorsal palp tibiotarsus and dorsal terminal and dorsal setae on legs.

Differential diagnosis. This species resembles Spinibdella tenuirostris ( Ewing, 1917) by having the gnathosoma longer than the palp and minute cheliceral setae. However, it can be distinguished by the number of attenuate and blunt solenidia on tibia I. Spinibdella ankylotricha has four attenuate and one long attenuate blunt solenidion on tibia I, as opposed to eight attenuate and no blunt solenidia on tibia I of S. tenuirostris . It lacks an attenuate solenidion on tarsi II, which is present in S. tenuirostris .

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 25. Spinibdella ankylotricha sp. n.: 20. Female chelicera; 21. Female palp; 22. Female hypostome; 23. Female prodorsum; 24. Female dorsal view; 25. Female ventral view.

FIGURES 26 – 27. Spinibdella ankylotricha sp. n.: 26. Female leg I; 27. Female leg II.