Spinibdella namibiensis, 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 : 15-18

Spinibdella namibiensis sp. nov. Omukunda, Theron & Ueckermann

Figs 37–44

Description. Female (n = 9). Dimensions: length including gnathosoma 865–1060 (890); width 311–426 (422); length of gnathosoma 223–233 (233); length of chelicerae 204–210 (206); DHS 15–19 (15); length of palp segments: I 13; II + III 191–214 (195); IV 19–25 (20); V 34 –36 (36); de 254–271 (263); ves 172–187 (172); length of legs: I 304–344 (331); II 319–365 (323); III 397–441 (389); IV 511–564 (562); length of setae: vi 134–143 (134); ve 52–54 (51); sci 99–132 (100); sce 55–59 (59); c1 54; c2 76–86 (79); d 56; e 61–62 (63); f1 73–74 (72); f2 70–77 (77); h1 88–93 (81); h2 86–88 (83); distance: vi– vi 44–48 (44); first interspace (c1 to d) 78–97 (81).

Gnathosoma ( Figs 37–39 ). Chelicerae have rough longitudinal striations and a pair of strong setae dorsally. Both movable and fixed digits straight with former longest. Setae inserted as shown in figure 37. Palp extends beyond hypostome. Palp tibiotarsus has a long blunt solenidion ventrally. Distal setae comparatively long as shown in figure 38. Palp chaetotaxy from trochanter to tibiotarsus as follows: 0-9-1-4-4 sts, 1ω, 1 des, 1 ves. Hypostome has weak longitudinal striations while base has fine strong transverse striations. Two pairs of strong hypostomal setae inserted as shown in figure 39. Two pairs of short adoral setae present.

Dorsum ( Figs 40–41 ). Naso simple, median eye detectable. Prodorsal setae simple. Setae vi and sce relatively long. Setae ve, straight, long and occur in anterior half of prodorsum as shown in figure 40. Setae sce straight, long and slightly thicker than vi. Middle prodorsum has roughly broken striations as shown in figure 41. Internal apodemes halfway between vi and sci. Two pairs of detectable eyes separated by distance equal to diameter of smaller posterior pair. Longitudinal striations between anterior and posterior pairs of eyes. Longitudinal striations on dorsolateral prodorsum. Sejugal groove conspicuous. Setae c1 about 2/3 first interspace. Setae c 2 may be pilose in some individuals and long but not as in Spinibdella pongolensis . Setae f2 occur on horizontal line with h1 strikingly long in some individuals. In some individuals, anal cleft not dorsally visible. Setae ps1 and ps2 finely pilose.

Venter ( Fig. 42 ). All ventral setae pilose. Forty long blunt pilose aggenitals. First setae unpaired between coxae III as shown in figure 42. Ten pairs of linearly arranged blunt pilose genital setae equal in length on genital plates. Three pairs of small genital discs, first pair in anterior half and rest in posterior half. Eighteen setae occur on ovipositor. Three pairs of anal setae present (ad1, ad2, an1). Anal cleft closed in some individuals.

Legs ( Figs 43–44 ). Legs shorter than idiosoma. Some individuals have leg II shorter than leg I. Rest increase progressively. All coxal setae pilose. Other leg segments may have either both pilose and simple or only simple setae. Basifemora and telofemora III and IV have a macroseta each. Genua I and II have duplex setae each in distal half while III have a reduced attenuate solenidion. Tibiae I have two attenuate solenidia, one shorter than other, a solid attenuate famulus and a trichobothrium distally as shown in figure 43. Tibiae II have a reduced blunt solenidion each as seen in figure 44. Tibiae III have an attenuate solenidion, tibiae IV have a trichobothrium. Setae on tarsi smooth. Tarsi I have one attenuate solenidion proximally and two blunt solenidia distally. Pretarsi longer than claws which lack rays. Tarsus II has a simple solid famulus proximally and two blunt solenidia distally. Tarsus III has a proximal trichobothrium. Tarsus IV has a proximal trichobothrium. Leg chaetotaxy as follows: coxae I–IV 10-8-6 -6sts; trochanters I–IV 1-1 -2-1 sts; basifemora I–IV 10-9-8 -3 sts; telofemora I–IV 7-7 -4-5 sts; genua I–IV 6 sts, 1duplex -6 sts, 1duplex -6 sts, 1σ -7 sts; tibiae I–IV 14 sts, 2φ, 1ĸ, 1tr -14 sts, 1φ -14 sts, 1φ -14 sts, 1tr; tarsi I–IV 30 sts, 3ω-30 sts, 2ω, 1 ĸ -30 sts, 1tr -27 sts, 1tr.

Tritonymph (n = 6). Dimensions: length including gnathosoma 564–725; width 290–325; length of gnathosoma 180–193; length of chelicerae 153–178; DHS 13; length of palp segments I 10; II + III 159–160; IV 19–21; V 31; des 224; ves 138–147; length of legs: I 250–262; II 246–264; III 351–353; IV 411–579; length of setae: vi 115; ve 46; sci 115; sce 44–48; c1 44–46; c2 71–76; d 45; e 49–50; f1 57; f2 53–57; h1 75–76; h2 60–65; distance: vi– vi 36; first interspace (c1 to d) 65–82.

Twenty eight blunt pilose aggenital setae, first unpaired between coxae IV. Five pairs of pilose genital setae linearly arranged on two genital plates. Three pairs of genital discs, proximal pair in anterior half while two other pairs in distal half. Setae ps1 on horizontal level with termination of anal cleft, last setae dorsally. Three pairs of anal setae, namely ad2, an1 and an2 occur ventrally. Palp basifemora with seven setae. Leg chaetotaxy differs from that of female as follows: coxae I–IV 8-6 -5-4 sts; trochanters I–IV 1-1 -2-1 sts; basifemora I–IV 6-8 -7-3 sts; telofemora I–IV 5-6 -4-4 sts; genua I–IV 4 sts 1 duplex -4 sts, 1 duplex -4 sts, 1σ -5 sts; tibiae I–IV 10 sts, 2φ, 1ĸ, 1tr -9 sts, 1φ -9 sts, 1φ -11 sts, 1tr; tarsi I–IV 25 sts, 3ω-24 sts, 2 ω,1 ĸ -22 sts, 1tr -21 sts, 1tr.

Deutonymph (n = 1). Dimensions: length including gnathosoma 502; width 218; length of gnathosoma 168; length of chelicerae 143; DHS, 10; length of palp segments: I 10; II + III 134; IV 19; V 27; des 185; ves 117; length of legs: I 212; II 203; III 256; IV 309; length of setae: vi–ve 38; sci 96; sce 38; c1 38; c2 65; d 35; e, broken off; f1 51; f2 45; h1 65; h2 56; distance: vi–v i 29; first interspace (c1 to d) 61.

Sixteen long pilose aggenitals; first pair between coxae IV. One pair of pilose genital setae. Two pairs of genital discs. Venter with three pairs of anal setae as in tritonymph. Leg chaetotaxy differs from that of the female as follows: coxae I–IV 6-4 -4-2 sts; trochanters I–IV 1-1 -2-1 sts; basifemora I–IV 5-5 -4-1 sts; telofemora I–IV 5-4 -4-3 sts; genua I–IV 4 sts, 1 duplex -4 sts, 1 duplex -4, 1σ -4 sts; tarsi I–IV 20 sts, 3φ -20sts, 2φ, 1ĸ -21sts, 1tr -19sts, 1tr.

Type material. NAMIBIA: Holotype female, 6 female paratypes, 3 tritonymph paratype, 1 deutonymph paratype, Gobabeb P.D. Theron; SOUTH AFRICA, Northern Cape Province: Springbok, Northern Cape from soil, 11-III- 1980, 2 paratype females and 3 paratype tritonymphs, from Antizoma miersiana Harv. (Menispermaceae) , 21 km south of Springbok, D.J. Botha, 27-ix-1973.

Etymology. This species is named after the type locality.

Differential diagnosis. This species closely resembles Spinibdella thori but can be recognized by: roughly broken transverse striations medially on the prodorsum, unlike continuous in S thori ; two attenuate solenidia on tibiae I, one which is about half the length of the longest one; tibia II has a reduced blunt solenidion; genua I and II have duplex setae while III have a reduced attenuate solenidion; leg IV strikingly long (over 500 µm). The South African material however has some variations in that the vertical setae are both simple and finely pilose.

Figures

FIGURES 37 – 42. Spinibdella namibiensis sp. n.: 37. Female chelicera; 38. Female palp; 39. Female hypostome; 40. Female hypostome; 41. Female dorsal view; 42. Female ventral view.

FIGURES 43 – 44. Spinibdella namibiensis sp. n.: 43. Female leg I; 44. Female leg II.