Nothrolohmannia baloghi, A, 2003

A, R., 2003, Nothrolohmannia Baloghi Sp. N. (Acari: Oribatida), From Rainforest In Papua New Guinea, And Reevaluation Of Nothrolohmanniidae, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 49 (1), pp. 25-42 : 27-35

Nothrolohmannia baloghi sp. n.

( Figs 1–20 )

Diagnosis. Distinguishable from the only other known species, N. calcarata , by the following character states (those of N. calcarata inparentheses). Smaller, total length 328–377 (vs. 520–550). Most dorsal setae proportionally shorter; e.g. c1 barely reaches insertion of d1 (vs. twice as long as c1–d1 distance); exception is e1, more thanhalf length of f1 (vs. less than half). Sensillus distinctly pectinate (vs. inconspicuously barbed). Medial group of notogastral porose areas not strongly convex, with 6–8 areas in anterior row and 3–5 in posterior row (vs. strongly convex and with 8–9 and 4–6, respectively); small porose area between setae c3 and cp absent (vs. present). Epimeral setae heteromorphic, 1a and 2a very dissimilar; 1a large, broadly phylliform, with extended narrow tip, and several weakly formed serial veins, pair nearly adjacent; 2a long but simple, with inconspicuous coat (vs. pair 1a not adjacent or modified, similar to 2a). Fused anal and adanal plates demarcated by groove only posteriorly (vs. sharply defined groove present whole length of plates). Three pairs of adanal setae (vs. two pairs). Subcapitular seta h nearly adjacent, with vane-like hyaline coat, unusually large, tapered distally, curved mediad insemicircle (vs. separated by 2 or 3 alveolar diameters, coat thinner, uniform throughout length, only moderately curved).

Size and general appearance. Color orange-yellow. About 1.6–1.9 times longer than broad (depending on extension of sejugal articulation), almost twice as broad as deep; hysterosoma almost twice width of proterosoma ( Fig. 1 ), but general outline nearly elliptical with legs appressed ( Fig. 8 ). Dimensions of contracted specimens (n=8): mean (range) total length 350 (328–377); mean maximum width 209 (196–221). Nearly all exposed cuticle covered with dense pelt of small, sharp spicules ( Figs 8–16 ); larger spicules with well formed edges ( Fig. 10 ) (see Remark 1).

Prodorsum. In dorsal aspect, widest in proximal half, strongly narrowed distally; weakly narrowed at level of bothridium. Structurally complex, mostly due to grooves and concavities associated with coaptation of retracted, appressed legs I. Principal lateral concavity creates slightly recurved, dorsal flange under which middle region of leg I can be appressed ( Figs 8, 12 ), reminiscent of lamella in brachypyline mites; flange directed anteromediad, ending at transverse groove just anterior to seta le ( Fig. 1 ). Transverse groove nearly encircles rostrum, setting off truncate or hammerhead-like anterior portionthat bears rostral setae. Rostral tectum anteriorly free of spicules, with doubled margin distally ( Figs 9 , 17 ); true lateral margin with thin, sharp denticles, additional row of thin submarginal denticles on inner face of tectal limb more conspicuous, divided by ridges in groups of 5 or 6 ( Fig. 18 ). Interlamellar (in), anterior exobothridial (exa) and lamellar (le) setae similar inform: core finely attenuate, but with hyaline coat mostly on outer curvature of seta (therefore visible to variable degrees depending on orientation); coat ciliate proximally, cilia becoming less well defined distally. Setae in and le curved posteriad, exa anteriad; lengths about 45, 85, and 60, respectively. Posterior exobothridial seta (exp) simple, short (18). Rostral seta thicker than others, with inconspicuous, non-ciliate coat; branched near base with posterior ramus short (25), anterior ramus much longer (100) and strongly recurved near rostral margin to form U-shape ( Fig. 9 ). Bothridium with slightly projecting rim; internally with well formed porose saccule; thin cuticular layer above each saccular of tines on sensillus. Small porose area anteromedial to seta d2 often absent lower right is preanal plate in posterior aspect (scale bar 50 µm)

Figs 3, 5, 7 to same scale (25 µm); Figs 4, 6 to same scale (50 µm)

pore canal bulges away from bothridium, creating many thin-walled, minute lobes. Sensillus (ss) long (ca. 100), nearly straight or slightly curved, uniformly pectinate for most its length, with other scattered small barbs ( Fig. 11 ); alignment of tines changes abruptly near base, from dorsal to posterior face, edges of basal tines extend across width of sensillus to give effect of closely-spaced annuli ( Fig. 10 ).

Notogaster . Transverse scissures absent, faint lines of weakness seen anterior and posterior to setal row e in transmitted light, when notogaster is strongly cleared ( Fig. 1 ) (see Remark 1). Suprapleural scissure ( Fig 12 , arrowhead) complete posteriorly, U-shaped, isolating notaspis from paired pleuraspis. Notogastral surface undulating, due to multiple, usually paired, depressions ( Figs 1 , 8 ); one transverse depression spans notoaspis, posterior to setal row e. Pleuraspis also with depressions, two being more sharply defined and forming pedofossae for receiving retracted legs III and IV, respectively ( Figs 2 , 15 ). Humeral region with projecting boss, appearing like tubercle in dorsal aspect and bearing seta c3. With two discernable pairs of lyrifissures: ia located anterior to pedofossa III ( Fig. 2 ), ventral to suprapleural scissure; im near the lateral contour ( Fig. 1 ), dorsal to suprapleural scissure at approximate level of setal row e; no evidence of ip, ih, or ips. Without opisthonotal gland. Multiple small (6–8 diameter) porose areas present, mostly in two rows posterior to setae c1, anterior row with 6 to 8 areas, posterior row with 3 to 5 areas; one additional pair present anteromedial to seta f2, another sometimes present anteromedial to d2; no porose area in vicinity of c2. Notogastral setae mostly 80–100 long, similar in form to prodorsal seta le; e1, p1 shorter (60); p2, p3 shortest (ca 45), with hyaline coat relatively broad basally.

Coxisternum. Overall structure typical of superfamily ( Fig. 2 ): epimeres I and II fully fused, epimeres III and IV fully fused. Anterolateral tubercle of epimere III strongly developed, rectangular, opposed across sejugal articulation by swelling on epimere II. Anterior sternal apodeme weakly developed onepimere II, usually brokenat level of seta 2a; posterior sternal apodeme longer, extending from sejugal articulation posteriorly almost to level of leg IV insertion. Apodeme I moderately developed, projected toward seta 1a; apodeme II long, nearly reaching sternal apodeme; apodeme III directed mediad, reaching halfway to sternal apodeme; apodeme IV similar, but less than half as long. With boss projecting from body outline posterodorsal to leg I insertion. Epimeral setation (I-IV) 3–1–3–4 (see Remark 2); seta 1a unusually large (70), broadly phylliform, with extended narrow tip and several weakly formed serial veins, pair separated by only alveolar diameter or less; setae 1b, 1c, 3c, 4d (35–40) with moderate hyaline coat; setae 2a, 3a relatively long (50), with only thin hyaline coat; setae 3b, 4b, 4c short (ca 15–20), simple, 4b inserted far anteriorly, at level of apodeme III; seta 4a longest of all ventral setae (ca 75), with slight hyaline coat, pair separated by alveolar diameter or less.

Anogenital region. Aggenital plates fused broadly and imperceptibly with epimere IV; without aggenital seta. Genital and fused anal-adanal plates of similar overall size; each pair almost as wide as long. Preanal plate ( Fig. 2 , lower right) small, narrow, hidden in vertical cuticle behind genital plate. Genital plate with posterolateral corner expanded as small, subtriangular tectum; setae distributed as shown in Fig. 2 , three posterolateral setae (20–25) with small hyaline vanes, others simple and slightly smaller (12–20). Fusion of anal and adanal plates complete, but line of fusion indicated by shallow groove in posterior two-thirds; medial margin of plates interdigitated anteriorly; with two pairs of simple anal setae (ca 15) and three of larger (ca 30), vaned adanal setae.

Gnathosoma . Subcapitulum anarthric, generally similar to that of Malacoangelia ( GRANDJEAN, 1935) , except posterior margin of mentum strongly convex medially, and with subrectangular boss in posterolateral corners. Proximal two-thirds of ventral face with dense spicules, distal third mostly without ( Fig. 16 ). Paired rasp-like patch of fine teeth, with several larger lateral denticles, located on dorsal face of each gena, near base of labrum (see Remark 3). Subcapitular seta (h) unusually large (ca 50), hyaline coat strongly developed, especially on external curvature, tapered distally; tive tarsi in place (10 µm)

pair separated only by alveolar width and strongly curved mediad, overlapping, giving outline of heart or circle. Genal seta a and lateral of two m seta (20) simple or with very slight coat; medial m seta (ca 30) with small hyaline coat. Rutellum and adoral setae ( Fig. 17 ) as in Malacoangelia , except spatulate or2 with tines finer and more numerous (about 10). Palp similar in structure and setation to that of Hypochthonius ( GRANDJEAN, 1946) , except genual seta and setae cmp and vt2” absent. Fused distal eupathid with three branches (ul’, ul”, sul) divergent. Chelicera ( Fig. 19 ) elongated, typical of face of chelicera (same scale as Fig. 19 )

family; cheliceral frame attaches at about proximal one-fourth (i.e. basal quarter of chelicera internalized as apodeme; see Remark 4). Chelicera with single seta, inserted mid-dorsally, short, simple, Narrow fixed and moveable cheliceral digits each with four opposing teeth (including distal points); with short series of denticles on adaxial face ( Fig. 20 ) and several on dorsal midline.

Legs ( Figs 3–6 ). All legs relatively short (leg IV less thanhalf length of body), with rather complex structure. Trochanters I and II with lamelliform tectum on distal abaxial face, like halfcollar in lateral aspect; trochanter III with large ventral spur-like apophysis. Femora all with proximoventral apophysis, under which tarsus lies when legs are retracted ( Fig. 15 ), as well as various keels or ridges. Genua of simple form, but tibiae differently shaped, with various keels or ridges; tibia I with short dorsal spine immediately abaxial to solenidion. Tarsi weakly sigmoid in lateral aspect; lyrifissure present proximally on each tarsus, near dorsal midline, but distinctly on anterior face; claw with single dorsal tooth at midlength. Most setae of basal four leg segments with hyaline coat, commonly with strong serration; core of trochanteral and some femoral setae nearly isodiametric throughout. Other forms include: l’ of genua and tibiae I and II, and v’ of tibiae III and IV simple; v’ of tibiae I and II relatively large, coarsely branched; seta d of tibiae I and II minute, inconspicuous, coupled to respective solenidion, inserted immediately distal to it, in separate alveolus. Setae of tarsi simple, barbed, or with hyaline coat, as indicated in Figs 3–6 ; seta s eupathidial ontarsus I, proral pair probably eupathidial. Setal counts (legs I–IV, famulus included in tarsus I count): trochanters (0–0–2–2), femora (5–5–3–3), genua (3–3–2–2), tibiae (5–5–3–3), tarsi (19–13–11–12); identities given in Table 1, and partially in Figs 3, 5, 7 . Iteral setae present only on tarsus I, both proral setae absent from tarsi II and III, and p” absent from tarsus IV (p’ also absent on one of four legs IV studied). Setae of pair pv with strong prime disjunction on tarsi I and II but nearly opposite each other on III or IV. Ventral pair with strong abaxial displacement on tibia I; v’ in ventral midline, v ” high onabaxial face. Seta a’ of tarsus II enlarged, strongly branched, inserted high on adaxial face. Solenidial counts: genua (1–1–1–1), tibiae (1–1–1–0), tarsi (2–2–0–0). Genual solenidia piliform; tibial solenidia of various shapes (flagelliform onI, ceratiform onII, baculiform onIII); tarsus I solenidia ceratiform

() and piliform (), both solenidia of tarsus II baculiform. Only tibial solendia coupled to respective seta d; genu solenidia inserted at level proximal to d onI and II, well distal to d onIII and IV.

Famulus (e) of tarsus I tapered, but not attenuate, clustered with ft” and 2.

Type material. Holotype from rainforest litter near Vanimo (2°41’S, 141°18’E), in western Papua New Guinea, collected with Berlese funnel by R. W. TAYLOR, 10-vii-1972 (samples ANIC 413–415 ); preserved in alcohol and deposited in the Australian National Insect Collection ( ANIC), CSIRO, Canberra , Australia. Eight paratypes with same data as holotype; four deposited in ANIC (alcohol), one deposited in the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest (alcohol), three in the author’s collection(one inalcohol, two dissected onslides).

Figures

Fig. 1. Nothrolohmannia baloghi sp. n., adult female: dorsal aspect, legs only partially drawn (scale bar 50 µm). Separate details on right include two variations of anterior porose area clusters and detail

Fig. 2. Nothrolohmannia baloghi sp. n., adult female: ventral aspect. Setae of legs, lateral lips of subcapitulum, and some epimere I setae represented only by dots marking their insertions; detail at

Figs 3–7. Nothrolohmannia baloghi sp. n., legs of adult female, abaxial aspect: 3 = right leg I (only basal part of flagelliform solenidion 1 drawn, famulus separately drawn in upper right); 4 = right leg II, trochanter and tarsal setae not drawn; 5 = distal region of right leg II, with seta a’ drawnseparately above tarsus; 6 = left leg III, tarsal seta not drawn; 7 = left leg IV (seta p’ may be absent from tarsus).

Figs 8–12. Nothrolohmannia baloghi sp. n., adult (scale bar lengths in parentheses): 8 = dorsal aspect, with legs appressed to body in defensive posture (20 µm); 9 = anterolateral aspect of prodorsum and partial leg I (10µm); 10 = detail of left dorsosejugal regioninsame view as Fig. 8, showing base of sensillus (left) and cuticular spicules (partially seen setae are in (center) and c1) (5 µm); 11 = partial frontal view, showing basal half of right sensillus (5 µm); 12 =left lateral aspect,white arrowhead on suprapleural scissure (20 µm)

Figs 13–15. Nothrolohmannia baloghi sp.n., adult (scale bar lengths in parentheses):13 = ventral aspect (20 µm); 14 = closeup of posterior venter, with white arrowhead indicating groove between fused anal and adanal plates (10 µm); 15 = partial ventral aspect (anterior to left) showing left legs III and IV retracted into pedofossae – white arrowheads indicate femoral tubercles, which hold respec-

Figs 16–20. Nothrolohmannia baloghi sp.n., adult (scale bar lengths in parentheses):16 = ventral aspect, anterior third (10 µm); 17 = detail of anterior subcapitulum and rostral margin (3 µm); 18 = detail of submarginal denticles (3 µm); 19 = chelicera, lateral aspect (10 µm); 20 = denticles on adaxial