Dendrolaelaspis longisetosus (Shcherbak, 1977)

Mohammadi, Leila & Hajizadeh, Jalil, 2024, Review of the family Digamasellidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) in Iran with three new records and a key to species, Persian Journal of Acarology 13 (3), pp. 375-393 : 377-380

Dendrolaelaspis longisetosus (Shcherbak, 1977)

Dendrolaelaps (Dendrolaelaspis) longisetosus Shcherbak , in Shcherbak and Gomelauri (1977): 210. Dendrolaelaps (Dendrolaelaspis) longisetosus — Hirschmann and Wiśniewski (1982): 142. Dendrolobatus longisetosus — Shcherbak (1983): 74.

Dendrolaelaspis longisetosus — Shcherbak (1980): 181; Karg and Schorlemmer (2009): 68; Castilho, 2012: 194.

Adult female (n = 3)

Gnathosoma – Epistome with tree short prongs ( Fig. 3 ); palp apotele two-tined; fixed cheliceral digit 26 long, with a few small teeth; movable cheliceral digit 32 long, with four teeth; corniculi horn-like; hypostomal setae smooth, h1 20, h2 13 (12–14), h3 13 (12–14), pc 20.

Idiosoma – 320 long, 180 (176–184) wide.

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 1 ) – Podonotal and opisthonotal shields separate, both smooth. Podonotal shield with 22 pairs setae (j1-6, z1-6, s1-6, r2-5), three distinguishable lyrifissures (id1, id4 and id6), two pairs of gland pores (gd1 and gd2) and three scleronoduli (in one specimen it seems that the median scleronodulus is a fusion of two scleronoduli). Opisthonotal shield with posterior margin bilobed; with 15 pair setae (J1-5, Z1-5, S1-5, of which Z5 and S5 on the posterior dorsal shield lobes), seven pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures (idm1, idm2, idm3, idm4, idl1, idl3 and idl4) and a pair of gland pores (gd8), setae R1–5 on soft cuticle .

Measurements of setae: j1 15 (14–16), j2 31 (30–32), j3 36 (36), j4 33 (30–36), j5 32 (30–34), j6 32 (31–34), z1 15 (14–16), z2 34 (32–36), z3 32 (31–33), z4 35 (34–38), z5 34 (34), z6 38 (38), s1 25 (24–26), s2 30 (28–32), s3 35 (34–36), s4 37 (34–38), s5 39 (38–40), s6 37 (36–38), r2 28 (26–30), r3 29 (26–31), r4 32 (30–34), r5 31 (30–32), J1 34 (34), J2 36 (32–40), J3 39 (38–40), J4 40 (40), J5 17 (16–18), Z1 40 (40), Z2 40 (38–42), Z3 40 (38–42), Z4 21 (20–24), Z5 26 (26), S1 37 (34–38), S2 37 (36–38), S3 38 (36–40), S4 36 (35–38), S5 26 (26); R1 21 (20–22), R2 33 (32–34), R3 35 (32–38), R4 35 (34–36), R5 32 (30–34). All setae smooth, relatively long and usually inserted in humps.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 2 ) – Tritosternum with elongated base 25 (24–26) and totally separate laciniae. Sternal and genital shields smooth. Sternal shield 93 (90–100) long and 65 (62–68) wide, with four pairs of setae, st1 20, st2 19 (16–22), st3 13 (12–15), st4 16 and three pairs of lyrifissures (iv1, iv2 and iv3); genital shield 63 (60–64) wide, bearing a pair of setae st5 19 (18–20), iv5 located on soft cuticle. Ventrianal shield broad triangular, transversally striate; length 111 (110–112), width 116 (112–118); with five pairs of preanal setae, Jv1 18 (16–20), Jv2 23 (22–24), Jv3 23 (22–24), Zv2 20 (16–22), Zv3 24 (22–25) in addition to para-anal 17 (16–18) and post-anal 15 (14–16). Soft cuticle surrounding the ventrianal shield with Zv1 18 (16–20), Jv4 29 (28–30), three pairs of lyrifissures (ivo) and a pair of partially fused metapodal plates on each side; anal opening 21 (20–22) is larger than other species of the genus. Peritremes extending anteriorly to level of middle part of coxa I.

Legs ( Figs. 4–7 ) – Lengths, excluding pretarsi: leg I 259 (244–272), leg II 184 (180–192), leg III 167 (164–172), leg IV 223 (220–228). Chaetotaxy: Leg I: coxa 0-0/2, 0/0-0 (2), trochanter 1-1/1, 2/0-1 (6), femur 3-1/1, 1/2-4 (12), genu 2-0/3, 2/3-1 (11), tibia 2-0/3, 2/3-2 (12), Leg II: coxa 0-0/1, 0/1-0 (2), trochanter 0-0/1, 1/3-0 (5), femur 2-2/1, 1/3-2 (11), genu 3-2/2, 2/1-1 (11), tibia 2-2/2, 2/1- 1 (10), Leg III: coxa 0-0/1, 0/1-0 (2), trochanter 1-1/1, 0/2-0 (5), femur 1-2/1, 1/0-1 (6), genu 1-2/2, 2/1-1 (9), tibia 1-2/1, 2/1-1 (8), Leg VI: coxa 0-0/1, 0/0-0 (1), trochanter 1-1/1, 0/2-0 (5), femur 2- 1/1, 1/1-0 (6), genu 0-2/1, 3/1-0 (7), tibia 1-2/1, 1/1-1 (7).

tibia of leg III; 7. Coxa–tibia of leg IV.

Material examined – Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh County, Chur Kuchan village (37° 16' 26.4" N, 49° 57' 40.1" E), 21 June 2022, from manure, Three females .

Remarks – Comparing the examined specimens with Sherbak's (1980) description, idiosoma length (320 vs. 310), idiosoma width (180 vs. 140), and movable cheliceral digit (36 vs. 34).

Figures

Figures 1–3. Dendrolaelaspis longisetosus Shcherbak (female) – 1. Dorsal idiosoma; 2. Ventral idiosoma; 3. Epistome (without scale).

Figures 4–7. Dendrolaelaspis longisetosus Shcherbak (female) – 4. Coxa–tibia of leg I; 5. Coxa–tibia of leg II; 6. Coxa–