Proteromichaelia sila, Uusitalo & Ueckermann & Theron, 2020

Uusitalo, Matti, Ueckermann, Edward A. & Theron, Pieter D., 2020, A review of the family Alycidae (Acari, Acariformes) from South Africa, Zootaxa 4858 (3), pp. 301-340 : 324-325

Proteromichaelia sila sp. nov.

( Figs. 90–104 , 134A, B )

Description. Dorsum. ( Figs. 90–92 , 134A, B ). Length 500 μm; dorsal and ventral setae with 10–20 cilia each, dor- sal primary pattern by clumps of large lamellae forming stellate pattern of cells and in separate clumps inside the cells, secondary pattern formed by fine ridges, no obvious granules or small lamellae observed by phase-contrast microscopy; prodorsal naso with fine ridges, crista from naso to sensillar area sclerotized, six pairs of fundamental setae recognizable: a pair of plumose vi well removed from naso on soft anterior rim, distance between counterparts of setae vi twice the distance between branched sensilla ve, plumous setae sce and exp equal in size, close to each other, and flanking a pair of lateral eyes, eye lenses with fine ridges, a pair of setae in proximally on sclerotized sensillar area together with a few (4–5) additional setae.

Venter ( Figs. 93, 97 ). Genital valves each with 9–10 genital setae per valve; 4–6 anal setae per valve.

Gnathosoma ( Figs. 94–96 ). Chelicerae straight, cheliceral seta oligociliate; palpal solenidion in contact with one eupathid, the other one free.

Legs ( Figs. 98–100 , Appendix 3 in Uusitalo 2010). Solenidial formula for tarsi, tibiae, genua and femora on legs I, II, III and IV, respectively: 2B-2B-0-0, 1B2\3C-1B1C-1B1C-1B0\1C, 5\6C-1B1\2C-1B1C-1C, 3C-1C-0-0, famulus I in distal position on tarsus I, 6 pairs of pseudacanthoid eupathids on tarsi I, 4 pairs of pseudacanthoid eupathids on tarsi II.

Larva (n=1, Figs. 103, 104 )

Dorsum. Slight neotrichy.

Venter. Holotrichy on ventral side; genital valves absent.

Legs. Solenidial formula for tarsi, tibiae, genua and femora on legs I, II, and III, respectively: 1B-1B-0, 1B1C- 1B1C-1B1C, 4C-1B1C-1B1C, 2C-0-0.

Other life stages:

Protonymph (n=1, Fig. 102 ), 1 genital seta per valve.

Deutonymph (n=5, Fig. 101 ), 4 genital setae per valve.

Adult female (n=8, Figs. 93, 97 ), 9–10 genital setae per valve, 2 pairs of eugenital setae.

Type material. Holotype female, 7 paratype females, 2 paratype deutonymphs, 3 paratype protonymphs and 1 paratype larva from Acacia -biotope, Potchefstroom , NORTH-WEST PROVINCE, 3 March 1969, P.D. Theron; 6 paratype females, 6 paratype deutonymphs, 3 paratype protonymphs and 2 paratype larvae from Acacia -biotope, Potchefstroom, 7 February 1969, P.D. Theron; 2 paratype females, 1 paratype deutonymph, from Acacia -biotope, Potchefstroom, 2 December 1968, J. Human; 1 paratype deutonymph, from Acacia -biotope, Potchefstroom, 23 August 1969, P.D. Theron; 1 paratype protonymph, from Acacia -biotope, Potchefstroom, 25 March 1969, P.D. Theron; 1 paratype female from pastures, Potchefstroom, 1962-1963, G.C. Loots; 1 paratype female from pastures, Badplaas , MPUMALANGA PROVINCE, April 1972, K.N. de Kock. Deposited at ARC-Plant Health and Protection, Pretoria, South Africa.

Differential diagnosis. In addition to the features defining this tribe and genus, this species can also be recognized by its unique pattern of prodorsal organs: distance between the counterparts of setae vi is larger than the distance between sensilla ve, setae sce and exp are inserted anterodorsally in the vicinity of a pair of lateral eyes ( Fig. 90 ), and a few accessory setae are present only on the in -area ( Fig. 91 ).

Etymology. The specific name is the feminine gender of the Latin word silus meaning blunt-nosed and refers to the form of the naso of the species.

Figures

FIGURE 134. Primary pattern of cuticle in the subfamilies Alycinae and Bimichaeliinae.A, B—primary pattern by clumps and rosettes of large lamellae, secondary pattern absent in Proteromichaelia sp. (Bimichaeliinae: Proteromichaeliini), C, D—striate integument with small lamellae in Amphialycus sp., E, F—striate integument with small lamellae in Petralycus sp. (Alycinae: Petralycini).

FIGURES 90−100. Proteromichaelia sila sp. nov. 90—Prodorsum, naso button-like, distance between counterparts of setae vi larger than between sensilla ve, setae in with some additional setae; 91—Dorsal habitus, neotrichy; 92—Dorsal integument; 93—Ventral habitus, 9–10 genital setae per valve, 4–6 anal setae per valve (cf. Fig. 97); 94—Chelicera, ciliated cheliceral seta; 95—Subcapitulum; 96—Palp tarsus; 97—Genital valve of female, 9 genital setae, 2 pairs of eugenital setae; 98—Tarsus I (2B = 2 baculiform solenidia), famulus I (arrow), Tibia I (1B2C = 1 baculiform solenidion and 2 ceratiform solenidia); 99—Tarsus II (2B), Tibia II (1B2C), Genu II (1B2C); 100—2 slightly bent claws and a setulated empodium.

FIGURES 101−104. Proteromichaelia sila sp. nov. 101—Deutonymph, venter, 4 genital setae per valve; 102—Protonymph, venter, 1 genital seta per valve; 103—Larva, ventral habitus, holotrichy, genital valves absent; 104—Larva, dorsal habitus, neotrichy. 90−104 from RSA, near Potchefstroom.