Trichouropoda turcicaovalis, Bal, Durmuş Ali & Özkan, Muhlis, 2006

Bal, Durmuş Ali & Özkan, Muhlis, 2006, Trichouropoda turcicaovalis sp. nov., a new uropodine mite (Acari: Mesostigmata: Trematuridae) from Turkey, Zootaxa 1132, pp. 31-49 : 40-48

Trichouropoda turcicaovalis sp. nov.

Material examined

Holotype Ψ, Turkey, GümüŞhane province, Kelkit district, 39° 88’ N, 39° 38´E, 22 April 2004, litter from mixed forests of Populus tremula, Quercus infectoria, Quercus petraea, altitude 1958 m a.s.l. Paratypes: 2 Ψ, 1 ɗ, same data as holotype except 10 May 2004; 3 Ψ, 2 ɗ, 2 DN, 2 PN, same data as holotype except 9 September 1994.

Female

Dorsum ( Fig. 1 )

Dorsal idiosoma oval, 690 long x 550 wide, slightly narrowed anteriorly, well sclerotized, brown. Dorsal plate intact, strongly convex, its surface with weak net­like ornamentation and small circular markings. Plate surrounded by an entire marginal plate. Marginal plate narrow, finely edged with short incisions, bearing 15 pairs of setae. Dorsal plate with a large number of relatively short, simple thorn­like setae, setae not reaching insertion of following setae. Posterior half of dorsum ornamented with small rounded hollows, some of them associated with the bases of setae, others without setae; these hollows absent from anterior half of plate. Setae I2, I3 setae slightly longer and densely pilose; also posterior setae Z5 short, pilose.

Ven te r ( Fig. 2 )

Epigynial plate 327 long and 173 wide, helmet­like, oblong, with obtusely pointed anterior margin; posterior margin behind coxae IV, anterior point between coxae I. Surface of plate with 6–12 circular markings in posterior half. Ventral region with 5 pairs of sternal (v1–v5) setae, 12–13 pairs of ventri­anal V ­setae, and 27 pairs of marginal setae. Ventrianal plate ornamented with small rounded hollows, some of them associated with the bases of setae. All ventral setae simple, smooth, needle­like. Anterior end of peritremes hooklike at level of coxae II, curved at level of coxae I–II, tip directed inward. Stigmatal openings followed by short posterior prolongation of peritreme. Endopodal line present, reaching to coxae II. Exopodal plate with surface reticulation, metapodal plates without ornamentation, ventral region ornamented with small circular markings. Pedofossal grooves distinct and well developed, without net­like ornamentation, with micropunctation. Anal opening 40 long and 27.7 wide. Anal setae, V2–V4, V6–V7 and other x­region setae short and thorn­like, about 13 long. Post­anal seta U present, similar in form to the other ventral setae.

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 3 )

Setae C1 simple, smooth, thorn­like, almost reaching end of laciniae; setae C2, C3, C4 branched. Setae C2 with 3–4 sharp points apically; C4 with 4–5 fine denticulations laterally, C3 longest, with 2 lateral denticles, length 3 x C2. Corniculus 3­pronged, with blunt ends. Hypostomal constrictions present between C3–C4 ( Fig. 3 A). Chelicerae multidentate, with nodus, movable digit 18 long, fixed digit 27 long, middle part 72 long ( Fig. 3 D). Tritosternum vase­shaped basally, with a medio­lateral denticle, laciniae laterally denticulate; tip trifid, lateral branches pilose and longer than medial point, medial point with two lateral denticles ( Fig. 3 B). Epistome with triangular base and denticulate lateral margins ( Fig. 3 C).

Legs ( Fig. 4 )

Coxa I large, tarsi on all legs with a pair of claws at tip of ambulacral prolongation; setae on all legs simple and thorn­like. Femora and trochanters bearing a membranous flange.

Male

Dorsum

Length of idiosoma 660, width 530, as for female.

Venter ( Fig. 5 ).

Surface of sternal plate ornamented with small rounded hollows. Sternal setae v2–v3 trifid, inserted close together; v1, v4–v5 straight, thorn­like. Sternal setae v1 inserted level with coxae I–II, v2–v3 close to anterior of genital aperture, v4 close to posterior end of plate, v5 level with coxae IV. Genital aperture oval, between coxae III, and surrounded by an arch posteriorly. Genitalopening 62.5 long x 52.5 wide. Surface of genital plate with weak longitudinal net­like ornamentation.

Other morphological features, setal arrangement, body shape and patterns as for female.

Deutonymph

Dorsum ( Fig. 6 )

Idiosoma 560–600 long, 460–500 wide. Dorsum with small superficial pores. All dorsal and ventral setae thorn­like; basal parts of ventral setae not associated with circular markings. Marginal setae on platelets, except caudal marginal platelets without setae.

Venter ( Fig. 7 )

Sternal and ventri­anal plates ornamented with circular markings of moderate size. Sternal plate anvil­shaped, bearing five pairs of simple, smooth, needle­like setae (v1, v2, v3, v4, v5); 310 long, 130 wide; sternal pores circular and polygonal. Setae V2, V3, V4, V6 and V8 inserted on ventri­anal plate; V7 and V7 ' inserted in soft integument adjacent to anal plate. Anterior end of peritreme long and twisted, with a distinct deep curve at level of coxae II; posterior extension behind stigma short, straight. Pedofossae distinct, well developed; posterior margin of pedofossae IV pointed. Anal plate boat­shaped, 115 long x 245 wide, with small circular markings along anterior margin. Post­anal seta U present, anus with 2 pairs of smooth pointed setae. Distance between coxae II, III and IV: 97, 150, 195 respectively.

Gnathosoma

Hypostomal setae C1 simple, needle­like, smooth; setae C2 forked apically, setae C3 longest, with two lateral denticles, setae C4 with 4–5 fine lateral denticulation. Epistome, tritosternum, chelicera and other gnathosomal features as in adults, but slightly less robust.

Legs

Coxae I large, placed close to each other. Structure and chaetotaxy as for adult.

wide, with five pairs of mediodorsal setae (i2, i3, i4, i5, z2). Marginal setae on small platelets, occurring around entire margin of idiosoma. Lateral plates (112 long x 60 wide) triangular, with polygonal ornamentation. Pygidial plate transverse, elliptical, 50 long x 140 wide. Anterior half of idiosoma with six pairs of lateral setae (s1, s2, z1, s5, s6, s7), and posterior half with setae I1, I2 and I3 located on membraneous integument. All dorsal setae inserted on tubercles, with a set of needle­like slender thorn­like processes.

Venter ( Fig. 9 )

Sternal plate pitcher­like in shape, with three pairs of short, straight setae, 135 long x 65 wide. Anterior sternal platelets 15 long x 25 wide. Anal plate elliptical, 65 long x 145 wide; peritremes at the level of coxae II–III, their anterior end hook­like, turned posteriorly, the posterior end straight and long. Setae V2 straight, needle­like; setae V4, V6 and V8 on platelets; seta U short and thorn­like. Inguinal plates without setae, located behind coxae IV.

Larva

Unknown.

Notes

Trichouropoda turcicaovalis sp. nov. belongs to the T. ovalis species group. It is distinguished by its weakly ornamented net­like dorsal and ventral plates. The species also differ from the closely related species T. ovalis in having densely serrated vertical setae (i1), by having the epigynial plate ornamented in the posterior half, and more than three pairs of x ­setae in the x ­area. The new species is also smaller than T. ovalis in overall body size. Males of the new species are easily distinguished from other males in the T. ovalis species group by the surface reticulation of the epigynial plate. The deutonymph of T. turcicaovalis sp. nov. can be distinguished from the closely related species T. ovalis by having 65–70 moderate sized circular markings on the sternal plate. The anal plate has 18 circular markings, which are larger than those on the sternal plate. The protonymph is distinctive in having the dorsal idiosomal setae inserted on tubercles, with a compound base and a set of needle­like slender processes. Females of the new species were carrying one or two eggs in their body cavity.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Trichouropoda turcicaovalis sp. nov., female, dorsal idiosoma.

FIGURE 2. Trichouropoda turcicaovalis sp. nov., female, ventral idiosoma.

FIGURE 3. Trichouropoda turcicaovalis sp. nov.: A) Ventral view of gnathosoma, Female; B) Tritosternum, Female; C) Epistome, Female; D) Chelicera, Female; E) Palp, Female; F) Sculpture of dorso­ventral plates, Adults.

FIGURE 4. Trichouropoda turcicaovalis sp. nov., female, A, leg I; B, leg II; C, leg III; D, leg IV.

FIGURE 5. Trichouropoda turcicaovalis sp. nov., male, ventral idiosoma.

FIGURE 6. Trichouropoda turcicaovalis sp. nov., deutonymph, dorsal idiosoma.

FIGURE 7. Trichouropoda turcicaovalis sp. nov., deutonymph, ventral idiosoma.

FIGURE 9. Trichouropoda turcicaovalis sp. nov., protonymph; ventral idiosoma.