Aegyptobia jiroftiensis Farzan, Asadi & Ueckermann

Farzan, Sadegh, Asadi, Mahdieh, Ueckermann, Edward & Shirvani, Asghar, 2012, Two new flat mite species of the genus Aegyptobia Sayed, 1950 (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) from Iran, Zootaxa 3518, pp. 79-88 : 80-82

Aegyptobia jiroftiensis Farzan, Asadi & Ueckermann sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–9 )

Type series. Holotype: female, Karimabad (Jiroft-Kerman province, Iran), xii.1.2010, S. Farzan, ex Convolvulus polygonum (Convolvulaceae) ( SBUC). Paratypes: four females, same data as holotype (3 SBUC; 1 PPRIC).

Diagnosis. Adult female: Opisthosoma with 13 pairs of dorsal setae (f2 present). Anterior margin of prodorsal shield with a deeply notched median projection. Dorsal shields completely covered in polygonal reticulation, becoming elongate dorsomedially on prodorsum. Dorsal setae palmate with radiating striae. Femora I–III and genua I–II with broad palmate dorsal setae. Tarsal claws uncinate. Spermatheca long (200 μm) and terminating in an obvious membranous bulb. Palp (from tarsus to trochanter): 3(1s+2e)-2-0-1-0.

Description.

Female: Length of body (v2 –h1) 247–251, width (sc2–sc2) 132 –135.

Dorsum ( Fig. 1 ): Body oval, dorsal shields completely covered in polygonal reticulation, becoming elongate dorsomedially on prodorsum. Anterior margin of prodorsum with a deeply notched medial projection; prodorsum bearing three pairs of setae, v1, sc1, sc2 and two pairs of eyes; opisthosoma with 13 pairs of setae, all dorsal setae palmate, subequal in length (11–15 long, 9–13 wide), smooth, with radiating fine ridges.

Setal measurements: length v 2 12–14, sc 1 12–14, sc 2 12–13, c 1 12–15, c 2 11–13, c 3 8-11, d 1 13–14, d 2 11–12, d 3 11–12, e 1 11 –13, e 2 11 –13, e 3 10 –12, f 2 11–14, f 3 10–12, h 1 11–13, h 2 11–12.

Distance between setae: v2–v 2 21–46, sc1–sc1 87–98, sc2–sc2 126–132, c1–c1 42–48, c2–c2 110–131, c3–c3 147–163, d1–d 1 30–33, d2–d2 107–115, d3–d3 147–158, e1– e 1 15–23, e2– e2 99–110, e3–e3 129–134, f2–f2 80–87, f3–f3 110–116, h1–h 1 23–26, h2–h2 72–78.

Venter ( Fig. 2 ): Cuticle with two transverse bands of striae between 1a–3a and just posterior to 4a; ventral plate smooth; coarse widely separated longitudinal striae lateral to genital region; metapodal plates well developed, with oblique striae; genital setae g1–2 inserted in more or less transverse row along posterior margin of a weakly developed, smooth genital plate; anal setae ps1–3 inserted longitudinally along medial margin of well defined anal plates ( Fig. 3 ); coxal setae fine, smooth, except 2c weakly barbed; setae ag, g1–2, ps1–3 fine, with few barbs. Three pairs of ventral setae are present (1a, 3a, 4a), with 1a long, 3a, 4a short.

Setal measurements: length 1a 52–59, 1 b 10–16, 1 c 20–26, 2 b 13–17, 2 c 13–20, 3 a 12–15, 3 b 9–12, 4 a 9–15, 4 b 9–14, ag 9–15, g 1 11–13, g 2 10–12, ps 1 5–10, ps2 7–8, ps 3 7–10.

Spermatheca ( Fig. 4 ): Long (200 μm), slender, terminating in large bulb.

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 2 ): Infracapitulum extending just past anterior margin of femur I; palp five segmented ( Fig. 5 ), chaetotaxy from tarsus to trochanter: 3(1s+2e)-2-0-1-0.

Legs ( Figs. 6–9 ): All legs with true claws; setal formula as follows (solenidia included in count): coxae 2-2-1- 1; trochanters 1-1-2-1; femora 4-4-2-1; genua 3-3-1-0; tibiae 4-4-3-3; tarsi 9(ω)-9(ω)-5-5; leg chaetotaxy as follows: trochanters I, II, IV v ΄; tr III l ΄, v ΄; femora I–II d, v ΄, bv”, l ΄; fe III d, ev ΄; fe IV ev ΄; genua I–II l ΄, d, v ΄; ge III l ΄; ge IV nude; tibiae I–II d, l ΄, v ΄ –v ΄; ti III–IV d, v ΄ –v ΄; ta I–II u ΄ –u ΄, p ΄ –p ΄, tc ΄ –tc ΄, ft ΄ –ft ΄, ω΄; ta III–IV u ΄ –u ΄, tc ΄ –tc ΄, ft ΄; dorsal setae (d) on femora I–III and genua I–II are palmate; left coxa I of holotype with three setae.

Remarks

Aegyptobia jiroftiensis resembles the following species:

Aegyptobia physalis Baker & Tuttle, 1972 : due to the presence of broadened dorsal setae, similar dorsal sculpturing, and broadened setae on the femora and genua I–II. However, A. jiroftiensis differs from A. physalis by having palmate dorsal setae (broadly lanceolate setae in A. physalis ), a shorter infracapitulum (infracapitulum of A. physalis extends just past genu I) and a deep anterior prodorsal notch (barely developed in A. physalis ).

Aegyptobia cactaceae Baker & Tuttle, 1987 : in having a deeply notched anterior margin of propodosoma, similar length of infracapitulum, similar leg chaetotaxy, the presence of similar dorsal setae (d) on the femora and genua I, II and absence of hysterosomal pores. However, the dorsal setae of A. cactaceae are broadly spatulate and serrate (smooth in A. jiroftiensis ).

Aegyptobia baptus Pritchard & Baker, 1952 : has the anterior margin of the propodosoma deeply notched and dorsal setae on femora and genua I, II similar. However, the extra radiating fine ridges on the dorsal setae and completely reticulated dorsal sculpturing in A. jiroftiensis separates it from A. baptus .

The new species differs from all known Iranian species based on dorsal setae (palmate, smooth with radiating striae in A. jiroftiensis versus setiform or barbed palmate or lanceolate setae in all other Iranian species) and dorsal integument (completely covered with polygonal reticulations in A. jiroftiensis , unlike other Iranian species).

Etymology. This species is named after the town (Jiroft) where it was collected.

Distribution. Iran, known only from the type locality.

Male and immature stages. Unknown

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Aegyptobia jiroftiensis sp. nov. adult female, dorsum (1); venter (2).

FIGURES 3 – 5. Aegyptobia jiroftiensis sp. nov. adult female, opisthoventer (3); spermatheca (4); palp (5).

FIGURES 6 – 9. Aegyptobia jiroftiensis sp. nov. adult female, left legs I – IV.