Oribatella maryae, Behan-Pelletier & Walter, 2012

Behan-Pelletier, Valerie M. & Walter, David E., 2012, 3432, Zootaxa 3432, pp. 1-62 : 27-31

Oribatella maryae sp. nov.

( Figs. 13, 14A–C, 18E, 28E)

Material examined. Holotype: male, USA: Oregon, Curry Co., Siskiyou National Forest, Shrader Old Growth Trail , 10 mi on Jerry’s Flat Road to Agness , 42°29’28”N 124°17’04”W, 22.iii.2004 ( VBP) from litter of Lawson’s Cypress and Tan-oak; deposited in the CNC, type number 24041 . Paratypes: 2 males with same data as holotype; Oregon, Curry Co., Burnt Hill , 5 mi. S Pistol River, 2, i.1977 (L. Russell) 1 female from moss in creek; Washington, Skamania Co., Wind River Crane Canopy site, Whistle Punk Trail , 45°49’N 121°56’51”W, 1.x.2000 ( VBP) 5 females, 1 male from lichens on trunk of Western hemlock, 4 females from Usnea lichens from trunk of Western hemlock; California, Mendocino Co., Angelo Coastal Range Reserve , 39°728N 123°645W, 12.iii.2009 ( VBP & G. Pelletier) 1 female from bark with moss of large Douglas fir at 1.5m above ground; Sonoma Co., Salt Point State Park , 38°570N 123°319W, 6.iii.2009 ( VBP & M. Behan) 1 female from Tan oak litter ; 1 female from Bishop’s pine litter from grove ; 3 males, 1 female from litter of Bishop’s pine, redwood and huckleberry; Napa Co., Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve , Mountain Trail , 38°508N 122°698W, 10.iii.2009 ( VBP) 1 female from rotting oak; 1 female from moss and lichens on rock face; 1 male, 1 female from mixed deciduous litter, mainly oak; 4 males, 4 females from moist, mixed deciduous litter; 1 female from pine litter; 2 males, 2 females from moss and Shooting star on bank; Marin Co., Taylor State Park , (C.W. O’Brien) 1 female from redwood log; Redwood forest slope, 10.xii.1986 (R.A. Norton & J. Kethley) 3 males and 3 females from moss and bark covering oak log; Plumas Co., Warner Creek Campground area , 8mi NW Chester, 5000’, 28.vii.1985 ( EEL) 6 from rotten pine stump; Fresno Co., 5.8 mi NE Auberry , 14.iii.1985 (P.J. Johnson) 2 males from Neotoma midden; Yuba Co., 7 mi E Forest Hill, nr Challege Exp. Forest , 4400' elev., 1979 (J.B. Hoy) 2 females from litter under 2–5' high manzanitas ( RNC) ; Canada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Trail Island Ecological Reserve , 48°24N 123°18’W, ( VBP & H. Nadel) 1 female from lichen on rocks; Cowichan Lake Research Station , 48°49’N 124°07’W, 12.iii.1996 ( VBP) 8 from bark and moss at 1.5m above ground of second growth Douglas fir; Carmanah Provincial Park, Canopy Study , 31.v.1990 (N. N. Winchester) 2 females, 1 male from canopy soil cores. Paratypes deposited in the CNC, PMAE . IZ, RNC and the USNM.

Diagnosis. Total length of adult 360–390 µm. Distinct striae in interlamellar region. Rostrum without strong medial crest, ridges or foveae, margin with medial tooth and 2 strong lateral teeth. Lamellar cusps overlapping or not anteromedially, separated posteromedially, leaving prodorsum visible through almost triangular opening (13–15 µm wide x 24–33 µm long); translamella without tooth, triangular in shape in many specimens. Medial dens of lamellar cusp about 40 µm long, without teeth; lateral dens about 34 µm long with 1–2 teeth. Bothridial seta about 91–103 µm long, with barbed, club-shaped head, tapered distally. Notogastral porose areas 4–6 µm in diameter, with deep pore canals.Ten pairs of weakly barbed notogastral setae present (about 30–53 µm long) with c seta longest, lm posteriad Aa, and lp anteriad A1; mutual distance p 1 –p 1 about 20 µm, slightly narrower than distance h 1 –h 1 about 24 µm. Tarsi heterotridactylous.

Description. Adults. Dimensions: Total length: females (n = 10) 379 µm (range 360–390); males (n = 10) 372 µm (range 360–385). Notogastral width: females (n = 6) 263 µm (range 250–275); males (n = 5) 257 µm (range 250–275).

Integument: Rostrum, prodorsum, notogaster, anal plates, genital plates, venter and mentum micropunctate. Lamellae with distinct irregular striae laterally, with finer striae medially in interlamellar region ( Fig. 14A); pedotectum I and pteromorph with irregular striae.

Prodorsum: Rostral margin with 2 strong lateral teeth and medial tooth, half to equal length of lateral teeth ( Figs 14B, C). Lamella about 112 µm long, of which cusp 76–82 µm long, about 38 µm wide at level of insertion of seta le. Lamellar cusps overlapping or not anteromedially, separated posteromedially, leaving prodorsum visible through triangular opening, about 13–15 µm wide x 24–33 µm long. Translamella without tooth, about 13–15 µm at greatest width, flattened ( Figs 13, 14A) or triangular in shape ( Fig. 18E), 10 µm deep. Medial dens on lamellar cusp 32–40 µm long, without teeth; lateral dens 30–34 µm long with 1–2 teeth ( Fig. 13, 14A). Seta ro 74–88 µm long, strongly barbed along length, acuminate, curved anteromedially. Seta le 69–79 µm long, thick, heavily barbed, tapered. Seta in 96–123 µm long, thick (less so than le), barbed, tapered, parallel; mutual distance of pair about 46 µm. Bothridial seta about 91–103 µm long, with barbed, club-shaped head, tapered distally, stalk short, smooth; head directed slightly anteromedially ( Fig. 13, 18E). Exobothridial seta 16–24 µm long, thin, smooth.

Lateral region of podosoma: Genal tooth broad, subrectangular, with dens ventrodistally, with longitudinal ridge ventrolaterally. Tutorium broad rectangular 105–120 µm long, of which cusp 40–48 µm long, distal margin with 4–6 teeth ( Fig. 14C). Custodium about 30 µm long. Porose area Al about 7 µm in diameter.

Notogaster: Length subequal to width. Anterior margin undulating, convex region lateral of bothridium with 5–7 transverse ridges. Pteromorph with irregular striae; with small dens on anteroventral margin. Octotaxic system in form of porose areas with deep pore canals, 4–6 µm in diameter. Ten pairs of very weakly barbed notogastral setae present (30–53 µm long) with c seta longest, lm posteriad Aa, and lp anteriad A1; mutual distance p 1 –p 1 about 22 µm, slightely narrower than distance h 1 –h 1 24–28 µm ( Fig. 13). Subtriangular lenticulus present.

Ventral Region: Epimeral setae mostly about 12–21 µm long, weakly barbed acuminate, 3c about 30 µm long, distinctly barbed, 4c about 46 µm long, thicker and more heavily barbed, than other epimeral setae ( Fig. 28E). Genital, anal and adanal setae weakly barbed, about 8–10 µm long; genital setae 2 + 4. Aggenital seta about 12 µm. Lyrifissure iad anterolateral of anal plate, almost parallel. Postanal porose area about 17 x 4 µm.

Gnathosoma : Anterior border of mentum without thickened transverse ridge, without tectum. Axillary saccule about 6 x 2 µm.

Legs: Setation (I to IV): trochanters, 1-1-2-1; femora, 5-5-3-2; genua, 3(1)-3(1)-1(1)-2; tibiae 4(2)-4(1)-3(1)- 3(1); tarsi, 20(2)-15(2)-15-12. Seta l” of genua I and II about 32 µm; l” of tibia I and II about 28 µm. Tarsi heterotridactylous.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of my (VBP) sister, and partner in collecting Oribatida, the neuroscientist Dr. Mary Behan.

Remarks. This species is similar to Oribatella banksi sp. nov., described above, with which it shares similar lamellae, lamellar cusps, notogastral porose areas with deep pore canals when viewed in transmitted light, custodium and setae 3c and 4c. They differ in the following character states (those for O. banksi in parentheses): body length 360–390 µm (400–440 µm); rostrum weakly micropunctate (strongly ornamented with foveae, ridges and pits); distance h 1 –h 1 about 24 µm (30–45 µm).

Distribution and Ecology. This species is widely distributed throughout western North America from British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to California. It is primarily found in moist to dry forest habitats.