Tegoribates bryophilus Woolley, 1965

Behan-Pelletier, Valerie M., 2017, Tegoribatidae of North America, with proposal of Protectoribates gen. nov., and new species (Acari, Oribatida, Tegoribatidae), Zootaxa 4337 (2) : 179-182

Tegoribates bryophilus Woolley, 1965

( Figs. 17–19 )

Material Examined: Holotype: adult female, USA, Colorado, Boulder Co., Mt. Meeker Camp Grd , 17.vii.1952 (T. A. Woolley), deposited in the USNM ; paratype, adult male, with same data as holotype ; deposited in the USNM; topotype, adult male, labelled “part of original series but not labelled paratype ”, with same data as holotype, deposited in the RNC. Colorado, Larimer Co., Roosevelt National forest, Brown’s Lake , 10,000 ft elv., 5.vii.1987 (DEW) 15 from lakeside lake-grass turf.

Revised diagnosis. Total length: 378. Lamella about 125 long. Lamellar seta about 23 long; mutual distance about 34. Seta in about 17 long, thin, smooth, acuminate; mutual distance about 58. Bothridial seta fusiform, about 111 long, head with small barbs. Tutorium narrow tectum, about 98 long; distal tooth about 8 long, dorsal to insertion of seta ro. Octotaxic system expressed as saccules, about 8-12 long.

Description. Adult. Total length: 378; holotype, 378 ( Woolley 1965) (unable to confirm measurement as the three type specimens are squashed on slides). Notogastral width: holotype female 264 ( Woolley 1965).

Integument. Pteromorph, pedotectum I, gnathosoma , epimeres microtuberculate.

Prodorsum. Seta ro about 32 long, strongly barbed along length, acuminate, curved anteromedially; mutual distance about 61 ( Fig. 19A ). Lamella about 125 long, medially with V-shaped indentation; about 5 long ( Fig. 17 ). Lamellar seta arising anteriorly on fused lamella, just ventral of tip, about 23 long; mutual distance about 34 ( Fig. 17 ). Seta in about 17 long, thin, smooth, acuminate; mutual distance about 58 ( Fig. 19D ). Bothridial seta fusiform, about 111 long, head with small barbs. Seta ex not evident, alveolus present. Dorsophragmata about 33 long ( Fig. 19D ).

Lateral region of podosoma. Tutorium narrow tectum, about 98 long, with tooth distally, about 8 long, dorsal to insertion of seta ro (Fig, 19A).

Notogaster. Slightly longer than wide: 1.1:1 ( Woolley 1965); anterior margin straight. Lenticulus present. Octotaxic system expressed as saccules, about 8-12 long, length difficult to measure, variable depending on orientation ( Figs. 17 , 19C ). Notogastral setae smooth, about 16-21 long, setae subequal in length; la lateral and closely adjacent to Sa ( Fig. 17 ); lp medial to S1; S1 closely adjacent to h3; S2 closely adjacent to h2 and S3 lateral to, not adjacent to h1 ( Fig. 17 ).

Ventral. Epimeral setae mostly about 10 long, thin, smooth, acuminate ( Fig. 18 ). Genital, aggenital, anal and adanal setae smooth; anterior genital setae about 27, others about 17. Genital setae six pairs. Lyrifissure iad at anterolateral margin of anal plate. Postanal porose area about 15 long and 4 wide.

Gnathosoma . Small axillary saccule present at base of palp, 5 x 2.

Legs. Setation as for T. americanus . Setae l” of genua and tibiae I and II thicker in shape than other setae on these segments, spinose ( Fig. 19G ). Seta pv” of tarsus II strongly barbed.

Remarks. Tegoribates bryophilus is very similar to T. americanus , and differs mainly in its smaller size. Both species express the octotaxic system as saccules. It is possible that these species are conspecific but I hesitate to synonymize them because T. bryophilus seems restricted to high elevation locations in Colorado. Thus, all measurements for T. bryophilus given above are based solely on type material.

Woolley (1965) incorrectly illustrated the anterior saccule, Sa as being closely adjacent to seta c in T. bryophilus ; rather Sa is between la and lm. Notogastral setae of T. bryophilus are apobasic, with round to oval to Ushaped alveoli ( Fig. 17C ), as are those of T. americanus , and the long aveolus of seta c can be mistaken for a saccule. Possibly, for a similar reason, Woolley (1965) overlooked seta lm positioned slightly posteromedial of Sa ( Fig. 17 ).

Figures

FIGURE 19. Tegoribates bryophilus Woolley, differential interference contrast microscope images of adult type material. A. anterior of prodorsum (note, specimen broken), with arrow to taenidium; B, pteromorph; C, saccule Sa and seta lm; D, posterior of prodorsum with arrow to fused dorsophragmata (3 layers); E, lateral of coxisternal region showing circumpedal carina and discidium; F, lenticulus; G, seta l ” of genu II. Scale bars: A, B, E = 50 µm; C, = 10 µm; D = 35 µm.

FIGURES 17 – 18. Tegoribates bryophilus Woolley, adult female (non-type specimen), 17, dorsal aspect, 18, ventral aspect; legs not illustrated. Scale bar = 50 µm.