Halolaelaps saproincisus Hirschmann & Götz

Trach, Viacheslav A., 2016, New and little known species of Halolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Halolaelapidae) from Ukraine, Zootaxa 4154 (4), pp. 436-452 : 444-450

Halolaelaps saproincisus Hirschmann & Götz

( Figs 20–35 )

Halolaelaps saproincisus Hirschmann & Götz, 1968: 9 .

Halolaelaps saproincisus .— Karg, 1971: 294, 1993: 300; Bregetova & Shcherbak, 1977: 296; Koyumdjieva & Angelkova, 1985: 18; Gwiazdowicz & Klemt, 2004: 14; Krantz, 2016: 13.

Halolaelaps (Halogamasellus) saproincisus .— Błaszak & Ehrnsberger, 1995: 44; Błaszak et al., 2004: 6.

Diagnosis of adults. Epistome with serrated anterior margin; peritremes long; femur I with 13 setae; coxa II with anterior spur; genu III and IV with nine setae; legs without apophyses. Adult female with 23 pairs of setae on podonotal shield and 14 pairs of setae on opisthonotal shield; anterior margin of opisthonotal shield with narrow and deep notch; most dorsal setae serrated. The adult male with 24 pairs of setae on podonotal shield and 18 pairs of setae on opisthonotal shield; opisthonotal shield without notch and incisions; anal shield with circum-anal setae only.

Adult female ( Figs 20–24 ). Five specimens measured.

Gnathosoma. Second cheliceral segment 88–95 long, fixed cheliceral digit with three proximal teeth and one or two small preapical teeth in addition to apical tooth and setiform pilus dentilis, movable cheliceral digit with three teeth in addition to apical tooth ( Fig. 20 ). Epistome with serrated anterior margin ( Fig. 21 ). Palp 132–145 long; number of setae (trocanter to tarsus): 2-5-6-14 -15; apotele 3-tined; seta v2 on trochanter, al on femur, setae al1 and al2 on genu slightly thickened. Subcapitulum 86–101 wide at widest level ( Fig. 22 ). Deutosternum with seven (rarely six) rows of deutosternal denticles (4–13 denticles per row). Internal malae short, outer branch of each internal mala and inner branch smooth. Corniculus horn-like. Measurements of setae: h 1 23–27, h 2 13–15, h 3 25–32, pc 19–23.

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 23 ). Idiosoma ovate. Podonotal shield 218–244 long and 244–281 wide at level of s4, strongly tapering anteriorly from r3; reticulated; with 23 pairs of setae (j1–j6, z1–z6, s1–s6, r1–r5) and five pairs of distinguishable pores. Unsclerotised cuticle laterad of podonotal shield with setae r6. Opisthonotal shield 244–286 long and 239–277 wide at level S3; reticulated; anterior margin with narrow and deep notch; posterior margin with cribrum; rear corners of shield curved ventrally; with 14 pairs of setae (J1, J2, J4, J5, Z1–Z5, S1–S5) and six pairs of distinguishable pores. Unsclerotised cuticle laterad of opisthonotal shield with five pairs of setae (R1–R5; R5 visible in the ventrolateral regions). Measurements of setae: j 1 15–19, z 1 11–13, other setae on podonotal shield 23–32, setae on opisthonotal shiels 25–34, setae on unsclerotised cuticle 21–27. Setae j1 and z1 smooth, other dorsal setae more or less serrated apically.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 24 ). Tritosternum with wide trapezoidal base and pilose laciniae, base of tritosternum length 21–27, laciniae length 42–55. Presternal area lightly sclerotised. Sternal shield rectangular; almost smooth; approximately 82–97 long (without presternal area) and 65–78 wide at widest level; with three pairs of setae and two pairs of lyrifissures. Setae st4 and lyrifissures iv3 on metasternal plates. Genital shield smooth; with seta st5; longer than wide, slightly narrowed anterior to st5; approximately 88–107 long and 71–80 wide at at widest level. Two pairs of pores on unsclerotised cuticle, posterolaterad of st5. Endopodal plates between coxae I and II, coxae II and III, coxae III and IV, and thin parapodal platelets free. Anal shield oval; 92–111 long and 82–99 wide at widest level; anus located slightly anterior to mid-level of shield; with circum-anal setae and a pair of pores; cribrum well developed. Unsclerotised cuticle around of anal shield with two pair of elongate metapodal plates (the larger 19–25 long, 8–11 wide, the smaller 6–11 long, 2–4 wide), 10 pairs of setae (Jv1–Jv5, Zv1–Zv5) and five pairs of pores. Peritreme 206–216 long, extending to dorsal setae s1; peritrematal shields extending almost to z1; one plate located between peritrematal shields and podonotal shield fused with peritrematal shields near coxae II–III. Spermathecal structures indiscernible. Measurements of setae: st1–st 5 17–23, para-anal 19–23, post-anal 29–36, setae on unsclerotised cuticle 23–34. Setae st2 thick, blunt and serrated, post-anal seta and setae Jv4, Jv5, Zv4 and Zv5 serrated, other setae smooth.

Legs ( Figs 25–28 ). Lengths: I 344–363, II 279–307, III 251–288, IV 344–372. Chaetotaxy: Leg I: coxa 2, trochanter 6 (1 0/1 1/2 1), femur 13 (2 3/1 2/3 2), genu 12 (2 3/2 2/1 2), tibia 12 (2 3/2 2/1 2); Leg II: coxa 2, trochanter 5 (1 0/1 0/2 1), femur 11 (2 3/1 2/2 1), genu 11 (2 3/1 2/1 2), tibia 10 (2 2/1 2/1 2), tarsus 18 (3 3/3 1/1 2/ 2 3); Leg III: coxa 2, trochanter 5 (1 0/1 0/2 1), femur 6 (1 2/1 1/0 1), genu 9 (2 2/1 2/1 1), tibia 8 (2 1/1 2/1 1), tarsus 18 (3 3/3 1/1 2/2 3); Leg IV: coxa 1, trochanter 5 (1 0/1 0/2 1), femur 6 (1 2/1 1/0 1), genu 9 (2 2/1 3/0 1), tibia 8 (2 1/1 2/1 1), tarsus 18 (3 3/3 1/1 2/2 3). Most setae smooth and pointed, some slightly thickened, some (pd1, pd2 and pv1 on femur I, ad1, pd1, pl1 and pl2 on genu I, pl1 on tibia I; pd1 on femur II, ad1 and pd1 on genu II4 ad1 on genu III, pd2 on tibia II; ad2, pd1, pd3 on genu IV, pd1 and pd2 on tibia IV) often more or less serrated. Coxa II with anterior spine. Pretarsi I-IV similar in shape; consisting of an ambulacral stalk, a pair of sclerotised claws, four rounded pulvillar lobes and two acuminate ventro-lateral processes (obscure on tarsi I).

Adult male ( Figs 29–33 ). Five specimens measured.

Gnathosoma. Second cheliceral segment 86–95 long, fixed cheliceral digit with one tooth in addition to apical tooth and setiform pilus dentilis; movable cheliceral digit with one tooth in addition to apical tooth; dorsal cheliceral seta obscure ( Fig. 29 ). Spermatodactyl 32–36 long, sinuous, longer than movable digit. Arthrodial process of chelicera, palp chaetotaxy, apotele, epistome, deutosternum and shape of hypostomal setae as in adult female. Subcapitulum 76–80 wide at widest level. Measurements of setae: h 1 17–21, h 2 13–15, h 3 19–23, pc 17– 19.

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 31 ). Idiosoma ovoid. Podonotal shield 189–210 long and 218–260 wide at level of r5; reticulated; with 24 pairs of setae (j1–j6, z1–z6, s1–s6, r1–r6) and three pairs of distinguishable pores. Opisthonotal shield 160–181 long and 218–260 wide at level of R1; reticulated; anterior margin without notch; posterior margin with cribrum; with 19 pairs of setae (J1, J2, J4, J5, Z1–Z5, S1–S5, R1–R5) and two pairs of distinguishable pores. Measurements of setae: j 1 17–19, z 1 11–13, other setae on podonotal shield 21–34, J 5 8–11, Z 5 11–13, other setae on opisthonotal shield 17–32. All dorsal idiosomal setae smooth.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 32 ). Tritosternum with wide trapezoidal base and fine lightly pilose laciniae, base of tritosternum length 11–13, laciniae length 25–38. Presternal area lightly sclerotised. Sternogenital shield smooth; approximately 179–189 long (without presternal area); with elongate antero-lateral corners; with five pairs of setae and three pairs of lyrifissures. Endopodal plates fused with sternal shield. Anal shield oval; 59–67 long and 67–76 wide at widest level; anus located slightly anterior to mid-level of shield; with circum-anal setae and one pair of distinguishable pores; cribrum well developed. Unsclerotised cuticle around of anal shield with lineate ornamentation; with a pair of small metapodal plates (11–15 long, 4–8 wide) and ten pairs of setae (Jv1–Jv5, Zv1– Zv5). Peritrematal shields, peritremes and adjacent plates as in female, peritreme 193–206 long. Measurements of setae: st1–st 5 17–23, para-anal 15–19, post-anal 17–19, setae on unsclerotised cuticle 15–25. All ventral idiosoma setae smooth.

Legs. Legths: I 344–363, II 270–288, III 2 60 –270, IV 344–391. Leg chaetotaxy as in adult female. Shape of setae similar to those of adult females, seta pv1 on femur II strongly spinose ( Fig. 33 ). Pretarsi similar to those of adult female.

Deutonymph ( Figs 34–35 ). Five specimens measured.

Gnathosoma. Mostly as in adult female. Second cheliceral segment 78–84 long. Palp 105–116 long. Subcapitulum 80–90 wide at widest level. Deutosternum with seven (rarely six) rows of deutosternal denticles (0–5 denticles per row). Measurements of setae: h 1 11–13, h 2 17–21, h 3 15–17, pc 17–21. Setae h1–h3 simple, setae pc variable, normal (as h1–h3) or thickened (as st1–st5).

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 34 ). Idiosoma ovate. Podonotal shield 185–210 long and 185–218 wide at level of r3–r6, tapering anteriorly to r3; reticulated stronger than in adults; with 24 pairs of setae (j1–j6, z1–z6, s1–s6, r1–r6) (in some specimens r6 on unsclerotised cuticle) and four pairs of distinguishable pores. Opisthonotal shield 147–173 long and 176–202 wide at level of setae S1; reticulated stronger than in adults; anterior margin without notch; with 14 pairs of setae (J1, J2, J4, J5, Z1–Z5, S1–S5; J3 absent) and with six pairs of distinguishable pores. Unsclerotised cuticle laterad of opisthonotal shield with five pairs of setae (R1–R5; R4 and R5 visible in the ventrolateral regions). Measurements of setae: j 1 11–13, z 1 8–13, other setae on podonotal shield 17–23, J 5 8–13, Z 5 8–13, other setae on opisthonotal shield 13–19, setae on unsclerotised cuticle 13–15. All dorsal idiosomal setae smooth.

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 35 ). Tritosternum with elongate trapezoidal base and pilose laciniae, base of tritosternum length 21–23, laciniae length 29–34. Presternal area fused with sternal shield. Sternal shield reticulated; approximately 168–183 long (with presternal area); with five pairs of setae and three pairs of lyrifissures. Endopodal plates between coxae I and II, coxae II and III, and coxae III and IV free. Anal shield reticulated; obovate; 55–65 long and 63–78 wide at widest level; with circum-anal setae and a pair of pores; cribrum well developed. Unsclerotised cuticle around of anal shield with ten pairs of setae (Jv1–Jv5, Zv1–Zv5), a pair of small metapodal plates (17–25 long, 4–6 wide) and four pairs of pores. Peritreme 200–221 long, extending anteriorly to level of coxa I (region of s1). Peritrematal shield reduced. Measurements of setae: st1–st 5 19–23, para-anal 15–17, post-anal 15–17, other setae on ventrianal shield 15–23. Setae st1–st5 thickened, other setae simple.

Legs. Lengths: I 279–307, II 242–260, III 22 3 –251, IV 298–316. Mostly as in adult female, but acuminate ventro-lateral processes on pretarsi obscure. Setae pv of coxae II and III modified, club-like and asymmetrical (some with acuminate tip) ( Fig. 35 ), other setae simple and pointed, setae of ad -, pd - and pl -series relatively thicker than in female.

Material examined. 1 deutonymph, Ukraine, Lviv oblast, Yavorivsky district, vicinity of Ivano-Frankove (49°54' N, 23°45' E), on Aphodius fimetarius (Linnaeus, 1758) ( Scarabaeidae : Aphodiinae ), 12 May 2004 ; 3 females, 7 males, 43 deutonymphs, Ukraine, Odessa oblast, Razdelnyansky district, Kirovo village (46°43' N, 30°16' E), in soil with bird faeces from the chicken coops (with chickens), 22 April 2008 ; 2 females, 120 deutonymphs, same locality and date, in soil with bird faeces from the chicken coops (with geese); 2 deutonymphs , same locality, in old cow dung, 18 May 2008 ; 1 female, 1 male, Ukraine, Odessa oblast, Belgorod-Dnestrovsky district, Udobnoe village (46°23' N, 30°03' E), soil with bird faeces from the chicken coops (with ducks), 12 January 2014, Yu. P. Yatsenko coll. ; 1 male, 4 deutonymphs, same locality, soil with bird faeces from the chicken coops (with chickens), 23 April 2014, Yu. P. Yatsenko coll. Unless otherwise stated, all material were collected by the author.

Remarks. Halolaelaps saproincisus was described from cattle dung in Germany by Hirschmann & Götz (1968). It has also been recorded from compost and dung mixed with soil in Russia ( Bregetova & Shcherbak, 1977), from dung in Bulgaria ( Koyumdjieva & Angelkova, 1985), from unknown excrements in Poland ( Gwiazdowicz & Klemt, 2004).

By the presence of club-like setae on the coxae, deutonymphs of H. saproincisus is similar to other Halolaelaps species: H. sexclavatus (Oudemans, 1902) , H. octoclavatus ( Vitzthum, 1918) , H. orbinellus ( Schweizer, 1949) , H. neoorbinellus ( Ryke, 1961) , H. intermedius ( Elsen, 1974) . Deutonymphs of H. saproincisus differs from other species of Halolaelaps by normal pv seta on coxa I and unmodified setae pc on the gnathosoma ( H. sexclavatus also has pv seta on coxa I not-modified, but seta pc is club-like). Moreover, modified setae in H. saproincisus are asymmetrical and in other species club-like setae are symmetrical.

It should be noted that thick or club-like setae (pc, st1–5, pv on coxae I–III) are present in a number of beetleassociated Gamasina , e.g. some species of the genera Poecilochirus G. & R. Canestrini, 1882 ( Parasitidae ), Panteniphis Willmann, 1949 (Digamasellidae) , Stylochirus G. & R. Canestrini, 1882 ( Ologamasidae ), Copriphis Berlese, 1910 (Eviphididae) , Antennoseius Berlese, 1916 and Anystipalpus Berlese, 1911 (Ascidae) ( Ryke & Meyer, 1957; Bregetova, 1977; Mašán, 1999; Gwiazdowicz, 2000; Lindquist & Moraza, 2009).

Halolaelaps octoclavatus , H. orbinellus , H. neoorbinellus and H. intermedia are known only from the deutonymph. Adults are described only in H. sexclavatus ( Vitzthum, 1918; Schweizer, 1949; Ryke, 1961; Karg, 1965; Elsen, 1974; Błaszak & Ehrnsberger, 1998c, 2001). Adult females and males of H. saproincisus differs from H. sexclavatus in a number of important characters (e. g. by shape of epistome, number of setae on the podonotal shield, measurements and shape of setae on dorsal shields, shape of the anterior margin of opisthonotal shield, leg chaetotaxy) and these species are not closely related.

The phoretic associations of H. saproincisus are not clear. Dung-beetles do not occur in the chicken coops that were sampled and dung-beetles collected in the vicinity of the chicken coop did not carry H. saproincisus . Is possible that mites are associated with some other insects that have not yet been identified.

Figures

FIGURE 20 – 24. Halolaelaps saproincisus. Adult female. 20. Lateral (antiaxial) view of chelicera; 21. Epistome; 22. Hypostome (without palp tibia and palp tarsus); 23. Dorsal idiosoma; 24. Ventral idiosoma. Scale bar = 50 µm.

FIGURES 25 – 28. Halolaelaps saproincisus. Adult female. 25. Leg I (coxa to tibia); 26. Leg II; 27. Leg III; 28. Leg IV. Scale bar = 100 µm.

FIGURE 29 – 33. Halolaelaps saproincisus. Adult male. 29. Lateral (antiaxial) view of chelicerae; 30 Epistome; 31. Dorsal idiosoma; 32. Ventral idiosoma; 33. Femur of leg II. Scale bar = 50 µm.

FIGURE 34 – 35. Halolaelaps saproincisus. Deutonymph. 34. Dorsal idiosoma; 35. Ventral idiosoma. Scale bar = 50 µm.