Laelaspis guilaniensis, Ramroodi & Joharchi & Hajizadeh, 2014

Ramroodi, S., Joharchi, O. & Hajizadeh, J., 2014, A New Species Of Laelaspis Berlese (Acari: Laelapidae) From Iran And A Key To Iranian Species, Acarologia 54 (2), pp. 177-182 : 178-180

Laelaspis guilaniensis n. sp.

( Figure 1 )

Specimens examined — Holotype, female, Iran, Guilan Province, Talesh, Gisoom forest , 37°39’ N, 49°01’ E, 25 April 2013, S. Ramroodi coll., from soil under alder trees in forest. One paratype female, same data as holotype (in APAG).

Description of the Female ( Figure 1 )

Dorsal idiosoma — Dorsal shield length 456 – 460, width 336 – 340 (n = 2) ( Fig. 1A ). Shield oval shaped, with reticulation, more distinct in opisthonotal region; with 39 pairs of long setae, 22 podonotal, plus r6 off the shield, 17 opisthonotal, including two pairs of Zx setae between J and Z setae, almost all setae slightly swollen at base, with pointed tip ( Fig. 1B ), very long, reaching well past base of next posterior setae (j1 24, j3, z2, j4, z5, j6, J1, Jx 62 – 64, J3 67-68, J5 40 – 42, Z5 54 – 56), lateral setae thicker than central setae, almost all setae slightly serrated ( Fig. 1C ), length 89-99, seta Z5 is 1.5 x the length of J5; opisthonotal region with three unpaired supernumerary seta Jx in each specimen. Shield with 11 pairs of pore-like structures, apparently including three pairs of gland pores (labelled g in Figure 1 ) and eight pairs of poroids; lyrifissures near the base of j1 large and slit-like, others smaller and ovoid to circular. Lateral soft skin surrounding the shield with three pairs setae in the R series.

Ventral idiosoma — ( Fig. 1D ). Tritosternum with columnar base (17 – 20 long × 10 – 12 wide), paired pilose laciniae, length 50 – 55, pre-sternal shields absent, pre-sternal area with some weak transverse lines. Sternal shield length 104-106, narrowest between coxae II (77 – 79) widest between coxae II & III (124 – 126), with slightly concave posterior margin and undulating anterior margin, with three pairs of short and smooth sternal setae, st 1 27 – 28, st 2 30 – 32, st 3 30 – 32, not reaching base of next posterior setae, one pair of lyrifissures adjacent to setae st 1, a pair of larger lyrifissures between st 2 and st 3; antero-lateral surface of sternal shield with lineate ornamentation, central area smooth. Metasternal platelets absent, metasternal setae st 4 (30 – 32) and metasternal pores located in soft skin; endopodal plates II/III fused to sternal shield, endopodal plates III/IV elongate, narrow, curved. Genito-ventral shield broad, length 223 – 225, maximum width 176 – 179, posterior margin rounded, abutting anal shield, surface with characteristic ornamentation including distinct Λ- shaped lines and polygonal ornamentation, bearing the long genital setae st 5 (42 – 44) and two pairs of long setae (70 – 72) on its lateral edges. Paragenital pores located on soft skin lateral to shield behind coxae IV. Anal shield subtriangular, length 84 – 86, width 104 – 106; its anterior half with lineate ornamentation and a pair of lateral pores; serrate postanal seta 30 – 32, longer and thicker than para-anal setae, 15 – 17. Opisthogastric skin with long and narrow metapodal plates (42 – 43 long × 5 – 7 wide), and 10 pairs of slightly serrate setae, each arising on small sclerotised platelet, and five pairs of pores. Exopodal plates forming sub-triangular extensions behind coxae IV, narrow elongate exopodal plates II/III not fused to peritrematal shield. Peritreme extending from coxa IV to mid of coxa I, peritrematal shield narrow, post-stigmatal section conspicuous, with two pairs of pores.

Gnathosoma — Epistome trapezoidal, smooth ( Fig. 1E ). Hypostomal groove with six rows of denticles each bearing 8-14 small teeth, and smooth anterior transverse line. Hypostome with four pairs of setae, internal posterior hypostomal setae h3 longest ( Fig. 1F ). Corniculi robust and horn-like, reaching mid-level of palp femur. Palp chaetotaxy: trochanter 2 (v1 thick), femur 5, genu 6, tibia 12, tarsus 15; all setae smooth and needle-like, palp tarsal claw two-tined. Fixed digit of chelicera with two blunt teeth ( Fig. 1G ); pilus dentilis short and robust; dorsal seta short, prostrate; movable digit without teeth; arthrodial membrane with a rounded flap and short filaments.

Legs — Legs II and III short (222-224, 298-302), I and IV longer (346-348, 306-308) (excluding pretarsus). Leg I: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 1/1 0/2 1 (ad thick), femur 2 3/2 2/2, genu 2 3/2 3/1 2, tibia 2 3/2 3/1 2. Leg II: coxa 0 0/1 0/1, trochanter 1 0/1 1/2 1, femur 2 3/1 2/2 1 (ad1 and pd2 thick), genu 2 3/1 2/1 2, tibia 2 2/1 2/1 2 (pv1 thick). Leg III: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 0/1 0/2 1, femur 1 2/1 1/0 1 (ad1 thick), genu 2 2/1 2/1 1, tibia: 2 1/1 2/1 1. Leg IV: coxa 0 0/1 0/0 0, trochanter 1 0/1 0/2 1 (av thick), femur 1 2/1 1/0 1 (ad 1 and ad 2 thick), genu 2 2/1 3/0 1 (ventral thick), tibia 2 1/1 3/1 2 (ventral thick); all setae fine and needle-like unless otherwise noted. Tarsi I-IV with 18 setae 3 3/2 3/2 3 + mv, md. All pre-tarsi with a pair of claws and a long thin membranous ambulacrum.

Genital structures — ( Fig. 1H ): Insemination ducts opening on posterior margin of coxa III; sacculus an irregular, with a thorn like structure, dark coloured mass behind genito-ventral shield, each duct entering separate sacculus via circular openings. The proximal ends of the ducts slightly swollen at junction with rami.

Etymology — The name of this species refers to the type locality province, Guilan.

Notes — Laelaspis guilaniensis differs from all other species in the genus by its dorsal shield long setae, seta Z5 much longer than J5; seta v1 on the palp trochanter thick, movable digit of chelicerae without teeth, fixed digit of chelicera with two blunt teeth and post-anal seta serrate.

Figures

FIGURE 1: Laelaspis guilaniensis n. sp., female: A – dorsal shield; B – seta Z5 enlarged; C – dorsal shield seta j3 enlarged; D – ventral idiosoma; E – epistome; F – Hypostome; G – chelicerae; H – insemination structures.