Zercon plumatopilus Athias-Henriot, 1961

Urhan, Raşit & Karaca, Mehmet, 2023, Contributions to the Zerconidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) fauna of Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta National Park, Türkiye, Acarological Studies 5 (1), pp. 21-33 : 25-26

Zercon plumatopilus Athias-Henriot, 1961 ( Figure 3 )

Materials examined: 14 females, 9 males and 3 DN: soil and litter samples under kermes oak ( Q. coccifera ), Turkish oak ( Q. cerris ) and sage-leaved rock-rose ( C. salviifolius ), 37°42.174' N, 27°17.517' E, 543 m a.s.l., vicinity of Kurşunlu monastery, 9 November 2019. 2 females and 3 males: soil and litter samples under Turkish oak ( Q. cerris ) and Aleppo oak ( Q. infectoria ), 37°42.213' N, 27°17.990' E, 385 m a.s.l., vicinity of Davutlar neighborhood, 9 November 2019.

Short description: On podonotum, setae j1–2 and marginal setae (s2–3, s6, r2 and r4–5) finely barbed, the remaining setae short, smooth and needle-like. On opisthonotum, setae J1 and Z1 smooth and needle-like. Setae J2, Z2, S2 and marginal setae (S1 and R1–6) finely barbed. Setae J3–5, Z3– 5 and S3–5 elongated, finely barbed with hyaline endings. Although setae Z4 and S4 extend to the edge of the opisthonotum, setae Z5 and S5 extend beyond the opisthonotum. Pores gdS2 located between setae Z2 and S3, gdZ3 located between setae J5 and Z4, closer to Z4. Dorsal cavities large, distinct and strongly developed. Anterior margin of ventrianal shield with 1 pair of setae (JV1), glands gv2 present. Posterolateral tips of peritrematal shield reach the level of seta S1 ( UJvári, 2009).

Deutonymph ( Fig. 3 )

Length × width of idiosoma: 286–377 × 185–233 (n=3).

On podonotum, setae j1, s3 and s6 finely barbed, the remaining setae short, smooth and needle-like. On opisthonotum, setae J1–5, Z1–2, S2 and marginal setae (S1 and R1–6) short, smooth and needle-like. Setae Z3–5 and S3–5 elongated, and finely barbed with hyaline endings. However, setae Z3 and S3 shorter than other setae with similar morphological features. Although seta Z4 extends to the edge of the opisthonotum (or slightly extent beyond), setae Z5 and S4–5 extend to beyond the opisthonotum demonstrably. Pores gdS2 located between setae Z3 and S3, closer to S3, gdZ3 located between setae J4 and Z4, closer to Z4. Dorsal cavities distinct and weakly developed. Anterior margin of ventrianal shield with 1 pair of setae (JV1), glands gv2 present. Posterolateral tips of peritrematal shield reach the level of seta S1. Distances between setae Z5–Z5 and Z5–JV5 74–96 and 12–20, respectively. Podonotal and opisthonotal shields distinct. Average lengths and ranges of opisthonotal setae are given in Table 2 for the deutonymph specimens.

Distribution in Türkiye: Erzurum (Duran et al., 2017), Kütahya ( Urhan and Duran, 2019), Aydın (present study).

Known distribution: Italia, Slovenia, Cyprus ( UJvári, 2009), and Albania ( UJvári, 2010).

Figures

Figures 2-3. Dorsal views of deutonymph specimens 2. Zercon andrei, 3. Zercon plumatopilus. Scale bar 100.