Pterygosoma neumanni ( Berlese, 1910 )

Fajfer, Monika, 2020, A systematic revision of the scale mite genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae), Zootaxa 4805 (1), pp. 1-147 : 111-117

Pterygosoma neumanni ( Berlese, 1910) ( Figs 101–106 )

Geckobia neumanni Berlese, 1910: 347, 1925: 96 , fig. 88

Pterygosoma neumanni Hirst, 1917 , Hirst 1926: 193, fig. 15; Jack 1962: 277, figs 14–17; Diong and Ho 2001: 197, fig. 1 Pterygosoma neumanni var. hirstielli Abdussalam, 1941: 65 , fig. 6

Pterygosoma neumanni var. hirstiella Nagar, 1978: 113 , figs 44–47

Pterygosoma gladiator Betrand, Finkelman and Paperna, 2000: 284 , figs 18−26 syn. n.

Type host: Agama agama (Sauria: Agamidae ). Type locality: Senegal.

Redescription. FEMALE (based on 20 specimens from A. agama , C. versicolor and C. emma ). Gnathosoma . Chelicerae 160–170 long; swollen cheliceral part 75–80 long, slender distal part 90–95 long. Fixed cheliceral digit 15 long, with several apical tines. Setae dF and dG, 60–75 and 45–60 long, respectively. Palpal tibia with short claw, palpal tarsi with 3 setae. Subcapitulum with filiform setae n, 20–25 long. Peritremes 120–135 long. Hypostome about 135 long, with smooth rounded apex. Idiosoma 370–465 long and 785–1050 wide. Dorsum with 70–87 pairs of antero-lateral serrate setae, 15–20 long; 2–4 pairs of postero-lateral serrate setae, 45–65 long; 2 pairs of dorsomedian setae: dm1 serrate, 50 long, dm2 paddle-shaped with spicules on apical part, 55 long; 3–6 pairs of fine-point- ed peripheral setae situated laterally, 160–280 long; 13–21 pairs of peripheral setae of 2 types: tapered or slightly apically expanded located on posterior part of idiosoma , 185–200 long. Eyes absent. Venter with filiform setae vm1 and slightly serrate setae vm2 and vm3. Genital series represented by 3 pairs of spine-like setae g1–g3. Pseudanal series represented by 5 pairs of paddle-shaped setae ps1–ps5. Setae ps1 about 50 long, setae ps2–ps5 100–110 long. Sometimes asymmetrical duplication of setae ps observed. Legs. Setae of trochanters I–IV (1–1–1–1), femora I–IV (3–1–1–0[1]), genua I–IV (2[3]–1[0]–1[0]–1), tibiae I–IV (5–3–3–2). In females collected from Calotes versicolor setae vGII present and dFIV absent, in females from C. emma setae vGII absent and vGIII present, in females from A. agama setae dFIV present and vGII and vGIII absent (see Tab. 1). All setae on each podomere filiform, except for plumose setae d’FI–III. Setation of tarsi I−IV as in group B: I 12 setae (ft, tc’, tc”, p’, p”, a’, a”, it’, it”, u’, u”, vs’) and solenidion ω1; II 8 setae (tc’, p’, p”, a’, a”, u’, u”, vs’) and ω1; III and IV with 8 setae each (tc’, p’, p”, a’, a”, u’, u”, vs’). Setae tc’ of legs II–IV and a’, a”, u’, u”, vs’ of legs I–IV smooth.

MALE (based on 1 specimen from C. versicolor ). Gnathosoma as in female, but without subcapitular setae n. Chelicerae 70 long; swollen cheliceral part 35 long, slender distal part 25 long. Fixed cheliceral digit spinous, 10 long. Hypostome 60 long with smooth rounded apex. Peritremes about 60 long. Idiosoma 240 long and 415 wide. Dorsum with serrate setae: 23–25 pairs of antero-lateral setae, 15 long; 5 pairs of medio-lateral setae, 20–40 long and 2 pairs of slightly apically expanded dorso-median setae: dm1 and dm2, 35 long. Aedeagus 140 long, directed forward. Genito-anal opening with 2 pairs of filiform minute setae. Venter with 3 pairs of ventro-median setae: vm1 filiform, vm2 and vm3 slightly serrate. Legs as in female.

DEUTONYMPH (based on 3 specimens from C. versicolor ). Gnathosoma as in female. Chelicerae 165–175 long; swollen cheliceral part 80–85 long, slender distal part 80–95 long. Fixed cheliceral digit about 15 long. Setae dF and dG 75–85 long. Peritremes 110–125 long. Hypostome 100 long, with minute denticles present at rounded apex. Idiosoma 355–370 long and 595–610 wide. Dorsum. Antero-lateral part with 80–96 pairs of serrate setae, about 25–40 long; medial part with 2 pairs of dorso-median setae: dm1 serrate, 40 long; dm2 paddle-shaped with minute spicules on apical part, 65 long. Peripheral series represented by 15–18 pairs of setae of two types: 12–15 pairs of paddle-shaped setae situated medially and 3–6 pairs of tapered setae situated laterally. Venter with 3 pairs of ventro-median setae: vm1 filiform, vm2 and vm3 very slightly serrate. Genital series represented by 3 pairs of spine-like setae g1–g3, about 40, 20 and 25 long, respectively. Pseudanal series represented by 1 pair of serrate setae ps1 45–50 long and 4–5 pairs of paddle-shaped setae ps2–ps6 110–135 long (in 1 paratype asymmetrical duplication observed). Legs as in female.

PROTONYMPH (based on 9 specimens from C. versicolor ). Gnathosoma as in female. Chelicerae 80–85 long; swollen cheliceral part 45 long, slender distal part 35–40 long. Fixed cheliceral digit with spinous process, 5 long. Hypostome about 70 long, with slightly triangular apex. Peritremes 45–65 long. Idiosoma 220–365 long and 495–600 wide. Dorsum. Anterior part with 20–21 pairs of serrate setae, 15–25 long; medial part with 3 pairs of dorso-median setae: dm1 serrate and 25–30 long, dm2 serrate and slightly apically expanded, 30–35 long, dm3 paddle-shaped with minute spicules on apical part, about 45 long. Postero-lateral part of idiosoma with 2–3 pairs of paddle-shaped setae, 30–40 long. Peripheral series represented by 19–20 pairs of paddle-shaped setae, 40–95 long. Venter with 3 pairs of ventro-median setae: vm1 filiform, vm2 and vm3 slightly serrate. Genital slit situated mainly ventrally. Genital series represented by 2 pairs of minute spine-like setae g1 and g2. Pseudanal series represented by 2 pairs of slightly serrate setae ps1 and ps2, 25–30 long, and 2 pairs of paddle-shaped setae ps3 and ps4, 50–60 and 80 long, respectively. Legs as in female.

LARVA (based on description presented in Jack 1962b, modified). Gnathosoma as in female. Chelicerae about 60 long; swollen cheliceral part and slender distal part subequal in length, about 30 long. Idiosoma 160–245 long and 220 wide. Dorsum with 13 pairs of serrate setae, 20–30 long, arranged as in Fig. 32A . Eyes present. Pseudanal series represented by 2 pairs of pseudanal setae ps1 and ps2.

Type material (not examined). Type female from Agama agama (Linnaeus) (Sauria: Agamidae ), SENEGAL, no other data.

Type material deposition. Unknown (it was not stated in the species original description).

Non-type material (examined). One female, 3 deutonymphs, 9 protonymphs and 1 male (AMU-PTE25.1) from Calotes versicolor (Daudin) ( ZMUC R361422 ) [ventral surface], THAILAND: Bangkok; 14 December 1878 ,

coll. Købke; 6 females (AMU-PTE25.1) from same host species ( ZMUC no. R36838), THAILAND: 4 February 1970 , coll. Gram; 5 females (AMU-PTE25.1) from same host species ( ZMUC no. R36841) and location; 4 February 1970 , coll. Gram; 5 females (AMU-PTE25.2) from Calotes emma Gray (new host) ( ZMUC no. R36770), THAILAND: between Tak and Mea Sot near border of Myanmar, 27 February 1960 ; coll. Ernst V. Floto; 3 females ( NHM no. 1966.2.22 561–562) from Agama agama ( NHM no. 1905.10.30.11–16), SOMALIA: Berberea district, Berberea , 30 October 1905 , coll. G. W. Bury.

Hosts and distribution. This species is known from Agama agama from Senegal ( Berlese 1910), Somalia ( Hirst 1917) and DR Congo ( Jack 1962b); A. doriae from Sudan [Blue Nile State, Rosaires], Ethiopia [Amhara Region, near Lake Tana] ( Jack 1962b); Calotes veriscolor from India [Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Madras; Kanpur Nagar district, Kanpur; Uttar Pradesh state, Benares; Haryana state, Hissar] ( Hirst 1926; Jack 1962b); Pakistan [Pakistani province of Punjab, Lahore; Sindh province, Karachi] (Abdusssalam 1941; Jack 1962b), Myanmar [Taungoo District], Thailand [Bangkok; Dong Phaya Yen mountains; Chiang Mai]; China [Hainan Province], Sri Lanka and Singapore ( Jack 1962b; Diong and Ho 2001); C. mystaceus from Myanmar [Bago region, Bago]; both C. liolepis and C. liocephalus from Sri Lanka [Punduloya] ( Jack 1962b) and C. emma Gray (new host) from Thailand [between Tak and Mea Sot near border of Myanmar] (new locality) (present study).

Remarks. The taxonomic status of this mite species has changed several times over the past few decades. Originally, this species was inadequately described by Berlese in 1910 ex Agama agama from Senegal. Later on, the author (Berlese 1925) presented a figure of the species, however, in both instances he assigned this mite species to the genus Geckobia Mégnin. Then , the species was redescribed by Hirst (1926) from the same host housed in the NHM and transferred to the correct genus. In 1941 Abdussalam drew attention to the difference in the number of the peripheral setae in Hirst’s and Berlese’s descriptions. Simultaneously, he collected his own material from Indian lizards and based on the number of the peripheral setae he considered P. neumanni redescribed by Hirst (1926) as a variety of this species i.e. P. neumanni var. hirstielli . He also described and figured previously unknown male. Jack (1962b) described immatures and considered P. neumanni var. hirstielli Abdussalam, 1941 as synonymous with P. neumanni ( Berlese, 1910) because the author found many specimens with an intermediate number of peripheral setae and did not observe any geographical or host correlations. Later on, Nagar (1978) did not acknowledge Jack’s work ( Jack 1962b) and assigned specimens found on Calotes versicolor in Thailand as P. neumanni var. hirstiella . In 2000 Bertrand et al. described a new species— P. gladiator from C. versicolor from northern Thailand. However, this species is morphologically similar to of P. neumanni var. hirstiella of Nagar (1978) and indistinguishable from specimens of P. neumanni loaned from the NHM (NHM no. 1966.2.22.598-599) found on C. mystacelus in Myanmar (see Table 3). For these reason I synonymize P. gladiator with Pterygosoma neumanni ( Berlese, 1910) .

My current study, based on material loaned from the NHM and collected from Asia ( Thailand), shows that not only the number of the peripheral setae vary between species taken from different localities and hosts but also the leg chaetotaxy pattern (see Table 3). It is apparent that many specimens have an intermediate number of peripheral setae between the limits observed by Abdussalam for P. neumanni var. hirstielli (20–25 pairs) and for neumanni typica Berlese (12−14 pairs). These observations of morphological variation among species from different hosts and localities force me to conclude that P. neumanni is a species that may be further divided into subspecies after comprehensive morphological and genetic analyses. However, the number of female specimens analyzed in this study from different hosts and geographical localities is scarce thus the taxonomical status of P. neumanni cannot be decided until more material from North Africa and Middle East is available.

Figures

FIGURE 32. Pterygosoma parasiniatum Fajfer, Melnikov and Dabert, 2016, larva. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, gnathosoma in dorsal view (after Fajfer et al. 2016).

FIGURE 101. Pterygosoma neumanni (Berlese 1910), female in dorsal view.

FIGURE 102. Pterygosoma neumanni (Berlese 1910), female in ventral view.

FIGURE 103. Pterygosoma neumanni (Berlese 1910), details. Female: A, gnathosoma in dorsal view; B, tarsus I in ventrolateral view; C, tarsus II in lateral view; Deutonymph: D, gnathosoma in dorsal view; Protonymph: E, gnathosoma in dorsal view.

FIGURE 104. Pterygosoma neumanni (Berlese 1910), male. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 105. Pterygosoma neumanni (Berlese 1910), deutonymph.A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 106. Pterygosoma neumanni (Berlese 1910), protonymph. A, dorsal view, B, genital region in ventral view.