Phytoptipalpus occultuae, Ueckermann & Ochoa & Bauchan & Neser, 2019

Ueckermann, Edward A., Ochoa, Ronald, Bauchan, Gary R. & Neser, Stefan, 2019, An amazing sub-cambium flat mite from South Africa (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae), Acarologia 59 (4), pp. 507-530 : 509-518

Phytoptipalpus occultuae sp. nov. Ueckermann, Ochoa and Bauchan

Zoobank: 3A456694-E15F-4705-B3EC-1F6282D86ED9

Material examined ( Fig. 1A ) — Holotype. Female, 32 paratype females, 13 paratype

males, 5 paratype deutonymphs, 2 paratype protonymps and 9 paratype larvae, from Senegalia caffra (Thunb.) Hurter and Mabb. (Leguminosae) , from twigs with irregular bumps and lifted bark, Gauteng, Rietondale , Pretoria, S 25°43’42”, E 28°14’01”, South Africa, 6 March 2008, S. Neser ; 39 paratype females and 2 paratype nymphs from Senegalia caffra , same symptoms, North-West Province , Schoemansville, S 25°43′14″, E 27°53’10”, South Africa, 29 June 2015, S. Neser .

Type deposition — The holotype and some paratypes will be deposited in the National Collection of Arachnida, ARC-Plant Health and Protection Research (NCA-PPRI), Pretoria, South - Africa and some of the other paratypes in the British Museum (BMNH), London, England, and the National Insect and Mite Collection of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, located at the Systematic Entomology Laboratory (SEL), USDA, Beltsville, Maryland, USA (USNM).

Diagnosis — Opisthosomal setae varying between 13-27 in length; 16 pairs of setae uniform and plumose. Femora I–II with four setae (d, l’, v’, bv”); genua I–III without setae; coxae I with two setae; coxae II–III each with one seta (setae 3b present, 4b present or absent). Leg IV reduced with 0 to 4 setae.

Description. Female (n=18) — Dorsum. ( Figs.2 , 4B , 6 A-B) Natural colour of mites red. Body measurements: length between setae v2–h1 282–343 [286], width between setae sc2–sc2 191–238 [204]. Propodosoma irregularly striate medially, longitudinally sublaterally and again irregularly laterally, with two pairs of small eyes and setae v2, sc1 and sc2 short and plumose ( Fig. 6B ); opisthosoma also striate, mostly transverse but with irregular patches, with 13 pairs

of short plumose setae gradually becoming longer caudally; asymmetry in the number of dorsal setae is prominent; in 70 females examined one member of the following setal pairs: v2, sc1,

sc2, c1, c2, c3, e2, e3, f2, f3 and h1 is absent in: two, three, one, one, one, two, three, four, two, seven and four specimens, respectively, rest was normal. Both members of setae e2 are absent

in one specimen. Dorsal setal measurements: v2 11–20 [18], sc1 13–20 [17], sc2 17–22 [19],

c1 12–16 [15], c2 15–20 [18], c3 18–25 [21], d1 12–17 [15], d2 16–20 [18], d3 18–24 [20],

e1 12 –18 [15], e2 17 –22 [21], e3 19 –26 [22], f2 16–21 [17], f3 18–27 [20], h1 16–21 [18], h2 18–25 [20]. Eyes present.

Venter. ( Fig. 3) Cuticle completely covered with mostly transverse striae, including coxal fields but, anterior to coxal setae it is granulate. Setae g1 and g2 (some forked) inserted almost

in transverse row on genital flap. Setae 1a (with forked apices in some specimens), 3a and ag smooth and flagellate (sometimes short, forked and serrate), with 4a usually absent, however, some specimens with one or both 4a setae. Setae 1b, 1c, 2c (one member can be absent) present, 2b absent, 3b setae sometimes forked on one side and absent on the other, 4b mostly absent, but when present is smooth; setae g1, g2, ps1 and ps2 serrate. Setal measurements: 1a 41–66 [40],

1b, 22-31 [23], 1c 20–30 [24], 2 c 31–49 [29], 3a 42–78 [34], 3b 20–40 [32], 4a 31–64 [absent],

4b 21–28 [31], ag 12–52 [52], g1 11–20 [14], g2 11–15 [13], ps1 8–12 [12], ps2 10–13 [10].

Gnathosoma. ( Figs. 3, 7 A-D) Length of gnathosoma 77-90 [88]. Palps five-segmented.

Setal formula: 0-1-0-1-3(ω). Palp tarsus with one solenidion 4–5 [4] and one eupathidium with tapered tip 7–8 [6] distally, one serrate seta 7–9 [7]; palp tibia with one smooth seta 11–14 [11],

palp genu and trochanter without setae and palp femur with one serrate seta 7-10 [8]. Palp coxa with dorsal spine. Cheliceral stylets distally with lateral serrations ( Fig. 7 C-D). Oesophagus well sclerotised. Seta m on venter of gnathosoma absent ( Fig. 7B ).

Spermatheca. ( Fig. 4A ) Proximally a slender tube but distal half with coils and creases (40-50) and a smooth oval ending.

Legs. ( Figs. 4 C-D, 5A-K, 7E-F) Lengths of legs (trochanter to tip of empodium): I: 87

- 114 [105], II: 75 - 104 [97], III: 75 - 97 [91]. Setal formula for legs I–III (coxae to tarsi): 2-1-4-0-4-6(1); 1-1-4-0-4-6(1); 1-1-2-0-3-3, respectively. Leg IV reduced with zero to three

and II; D – Leg III.

or four setae ( Figs. 5 , 7F ). Coxal setae are mostly long slender and smooth but one or both

members can be forked. Femora I–II with four setae d (, l’, v’, bv”) with seta d stout and barbed;

femur III with two setae (ev’, d), seta d stout and barbed; genua I–III without setae. Tibiae I-II

with four setae (d, l’, v’, v”), tibia III with three setae (d, v’, v”). Tarsi I and II each with six

setae (ft’, ft”, p’, p”, u’, u”) and one abaxial solenidion; tarsi III with three setae u’ (, u”, ft’).

Each claw with two tenent hairs. Claws uncinate. Empodium with apparently 5 pairs of tenent

hairs.

Male (n=8) — Dorsum. ( Fig. 8) Body measurements: length between setae v2–h1 195-

230, width between setae sc2–sc2 139–167. Propodosomal striae as in female, with two pairs

of small eyes and setae v2, sc1 and sc2 short and plumose; opisthosoma also striate, mostly

transverse medially but irregular laterally, with 13 pairs of short plumose setae gradually

becoming longer caudally; asymmetry not so prominent as in female, only one member of

setae e1 absent in one specimen and one member of v 2 in another specimen. Dorsal setae

measurements: v2 11–13, sc1 12–14, sc2 13–17, c1 9–14, c2 12–17, c3 16–18, d1 11–17, d2

13–18, d3 14–20, e1 13 –16, e2 14 –18, e3 15 –22, f2 14–17, f3 15–19, h1 12–16, h2 14–16.

Venter. ( Fig. 9) Cuticle almost completely covered with mostly transverse striae, including

coxal fields, also granulate anterior to coxal setae. Setae ag, g1, g2, ps1 and ps2 slightly

serrate and grouped together on anogenital area terminally. Setae ps1 forked in one specimen. Setae 1a flagellate with a member absent in one specimen, setae 2c with one member forked

in two specimens, 3a (flagellate) and 3b with one member forked in one and two specimens, respectively. Setae 4a, absent in two specimens, but with one member absent in five specimens and one with both members forked. Setae 4b absent in four specimens and with only onemember present in the other four. Setal measurements: 1a 27–36, 1b, 14–17, 1c 10–15, 2c 15–21, 3a 34–55, 3b 13–22, 4a 28–35, 4b 12–27, ag 10–21, g1 7–8, g2 6–7, ps1 6–10, ps2 6-8.

Gnathosoma. Length of gnathosoma 55-83. Palps five-segmented. Setal formula: 0-1-0- 1-3(ω). Palp tarsus with one solenidion (4) and one eupathidium with tapered tip (6–7) distally, one serrate seta (6–7); palp tibia with one smooth seta (7–10), palp genu and trochanter without setae and palp femur with one serrate seta (5-7). Palp coxa with dorsal spine. Cheliceral stylets distally with lateral serrations. Oesophagus well sclerotised. Seta m on venter of gnathosoma absent.

Legs. ( Fig. 10B ) Lengths of legs (trochanter to tip of empodium): I: 93-101; II: 85-92; III: 79-88; IV: 55-76. Setal formula for legs I–IV (coxae to tarsi): 2-1-4-0-4-6(1); 1-1-4-0-4-6(1); 1-1-2-0-3-3; 0 or1-0-0-0-0 to 3-3, respectively. Leg IV present, with 3 or 4 segments, tarsus

and tibia fused or not and genu and femur fused. Tarsus with three setae u’, (u”, ft’), tibia with

no setae (on one leg) to one or three setae with d and both or one member of v’, v” absent or present; genu, femur and trochanter without setae, coxa with or without a seta. The remaining chaetotaxy of the males as in the female. Claws and empodia also resemble that of female.

Aedeagus. ( Fig. 10A ) Elongate funnel, acutely tapered distally, 38-44.

Deutonymph (n=5) — Dorsum. ( Fig. 11) Body measurements: length between setae v2–h1: 221-257, width between setae sc2–sc2: 139–175. Propodosomal striae as in female,

with two pairs of small eyes and setae v2, sc1 and sc2 short and plumose; opisthosoma also striate, mostly transverse medially but irregular laterally, with 13 pairs of short plumose setae gradually becoming longer caudally; asymmetry absent. Dorsal setae measurements: v2 11–17,

sc1 15–19, sc2 16–20, c1 11–13, c2 13–21, c3 18–24, d1 11–16, d2 12–19, d3 19–23, e1 11 –15,

e2 15 –21, e3 18 –22, f2 12–18, f3 17–22, h1 12–17, h2 16–18.

Venter. ( Fig. 12 ) Cuticle almost completely covered with transverse striae, including coxal fields, also granulate anterior to coxal setae. Setae ag, g1, ps1 and ps2 slightly serrate, g2 absent. Setae 4a flagellate, present in only one specimen. Setae 4b also present in only one specimen. Setal measurements: 1a 26–43, 1b, 15–21, 1c 14–20, 2c 15–21, 3a 27–43, 3b 15–24,

4a 25, 4b 14, ag 15–29, g1 8–16, ps1 5–7, ps2 7-8.

Gnathosoma. Length of gnathosoma 61-74. Palps five-segmented. Setal formula: 0-1-0- 1-3(ω). Palp tarsus with one solenidion (4) and one eupathidium with tapered tip (6) distally, one serrate seta (6–8); palp tibia with one smooth seta (8–10), palp genu and trochanter without setae and palp femur with one serrate seta (8-9). Palp coxa, cheliceral stylets, oesophagus and venter of gnathosoma like those of female.

Legs. Lengths of legs (trochanter to tip of empodium): I: 79-88; II: 73-79; III: 72-81. Setal formula for legs I–III (coxae to tarsi): 2-0-3-0-4-6(1), 1-0-3-0-4-6(1), 1-0-2-0-3-3, respectively. Femora I-II with seta l’ absent. Trochanters I-III also without setae. The chaetotaxy of the remaining segments as that of the female. Leg IV reduced with one serrate, two serrate or two short serrate and two very long smooth setae. Claws and empodia also resemble that of female.

Protonymph (n=2) — Dorsum. ( Fig. 13 ) Body measurements: length between setae v2–h1: 200-229, width between setae sc2–sc2: 149–164. Propodosomal striae as in female, with two pairs of small eyes and setae v2, sc1 and sc2 short and plumose; opisthosoma also striate, mostly transverse medially but irregular laterally, with 13 pairs of short plumose setae gradually becoming longer caudally; asymmetry absent. Dorsal setae measurements: v2 15–17,

sc1 15–17, sc2 19–20, c1 11–14, c2 16–17, c3 16–21, d1 15, d2 15–20, d3 20–21, e1 14 –15, e2 14 –17, e3 18 –20, f2 16–17, f3 18–21, h1 15–17, h2 15–16.

Venter. ( Fig. 14 ) Cuticle almost completely covered with transverse striae, including coxal fields, slightly granulate anterior to coxal setae. Setae ag, ps1 and ps2 slightly serrate, g1-2 absent. Setae 4a and 4b absent. Setal measurements: 1a 23–48, 1b, 14–20, 1c 11 – 12, 2c 14,

3a 28–44, 3b 13–19, ag 15–21, ps 1 4–5, ps2 5-6.

Figures

Figure 1 A – Senegalia caffra, Rietondale, Pretoria South Africa; B – Blister on stem; C – Founder specimens either larvae or protonymphs of Phytoptipalpus occultuae sp. n. in blister; D – P. occultuae sp. n. with eggs and unkown eriophyid; E – Large population in blister; F – Phytoptipalpus multistriatum on surface of host tree.

Figure 2 Phytoptipalpus occultuae sp. n., female. Dorsal view.

Figure 4 Phytoptipalpus occultuae sp. n., female. A – Spermatheca; B – Dorsal seta Sc1; C – Leg I

Figure 5 Phytoptipalpus occultuae sp. n., female. Variations of leg IV.

Figure 6 Phytoptipalpus occultuae sp. n., female. A – SEM of dorsal view; B – SEM of setaSc1.

Figure 7 Phytoptipalpus occultuae sp. n., female. A – SEM of dorsal view of gnathosoma; B – SEM of ventral view of gnathosoma; C – SEM of chelicera; D – SEM of tip of chelicera; E – SEM of empodium I; F – SEM of leg IV; G – SEM of egg.

Figure 10 Phytoptipalpus occultuae sp. n., male. A – Aedeagus; B – Leg IV.

Figure 12 Phytoptipalpus occultuae sp. n., deutonymph. Anogenital area.

Figure 13 Phytoptipalpus occultuae sp. n., protonymph. Dorsal view.

Figure 14 Phytoptipalpus occultuae sp. n., protonymph. Anogenital area.