Afroheterozercon Fain 1989

Klompen, Hans & Gerdeman, Beverly S., 2023, Genus-level revision of the Heterozerconoidea (Parasitiformes: Mesostigmata), Zootaxa 5322 (1), pp. 1-66 : 29

Afroheterozercon Fain 1989

Afroheterozercon Fain 1989: 147

[type species. Heterozercon spirostreptus Fain 1988 , by original designation]. Afroheterozercon .— Evans 1992: 426; Klompen et al. 2013: 302.

Diagnosis. Spermatodactyl of male of compressed type (7, except in Af. spirostreptus ); cornicula with a distal notch (24; Fig. 34 , arrow); sclerotized areas near insertion sternal setae st 2 in female fused to endopodal shields (38); sclerotized areas near sternal setae st2 and st 3 in male completely fused (51.0); endopodal and sternitiventral shield in male fused (58, shared with Maracazercon ); metapodal and sternitiventral shields in male fused (59); sternitiventral and anal shields in male fused, but line of fusion still visible (66.1, shared with several species in other genera); marginal opisthosomal setae anchor-like (78.2); lyrifissures iv 5 in male absent (79).

Remarks. Of the 12 characters that can be distinguished in Fain’s (1989) diagnosis of the genus, two (marginal opisthosomal region with numerous anchor-like spines (78), metapodal and sternitiventral shields fused (59)) are unique derived characters, the remainder are either primitive at this level, or are subject to multiple optimizations.

Distinct structures directly posterior to coxae IV of the females ( Fig. 67 , arrow) are assumed to be secondary genital openings (solenostomes). They are present in females of most species of Afroheterozercon examined (see Klompen et al. 2013) and absent in all males. The exception is Af. spirostreptus where females lack the structures posterior to coxae IV. This is also the only species where the male has a spermatodactyl that resembles the “straight”, rather than the “compressed”, type ( Klompen et al. 2013).

Figures

FIGURES 31–34. Heterozerconidae, gnathosoma, adults: 31, Narceoheterozercon ohioensis, female (OSAL 001054); 32, Narceoheterozercon ohioensis, male (redrawn from Gerdeman & Klompen (2003)); 33, Afroheterozercon mahsbergi, female (OSAL 003037); 34, Afroheterozercon mahsbergi, male (OSAL 003042; red arrow: notch in corniculus). Inset: gnathotectum (female and male) and labrum + salivary stylets. Abbreviations: LL, lateral lips.

FIGURES 67–68. Heterozerconidae, Heterozercon calakmulensis n. sp., idiosoma venter: 67, female (CNAC 012444); 68, male (CNAC 012443).