Notolaelaps novaguinea Womersley

Shaw, Matthew D., 2011, Laelapidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) on megachiropteran bats: new records and a new species of Neolaelaps Hirst, Zootaxa 2807, pp. 41-56 : 42-48

Notolaelaps novaguinea Womersley

( Figs 1–11 )

Notolaelaps nova guinea Womersley, 1957: 67.

Notolaelaps novaguinea Radovsky, 1967: 32 ; 1994: 199; 2010: 21.

Specimens examined. Holotype. Papua New Guinea. Female, Jimni Valley, 1955, J. G. W(omersley) coll., J 11592 ( SAM), ex “ Syconycteris crassa papuana Matschie 1899 ”, host det. E. Troughton. Paratype. Female. Same data as holotype, J 11577 ( SAM). Non-type material: Australia. 1 female, 7 males, 2 protonymphs, Hollindale Road near Guanaba, SE Queensland, 27° 57’ S, 153° 12’ E, 1 October 2000, Catherine Hollindale, ex Syconycteris australis (Peters) , host voucher JM 14604 (QM), S 88508 –88517 (QM). Papua New Guinea. 1 female, Wau Creek, 4500’, 15 March 1963, H. Clissold coll., ex Syconycteris BBM-NG 20444 (BBM); 1 female, same data and field code; 1 female, Wau Creek, no date, H. Clissold coll., ex Syconycteris BBM-NG 20445 (BBM); 1 female, Sandy Creek, no date, H. Clissold coll., Tit Green, BBM-NG 20600 (BBM); 1 ovigerous female, Minj, Western Highlands, 10–16 Sep 1969, T. C. Maa ex Syconycteris TMP 69 (BBM).

Description of female (n = 7). Dorsum: Small mites. Dorsal shield 535 x 335 (535–580 x 335–360), covering almost entire dorsum, with 37 pairs of setae including z1 (Figs 1,2), Px setae absent. Dorsal setae mostly smooth except some marginal setae and J5 and Z5 with sparse barbs. Dorsal setal lengths (n=6): Podonotal setae, j1 15 (11– 15), j2 60 (47–60), j3 54 (44–54), j4 46 (40–48), j5 45 (40–45), j6 36 (35–40), z1 16 (12–18), z2 56 (45–56), z3 57 (47–57), z4 57 (50–58), z5 37 (30–39), z6 41 (37-41), s1 37 (30–40), s2 42 (31–43), s3 55 (44–57), s4 56 (50–59), s5 50 (46–53), s6 50 (36–50), r2 40 (26–41), r3 51 (40–51), r4 45 (37–49), r5 51 (44–51). Opisthonotal setae, J1 37 (35–39), J2 37 (34–40), J3 34 (34–38), J4 24 (23–29), J5 21 (20–24), Z1 47 (40–47), Z2 43 (40–45), Z3 40 (37– 40), Z4 37 (34–37), Z5 45 (42–47), S1 46 (40–46), S2 44 (41–44), S3 45 (39–45), S4 49 (40–49), S5 45 (41–46).

Venter: Tritosternum with short broad base 15–22 long, 24 wide. Laciniae fork directly from level of tritosternal suture or at most 6 μm distal. Laciniae 65–75 μm long, base with denticulate fringe on dorsal face. Presternal area with two lateral zones of weak striae. Sternal shield quadrate, virtually smooth, 66 x 95 (66–72 deep x 95 –105 wide). Anterolateral corners produced, posterolateral corners rounded, with shallow concavity to posterior margin. Sternal lyrifissures well-developed with long transverse slits. St1 directly anterior to pore of first lyrifissure. St1 45 (45–53), st2 60 (60–64), st3 61 (61–62). Third sternal pore free in unarmed cuticle. Endopodal plate a thin sliver bearing st4 at anterior tip. Metasternal plate appears absent. Genito-ventral shield pear-shaped, 138 long x 88 wide (138–160 x 70 –88), widest ca. level with Jv1, bearing three pairs of setae (st5, Jv1 and Zv1), extending posteriorly within 2 μm (2–21) of anal shield. Genito-ventral shield flanked laterally by single pair of longitudinal striae which usually extend to posterior edge of shield. Genito-ventral shield with six, or in one case seven, strongly transverse striae in a regular series. Pore associated with st5 off genito-ventral shield (except for one side of the single Guanaba female, Fig. 5 ). Genital apodemes prominent. The egg in the sole ovigerous female measures 255 x 182. Paragenital plates absent. Exopodal IV lobe, moderately developed, 17–19 μm wide, with 1–3 parallel striae. Stigmata and peritrematal chamber (spiracular atrium) moderately broadened 20 (20–21). Poststigmatal plate reduced but bearing full complement of pores, second and third pores immediately adjacent, second pore slightly larger than minute pores 1 and 3. Opisthogastric setae in 19–21 pairs set in simple round alveoli; setae mostly smooth. Principal metapodal shield an irregular oval 33 x 12. Second inner metapodal shield absent. Anal shield 69 (62–69) x 69 (59–69) with distinct humera. Central area smooth, without striae or ridges. Para-anal setae 22 μm (22–30), postanal seta 23 μm (23–28).

Gnathosoma: Edentate , cheliceral digits stout with strong hooked apices ( Fig. 4 ). Pilus dentilis well-developed, not inflated. Cheliceral seta absent, small dorsal recess present, arthrodial corona sparse. Movable digit 24 μm (23–26). Cheliceral segment II 82 μm (75–83), cheliceral segment I 27 μm (22–27). Tectum moderately long, smooth-edged ( Fig. 3 ). Subcheliceral shelf a well-sclerotised medial prong, 20 μm long, 4 μm wide, with blunt undivided tip extending to corniculi bases ( Fig. 11 ). Internal malae weakly fringed, without lateral lobes, separated medially. Deutosternal denticles in 7–8 single rows, not flanked by lateral grooves. Dorsodistal setae on palp tibia setiform, tapering, without visible rounded tip. Palp genu al 1 blunt, stout, al 2 longer, slender with flattened tip. Palp femur seta al with minute flattened tip. Dorsal seta on palp femur barbed. Corniculi stubby, only 10 μm long. Palp apotele 2-tined.

Legs: Leg chaetotaxy as for holotrichous Laelapidae ( Evans & Till, 1965) except tibia I has four ventral setae. The single pl seta on genu IV is placed proximally (= true pl 2). Anterior setae of coxa II and III are thickened, slightly-flattened, blunt spurs. Coxa II anterodorsal spur small, undistinguished. Thickened leg setae on femur I (ad 1, pd 1), trochanter I (d), trochanter III (pl) and trochanter IV (pl, d). Several dorsal setae on femora with barbs and several ventral setae on femur-tibia bearing barbs. Dorsal setae on trochanter II–IV and setae on coxae I–IV sometimes bearing barbs. Apicolateral setae on tarsus I (= d setae of Radovsky, 1967), with short collars only, not pedicillate. Posterior pretarsi moderately long (III 17 μm, IV 24 μm). Pretarsal opercula reduced fringes bearing only ca. three tines. Leg measurements as in Table 1.

I II III IV

Femur 54 (54–64) 42 (42–48) 43 (43–53) 62 (62–66) Genu 52 (52–57) 46 (40–52) 35 (32–39) 42 (42–44) Tibia 52 (48–52) 29 (29–39) 26 (26–32) 45 (45–48) Tarsus 75 (75–83) 63 (63–71) 74 (71–78) 104 (104–117) Description of male (n = 7). As for female except as described below.

Dorsum: Dorsal shield 370–395 x 225–240, covering entire dorsum except anterolateral portions. Some specimens (QMS 88510, QMS 88512) lack one or both z1 setae. Many dorsal setae with subterminal barbs as figured ( Fig. 6 ). Anterior and anterolateral setae mostly long, discal and posterior setae shorter. Dorsal setal lengths (n=6): Podonotal setae, j1 (10–14), j2 (34–40), j3 (39–41), j4 (30–32), j5 (26–29), j6 (23–24), z1 (10–12), z2 (37–39), z3 (36–40), z4 (37–41), z5 (21–24), z6 (24–28), s1 (21–25), s2 (25–32), s3 (36–41), s4 (37–41), s5 (29–36), s6 (26– 36), r2 (20–23), r3 (30–34), r4 (27–33), r5 (30–35). Opisthonotal setae, J1 (21–23), J2 (22–24), J3 (21–23), J4 (19–21), J5 (14–21), Z1 (27–30), Z2 (28–31), Z3 (22–25), Z4 (22–25), Z5 (31–33), S1 (25–30), S2 (26–32), S3 (27– 29), S4 (28–30), S5 (31–35).

Venter: Broad tritosternal base with suture 9 μm above base, 13 μm to base of laciniae, laciniae 42 μm long. Male genital pore set forward, posterior edge level with st1. St1 on anterior margin of shield. Holoventral shield with four pairs of pre-anal setae, Jv3 off shield, 66–75 μm wide at level of st2, without reticulations in podonotal region. St 1 27–30 μm, st2 35–37 μm, st3 32–35 μm. Peritreme mildly broadened at level of spiracular atrium (20 μm). Principal metapodal plates largely incorporated within the holoventral shield, visible as zones of punctation. Setae st 5 set 32 μm apart. Opisthogaster unarmed, bearing 8–9 pairs setae, some lateral setae with barbs.

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 8 ): Fixed digit reduced, edentate, bearing pilus dentilis, arthrodial corona present. Movable digit 25 μm, total length including spermadactyl, 30. Second cheliceral segment II 69 μm, first cheliceral segment I 18 μm. Deutosternal groove flanked by two pairs of transverse ridges. Deutosternal rows number 7-9, all single except one specimen has anteriormost row with two denticles. Corniculi 10 long x 9 wide. Seta h 1 12–15, h 2 12– 13, h 3 13–19, capitular seta 13–17 μm.

Legs: Trochanter I seta d thick, bearing barbs. Several setae on femora bearing barbs. Setae on other segments smooth. Leg measurements as in Table 2.

I II III IV Femur 38–47 35–39 26–35 42–48 Genu 34–42 28–30 18–24 26–32 Tibia 34–38 20–22 17–22 26–32 Tarsus 53–57 45–52 51–55 69–78 Description of protonymph (n=2). Idiosoma ( Fig. 10 ) 248 x 180. Podonotal shield 158 long x 165 wide. Two pairs mesonotal scutella present. Pygidial shield well-developed, 70 long x 127 wide with eight setae. Z5 and J5 barbed, remainder dorsal and ventral setae nude. Peritreme scarcely developed, extending to mid coxa III. Anal shield rounded anteriorly, 35 long x 47 wide.

Gnathosoma . Cheliceral digits ( Fig. 9 ) as for female, apparently functional. Movable digit 15 μm long. Arthrodial corona not seen. Deutosternum with seven denticles in a single row.

Legs. Leg lengths I–IV; 224, 180, 150, 217. Leg chaetotaxy conforms to majority of laelapid protonymphs as described by Evans & Till (1965). Femur I–IV: 2, 2/1,2/1, 2; 1, 2/1,2/1, 1; 1, 2/0,1/1, 0 and 1, 2/0,1/0, 0. Genu I–IV: 1, 2/1,2/1, 1; 1, 2/0,2/0, 1; 1, 2/0,2/0, 1 and 1, 2/ 0,2/0, 0. Ti I–IV: 1, 2/1,2/1, 1; 1, 1/1,2/1, 1; 1, 1/1,2/1, 1 and 1, 1/1, 2/1, 1. Tarsi II–IV with 17 setae. The majority of coxa-tibia I-II setae are barbed. Most setae on leg III-IV smooth with the following exceptions: coxa III pv barbed on left hand side only, trochanter pv barbed, tibia III av barbed.

Remarks. The Notolaelaps novaguinea female from Queensland differs from the holotype from Papua New Guinea in being slightly larger (body 8% longer), and in having eight rather than seven rows of deutosternal denticles. However the variation in row count is trivial as shown by the series of co-collected males described here with 7–9 deutosternal rows.

The type host on the holotype slide is given as Syconycteris crassa papuana Matschie , which is a junior synonym of S. australis (Peters) according to Flannery (1995). Four additional females of Notolaelaps , not examined here, were reported by Radovsky (1967) from two unidentified bats. These bats are now identified as Syconycteris australis (Peters) , based on matching slide label and catalogue data from the Bishop Museum for a female S. australis (BBM-NG 56169), and for a male S. australis (BBM-NG 21023). Note that additional Notolaelaps mentioned by Radovsky (1994) were also taken from Syconycteris sp. The slide label of one female states “Tit Green” which, if it is a host record, will require confirmation. Thus apart from this one probably erroneous record, all known host records for Notolaelaps are from Syconycteris , and most of these are here confirmed from one widespread nominal species, S. australis . Thus N. novaguinea appears to be a host-specific associate of S. australis , however it should be noted that almost no mesostigmatid mite collections have been reported from other macroglossine bats e.g. Macroglossus minimus (Geoffroy) .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Notolaelaps novaguinea, females. 1, Dorsal shield, scale = 100 μm (holotype); 2, Anterior of dorsal shield, scale = 50 μm (Guanaba QM S 88508); 3, Tectum, scale = 50 μm (Guanaba QM S 88508); 4, Chelicera, scale = 50 μm (Guanaba QM S 88508); 5, Idiosoma, ventral view, scale = 100 μm (Guanaba QM S 88508).

FIGURES 6 – 10. Notolaelaps novaguinea, 6, Dorsum male (QM S 88512), scale = 50 μm; 7, Venter male (QM S 88512), scale = 50 μm; 8, Gnathosoma male, ventral view (QM S 88512), scale = 50 μm; 9, Chelicera protonymph (QM S 88516), scale = 25 μm; 10, Dorsum protonymph (QM S 88516), scale = 50 μm.

FIGURES 11 – 15. 11, Notolaelaps novaguinea subcheliceral shelf, female (Wau SAM J 20445); 12, Neolaelaps spinosus, male habitus; 13, Neolaelaps spinosus male tritosternum, scale = 10 μm; 14, Neolaelaps spinosus, femur and genu I, showing migration of genu I pd 2 towards proximal end of segment, scale = 50 μm; 15, Three Neolaelaps spinosus attached to a female Cyclopodia albertisii ex Pteropus conspicillatus Gould, Atherton Tableland.