Afroleius floridus (Mahunka, 1985) Mahunka, 1985

Coetzee, Louise, 2014, Afroleius floridus (Mahunka, 1985) comb. nov. and three new Afroleius Mahunka, 1984 species (Acari: Oribatida: Mycobatidae) from South Africa, Zootaxa 3889 (4), pp. 553-573 : 554-561

Afroleius floridus (Mahunka, 1985) comb. nov.

( Figs 1 –4, 11)

Magyaria florida Mahunka, 1985

Mahunka 1985b Folia Entomologica Hungarica 46(1): 92, Figs 42–47 Species diagnosis. Dorsal and ventral surfaces with irregularly shaped foveae, inner surfaces of cavities with fine, irregular sculpture; surfaces of prodorsum and pteromorph reticulate, with some cerotegument; octotaxic system consisting of saccules; bothridial seta clavate, head sparsely barbed, stalk thin, directed antero-dorsally; rostral seta short, coarsely barbed; lamellar seta long, minutely barbed, thin; postanal porose area present; dorsal dens on tarsi I and II large; genu I distally with dorsal and ventral cusps antiaxially; genu II distally with lateral cusp.

Dimensions. Males (n = 6): length 238 (233–243), width 161 (148–175). Females (n = 14): length 256 (249–265), width 175 (166–187).

Prodorsum ( Figs 1 A–D, 3A). Rostral margin anteriorly with two small notches, transparent U-shaped area between notches ( Fig. 1 B); prodorsal surface reticulate with some cerotegument on reticulation; lamella wide, extending over lateral margin of prodorsum; rostral seta (ro) short (~19), coarsely barbed, inserted at anterior apex of tutorium; lamellar seta (le) long (~40), minutely barbed, thin; interlamellar seta (in) minute (~6); bothridial opening directed ventro-laterally, with overlapping slit in ventral wall of bothridium; bothridial seta (bo) clavate, head sparsely barbed, stalk long, thin, directed antero-dorsally ( Fig. 3 A); length of bothridial seta from point of emerging from bothridium to tip of seta ~63 (55–77).

Notogaster ( Figs 1 A, D, 3A, C). Surface of notogaster with irregularly shaped foveae, inner surface of cavities with fine, irregular sculpture ( Fig. 3 C); octotaxic system consisting of saccules; notogastral setae minute (~6); orifice of opisthosomal gland (gla) very small, situated laterally to lp ( Fig. 3 C); surface of pteromorph reticulate with some cerotegument.

Podosoma and gnathosoma ( Figs 1 C, 1D, 3B). Surface of mentum and epimeral region similar to that of notogastral surface; subcapitular seta a of medium length, smooth, m of medium length, finely barbed, h shorter, smooth; paraxial lateral seta on palptarsus thick ( Fig. 3 B, indicated by arrow), barbed; genal notch present, genal tooth short, broad (see Coetzee & Tiedt 2013, their Fig. 5 ); epimeral setae very short; epimeral setation (epimeres I–IV) 2-1-2-2; surface of pedotectum I reticulate with some cerotegument.

Ventral plate ( Fig. 1 C). Surface of genital plate smooth; surface of anal plate foveate; ventral plate with large foveae, structure of foveae similar to that of dorsal surface; postanal porose area present, small, round, covered by posterior notogastral tectum.

Legs ( Figs 2 A–D, 3D). Setal formula (trochanter to tarsus, famulus included): Leg I 1-5 -3-4-20; Leg II 1-5 -3- 4-15; Leg III 2-2 -1-3-15; Leg IV 1-2 -2-3-12. Solenidial formula (genu to tarsus): Leg I 1-2 -2; Leg II 1-1 -2; Leg III 1-1 -0; Leg IV 0-1-0.

Legs relatively short; dorsal integument of tarsi I, II, IV and tibiae I, II, IV thick; medial claw of all legs strong, lateral claws thin; femora I–IV, trochanters III–IV antiaxially with fine striae. Leg I: large, pointed, distally directed dens present on dorsal side of tarsus proximal to tectal setae; antiaxial fastigial seta (ft ") short and thin; famulus (ε) short; genu distally with large ventral and slightly smaller dorsal cusp antiaxially. Leg II: tarsus short, broad; large, pointed distally directed dens present on dorsal side of tarsus proximal to tectal setae; genu distally with large lateral cusp ( Figs 2 B, 3D). Leg III: relatively short, dorsal integument of all segments thin; setae finer than on other legs; l' on femur absent. Leg IV: tarsus antiaxially with weakly developed diagonal tectum running from insertion of ft towards proximo-lateral base of segment; femur ventrally with wide tectum; dorsal seta (d) on femur thick, roughened.

Juvenile instars. Measurements: Length: larva 142, protonymph 152, deutonymph 201, tritonymph 228.

Tritonymph (Figs 4A–E). Prodorsum: Aspis micropunctate; porose sclerite present between insertions of in and bo and posterior prodorsal border; ro of medium length (~25), barbed; le (~42), in (~45) long, robust, with midrib, regularly-spaced lateral barbs along entire length of seta; axillary saccule absent; ex very short (~6), fine; bo long (~34), club-shaped, barbed, directed antero-laterally; all setae (except ex) inserted on tubercles.

Gastronotic region: Humeral organ absent; pygidial sclerite PY ill-defined, very weakly sclerotized, microtuberculate, large, covering dorsal side of gastronotum, bearing setae c 1, c 2, da, dm, dp, la, lm, lp, h1, h2, h3, p1; transverse tegumental fold present posterior to insertion of c 1; 15 pairs of gastronotic setae present; setae similar to le and in; setal lengths: c 1 ~52, c 2 ~46, c 3 ~10, da ~58, dm ~62, dp ~54, la ~47, lm ~54, lp ~53, h 1 ~59, h 2 ~44, h 3 ~55, p 1 ~46, p 2 ~17, p 3 ~15; all setae (except c 3, p 2, p 3) inserted on robust tubercles; c 3, p 2, p 3 short, proportionally smaller than other setae, not inserted on pygidial sclerite, inserted on smaller tubercles than rest of setae; opisthonotal gland gla medial to lp.

Ventral region: See Table 1 for development of coxisternal, genital, anal and adanal setae; all ventral setae minute, fine, smooth.

FIGURE 4. Afroleius floridus comb. nov. Tritonymph. C–E Light microscope images. A) Dorsal view. B) Ventral view. C) Seta h1 showing central core. D) Leg I, showing anterodorsal apophysis on tibia. E) Dorsal view. Scale bar 100 µm.

Legs: See Table 2 for development of leg setation. Tibia I of all juvenile instars with large anterodorsal apophysis, bearing solenidion φ1 (Fig. 4D).

Stase Trochanter Femur Genu Tibia Tarsus Leg I

Larva - d bv (l) σ (l) v’ φ1 (ft) (pv) (pl) s (a) (u) (p) (tc) ε ω1 Protonymph - ω2 Deutonymph - (l) φ2 Tritonymph v’ v’ v (it) Adult v l v’ Leg II

Larva - d bv (l) σ l’ v’ φ (ft) (pv) s (a) (u) (p) (tc) ω1 Protonymph -

Deutonymph - (l) l ω2 Tritonymph v’ v’ v (it) Adult v

Leg III

Larva - d ev’ l’ σ v’ φ1 (ft) (pv) s (a) (u) (p) (tc) Protonymph -

Deutonymph l’ l’ Tritonymph v’ l (it) Adult

Leg IV

Protonymph - - - - ft (p) (u) (pv) Deutonymph - d ev’ d v’ φ1 (tc) (a) s Tritonymph v’ l’ (l) Adult

Other instars. Setae and structures of larva, protonymph and deutonymph similar to tritonymph, but proportionally smaller. See Table 1 for development of dorsal and ventral setae.

Remarks. The large and unusually shaped setae consist of a central core, covered by a pigmented layer ornamented with regularly spaced, almost triangular protuberances (Fig. 4C). This layer can be stripped from the core by manipulation of specimens. Slight manipulation of exuviae for mounting and studying purposes causes the pygidial sclerite to detach from the aspis.

Material examined ( Fig. 11 ). Paratype TM 14870 Magyaria florida Mahunka, 1985 , on loan from Ditsong National Museum of Natural History (formerly Transvaal Museum), Pretoria. Collection data: Lottering forest, Tsitsikamma Mts, 33°57’S, 23°43’E; 12.xii.1977; from soil traps, leg. Dr. S. Endrődi.

Additional material: Litter from well-vegetated habitats such as forests (also pockets of forest in the grassland biome), savanna and coastal vegetation (indigenous and exotic) from the southern and south-eastern regions of South Africa (habitat types according to Mucina & Rutherford 2006). Coastal vegetation & Fynbos: Betty’s Bay 34°20'S 18°55'E 17.xi.1982 CME; Cintsa 32°50'S 28°06'E 1.xii.1989 CME; East London 33°02'S 27°52'E 19.i.1963 RvP; Hermanus (Fernkloof Nature Reserve) 34°23'S 19°15'E 29.xii.2013 LC; Kogel Bay 34°14'S 18°51'E 4.vii.1987 RE; Kogel Bay 34°14'S 18°51'E 23.ii.1983 BSR; Kogel Bay 34°14'S 18°51'E 4.v.1983 CME; Mossel Bay 34°11'S 22°08'E 4.ix.1963 RvP; Port Elizabeth 33°47'S 25°40'E 21.i.1963 RvP; Port Elizabeth (Summerstrand) 33°47'S 25°40'E 25.v.1982 CME; Thornhill 33°55'S 25°03'E 24.i.1963 RvP. Exotic ( Pinus ) plantations: George (Witfontein) 33°57'S 22°32'E 29.1.1963 RvP; Knysna (Kruisfontein) 34°00'S 23°11'E 27.i.1963 RvP. Forest (coastal): Garden of Eden 34°00’S 23°11’E 5.i.2013 IE; George (Glentana) 34°03'S 22°18'E 31.xii.1981 CME; George (Saasveld) 33°57'S 22°32'E 29.i.1963 RvP; Harkerville 34°05'S 23°14'E 27.xii.2012 IE; Bloukrans Pass 33°57'S 23°38'E 26.i.1963 RvP; Karatara (Koobooberry farm) 33°58'S 22°49'E 28.xii.2012 LC; Tzitzikamma 33°58'S 23°53'E 25.i.1963 RvP; Wilderness National Park 33°59'S 22°36'E 27.v.2005 LG; Woodville Reserve 33°56'S 22°38'E 20.xii.2012 LC. Forest (mistbelt): Hogsback 32°35'S 26°55'E 1.vi.1994 BK. Fynbos: Grabouw (Houhoek Pass) 34°12'S 19°09'E 4.ix.1963 RvP; Bredasdorp 34°31'S 19°57'E 17.xi.1982 CME; Stormsvlei 34°04'S 20°05'E 17.xi.1982 CME. Grassland (pockets of forest): Penhoek Pass 31°27'S 26°42'E 17.i.1963 RvP; Olifantskop Pass 33°19'S, 25°56'E 26.v.1982 CME. Savanna: Cookhouse 32°40'S 2°549'E 26.v.1982 CME; Dordrecht 31°22'S 27°02'E 1.iii.1964 RvP; Grahams Town 33°18'S 26°34'E 15.iv.1963 CMO; Grahams Town district 33°25'S 26°03'E 26.v.1982 CME; King Williamstown 32°53'S 27°23'E 1.vi.1963 RvP; Cookhouse 33°23'S 2°541'E 26.v.1982 CME; Whittlesea 32°29'S 26°46'E 24.v.1982 CME.

Remarks. On some specimens the unique structure of the notogastral foveae are replaced by small, round foveae in the mid-notogastral area only, peripheral foveae are unchanged.

Balogh (1963) instituted the genus Magyaria with Scheloribates reticulatus Balogh, 1958 as type species, collected from the Kasai District in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Currently Magyaria consists of 17 species (excluding A. floridus comb. nov.) ( Subías 2004, 2014). These species all have a narrow rostrum with long, marginal lamella, usually with prolamella, adanal seta ad 3 invariably inserted anteriorly to iad, four or five pairs of genital setae and the ambulacrum mono-, bi- or tridactyle. No mention is made of dens on tarsi I and II or cusps on genua. Species lack a notogastral tectum posteriorly. Magyaria is mainly distributed in the Oriental Region (12 species) and the northern part of the Ethiopian Region (five species) ( Balogh 1963, Balogh 1970a, Balogh 1970b, Balogh & Mahunka 1974, Corpuz-Raros 1979, Corpuz-Raros 1991, Hammer 1979, Mahunka 1978, Mahunka 1988, Mahunka 2008, Pérez-Íñigo 1981, Pérez-Íñigo 1983).

A. floridus comb. nov. differs from Magyaria in having shorter, more parallel, broad lamellae, large pedotectum I, apodemes II, sj and III more or less parallel (contrary to those of Magyaria which are slanted towards the genital plates), ad 3 inserted posterior to lyrifissure iad and six pairs of genital setae. This species also has the characteristic strongly sclerotized epimeral border IV and tutorium as in Afroleius , dens on tarsi I and II, cusps on genua I and II and a posterior notogastral tectum. These characters are all consistent with Afroleius .

Juveniles of A. floridus comb. nov. are the first to be discovered in the genus. The first association between juveniles and adults was made by the collection of an adult which was still connected to the nymphal exuvium. Further collection of juveniles followed after this recognition of juvenile morphology. Breeding experiments were also conducted. See Discussion for further remarks on juvenile morphology.

Afroleius floridus comb. nov. is a species of forests and well-vegetated areas of the southern regions of South Africa.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Afroleius floridus comb. nov. A) Dorsal view. B) Rostrum, anterior view (not to scale). C) Ventral view. D) Lateral view. Scale bar 100 µm.

FIGURE 2. Afroleius floridus comb. nov. Legs I – IV. A) Leg I, antiaxial aspect (trochanter not illustrated). B) Leg II, antiaxial aspect (trochanter not illustrated). C) Leg III, paraxial aspect. D) Leg IV, paraxial aspect. Scale bar 50 µm.

FIGURE 3. Afroleius floridus comb. nov. SEM images A) Dorsal view. B) Palptarsus, antiaxial view, arrow to paraxial lateral seta. C) Postero-lateral part of notogaster. D) Leg II, pedotectum I, arrow to dorsal dens; note striae on femur.

FIGURE 5. Afroleius amieae sp. nov. A) Dorsal view. B) Ventral view. C) Lateral view. Scale bar 100 µm.

FIGURE 11. Distribution of Afroleius floridus comb. nov. (circles), A. amieae sp. nov. (triangles) and A. inae sp. nov. (squares) and A. valerieae sp. nov. (crosses) in South Africa.

Tables

TABLE 1. Development of gastronotal and ventral setae of Afroleius floridus comb. nov.

	Larva	Protonymph	Deutonymph	Tritonymph	Adult
Gastronotal	12	15	15	15	10
Coxisternal	3-1-2	3-1-2-1	3-1-2-2	3-1-2-2	2-1-2-2
Genital	0	1	3	5	6
Aggenital	0	0	1	1	1
Anal	0	0	0	2	2
Adanal	0	0	3	3	3