Conchogneta traegardhi (Forsslund, 1947)

Bayartogtokh, Badamdorj, 2012, The soil mite genus Conchogneta (Acari, Oribatida, Autognetidae), with new findings from Mongolia, ZooKeys 178, pp. 27-42 : 31-34

Conchogneta traegardhi (Forsslund, 1947) Figs 4-6

Autogneta traegardhi Forsslund 1947, p. 114, fig. 3a, b.

Autogneta traegardhi : Golosova 1975, p. 224, fig. 530.

Conchongeta traegardhi : Subías 2004, p. 109; Mahunka 2006, p. 68, figs. 12-14; Weigmann 2006, p. 318, fig. 167c-e.

Autogneta (Autogneta) traegardhi : Subías 2010, p. 195.

Diagnosis.

Medium in size (353-387 μm in length); rostrum with deep incision reaching level of rostral setal insertion; prodorsal costula long, nearly straight, diverging proximally, but parallel anteriorly; sensillus with relatively long stalk and lanceolate head with few barbs at distal part; rostral seta barbed, lamellar and interlamellar setae smooth; prodorsal tubercles Ea and Ep small, same in size; interbothridial region with one pair of tubercles; exobothridial region with small granular tubercles; notogastral setae long, thin.

Measurements.

Body length 353-387 (368) μm; length of notogaster 225-251 (236) μm; width of notogaster 186-205 (198) μm.

Integument.Body color yellowish brown to light brown. Surface of body and leg segments with very thin, nearly smooth cerotegument. Integument microtuberculate on tubercles, prodorsum, lateral part of prodorsum, notogaster and around leg acetabula.

Prodorsum (Figs 4A, C, D, 5A, 6). Rostrum with deep U-shaped incision reaching level of rostral setal insertion in dorsal view, but distinctly projecting anteroventrally in lateral view (Figs 4A, C, 5A). Rostral seta 28-33 μm long, barbed, curved medially, inserted dorsally on distinct tubercle. Prodorsal costula long, nearly straight, diverging proximally, but parallel anteriorly (Figs 4A, C, 6D). Lamellar seta thin, smooth, 30-34 μm long, straight, inserted at distal end of costula. Interlamellar seta 24-29 μm long, attenuate, smooth; distance between alveoli of in-in greater than that of ro-ro as viewed in dorsal aspect. Exobothridial seta inserted on distinct tubercle, 10-13 μm in length, smooth, directed anterolaterally (Fig. 4C). Sensillus with relatively long stalk and lanceolate head with two or three barbs; exposed portion of sensillus 70-80 μm in length (Figs 4D, 6B, E). Bothridium large, its opening directed posterolaterally, with large protuberance (tubercle Ha) posteriorly (Figs 4C, 5A, 6B, C). Prodorsal enantiophysis E well developed, tubercle Ea and Ep small, same in size, subtriangular in shape (Figs 4A, C, 5A). Interbothridial region with one pair of tubercle, nearly semicircular as viewed in dorsal aspect (Figs 4A, C).

Notogaster (Figs 4A, 5A, 6A, C). Oval, slightly narrowed anteriorly, about 1.2 times as long as wide. Anterior margin nearly straight, with large humeral protuberance (tubercle Hp; Fig. 6C); posterior margin evenly rounded as viewed in dorsal aspect. Notogastral setae medium long (29-35 μm in length), thin, smooth, not reaching level of insertions of next setal row (Fig. 4A). Lyrifissure im well developed; other lyrifissures and opisthonotal gland opening not evident.

Gnathosoma (Figs 4B, 5B). Subcapitular mentum slightly wider than long, with minute microtubercles. Hypostomal setae h, a and m medium long, thin, smooth (Figs 4B). Chelicera slender with few slightly sclerotized blunt teeth; seta cha about 1.4 times as long as chb, both setae smooth; Trägårdh’s organ small, but distinctly developed (Fig. 5B). Palp typical for genus as shown in previous species, palpal setation: 0-2-1-3-10 including solenidion ω of tarsus.

Epimeral region (Fig. 4B). Pedotecta I and II well developed, covered with minute granules. Epimeral region nearly smooth; setal formula 3-1-3-3, all setae medium long, smooth. Discidium well developed, projected laterally of leg acetabulum IV.

Anogenital region (Fig. 4B). Genital aperture slightly widened anteriorly, anal aperture with same width throughout. Genital, aggenital, anal and adanal setae ad3 medium long; two other adanal setae ad1 and ad2 relatively long, but all ano-genital setae thin, smooth. Adanal lyrifissure not evident.

Legs (Fig. 5 C–F). Dorsal surface of claws smooth, tibia I with large dorso-distal tubercle overhanging tarsus I. Formula of leg setation (including famulus) I (1-5-3-4-18), II (1-5-3-4-15), III (2-3-2-3-15); IV (1-2-3-3-12); formula of solenidia: I (1-2-2); II (1-1-2); III (1-1-0); IV (0-1-0).

Material examined.

Thirty-six specimens: Khuitnii-Am area, Mts Mongol Altai, close to Lake Dayan, District Sagsai, Province Bayan-Ulgii, litter of cool temperate larch forest ( Larix sibiricus Ledebour, 1833), N48°14', E88°55', elevation 2356 m a.s.l., 18 July 2010; four specimens: same data as above, but from fruticose lichens growing on larch tree barks, 01 August 2010; six specimens: same data as above, but from soil-litter of forest edge, 17 July 2010; three specimens: same data as above, but from soil of steppe, 27 July 2010, Col. B. Bayartogtokh.

Remarks.

The characters of specimens studied here from Mongolia are match well with the specimens studied by Forsslund (1947), Golosova (1975), Mahunka (2006) and Weigmann (2006). For the sake of completeness, I provide supplementary descriptions with detailed illustrations.