Hypoaspis calcarata, Halliday, R. B., 2005

Halliday, R. B., 2005, Predatory mites from crops and pastures in South Africa: potential natural enemies of redlegged earth mite Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae), Zootaxa 1079, pp. 11-64 : 30-32

Hypoaspis calcarata sp. nov. ( Figs 10–15 )

Specimens examined

Holotype female, Hermanus, 28.viii.1994, T. K. Qin coll., clover and weeds, Site 30– 31 (= 94­31). Paratype female, Plettenberg Bay, 18.viii.1994, roadside picnic area, T. K. Qin coll., clover and capeweed, site 30–13 (= 94­13).

Description (Female)

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 10 ). Length 512–517 µm, width at widest point 294–307 µm (n=2). Dorsal shield with 34 pairs of setae and two unpaired postero­median setae (Jx, or possibly J2); setae subequal in length (50–60 µm) except z1 shorter (20 µm) and Z5 longer (75 µm).

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 11 ). Tritosternum with rectangular base and two lightly pilose laciniae; pre­sternal area with weak irregular transverse lines; sternal shield with three pairs of long robust setae and two pairs of lyriform pores, with indistinct lineate ornamentation anteriorly, posteriorly smooth. Genital shield elongate, drop­shaped, with one pair of genital setae and weak lineate ornamentation; metasternal plates minute, each bearing a pore; metasternal setae inserted in soft integument; anal shield triangular, with a pair of para­anal setae and a post­anal seta; cribrum small, confined to area behind postanal seta; opisthosomal integument with a pair of elongate metapodal plates, two pairs of minute platelets, and ca. 12 pairs of opisthogastric setae. Peritrematal shields narrow, extending from level with seta s1 to a short triangular extension posterior to the stigmata.

Gnathosoma . Hypostomal groove with 6 rows of denticles, 2–3 teeth per row; anterior hypostomal seta (h1), interior posterior hypostomal seta (h3) and palp coxal seta subequal in length ( ca. 25 µm), exterior posterior hypostomal seta (h2) about half this length; corniculae long and slender, reaching to anterior margin of palp femur ( Fig. 12 ). Cheliceral digits short and robust, movable digit edentate, fixed digit with a bidentate medial tooth; pilus dentilis very long, fine, dorsal seta thick, spine­like ( Fig. 13 ). Epistome triangular, very slightly serrated ( Fig. 14 ). Palp tarsal claw with two subequal tines and a much smaller third tine.

Legs. Chaetotaxy: Leg I. coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0; trochanter 1 0/2 1/1 1; femur 2 2/1 3/3 2; genu 2 3/2 3/1 2; tibia 2 3/2 3/1 2. Leg II. coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0; trochanter 1 0/2 0/1 1; femur 2 3/1 2/2 1; genu 2 3/1 2/1 2; tibia 2 2/1 2/1 2; tarsus 3 3/2 3/2 3 + mv, md. Leg III. coxa 0 0/ 1 0/1 0; trochanter 1 0/2 0/1 1; femur 1 2/1 1/0 1; genu 2 2/1 2/1 1; tibia 2 1/1 2/1 1; tarsus 3 3/2 3/2 3 + mv, md; Leg IV. coxa 0 0/1 0/0 0; trochanter 1 0/2 0/1 1; femur 1 2/1 1/0 1; genu 2 2/1 3/1 1; tibia 2 1/1 3/1 2; tarsus 3 3/2 3/2 3 + mv, md. Antero­lateral setae on femur, genu and tibia of leg I very thick, short, spine­like ( Fig. 15 ); antero­ventral setae on these segments also slightly thickened; all other setae fine, smooth, pointed. All legs with two well­developed claws and a rounded membranous pulvillus.

Notes

In the classification of Karg (1979) H. calcarata belongs to the oophila species group of Hypoaspis ( Holostaspis) . It differs from the other members of this group by the presence of heavy spine­like setae on leg II of the female. It appears to be rare, and is unlikely to play a major role in regulating populations of H. destructor .

Figures

FIGURES 10 – 15. 10. Hypoaspis calcarata sp. nov., female. 10, dorsal idiosoma. 11, ventral idiosoma. 12, hypostome. 13, chelicera. 14, epistome. 15, femur, genu and tibia I. Scale bar 100 µm for 10, 11, 50 µm for 12, 13, 14, 15.