Veigaia vermiculifera Mašán, 2008

Án, Peter Ma Š, A, Peter Fen Ď & Mihál, Ivan, 2008, New edaphic mites of the genus Ve i g a i a from Slovakia and Bulgaria, with a key to the European species (Acari, Mesostigmata, Veigaiidae), Zootaxa 1897, pp. 1-19 : 16

Veigaia vermiculifera Mašán , sp. nov.

( Figs 20–24 )

Material examined. Bulgaria. Holotype. Female. Stara Planina Mts.: Petrokhan village, 20 April 2005, old beech forest (Fagion sylvaticae), 1,400 m a.s.l. Paratypes. 1 female, same data as holotype.

Description (Female). Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 20 ). Dorsal shield divided into two separate shields. Podonotal shield longer than wide (length 520–537 µm, width 455–513 µm), subtrapezoidal, almost pentagonal, posteriorly convex, with delicate reticulate pattern over whole surface, and 22 pairs of simple spine-like setae, including r4. Podonotal setae differentiated in length: z1, s1, s2 and r4 shortest (15–21 µm); z2 and r5 short (28–36 µm); j2, j5, z3, z4, z6, s3–s5 and r2 intermediate (47–56 µm); j1, j3, j4, j6, z5 and s6 long (64–78 µm, s6 60 –64 µm); r3 longest (115–125 µm). Setae j1, j3, j4, j6, z5 and r3 with delicate pilosity, other setae smooth. Anterior part of podonotum fused with peritremes, peritremes with anterior ends between setae j1. Opisthonotal shield subrectangular, with widely rounded angles and practically straight lateral margins, wider than long (length 280–297 µm, width 440–467 µm), anterior and posterior margins concave, surface finely reticulated, and bearing 20 pairs of simple spine-like setae. Most opisthonotal setae subequal, 40–55 µm in length; some slightly shorter, especially near anterior margin of shield, e.g. J1, 28–33 µm, posteromedial and lateromarginal setae longer, up to 60 µm. Dorsolateral and ventrolateral membranous cuticle with six pairs of slightly enlarged spatuliform setae (73–86 µm, posteriormost pair shorter, 55–58 µm).

Ve n t r a l idiosoma ( Fig. 21 ). Presternal sclerites present, subtriangular. Sternal shield oblong, very weakly sclerotized anteriorly, anterior margin weakly defined, anterolateral corners well developed, posterior margin concave, usually with small incisions behind setae st3, surface weakly sculptured, reticulate pattern present only in narrow lateral areas, bearing three pairs of setae (st1 57–67 µm, st2 48–57 µm, st3 47–53 µm) and two pairs of lyrifissures. Metasternal plate fused with endopodal sclerite, bearing seta st4 (47–56 µm) and a lyrifissure, anterior margin bilobed, with an anterior incision, not connected with sternal shield. Genital shield subtriangular, regularly reticulate, bearing three pairs of setae (st5 48–56 µm, Jv1 58–64 µm, Zv 1 17–21 µm), fused with ventral shield in metapodal regions. Ventral shield subtrapezoid, distinctly reticulate, with five pairs of subequal setae (41–50 µm), anterolateral corners connected to narrow peritrematal shields. Peritrematal shields reduced and developed only in short medial section and close to stigma, each bearing a minute post-stigmatal seta; posteriormost section of peritremes around stigmata widened, axe-shaped. Punctiform organs in metapodal regions each with seven pores. Anal shield relatively small (length 107 µm, width 111 µm), almost pear-shaped, finely reticulated and carrying three circum-anal setae, post-anal seta minute. Membranous integument with eight pairs of setae, (excluding the six pairs of long spatulate setae); posteriormost setae slightly shortened, and with thickened and spatulate basal parts. Setae on ventral shields simple, needlelike and mostly smooth (only setae Jv2 and Jv3 with delicate pilosity).

Spermathecal structures ( Figs 21, 22 ). Coxae IV associated with well sclerotized tubular structures. Tubes vermiform, approximately 380–470 µm in length, slightly club-shaped, tips thickened, flattened and strongly sclerotized, and helically convoluted or with multiple bends.

Gnathosomal structures. Tectum ( Fig. 23 ) with central projection serrated and pointed, lateral cusps delicately denticulate. Cheliceral digits as in Fig. 24 .

Legs. All legs with a well developed pretarsus and ambulacral apparatus including pulvillus and two claws. All leg segments smooth and without projections. Tibia IV with a long and upright dorso-distal sensory macroseta (144–151 µm). Tarsus I 200–215 µm, tibia I 148–161 µm, tarsus IV 277–292 µm and tibia IV 169– 176 µm.

Etymology. The name is derived from Latin " vermiculus " (small worm) and " fero" (bear) and alludes to the fact that the new species has a distinctive pair of vermicular spermathecal structures.

Notes. Vei g ai a vermiculifera can be easily distinguished from the other known Veigaia paradoxa -like species, especially by the form of the tubular structures of the insemination apparatus associated with coxae IV, and the dorsal chaetotaxy, as detailed in the identification key. The spermathecal structures and cheliceral dentition of V. vermiculifera most closely resemble those of V. lauseggeri . These species may be distinguished by the dorsal and ventral chaetotaxy, in particluar, the lengths of the podonotal setae, the position of setae r4 either on or off the shield, the lengths of ventral setae Jv2 and Jv3, and the form of the tectum.

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 24. Veigaia vermiculifera sp. nov., Female. 20. Dorsal idiosoma; 21. Ventral idiosoma; 22. Tubular structures of insemination apparatus associated with coxae IV; 23. Tectum; 24. Chelicera, lateral view. Scales: 100 µm: Figs 20 – 22; 50 µm: Figs 23, 24.