Holoparasitus calpetanus, Witalinski, 2017

Witalinski, W., 2017, Two new species of Holoparasitus Oudemans, 1936 from Europe (Parasitiformes: Parasitidae), Acarologia 57 (2), pp. 211-221 : 212-215

FHoloparasitus calpetanus n. sp.

(Figures 1, 2)

Zoobank: B3031B46-CA84-49D6-9B32-616C694D7524

Diagnosis — In both sexes gland pores gv1 are present and pores gv2 are located on the surface of the flat cuticle; the gnathotectum is trispinate. In the female, the anterior wavy margin of the presternal plate is finely dentate; sternal shield has a fine granular band running axially; the endogynium is a narrow, ventro-dorsally oriented tube, visible in ventral perspective as a very small ring between the posterior paragynial lobes, sometimes open on one or both sides when the endogynial tube is obliquely oriented; the ventral margin of the endogynium in most specimens bears a triangular lamellar protrusion, located asymmetrically; ventrally, the endogynium is covered by a delicate endogynial lamella, dentate at the anterior margin. In the male, the corniculi have a prominent dent in the distal half; the hypostome has a narrow thickening ending anteriorly at the level of the corniculi bases; the pedipalpal femur bears a rectangular tubercle located anteroventrally, close to the anterolateral seta; the main spur on the femur II ends at the same level as the axillary process; spurs on genu II and tibia II are different, that on genu II is conical and close to the distal margin of the segment, that on tibia II is broad, low in the lateral perspective, and ending before the distal margin of the segment; the spur on tibia II has a margin shorter than its basal part.

Description

Female — Idiosoma brownish, 450 – 505 × 690 – 730 µm (width range × length range) (n=3). Length of podonotal setae: 39 – 44 µm (j1), 41 – 52 µm (r3), others 25 – 44 µm; opisthonotal setae very short, 9 – 12 µm; length of peritrematal groove 196 – 209 µm.

Gnathosoma — Gnathotectum trispinate (Fig. 1A), corniculi conical. Hypognathal groove narrow, with ca. ten very indistinct rows of denticles. Palpcoxal setae finely pectinate, anterior hypostomal seta h1 finely barbed, h2, h3 simple. Chelicera (Fig. 1B). Fixed digit with 2-3 denticles in front and two behind pilus dentilis, movable digit with three teeth. Pedipalp trochanter with seta v1 simple and v2 barbed distally, setation of pedipalp femur and genu unremarkable: seta al on pedipalp femur with pectinate posterior margin, setae al1 and al2 on genu spatulate, other setae simple.

Ventral idiosoma — Presternal plate (Fig. 1C) with a wavy and dentate anterior margin, posteriorly partly covered by the anterior margin of the sternum. Lateral platelets triangular or rhombic and free. Sternum (Fig. 1D) reticulated in the anterior part up to the level of pores iv2, anteriorly more pigmented, with a granular band of cuticle running axially; pores gv 1 in sternal shield near its posterior margin. Setae of sternogenital region: 38 – 44 µm (st1), 38 – 41 µm (st2), 29 – 33 µm (st3), 31 – 39 µm (st4).

Genital region — Paragynial shields (Fig. 1E) reticulated, posterolateral protrusion short; metagynial sclerite arcuate and narrow, thickening near coxa III not present. Epigynial shield (Fig. 1F) with central prong well developed, anterior subapical thickenings absent, posterior thickenings running parallel and continuing laterally to the concavities for coxa IV, lateral hyaline protrusions of subapical structure triangular, slightly extending beyond the central prong margins. Endogynium (Fig. 1G-N) tubular, in situ visible as a small ring (external/internal diameter 13 – 14 / 5 – 7 µm), its opening usually guarded by asymmetric triangular lamella (Fig. 1G,K,L). When the tube is obliquely oriented to the vision axis, the ring is open on one side (Fig. 1H). Dissected endogynium (Fig. 1N) tubular with closed end directed more or less dorsally. Entrance of endogynium located ventrally and covered by endogynial lamella. The anterior margin of endogynial lamella is irregularly dentate (Fig. 1G, J-N). Gland pores gv2 are located on the surface of the flat cuticle. Opisthogaster with eight pairs of ventral setae 21 – 42 µm long.

Legs — Leg structure and setation unremarkable.

Male — Idiosoma brownish, 380 × 597 µm in holotype, 365 – 385 × 585 – 640 (n=2). Length of podonotal setae: 26 – 30 µm (j1), 28 – 30 µm (r3), others 16 – 25 µm; opisthonotal setae short, 8 – 20 µm; length of peritrematal groove 175 – 186 µm.

Gnathosoma — Gnathotectum trispinate ( Fig. 2A ), corniculi with deep distal incision on the ven- troaxial side forming a very prominent dent ( Fig. 2B ). Hypostome with narrow thickening ending anteriorly at the level of the corniculi bases; hypognathal groove ( Fig. 2C ) as in the female, with ten fine rows of denticles. Palpcoxal setae finely pectinate, hypostomal setae simple. Chelicera ( Fig. 2D ). Fixed digit with a group of 3-4 denticles near pilus dentilis; movable digit bears three teeth. Pedipalp trochanter with seta v1 finely pectinate and v2 barbed; pedipalpal femur bears rectangular tubercle located anteroventrally, close to the anterolateral seta ( Fig. 2E ); pedipalp femur and genu setation unremarkable.

Ventral idiosoma — Presternal platelets ( Fig. 2 F- H) with two segments, anterior fine and sometimes curved, and posterior roughly triangular. Genital lamina ( Fig. 2 F-H) distinct, located in a concavity of the anterior sternal margin, which is flanked by tubercles on both sides. Anterior edge of lamina hyaline and bilobate, with two straight wedgeshaped thickenings directed towards central concavity in the anterior lamellar margin, lateral projections rounded, subgenital microsclerite well sclerotised, with two tooth-like thickenings apically meeting at the axial line. Sternogenital shield with distinct regular reticulation; excipulum absent. Sternal setae length: 33 – 39 µm (st1), 27 – 29 µm (st2), 27 – 38 µm (st3), setae st4 26 – 30 µm, opisthogaster setae 22 – 37 µm.

Legs — Leg I, III, IV unremarkable. Leg II ( Fig. 2 I-K) as follows: coxa II with a ridge of 5-6 denticles anterolaterally, accompanied by a basal denticle; the main spur on the femur ending at the same level as the axillary process; spurs on genu II and tibia II different, that on genu II conical and located close to the distal margin of the segment, that on tibia II broad, low in the lateral perspective and ending before the distal margin of the segment; its margin shorter than the basis as a result of the distally located incision ( Fig. 2J ).

Etymology — The specific name refers to Calpe, the original Latin name of the Rock of Gibraltar, the type locality of the species.

Material examined — Holotype male (slide no. 2489), 16.10.2014, Gibraltar, 36°7.621’N, 5°20.919’W, alt. ca. 115 m a.s.l., dry leaf litter beside street; 6 female and 1 male paratypes (slides no. 2486, 2487, 2488, 2489, 2490, 2502), ibid.; 1 female and 2 male paratypes (slides no. 2475, 2476, 2477A-D), 15.10.2014, 36°8.596’N, 5°20.795’W, alt. ca. 212 m a.s.l., dry leaf litter under bushes; 1 male paratype (slide no. 2053), 10.01.1997, Gibraltar, Alameda Botanic Gardens, approx. coordinates 36°7.890’N, 5°21.055’W, alt. ca. 37 m a.s.l., leaf litter under trees, leg. Prof. W. Niedbała, Adam Mickiewicz University, Pozna ´n, Poland. Types are deposited in the Zoological Museum of the Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland.

Remarks — Holoparasitus calpetanus n. sp. belongs to the Holoparasitus mallorcae species-group, which is characterised as follows ( Juvara-Bals 2008). In females, (1) presternal plate bears denticles or granules, especially at the anterior margin, lateral platelets free; (2) sternum with an axial reticulated or granular band; (3) the thickening of the anterior paragynial edge facing coxa III absent; (4) fixed cheliceral digit with five denticles; (5) gv 2 in unmodified flat cuticle. The first two character states are usually present together, but in a few species only one of them is present. In males, (1) hypostome with the tongue-shaped, sclerotised central part, extended in many species antero-laterally between the corniculi; (2) hypostomatic setae on a piece of cuticle separated by incisions of soft cuticle; (3) sternogenital shield without an excipulum; (4) leg II: coxa II possesses anterolaterally denticulate ridge and a basal denticle, femoral main spur and axillary process thumb-like and short.

Holoparasitus calpetanus is included in the Holoparasitus mallorcae species-group since both females and males show all species-group character states. On the other hand, the female of H. calpetanus differs from other species belonging to the species-group by the following characteristics: in H. algiersensis Juvara-Bals, 2008 and H. eivissa Juvara-Bals, 2008 gv1 glands are absent. Holoparasitus calpetanus differs from H. siculus ( Berlese, 1906), as the central prong of the epigynium in this species is evidently elongate. In contrast to all other species of the H. mallorcae species-group, the endogynium in H. calpetanus is tubular and narrow, whereas in the remaining species it is large and sac- cular. In the male, H. calpetanus differs from H. algiersensis Juvara-Bals, 2008 , H. eivissa Juvara-Bals, 2008 and H. singularis Juvara-Bals, 2008 since it possesses gv1 glands. Compared to other species of this species-group H. calpetanus is most similar to H. siculus ( Berlese, 1906), H. mahnerti Juvara-Bals, 2008 , H. mallorcae Juvara-Bals, 1975 and H. variabilis Juvara-Bals, 2008 . It differs from H. siculus ( Berlese, 1906) by a gnathotectum with an acute central prong and regular lateral prongs, whereas from H. mahnerti Juvara-Bals, 2008 by the absence of a basal protrusion on the axillary process of femur II. Corniculi with prominent dents on their distal halves distinguish H. calpetanus from H. mallorcae Juvara-Bals, 1975 and H. variabilis Juvara-Bals, 2008 , both showing corniculi with medium-sized dents on proximal halves.

Figures

FIGURE 2: Holoparasitus calpetanus n. sp., male: A – Gnathotectum; B – Gnathosoma ventrally; C – Hypognathal groove; D – Chelicera, antiaxial aspect; E – Pedipalpal femur with tubercle; F-H – Genital laminae; I – Leg II (Fe, Ge, Ti), posterolateral aspect; J – ibid., anterolateral aspect; K – ibid. ventral aspect, arrow on anterolateral side. A,B,E,F,I,K: slide no. 2489, holotype; C: slide no. 2053; D: slide no. 2477B; G: slide no. 2490; H: slide no. 2477D; J: slide no. 2477C. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.