Mohammad-Doustaresharaf, Mojtaba ¹ and Kazemi, Shahrooz ²

¹✉ Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran.
²Department of Biodiversity, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran.

2022 - Volume: 62 Issue: 3 pages: 763-771

Original research

Keywords

Abstract

Introduction

The family Caligonellidae (Acari: Prostigmata) comprises more than 70 known species in five genera described in the following order: Caligonella Berlese, 1910 (12 described species); Molothrognathus Summers and Schlinger, 1955 (30 described species); Coptocheles Summers & Schlinger, 1955 (9 described species); Neognathus Willmann, 1952 (15 described species) and Paraneognathus Fan, 2000 (8 described species) distributed almost worldwide, except Australia and Antarctica (Beron 2020; Khaustov 2021 2022). Mites of the genus Caligonella Berlese can be readily distinguished from other caligonellids by the anterior end of peritremes situated anteroventrally (Khaustov 2021).

Until now, five species of the genus Caligonella have been recorded or described from Iran, namely: C. afroensis Smith-Meyer & Ueckermann, 1989; C. haddadi Bagheri & Maleki, 2013; C. saboorii Ahmad-Hosseini & Khanjani, 2014; C. humilis (Koch, 1838); C. astragalusi Pishehvar & Khanjani, 2020 (Pishehvar & Khanjani 2020; Bagheri & Mohammad-Doustaresharaf 2020; Mohammad-Doustaresharaf & Bagheri 2021). This paper deals with the caligonellid mites collected in the coastal regions of the Caspian Sea in northern Iran. The aims of this paper are: (1) redescription of the female of C. geonoma Smith-Meyer & Ueckermann, and description of its larva for the first time; (2) report of C. quinqueocellata Khaustov, 2021 from Iran; and (3) to present an updated key to the Caligonella species of Iran.

Material and methods

Mite specimens were extracted from the soil samples collected in southern coastal regions of the Caspian Sea (Gilan and Mazandaran provinces, northern Iran) using Berlese-Tullgren funnels, cleared in Nesbitt's fluid/lactophenol solution, then mounted in Hoyer's medium on microscope slides.

Morphological observations, measurements, and illustrations were made using a compound microscope equipped with differential interference contrast and phase contrast optical systems, and a drawing tube (Olympus BX53). Measurements were made in micrometers (μm). Drawings were generated in Adobe Illustrator (version 15.0.0). The abbreviations and terminology used in the description, follow that of Grandjean (1946), Norton (1977), Kethley (1990) and Swift (2001). The number of solenidia for leg chaetotaxy is given in parentheses.

Systematics

Family Caligonellidae Grandjean, 1944

Genus Caligonella Berlese, 1910: 203

Type species: Stigmaeus humilis C.L. Koch, 1838, by original designation

Caligonella geonoma Smith-Meyer & Ueckermann, 1989

Caligonella geonoma Smith-Meyer & Ueckermann, 1989, 23, figures 127–135.

Diagnosis (female)

Dorsal idiosomal shield absent, ventral idiosoma with a weakly sclerotized plate located in space between coxae I and II; solenidia on tibia I equal in length; genital setae absent, seta vs of tarsus I absent.

Re-description

Female (n = 6)

Figures 1–3

Length of idiosoma 385–445, width 235–295.

Dorsal idiosoma – (Figure 1A). Ovate. Dorsal idiosoma completely striated, without dorsal shield. Two pairs of ocelli located posterolaterad setae sci, posterior ocellus poorly visible. Cupuli ia, im and ip large, almost round; ia located just posteriad ocelli, im anterolaterad seta d and ip laterad seta f. All dorsal idiosomal setae almost subequal, short, smooth and pointed. Anal valves located dorsoterminal, weakly striated; one pair of pseudanal setae. Lengths of dorsal setae: vi 15–17, ve 15–16, sci 13–15, sce 15–17, c1 14–16, c2 15–16, d 15–17, e 15–17, f 15–16, h1 16–19, h2 15–18, ps1 7–11.

Ventral idiosoma – (Figure 1B). Ventral idiosoma striated, except a smooth oval area located in space between coxae I and II. Coxal fields I-II and III-IV with sparsely distributed puncta. All ventral setae smooth and pointed. Three pairs of aggenital setae; genital setae absent; cupuli ih located posterolaterad ag2. Lengths of ventral setae: 1a 33–36, 1b 21–24, 1c 23–35, 2c 19–22, 3a 30–32, 3b 17–20, 4a 27–30, 4c 20–23, ag1 25–27, ag2 13–16, ag3 11–14.

Gnathosoma – (Figure 2). Stylophore almost oval (Fig. 2 A), distinctly punctate and finely striated, its length 65–70, width 50–62; peritremes distinctly curved in central part of stylophore. Palpal supracoxal setae ep 3–4 small, thick, located in deep depression with terminal pore. Palpal chaetotaxy: Tr 0, Fe 1 (d), Ge 1 (d), Ti 3 (d, l′, l″), Ta 7(1) (ba, bp, va, acmϛ, ul′ϛ, ul″ϛ, sulϛ, ω); tibial claw well developed, slightly hooked; all palpal setae smooth, eupathidia acmϛ, ul′ϛ, ul″ϛ, sulϛ blunt-tipped, other palpal setae pointed. Subcapitulum with few sparsely distributed puncta and finely striated (Figure 2B); seta or2 thick and with rounded tip, other subcapitular setae smooth and pointed, lengths of subcapitular setae: m 28–32, or1 5–7, or2 8–9, length of palptarsal solenidion ω 3.

Legs – (Figure 3). Lengths of legs (excluding claws): I 277–289, II 238–253, III 242–257, IV 252–275. Leg I (Figure 3A) longer than other legs. Leg setation: Tr 1 (v′), Fe 2 (d, bv″), Ge 6 (d, l′, l″, v′, v″, κ), Ti 5(2) (d, l′, l″, v′, v″, φ, φp), Ta 15(1) (ft′, ft″, pv′, pv″, pl′, pl″, tc′ϛ, tc″ϛ, p′ϛ, p″ϛ, it′, u′, u″, a′, a″, ω). All setae smooth and pointed, Setae κ of genu, and (p), (tc), of tarsus eupathid-like. Solenidion ω 8–9 digitiform; solenidion φ and φp almost equal in length 4–5 baculiform. Leg II (Figure 3B). Leg setation: Tr 1 (v′), Fe 2 (d, bv″), Ge 5 (d, l′, l″, v′, v″), Ti 5 (d,¬¬ l′, l″, v′, v″), Ta 11(1) (ft′, pv′, pv″, tc′, tc″, p″ϛ, it′, u′, u″, a′, a″, ω). All setae smooth and pointed, seta p″ of tarsus eupathid-like. Solenidion ω 8–9 digitiform. Leg III (Figure 3C). Leg setation: Tr 1 (v′), Fe 2 (d, ev′), Ge 1 (d, v′), Ti 4 (d, l″, v′, v″), Ta 9 (tc′, tc″, pv′, pv″, it′, u′, u″, a′, a″). All setae smooth and pointed. Leg IV (Figure 3D). Leg setation: Tr 1 (v′), Fe 2 (d, ev′), Ge 1 (d, v′), Ti 4 (d, l″, v′, v″), Ta 9 (tc′, tc″, pv′, pv″, it′, u′, u″, a′, a″). All setae smooth and pointed.

Larva (n = 2)

Figures 4–6

Length of idiosoma 204, 234, width 128, 167.

Dorsal idiosoma – (Figure 4A). Completely striated, without dorsal shield. Dorsal setae and cupuli as in female. Anal opening terminal. Lengths of dorsal setae: vi 13, 15, ve 14, 15, sci 16, 17, sce 20, 23, c1 12, 13, c2 14, 15, d 13, 16, e 15, 16, f 16, 16, h1 20, 22, h2 28, 33.

Ventral idiosoma – (Figure 4B). Ventral idiosoma completely striated except with a smooth oval area located in space between coxae I. Coxal field I with two setae (1a, 1b), coxal field II without setae, coxal field III with one setae (3a); genital and aggenital setae absent. Seta ps located on ventral part. All ventral setae smooth and pointed; cupuli ih located anteromesad h2. Lengths of ventral setae: 1a 29, 33, 1b 23, 25, 3a 28, 29, ps 8, 10.

Gnathosoma – (Figure 5). In general, similar to that of female except following: peritremes straight, subcapitulum without setae m, seta or2 thick and with rounded tip (Figure 5B). Palpal supracoxal setae (ep) 3 small, thick, located in deep depression with terminal pore; palptarsus with setae acm and sul simple (not eupathidia) (Figure 5A). Length of stylophore 39, 44, width 40, 45, lengths of setae: or1 5, 5, or2 6, 7, length of palptarsal solenidion (ω) 3.

Legs – (Figure 6). Lengths of legs: I (197, 204), II (154, 174), III (181, 189). Leg I (Figure 6 A) longer than other legs. Leg setation: Tr 0, Fe 2 (d, bv″), Ge 5 (l′, l″, v′, v″, κ), Ti 5(2) (d, l′, l″, v′, v″, φ, φp), Ta 14(1) (ft′, ft″, pv′, pv″, pl′, pl″, tc′, tc″ϛ, p′, p″ϛ, u′, u″, a′, a″, ω). All setae smooth and pointed, setae p″ and tc″ of tarsus eupathid-like. Setae κ 3, Solenidion ω 5–6 digitiform; solenidion φ and φp almost equal in length 3–4 baculiform. Leg II (Figure 6 B). Leg setation: Tr 0, Fe 2 (d, bv″), Ge 4 (l′, l″, v′, v″), Ti 5 (d, l′, l″, v′, v″), Ta 10(1) (ft′, pv′, pv″, tc′, tc″, p″ϛ, u′, u″, a′, a″, ω). All setae smooth and pointed, seta p″ of tarsus eupathid-like; Solenidion ω 5–6 digitiform. Leg III (Figure 6C). Leg setation: Tr 0, Fe 3 (d, ev′), Ge 1 (v′), Ti 4 (d, l″, v′, v″), Ta 8 (pv′, pv″, tc′, tc″, u′, u″, a′, a″). All setae smooth and pointed.

Male, and other immature stages unknown.

Material examined – Four females from sandy soil on seashore, Rezvan-Shahr County (37° 34′ 20″ N, 49° 11′ 52″ E), -29 m a.s.l., Gilan Province, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh, will be deposited in the Acarological collection of the Acarology Laboratory, Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Iran (UMI); two females with same collection data, will be deposited in the Acarology Collection of the Jalal Afshar Zoological Museum, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tehran University, Karaj, Iran (JAZM). One larva from sandy soil on seashore, Bandar-e Anzali County (37° 28′ 05″ N, 49° 32′ 24″ E), -29 m a.s.l., Gilan Province, 23 April 2021, col. M.M. Khanzadeh, will be deposited in UMI. One larva from sandy soil and cockleshell in coastal region of Miankale Peninsula (36° 50′ 13″ N, 53° 25′ 14″ E), -32 m a.s.l., Mazandaran Province, 09 November 2021, col. F. Pazhum, will be deposited in JAZM.

Remarks – Caligonella geonoma Smith-Meyer & Ueckermann was originally described from Dendron, Transvaal, South Africa (Smith-Meyer & Ueckermann 1989) based on female, male and protonymphs. This species resembles Caligonella afroensis Smith-Meyer & Ueckermann in having the same ventral idiosoma plate between coxae and leg chaetotaxy but it differs from that by the outer solenidion on tibia I longer than inner solenidion in female of C. afroensis versus equal in length in C. geonoma. Iranian collected specimens exhibit most features of the original descriptions but in the original description, the authors not mentioned details of lengths of body setae, legs and palp setal information of which so important in these group of mites and modern taxonomy. However, here we re-described females and described of its larva for the first time.

Caligonella quinqueocellata Khaustov, 2021

Caligonella quinqueocellata Khaustov, 2021: 911, figures 1–8.

This species was recently described from moss on sandy soil in Crimea (Khaustov 2021). This is the first record of C. quinqueocellata from Iran. Specimens from Iran agree well with the original description, especially in having unusual five pairs of ocelli on prodorsum, presence of dorsal idiosomal shield, and in having one pair of pseudanal setae.

Material examined – One female from sandy soil and cockleshell in coastal region of Miankale Peninsula (36° 50′ 13″ N, 53° 26′ 19″ E), -29 m a.s.l., Mazandaran Province, 09 November 2021, col. F. Pazhum, will be deposited in UMI.

Key to Caligonella of Iran (females)

1. Dorsal idiosomal shield present; five pairs of ocelli on prodorsum
...... C. quinqueocellata Khaustov, 2021

— Dorsal idiosomal shield absent; two pairs of ocelli on prodorsum
...... 2

2. Ventral idiosoma with a plate between coxae
...... 3

— Ventral idiosoma without plate between coxae
...... 4

3. Solenidia on tibia I equal in length
...... C. geonoma Meyer & Ueckermann, 1989

— Outer solenidion on tibia I almost two times longer than inner solenidion
...... C. afroensis Smith-Meyer & Ueckermann, 1989

4. Outer solenidion on tibia I three times as long as inner solenidion
...... C. haddadi Bagheri & Maleki, 2013

— Outer solenidion on tibia I two times as long as inner solenidion
...... 5

5. Solenidia on tarsi I and II equal in length
...... C. saboorii Ahmadhoseini & Khanjani, 2014

— Solenidion on tarsus I about two times longer than solenidion on tarsus II
...... 6

6. Tarsi I–II with 15+1ω–11+1ω setae respectively, lateral loops of peritremes almost extending to lateral margin of stylophore
...... C. astragalusi Pishehvar & Khanjani, 2020

— Tarsi I–II with 14+1ω–10+1ω setae respectively, lateral loops of peritremes not extending to lateral margin of stylophore
...... C. humilis (Koch, 1838)

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank F. Pazhum and M.M. Khanzadeh for their kind help in sampling. This work was supported by INSF, under grant number 99006085.

References

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