Kohansal, Mahnaz ¹ ; Noei, Javad ² ; Ramroodi, Sara ³ and Rakhshani, Ehsan ⁴

¹Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.
²✉ Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran.
³Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.
⁴Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.

2024 - Volume: 64 Issue: 4 pages: 1182-1190

ZooBank LSID: A900454F-50E3-4C8E-AE71-39B61E4F020D

Original research

Keywords

Abstract

Introduction

The subfamily Callidosomatinae Southcott, 1957 (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae) comprises 10 genera described based on the larvae (five genera), post-larval forms (two genera) or both (three genera) (Hakimitabar and Saboori 2022; Noei et al. 2024). A key to world genera (larva) of Callidosomatinae was presented by Noei et al. (2024). The genus Caeculisoma Berlese (Erythraeidae: Callidosomatinae) consists of 26 species with 12 based on larvae (L), or post-larval forms and larvae (P, L) (Saboori et al. 2023; Noei et al. 2024). The members of this genus are known as parasites of Hemiptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera: 1. Caeculisoma carmenae Haitlinger, 2008 (L) on herbaceous plants, South Africa; 2. C. cooremani Southcott, 1972 (L) from Urnisiella sp. (Orthoptera: Acrididae), Australia; 3. C. darwiniense Southcott, 1961 (P, L) from Goniaea sp. aff. hyaline, Austracris guttulosa (Walker, 1870), Austroicetes tricolor (Sjöstedt, 1920), Macrazelota cervina (Walker, 1870), Peakesia vitripennis Sjöstedt, 1921 and Macrotona sp. (misspelling of the original generic name in Southcott 1972: 28) (Orthoptera: Acrididae), Australia; 4. C. hunanica Zheng, 2002 (L) picked from the alcoholic pot of the Malaise trap, China; 5. C. huxleyi Southcott, 1972 (L) from Xanthorhoe sp. (misspelling of the original generic name in Southcott 1972: 32) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), New Zealand; 6. C. mouldsi Southcott, 1988 (L) from Chlorocysta suffusa (Distant, 1907), Psaltoda fumipennis Ashton, 1912, Tamasa doddi (Goding & Froggatt, 1904) (misspelling of original generic name in Stroiński et al. 2013: 197) and Venustria superba Goding & Froggatt, 1904 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadidae), Australia; 7. C. nestori Haitlinger, 2004 (L) from plants, Brazil; 8. C. sparnoni Southcott, 1972 (L) has been collected on shoes of collector when standing on graveled suburban path with light vegetation (Cynodon sp.), Australia; 9. C. penlineatus Xu & Jin, 2019 (L) from unidentified Issidae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha), Mileewa margheritae Distant, 1908 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), unidentified Alebrini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), unidentified Delphacinae (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), Neuterthron hamuliferum Ding, 2006 (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), China; 10. C. semispinus Xu & Jin, 2019 (L) from Shaddai sp. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and unidentified Zyginellini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), China; 11. C. allopenlineatus Xu & Jin, 2020 (L) from unidentified Cicadellinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), China; 12. C. brazilensis Noei & Šundić, 2024 (L) has been collected during biological inventory in caves, Brazil (Southcott 1961, 1972, 1988; Zheng 2002; Haitlinger 2004, 2008; Mąkol and Wohltmann 2012, 2013; Stroiński et al. 2013; Xu et al. 2019a, b, 2020; Noei et al. 2024). In this paper, the genus Caeculisoma is recorded for the first time from Iran ectoparasitic on Hemiptera and Orthoptera, represented by a new species which is here described and illustrated. A key to the world species (larvae) of the genus Caeculisoma is also provided.

Material and methods

Three specimens of Caeculisoma were detached from their hosts, Sphodromerus luteipes Uvarov, 1933 (Orthoptera: Acrididae) (attached to a cross-vein of the hind wing), an unidentified Cicadellidae nymph (attached to the head) and Miridae (attached to the distal membranous area of forewing) with an insect pin under a stereomicroscope. Three other specimens were found in the vials, containing many different insects collected by a sweep net, hence it is not possible to identify the true host of the larvae. The host insects were collected by a light trap (S. luteipes) or sweep net (Cicadellidae and Miridae). Mites were cleared in lactophenol fluid and mounted on glass microscope slides using Hoyer's medium (Walter and Krantz 2009). Measurements (given in micrometers, µm) were calculated using a CH30 Olympus microscope and illustrations were drawn by a BX51 Olympus microscope equipped with a drawing tube. Lengths of leg tarsi were measured without the pretarsus. The terminology and abbreviations are adapted from Wohltmann et al. (2006) and Wohltmann and Mąkol (2012).

Results

Erythraeidae Robineau-Desvoidy, 1828

Callidosomatinae Southcott, 1957

Genus Caeculisoma Berlese, 1888

Caeculisoma pouyani Noei & Kohansal sp. nov. (Figs 1A-D, 2A-L)

ZOOBANK: 9D9FEBA3-7FB5-4829-AB0A-7B6383FAD1C5

Diagnosis

ASens posterior to the level of ML (closer to ML than PL); scutum longer than wide (SD/W 1.09–1.16), SD 82–96, ISD 50–57, PW 62–70, Ti III 115–130.

Description (n=6)

Dorsum — (Figures 1A, 1B). Dorsum of idiosoma with 30 (in all specimens) barbed setae. All dorsal setae with fine barbs. Scutum rectangular in shape, punctate, with two pairs of sensilla (ASens and PSens) and three pairs of normal setae (AL, ML and PL). Anterior border of scutum straight or very slightly wavy, lateral borders slightly convex and posterior border convex with two close bases of posterior sensillary setae. ASens posterior to the level of ML. PSens longer (1.92–2.2x) than ASens, barbed at distal half and ASens with few barbs at distal part. Setae AL, ML and PL barbed. One eye (diameter 12–17) and one seta posterolaterally, on each side of the scutum.

Venter — (Figure 1B). Idiosoma ventrally with three pairs of sternal setae (1a, 2a, 3a); 12 barbed setae (11 in one paratype, ARS-20240410-2c) behind coxae III, all ventral setae with fine barbs. Coxa I with one barbed seta (1b), coxa II (2b₁ , 2b₂) and III (3b₁ , 3b₂) each with two barbed setae. A peg-like supracoxal seta (elc I) present on coxa I, 5 long. NDV= 30 + 12= 42 (41 in paratype, ARS-20240410-2c).

Gnathosoma — (Figures 1C and 1D). Cheliceral bases punctate dorsally (except anterior part), cheliceral base 95–102 long; cheliceral blade curved, 13–17 long, with a subterminal tooth. Subcapitulum with barbed galealae (cs) and two barbed hypostomalae, posterior hypostomalae (bs) longer than anterior (as); palptrochanter 21–25 long, palpfemur 30–37 long, with one barbed dorsal seta, palpgenu 22–25 long, with one barbed dorsal seta. Palptibia 17–22 long, with three barbed setae (one of the dorsal seta with coarse barbs); odontus bifurcate, 22–25; palptarsus 10–11 with five finely barbed setae, one solenidion and one eupathidium; fPp= 0-B-B-BBB₂-5Bωζ. Palpal supracoxal seta (elcP) peg-like, 6 long.

Legs — (Figures 2A–2L). Leg segmentation formula 7-7-7. Leg setal formula is given in Table 1. Each leg tarsus with lateral falciform claws and claw-like empodium. Posterior tarsal claws pulvilliform with ventrally directed hook. Basifemur I and II each with one finely barbed, thin seta that is much longer than other normal setae, (40–45 and 40–47 respectively).

Metric data are given in Table 2.

Etymology

The species is named in honor of Mr. Mohsen Pouyan (Head of Medicinal Plants Research Complex, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, South Khorasan Province, Birjand, Iran) in appreciation of his valuable efforts on the Medicinal Plants.

Type material

Holotype larva (ARS-20240410-2a) — The holotype larva was collected ectoparasitic on Sphodromerus luteipes (Orthoptera: Acrididae), IRAN: South Khorasan province, Birjand county, Chahkandan village, 32°15′27.29″ N, 59°43′50.03″ E, 1928 m a.s.l., 31 May 2021 coll. Mahnaz Kohansal; two paratype larvae (ARS-20240410-2b, 2d) same data as holotype, ectoparasitic on an unidentified Cicadellidae nymph and an unidentified Miridae respectively; two paratype larvae (ARS-20240410-2e, 2f), same data as holotype, were removed from a vial containing insects and one paratype larva (ARS-20240410-2c), same data as holotype, was removed from a vial containing insects collected by sweep net, Zirkouh county, Zahan village, 32°15′27.29″ N, 59°43′50.03″ E, 1928 m a.s.l.

Type deposition — The holotype (ARS-20240410-2a) and paratype larvae (ARS-20240410-2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) are deposited in the Acarological Collection, Jalal Afshar Zoological Museum, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

Differential diagnosis

The new species belongs to the species group of Caeculisoma with ASens bases set posterior to ML bases. Caeculisoma pouyani sp. nov. is close to C. darwiniense Southcott, 1961, C. sparnoni Southcott, 1972 and C. mouldsi Southcott, 1988 in SD < 100, ISD < 66, PW < 80, AL < 56, ML < 64 based on the present identification key. The new species differs from C. darwiniense in scutum longer than wide (vs. wider than long in C. darwiniense), shape of scutum (rectangular vs. triangular), the shorter AW (52–61 vs. 83–85), MW (60–70 vs. 87–90), PW (62–70 vs. 77–78) and fV (12 vs. 17); from C. sparnoni in scutum longer than wide (vs. subequal in length and width in C. sparnoni), shape of scutum (rectangular vs. square), shorter AP (40–45 vs. 56), longer PSens (50–55 vs. 42), 1b (40–46 vs. 28), 2a (32–35 vs. 16), Ta I (97–107 vs. 77), Ta III (95–110 vs. 79), Ti III (115–130 vs. 100); from C. mouldsi in scutum longer than wide (vs. subequal in length and width in C. mouldsi), the shorter DS Min (25–27 vs. 47), DS Max (40–42 vs. 64), Ta I (97–107 vs. 129–155), Ti I (85–95 vs. 175–206), Ge I (70–77 vs. 131–153), Ta III (95–110 vs. 137–164), Ti III (115–130 vs. 240–279). Comparison of larval measurements in species of Caeculisoma is given in Table 3.

Key to the larval species of Caeculisoma of the world [updated after Noei et al. (2024)]

1. ASens bases between levels of ML and PL scutalae
...... C. semispinus Xu & Jin, 2019

— ASens bases closer to the level of PL scutalae or ML scutalae
...... 2

2. ASens bases closer to the level of PL scutalae than ML
...... 3

— ASens bases closer to the level of ML scutalae than PL
...... 5

3. Four sternal setae III between levels of coxae II and III
...... C. cooremani Southcott, 1972

— Two sternal setae III between levels of coxae II and III
...... 4

4. AW 66–75*, W 109–126, BFe I and II with one nude seta longer than the other normal leg setae
...... C. penlineatus Xu & Jin, 2019

— AW 55–57, W 88–96; without a nude long seta on BFe I and II
...... C. allopenlineatus Xu & Jin, 2020

5. fn BFe 5-5-2
...... 6

— fn BFe otherwise (4-4-2 or 4-3-2)
...... 7

6. fn Ge 8-8-8, fn Ti 10-10-10
...... C. carmenae Haitlinger, 2008

— fn Ge 12-12-12, fn Ti 18-18-18
...... C. nestori Haitlinger, 2004

7. fn TFe 5-5-4
...... C. hunanica Zheng, 2002

— fn TFe 5-5-5
...... 8

8. SD > 130, ISD > 100, PW > 95, AL > 75, ML > 73
...... 9

— SD < 100, ISD < 66, PW < 80, AL < 56, ML < 64
...... 10

9. W 107–118, Ti I 280–310, Ge I 195–228, Ti III 340–377, odontus with two subterminal teeth
...... C. brazilensis Noei & Šundić, 2024

— W 133, Ti I 157, Ge I 117, Ti III 186, odontus without subterminal tooth
...... C. huxleyi Southcott, 1972

10. Scutum wider than long (W 97–105, SD 87–88), fV 17
...... C. darwiniense Southcott, 1961b

— Scutum subequal in length and width or longer than wide, fV 12
...... 11

11. Scutum longer than wide (SD 82–96, W 75–87)
...... C. pouyani sp. nov.

— Scutum subequal in length and width
...... 12

12. Ti I 175–206, Ti III 240–279, ML 44–64
...... C. mouldsi Southcott, 1988

— Ti I 83, Ti III 100, ML 29
...... C. sparnoni Southcott, 1972

* Based on Xu et al. (2020).

Discussion

All known species of Caeculisoma are confined to the southern hemisphere except C. pouyani sp. nov. and some species from Nigeria and China (Mąkol and Wohltmann 2012, 2013; Xu et al. 2019a, b, 2020; Saboori et al. 2023). Considering the known host association of the newly described species, host spectrum of the Caeculisoma species is still limited to Hemiptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera.

Iran mostly lies in the Palearctic zoogeographical realm bordering the Oriental and African ones. Description of C. haussa by Beron (2000) from Nigeria (based on post-larval stage) and some species by Zheng (2002) and Xu et al. (2019a, b, 2020) from China (C. hunanica Zheng, 2002, C. penlineatus Xu & Jin, 2019, C. semispinus Xu & Jin, 2019, C. allopenlineatus Xu & Jin, 2020) and discovery of the new species, C. pouyani sp. nov. from Iran, extends the distribution of the genus Caeculisoma into the northern hemisphere and Palaearctic region.

Acknowledgements

This study (as a part of Ph. D. thesis of the senior author) was partly supported by the Grant No. UOZ-GR-0787, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran and partly by University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran, which is greatly appreciated. Contribution by E. Rakhshani was supported by the Grant No. UOZ-GR-9719-28 University of Zabol. We also appreciate Prof. Joanna Mąkol for valuable comments that improved the manuscript English considerably.

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