Khaustov, Alexander A. ¹ and Minor, Maria A. ²

¹✉ University of Tyumen, Tyumen, 6 Volodarskogo Str., 625003 Russia.
²School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.

2025 - Volume: 65 Issue: 1 pages: 91-115

ZooBank LSID: 5057ACDE-FA5C-4D58-A5D3-411BBBE5E373

Original research

Keywords

Abstract

Introduction

Tenuipalpidae is the second largest family of tetranychoid mites (after Tetranychidae) presently comprising 41 genera and 1105 described species (Castro et al. 2024) distributed worldwide. All flat mites are obligate phytophages of various plants (Mesa et al. 2009; Beard et al. 2012; Castro et al. 2024). The fauna of flat mites of New Zealand currently includes 34 described species of seven genera (Xu and Zhang 2013, 2018; Castro et al. 2024).

The genus Acaricis Beard and Gerson, 2009 presently comprises five described species, two described from Australia (Beard and Gerson 2009) and three from New Zealand (Castro et al. 2018).

The genus Dolichotetranychus Sayed, 1938 comprises 26 species distributed worldwide (Mahdavi et al. 2022). Two species have been recorded from New Zealand (Zhang and Fan 2004),

The genus Pentamerismus McGregor, 1949 comprises 24 described species distributed worldwide (Khanjani and Gotoh 2008; Castro et al. 2024). Pentamerismus species have never been recorded in New Zealand.

Here we describe and illustrate one new species of flat mites from each of those genera, collected from soil samples in alpine New Zealand.

Material and methods

Mites were obtained from soil cores collected in February 2014 in the high alpine zone (1600–1900 m a.s.l.) of three mountain ranges in the South Island of New Zealand (Central Otago): Old Man's Range, Pisa Range and The Remarkables. In each area, alpine cushion fields, vegetated snowbanks and alpine bogs were sampled. The species described in this paper have been found only in alpine cushion fields.

The cushion fields are periglacial patterned ground landforms which occupy extensive areas at high altitudes (above 1600 m a.s.l.) in the Central Otago mountains (Mark and Bliss, 1970; Mark, 1994). These fields have a microtopography of low (15-30 cm in height) hummocks with furrows in between. The crests of hummocks are occupied by ultra-dwarf cushion-forming shrubs Dracophyllum muscoides Hook. f. (Ericaceae) and Raoulia sp. (Asteraceae; most likely Raoulia hectori Hook.f.); the furrows between hummocks contain bare soil as well as some herb and lichen species. The soil is a shallow fine-textured loess underlain by schist fragments (Mark, 1994). Rain and snow (mean annual precipitation is about 1600 mm) keep soil moisture close to field capacity during the growing season (December to March) (Mark and Bliss 1970). This is a harsh tundra-like environment, with mean annual temperatures ca. 2 °C and frequent freeze-thaw cycles; freezing occurs every month of the year and for about five months of the year the crests with cushion plants remain continuously frozen from the surface to at least 20 cm depth (Mark, 1994; Scott et al., 2008).

Samples were collected using a 5 × 5 cm stainless steel corer, samples from cushion plants included the entire vegetation layer (~2 cm) plus the soil to a depth of 5 cm, samples of bare soil between cushions were 5 cm deep. Microarthropods were extracted into 75% ethanol in modified Tullgren-Berlese extractors for a week. Most of collected mite specimens were cleared in lactic acid and mounted in Hoyer's medium.

The terminology of mite structures follows that of Lindquist (1985). All measurements are given in micrometers (μm) for holotype and range of measurements for the paratypes (in parentheses). For leg chaetotaxy, the number of solenidia is given in parentheses. Mite morphology was studied using a Carl Zeiss AxioImager A2 (Carl Zeiss, Germany) compound microscope with phase contrast and differential interference contrast (DIC) optical systems. Photomicrographs were taken with an Axio Cam ICc5 (Carl Zeiss, Germany) digital camera. Figures herein contain images assembled from multiple focal planes using Helicon Focus 7.7.5 software, using algorithms A and mostly B with subsequent manual addition of significant details from the individual focal planes.

Systematics

Family Tenuipalpidae Berlese, 1913

Genus Acaricis Beard and Gerson, 2009

Type species: Acaricis plana Beard and Gerson, 2009, by original designation.

Diagnosis

The latest diagnosis was provided by Castro et al. (2018). In our publication we follow that diagnosis with the following modification: setae h2 elongate, filiform or foliate.

Acaricis brevicaudus sp. nov.

ZOOBANK: 6580B859-00C4-4A2C-9FAB-302C1ECCECD7

(Figs 1–9)

Description

Female — (Figs 1, 2A, B, 3A, 4–6; 5 measured). Body pear-shaped. Length of idiosoma 330 (307–335), maximum width 195 (195–207).

Gnathosoma – (Figs 2A, B, 6B). Palps four-segmented; setal formula 0-0-2(d, l″)-2(ul′ζ, ul″ζ); tibia with two subequal smooth and pointed setae; tarsus with two subequal eupathidia (Fig. 2A); palpal supracoxal setae (ep) short, peg-like, slightly widened distally and covered by anterior part of prodorsal shield (Fig. 6B). Subcapitulum with one pair of smooth and pointed subcapitular setae (m) and two pairs of smooth and blunt-tipped adoral setae (or1, or2); setae or1 about three times longer than or2 (Fig. 2B).

Idiosomal dorsum – (Figs 1A, 5A, 6A, C). All dorsal face with tiny sparsely distributed puncta; anterior margin of prodorsal shield with a pair of rounded distally projections separated by narrow notch (Fig. 6A); hysterosoma anteriorly with broken transverse striae. Setae v2, sc1, c3, d1, d3, e1, and e3 minute, smooth and blunt-tipped; setae sc2, f2, f3, h1, and h2 foliate and weakly barbed; setae h2 usually slightly longer and narrower than h1 and f3. Length of dorsal setae: v2 4 (4–5), sc1 5 (5–6), sc2 18 (17–20), c3 4 (4), d1 5 (5–6), d3 4 (3–5), e1 4 (4–5), e3 4 (4–5), f2 16 (14–15), f3 17 (16), h1 13 (14–16), h2 19 (15–19). Distances between setae: v2–v2 37 (33–38), sc1–sc1 84 (83–93), sc2–sc2 168 (165–175), c3–c3 172 (177–181), d1–d1 41 (42-47), d3–d3 156 (155–163), e1–e1 19 (19–22), e3–e3 138 (133–139), f2–f2 131 (130–137), f3–f3 111 (109–115), h1–h1 63 (58–65), h2–h2 89 (85–91).

Idiosomal venter – (Figs 1B, 3A, 5B, 6D–F). Ventral idiosoma mostly with delicate transverse striae; striae in central part with tiny microtubercles (Fig. 6E). All ventral setae smooth and pointed; setae 1a, 4a1, and 4a2 long, whip-like. Genital plate weakly defined. Cupules ih hardly visible and located laterad setae ps2. Length of ventral setae: 1a 135 (132), 1b 13 (13), 1c 11 (13), 2b 13 (13–14), 2c 12 (13), 3a 12 (12–13), 3b 14 (14–15), 4a1 100 (97–100), 4a2 100 (98–105), 4b 15 (13–16), ag 15 (14–20), g1 24 (19–21), g2 21 (20–22), ps2 14 (11–14), ps3 15 (15–17).

Spermathecal apparatus – (Fig. 3A). Spermatheca represented by oval and weakly longitudinally striated vesicle connected with long and narrow duct.

Legs – (Fig. 4). Leg I (Fig. 4A). Setation: Tr 1 (v′), Fe 4 (d, l′, v′, bv″), Ge 2 (d, l″), Ti 5 (d, l′, l″, v′, v″), Ta 7(1) (p′ζ, p″ζ, tc′, tc″, ft″, u′, u″, ω″). Solenidion ω″ 5 (5–7) digitiform; setae (p) of tarsus smooth, blunt-tipped, eupathid-like; setae d, l′ of femur, d, l″ of genu, and l″ of tibia foliate and barbed; seta d of tibia lanceolate and barbed; setae (u) flattened and widened, with long distal projections; other setae smooth and pointed; seta ft″ located on distinct tubercle. Leg supracoxal seta (el) of same shape as palpal supracoxal setae and located under anterior part of prodorsal shield (Fig. 6B). Leg II (Fig. 4B). Setation: Tr 1 (v′), Fe 4 (d, l′, v′, bv″), Ge 2 (d, l″), Ti 5 (d, l′, l″, v′, v″), Ta 7(1) (p′ξ, p″ξ, tc′, tc″, ft″, u′, u″, ω″). Solenidion ω″ 5 (5–7) digitiform; setae (p) of tarsus smooth, blunt-tipped, eupathid-like; setae d, l′, bv″ of femur, d, l″ of genu, d and l″ of tibia foliate and barbed; seta d of tibia lanceolate and barbed; setae (u) flattened and widened, with long distal projections; other setae smooth and pointed; seta ft″ located on distinct tubercle. Leg III (Fig. 4C). Setation: Tr 2 (l′, v′), Fe 2 (d, ev′), Ge 1 (d), Ti 3 (d, v′, v″), Ta 5 (ft′, tc′, tc″, u′, u″). Setae l′ of trochanter, d of femur, genu and tibia foliate and barbed; setae (tc) slightly widened and weakly barbed; setae (u) flattened and widened, with long distal projections; other setae smooth and pointed. Leg IV (Fig. 4D). Setation: Tr 1 (v′), Fe 2 (d, ev′), Ge 0, Ti 3 (d, v′, v″), Ta 5 (ft′, tc′, tc″, u′, u″). Setae l′ of trochanter, d of femur and tibia foliate and barbed; seta tc′ and (u) as on tarsus III; other setae smooth and pointed.

Male — (Figs 2C–F, 3B, 7, 9A–C; 2 measured). Body is narrower than that of female. Length of idiosoma 255–260, maximum width 147–157.

Gnathosoma – Similar to that of female.

Idiosomal dorsum – (Figs 7A, 9A). Idiosomal dorsum similar to that of female. Length of dorsal setae: v2 5, sc1 5–6, sc2 14–15, c3 4–5, d1 5, d3 4, e1 4–5, e3 4–5, f2 13–15, f3 13–14, h1 12–13, h2 17–18. Distances between setae: v2–v2 32–33, sc1–sc1 72–73, sc2–sc2 135–140, c3–c3 123–130, d1–d1 30–36, d3–d3 100–105, e1–e1 14–17, e3–e3 82–84, f2–f2 87–88, f3–f3 76–78, h1–h1 45, h2–h2 55–62.

Idiosomal venter (Figs 3B, 7B, 9B, C). In general similar to that of female; all ventral striae smooth. All ventral setae smooth (Fig. 9B); seta ps3 blunt-tipped and located under anal lateral flaps; other setae pointed. Length of ventral setae: 1a 112, 1b 11–12, 1c 11–12, 2b 12–13, 2c 12–13, 3a 10–12, 3b 13–14,4a1 78, 4a2 80, 4b 14–15, ag 12–14, g1 18–19, g2 18–20, ps2 11–12, ps3 7–8.

Aedeagus – (Fig. 3B). Aedeagus well-sclerotized, long and narrow, connected with narrow and weakly sclerotized duct ending in large and hardly visible spherical vesicle.

Legs – (Figs 2C–F). Setation of legs as in female, except presence of two solenidia (ω′, ω″) on tarsi I and II, and solenidion ω on tarsi III and IV. Lengths of solenidia: ω′I 8–10, ω″I 810, ω′II 9–10, ω″II 9, ωIII 6–10, ωIV 9–10.

Deutonymph — (Figs 8, 9D–F; 1 measured). Body pear-shaped. Length of idiosoma 290, maximum width 180.

Gnathosoma – similar to that of female.

Idiosomal dorsum – (Figs 8A, 9D). Metapodosoma distinctly transversely striated; shape of dorsal setae as in female, except narrowly lanceolate sc2. Length of dorsal setae: v2 4, sc1 4, sc2 18, c3 4, d1 4, d3 4, e1 4, e3 4, f2 14, f3 15, h1 10, h2 18. Distances between setae: v2–v2 31, sc1–sc1 70, sc2–sc2 143, c3–c3 155, d1–d1 36, d3–d3 130, e1–e1 16, e3–e3 107, f2–f2 104, f3–f3 87, h1–h1 50, h2–h2 70.

Idiosomal venter – (Figs 8B, 9E, F). In general similar to that of female except the following: all ventral striae smooth; only one pair of setae 4a (4a2 absent); only one pair of genital setae (g2 absent); genital plate not developed. Length of ventral setae: 1a 110, 1b 10, 1c 10, 2b 10, 2c 12, 3a 11, 3b 12, 4a 76, 4b 12, ag 10, g 16, ps2 11, ps3 9.

Legs – As in female, except trochanter IV without seta. Lengths of solenidia: ω″I 5, ω″II 5.

Protonymph and larva — unknown.

Type material

Holotype female, New Zealand, South Island, Central Otago, Old Man's Range, 45°18′58.45″S, 169°11′45.21″E, 1646 m a.s.l., sample from Dracophyllum muscoides Hook. f. (Ericaceae) cushion plant, 17 February 2014, sample code (OmC2D2 in); paratypes: 1 female, same data; 1DN, 2 males, 5 females, same locality, from D. muscoides cushion, 17 February 2014, sample code (OmC2D1 in); 1 male, New Zealand, South Island, Central Otago, Pisa Range, 44°52′11.1″S, 169°10′9.2″E, 1797 m a.s.l., from D. muscoides cushion, 18 February 2014, sample code (PiC2D3 in); 2 females, same locality, from D. muscoides cushion, 18 February 2014, sample code (PiC2D1 in); 1 female, New Zealand, South Island, Central Otago, Pisa Range, 44°52′18.79″S, 169°10′30.39″E, 1880 m a.s.l., from D. muscoides cushion, 18 February 2014, sample code (PiC1D2 in); 1 female, New Zealand, South Island, Central Otago, The Remarkables, 45°03′ 38.19″S, 168°48′49.51″E, 1839 m a.s.l., from D. muscoides cushion, 19 February 2014, sample code (RemC3D2 in). All specimens collected by M. Minor.

Type deposition

The holotype and one paratype females are deposited in the New Zealand National Arthropod Collection, Auckland, New Zealand; other paratypes are deposited in the mite collection of the University of Tyumen Museum of Zoology, Tyumen, Russia.

Differential diagnosis

Female of the new species differs significantly from other species of Acaricis in having seta h2 foliate, similar in shape to h1 and f3 (vs. seta h2 long, whip-like in other species). Among New Zealand species of Acaricis, female of the new species is most similar to A. montanus (Collyer, 1973). It can be distinguished from A. montanus in having wider foliate and distally rounded setae sc2, f2, f3, and h1 (vs. setae sc2, f2, f3, and h1 narrower and broadly lanceolate in A. montanus).

Etymology

The name of the new species is a combination of two Latin words: brevis meaning short, and caudus meaning tail, and refers to unusually short ''caudal'' seta h2.

Genus Dolichotetranychus Sayed, 1938

Type species: Stigmaeus floridanus Banks, 1900, by monotypy.

Diagnosis

In this publication we follow the diagnosis of Dolichotetranychus proposed by Seeman et al. (2015).

Dolichotetranychus tuberculatus sp. nov.

ZOOBANK: 54489401-E984-43C9-AE72-156F09519A3C

(Figs 10–16)

Description

Female — (Figs 10–14; 5 measured). Body elongated. Length of idiosoma 238 (235–280), maximum width 145 (145–160).

Gnathosoma – (Figs 11B, C). Palps three-segmented; setal formula 0-1(d)-2(1)(d, ul′ζ, ω); Femorogenu with one smooth and pointed dorsal seta d; tibiotarsus with one smooth and pointed dorsal seta d, tiny eupathidium ul′ϛ and baculiform solenidion ω (Fig. 11C); in some specimens (including holotype) tiny eupathidium ul′ϛ not visible; palpal supracoxal setae (ep) short, peg-like, slightly widened distally. Subcapitulum with one pair of smooth and pointed subcapitular setae (m) and two pairs of smooth and blunt-tipped adoral setae (or1, or2); seta or1 about three times longer than or2 (Fig. 11B).

Idiosomal dorsum – (Figs 10A, 13A, 14A, C, E). All dorsal striae with large oval tubercles (Fig. 13A); prodorsum with narrow band of transverse striae anteriad setae v2 and longitudinal posteriad v2; with smooth area posteriad ocelli (Fig. 14A); hysterosoma with narrow band of transverse striae anteriad setae of C-series and mostly longitudinal posteriad setae of C-series (Fig. 14C); with smooth area posteriad setae e3 (Fig. 14E). Setae f3, h1, and h2 thicker than others, distinctly barbed and blunt-tipped; other dorsal setae smooth and weakly blunt-tipped. Length of dorsal setae: v2 10 (9–10), sc1 11 (10–12), sc2 13 (12–14), c1 6 (5–7), c2 11 (10–11), c3 15 (11–13), d1 5 (4–5), d3 11 (8–10), e3 8 (8–9) f3 20 (16–24), h1 18 (18–22), h2 29 (29–31). Distances between setae: v2–v2 42 (42–54), sc1–sc1 92 (92–110), sc2–sc2 118 (118–138), c1–c1 17 (12–29), c2–c2 115 (112–123), c3–c3 135 (132–148), d1–d1 30 (25–32), d3–d3 71 (71–78), e3–e3 54 (54–64), f3–f3 47 (47–56), h1–h1 14 (13–19), h2–h2 30 (30–37).

Idiosomal venter – (Figs 10B, 11A, 13B, 14B, D, F). All ventral striae with large oval tubercles (Fig. 13B); genital plate with tubercles (Fig. 14F). All ventral setae smooth; two pairs of genital and of pseudanal setae; seta 2b absent; setae 3a and 4a short; seta 1a long, whip-like; setae g1, g2, ps2, ps3, and ag weakly blunt-tipped, other ventral setae pointed. Length of ventral setae: 1a 70 (52–73), 1b 10 (9–12), 1c 8 (6–8), 2c 12 (12–13), 3a 12 (12–17), 3b 7 (6–7), 4a 8 (7–13), 4b 6 (6–7), ag 5 (3–5), g1 8 (8–12), g2 10 (8–10), ps2 6 (5–6), ps3 4 (4–5).

Spermathecal apparatus – (Fig. 11A). Spermatheca represented by oval vesicle connected with long and narrow duct.

Legs – (Fig. 12). Claws on tarsi I–IV slightly hooked distally, with outer tenent hairs distinctly longer than inner. Leg I (Fig. 12A). Setation: Tr 1 (v′), Fe 4 (d, l′, v′, bv″), Ge 2 (d, l′), Ti 4 (d, l′, v′, v″), Ta 8(1) (p′ξ, p″ξ, tc′, tc″, ft′, ft″, u′, u″, ω″). Solenidion ω″ 6 (5–6) digitiform; setae (p) of tarsus smooth, blunt-tipped, eupathid-like; setae (tc) characteristically blunt-tipped and with few apical barbs; seta d of femur weakly barbed, other setae smooth; setae d of femur, genu and tibia, and l′ of femur weakly blunt-tipped, other setae pointed. Leg supracoxal seta (el) of same shape as palpal supracoxal setae and located near anterior margin of prodorsum. Leg II (Fig. 12B). Setation: Tr 1 (v′), Fe 4 (d, l′, v′, bv″), Ge 1 (d'), Ti 4 (d, l′, v′, v″), Ta 8(1) (p′ξ, p″ξ, tc′, tc″, ft′, ft″, u′, u″, ω″). Solenidion ω″ 5 (5–6) digitiform; setae (p) and (tc) as on tarsus I; other setae smooth; setae d of femur, genu and tibia, and l′ of femur weakly blunt-tipped, other setae pointed. Leg III (Fig. 12C). Setation: Tr 2 (l′, v′), Fe 2 (d, ev′), Ge 0, Ti 3 (d, v′, v″), Ta 5 (tc′, tc″, ft′, u′, u″). Setae (tc) as on tarsus II; seta d of tibia weakly barbed; other setae smooth; seta d of femur weakly blunt-tipped, other setae pointed. Leg IV (Fig. 12D). Setation: Tr 0, Fe 1 (ev′), Ge 0, Ti 3 (d, v′, v″), Ta 5 (tc′, tc″, ft′, u′, u″). Setae (tc) as on tarsus III; seta d of tibia weakly barbed and pointed; other setae smooth and pointed.

Deutonymph — (Figs 15, 16; 1 measured). Length of idiosoma 215, maximum width 120.

Gnathosoma – Similar to that of female.

Idiosomal dorsum – (Fig. 15A, 16A, C). Striation pattern similar to that of female, except absence of smooth area posteriad ocelli (Fig. 16A). Shape of dorsal setae as in female. Length of dorsal setae: v2 8, sc1 9, sc2 11, c1 5, c2 8, c3 10, d1 5, d3 6, e3 7, f3 17, h1 18, h2 26. Distances between setae: v2–v2 46, sc1–sc1 87, sc2–sc2 105, c1–c1 14, c2–c2 97, c3–c3 110, d1–d1 23, d3–d3 60, f3–f3 38, h1–h1 11, h2–h2 26. In available specimen right seta e3 absent (Fig. 16C).

Idiosomal venter – (Figs 15B, 16B, D). In general similar to that of female except the following: only one pair of genital setae (g2 absent); genital plate not developed (Fig. 16D). Length of ventral setae: 1c 6, 2c 7, 3a 11, 3b 5, 4a 7, 4b 5, ag 3, g 5, ps2 4, ps3 4. In available specimen left seta 4a absent; setae 1a and 1b broken.

Legs – As in female, except femora I and II without seta l′, genua I and II without seta d, trochanter III without seta v′. Lengths of solenidia: ω″I 5, ω″II 5. In available specimen right legs III and IV abnormal (Fig. 15B).

Male, protonymph and larva — unknown.

Type material

Holotype female, New Zealand, South Island, Central Otago, The Remarkables, 45°03′37.89″S, 169°11′45.21″E, 1867 m a.s.l., from Dracophyllum muscoides Hook. f. (Ericaceae) cushion plant, 19 February 2014, sample code (RemC2D2 in); paratypes: 6 females, 1 DN, same data; 1 female, New Zealand, South Island, Central Otago, The Remarkables, 45°03′ 38.19″S, 168°48′49.51″E, 1839 m a.s.l., from D. muscoides cushion, 19 February 2014, sample code (RemC3D3in); 2 females, New Zealand, South Island, Central Otago, Old Man's Range, 45°20′3.78″S, 169°12′25.26″E, 1649 m a.s.l., from D. muscoides cushion, 17 February 2014, sample code (OmC3D2in); 1 female, New Zealand, South Island, Central Otago, Pisa Range, 44°52′2.99″S, 169°09′33.21″E, 1700 m a.s.l., in the bare soil near Raoulia sp. cushion plant, 18 February 2014, sample code (PiC3R2out). All specimens collected by M. Minor.

Type deposition

The holotype and one paratype females are deposited in the New Zealand National Arthropod Collection, Auckland, New Zealand; other paratypes are deposited in the mite collection of the University of Tyumen Museum of Zoology, Tyumen, Russia.

Differential diagnosis

The new species belongs to the floridanus species-group by having two pairs of pseudanal setae and two pairs of genital setae. Female of the new species is most similar to D. salinas Pritchard and Baker, 1952 and D. zoysiae Ehara, 2004 lacking seta 2b. The new species differs from D. salinas in having short ventral idiosomal setae 3a and 4a (vs. long and whip-like in D. salinas) and genital setae g1 and g2 situated almost in a transverse row (vs. setae g1 situated far posteriad g2 in D. salinas). Female of the new species is most similar to D. zoysiae, but differs in having strongly tuberculate dorsal and ventral idiosomal striae (vs. only some striae microtuberculate in D. zoysiae) and in having distinctly barbed and blunt-tipped setae f3, h1 and h2 (vs. setae f3, h1 and h2 smooth and pointed in D. zoysiae). Among the New Zealand species of Dolichotetranychus, female of the new species is most similar to D. alpinus (Collyer, 1973). It can be distinguished from D. alpinus in having two pairs of pseudanal setae (vs. one pair in D. alpinus), dorsal idiosomal striae strongly tuberculate (vs. dorsal idiosomal striae tuberculate in D. alpinus), and propodosoma ventrally with strongly tuberculate striae (vs. propodosoma ventrally with smooth striae in D. alpinus).

Etymology

The name of the new species is derived from Latin tuberculatus meaning tuberculate and refers to unusually strongly tuberculate idiosomal striae of the new species.

Genus Pentamerismus NcGregor, 1949

Type species: Tenuipalpus erythreus Ewing, 1917, by original designation.

Diagnosis

In this publication we follow the diagnosis of Pentamerismus proposed by Beard et al. (2014).

Pentamerismus corniger sp. nov.

ZOOBANK: 8EA43071-FF19-41CE-BC7B-D0897DDF8BCC

(Figs 17–20)

Description

Female — (2 measured). Body oval. Length of idiosoma 260 (283), maximum width 150 (175).

Gnathosoma – Palps five-segmented; setal formula 0-0-0-2(d, l″)-2(1)(ul′ζ, ul″ζ, ω); tibia with pointed and weakly barbed dorsal seta d and pointed and smooth lateral seta l″; tarsus with two subequal eupathidia (ulϛ) and baculiform solenidion ω; palpal supracoxal setae (ep) short, peg-like, slightly widened distally and covered by anterior part of prodorsal shield. Subcapitulum with one pair of barbed and pointed subcapitular setae (m), and two pairs of smooth and blunt-tipped adoral setae (or1, or2); seta or1 about two times longer than or2.

Idiosomal dorsum – (Figs 17A, 19A, 20A, C, E). All dorsal face with tiny sparsely distributed puncta; anterior margin of prodorsal shield with a pair of horn-like projections separated by deep notch (Fig. 20A); dorsal shields with irregular striae not forming close cells. All dorsal setae similar in shape, smooth, flattened, foliate and oval in outline, sometimes with several small distal projections. Hysterosomal shield with eight pairs of dorsolateral setae (c3, d3, e2, e3, f3, f3, h1, h2). Cupules ia, im and ih present; ip not evident; ia located posteriad setae d2, im between setae e2 and e3 (Fig. 20C), and ih laterad of imaginary line connecting bases of setae f3 and h2. Length of dorsal setae: v2 17 (16), sc1 15 (17), sc2 18 (20), c1 16 (16), c2 16 (16), c3 13 (15), d1 11 (14), d2 12 (16), d3 14 (15), e1 11 (13), e2 14 (14), e3 14 (15), f2 14 (15), f3 14 (15), h1 15 (16), h2 15 (15). Distances between setae: v2–v2 43 (39), sc1–sc1 94 (93), sc2–sc2 113 (113), c1–c1 43 (44), c2–c2 115 (120), c3–c3 146 (168), d1–d1 29 (29), d2–d2 95 (99), d3–d3 130 (135), e1–e1 19 (15), e2–e2 120 (130), e3–e3 105 (112), f2–f2 90 (96), f3–f3 75 (80), h1–h1 21 (23), h2–h2 49 (53).

Idiosomal venter – (Figs 17B, 18E, 19B, 20B, D, F). Ventral plates mostly smooth; with transverse striae anteriad 3a and posteriad 4a, and longitudinal striae laterad aggenital and genital plates. Seta 1a smooth, other ventral setae barbed; setae 1a, 1b, 1c, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b pointed; other ventral setae blunt-tipped. Length of ventral setae: 1a 57 (broken), 1b 22 (24), 1c 18 (19), 2b 19 (20), 2c 24 (23), 3a 15 (15), 3b 13 (15), 4a 14 (17), 4b 16 (16), ag 15 (15), g1 12 (12), g2 10 (10), ps1 11 (13), ps2 10 (11), ps3 7 (7).

Spermathecal apparatus – (Fig. 18E). Spermatheca represented by narrow membranous tube widened into oval vesicle.

Legs – (Figs 18A–D). Claws on tarsi I–IV well-developed and hooked distally, with outer tenemt hairs slightly longer than inner. Leg I (Fig. 18A). Setation: Tr 1 (v′), Fe 4 (d, l′, v′, bv″), Ge 3 (d, l′, l″), Ti 4 (d, l′, v′, v″), Ta 8(1) (p′ξ, p″ξ, tc′, tc″, ft′, ft″, u′, u″, ω″). Solenidion ω″ 9 (9) digitiform; setae (p) of tarsus smooth, blunt-tipped, eupathid-like; setae d of femur and genu similar in shape to dorsal idiosomal setae; setae l′ of femur and d of tibia weakly blunt-tipped; other setae pointed; setae (u) with long projections; setae (tc) barbed, with long blunt-tipped subapical projection; setae (ft) smooth; other setae barbed. Leg supracoxal seta (el) of same shape as palpal supracoxal setae and located under anterior part of prodorsum. Leg II (Fig. 18B). Setation: Tr 1 (v′), Fe 4 (d, l′, v′, bv″), Ge 3 (d, l′, l″), Ti 4 (d, l′, v′, v″), Ta 8(1) (p′ξ, p″ξ, tc′, tc″, ft′, ft″, u′, u″, ω″). Solenidion ω″ 7 (7) digitiform; other setae as on leg I. Leg III (Fig. 18C). Setation: Tr 1 (v′), Fe 2 (d, ev′), Ge 1 (l′), Ti 3 (d, v′, v″), Ta 5 (tc′, tc″, ft′, u′, u″). Seta d of femur similar in shape to dorsal idiosomal setae; setae v′ of trochanter, ev′ of femur, l′ of genu, and d of tibia blunt-tipped; over setae pointed; setae (tc) barbed, with long blunt-tipped subapical projection; setae (u) of tarsus and (v) of tibia strongly barbed; other setae weakly barbed. Leg IV (Fig. 18D). Setation: Tr 1 (v′), Fe 1 (ev′), Ge 0, Ti 3 (d, v′, v″), Ta 5 (tc′, tc″, ft′, u′, u″). Setae v′ of trochanter, ev′ of femur, and d of tibia weakly blunt-tipped; other setae pointed; setae (tc) barbed, with long blunt-tipped subapical projection; setae (u) of tarsus and (v) of tibia strongly barbed; other setae weakly barbed.

Male, deutonymph, protonymph and larva — unknown.

Type material

Holotype and one paratype females, New Zealand, South Island, Central Otago, The Remarkables, 45°03′41.22″S, 168°48′39.54″E, 1831 m a.s.l., in bare soil with some lichen near Dracophyllum muscoides Hook. f. (Ericaceae) cushion plant, 19 February 2014, collected by M. Minor, sample code (RemC1D2 out).

Type deposition

The holotype and one paratype females are deposited in the New Zealand National Arthropod Collection, Auckland, New Zealand.

Differential diagnosis

The new species belongs to erythreus species-group by having eighy pairs of dorsolateral setae. Female of the new species is most similar to P. sititoris Beard and Seeman, 2014, P. wardo Seeman and Beard, 2014, and P. hicklingorum Seeman and Beard, 2014 in having all dorsal idiosomal setae similar in shape and foliate. Female of the new species differs from P. sititoris, P. wardo and P. hicklingorum in having four setae on each of femora I and II (vs. three setae on each of femora I and II in P. sititoris, P. wardo and P. hicklingorum), and in having only one seta on trochanter III (vs. two setae on trochanter III in P. sititoris, P. wardo and P. hicklingorum).

Etymology

The name of the new species is derived from Latin corniger meaning horned and refers to long horn-like projections of anterior margin of the prodorsum in the new species.

Remark

A representative of the genus Pentamerismus is recorded in New Zealand for the first time.

Discussion

The shape of the opisthosomal seta h2 in females is an important character state for the separation of tenuipalpid genera. In some genera, such as Tenuipalpus, Acaricis, Prolixus, Lisaepalpus and Tenuilichus, it is characteristically long and whip-like (Mesa et al. 2009). The discovery of Acaricis brevicaudus sp. nov., corresponds to all characters of the genus, except shape of seta h2. In A. brevicaudus sp. nov. it is foliate and similar in shape to setae h1 and f3; however, in some specimens, it is slightly longer and narrower than setae h1 and h3. Also A. brevicaudus sp. nov. is undoubtedly very similar to another New Zealand species, A. montanus. Thus, the shape of the seta h2 can vary within the genus and this feature requires more thorough research in other genera of Tenuipalpidae.

For many New Zealand species, the mite-plant associations are limited to a single host plant species or few closely related hosts, while some (e.g., Tenuipalpus antipodus Collyer, 1964) appear to have a broad range of phylogenetically diverse hosts (Collyer 1973; Xu and Zhang 2018; Castro et al. 2024). For the new species presented here, the collection data suggest that both A. brevicaudus sp. nov. and D. tuberculatus sp. nov. are associated with the ultra-dwarf shrub Dracophyllum muscoides Hook. f. (Ericaceae); the true host association(s) for P. corniger sp. nov. remains unknown.

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Alastair Robertson (School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences, Massey University, NZ) for the help with fieldwork, the staff of the Snow Farm (Cardrona, NZ) for facilitating access to Pisa Range sites, and the New Zealand Department of Conservation for sampling permit (national authorization # 38116-GEO). The project was supported by the Massey University Research Fund to Maria Minor.

References

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instructions