Two new species of the genus Ausoribula (Acari, Oribatida, Oribatulidae) from termitaries of South Africa

Two new species of oribatid mites of the previously monotypic genus Ausoribula Lee, 1992 (Oribatulidae) are described from termite nests of South Africa. Ausoribula termitophila n. sp. has a pointed rostrum, elongately fusiform, bothridial setae, a weak anterior notogastral margin which only slightly protrudes into the prodorsum, notogastral setae c2 similar in length to other setae (except shorter c1) and three or four pairs of genital setae. In contrast, A. quagesetosa Lee, 1992 has a rounded rostrum, bothridial setae clavate, and the anterior notogastral margin interrupted and strongly protruding into the prodorsum. Ausoribula bloemfonteinensis n. sp. has a pointed rostrum, clavate bothridial setae, the anterior notogastral margin distinct and only slightly protruding, notogastral setae c2 shorter than other setae (except the shorter c1) and three pairs of genital setae. The genus Ausoribula is recorded in the Ethiopian region for the first time.


INTRODUCTION
The monotypic oribatid mite genus Ausoribula (Acari, Oribatida, Oribatulidae) was proposed by Lee (1992) with Ausoribula quagesetosa Lee, 1992 as type species from sand and litter under Banksia ornata amongst brown stringy bark of Eucalytus baxteri in Australia.
Among the mite material collected from termitaries in South Africa, we found two new species of Ausoribula. The goal of this paper is to describe and illustrate Ausoribula termitophila n. sp. and A. bloemfonteinensis n. sp. These are the first oribatid mites reported from the termitaries of South Africa.
The main generic traits of Ausoribula are (based on data from Lee 1992, with our additions): Oribatulidae (Norton and Behan-Pelletier 2009) with rostrum rounded or pointed; rostral, lamellar, interlamellar and exobothridial setae of medium size, setiform; bothridial setae well-developed, clavate or fusiform; lamellae long, thin, ridge-like; translamella and prolamellae absent; sublamellae present; notogaster usually sculptured; anterior notogastral margin slightly or strongly protruding, medially developed or not; dorsophragmata not visible; 11 pairs of setiform notogastral setae; setae c 1 and c 2 erect, inserted close to each other in humeral positions, the latter longer than the former; four pairs of notogastral porose areas small, rounded, without distinct borders; three or four pairs of genital setae; adanal lyrifissures not visible; adanal setae ad 3 inserted between genital and anal aperture; legs heterotridactylous. Subías (2004, online version 2008, andsubsequent versions) included Ausoribula as a junior synonym in the genus Phauloppiella Subías, 1977 without explanation. However, all species of Ausoribula differ from the representatives of Phauloppiella, in which the well-developed, triangular anterior notogastral margin extends far on to prodorsum, surpassing the insertions of the interlamellar setae, reaching or almost reaching the lamellar setae (Subías 1977;Mahunka 1987). Furthermore, species of Phauloppiella have 13 pairs of notogastral setae, with setae c 2 in humeral regions, while c 1 are located medially. Thus, we tentatively support the initial generic status of Ausoribula. However, additional research is necessary for a better understanding of its status.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Material -The collection locality and habitat for each newly described species are given in the respective "Material examined" sections.
Methods -Specimens were mounted in lactic acid on temporary cavity slides for measurement and illustration. Body length was measured in lateral view, from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior edge of the ventral plate. Notogastral width refers to the maximum width in dorsal aspect. Lengths of body setae were measured in lateral aspect. All body measurements are presented in micrometers. Formulas for leg setation are given in parentheses according to the sequence trochanterfemur-genu-tibia-tarsus (famulus included). Formulas for leg solenidia are given in square brackets according to the sequence genu-tibia-tarsus. Morphological terminology used in this paper follows that of F. Grandjean: see Travé and Vachon (1975) for general references, Norton (1977) for leg setal nomenclature, and Norton and Behan-Pelletier (2009), for overview. Drawings were made with a camera lucida using a Carl Zeiss transmission light microscope "Axioskop-2 Plus".
Integument (Figs 1A, C, 2A) -Body color light brownish. Body surface punctate (visible under high magnification in dissected specimens). Notogaster with sculpture, represented by short ridges. Lateral parts of prodorsum and basal part of subcapitular mentum striate.
Anogenital region (Figs 1B, C) -Four pairs of genital (g 1 -g 4 , 6), one pair of aggenital (ag, 8-10), two pairs of anal (an 1 , an 2 , 6-8) and three pairs of adanal (ad 1 -ad 3 , 8-10) setae setiform, thin, slightly barbed. Sometimes three pairs (one posterior pair absent) of genital setae present.  Table 1. Setae l' on genua IV and s on tarsi IV absent. Famuli minute, slightly swollen distally. Solenidia ω 1 on tarsi I, ω 1 and ω 2 on tarsi II and σ on genua III bacilliform, other solenidia setiform. Type deposition -The holotype and two paratypes are deposited in the collection of the National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa; two paratypes are deposited in the collection of the Senckenberg Institute, Görlitz, Germany; two paratypes are deposited in the collection of the Tyumen State University Museum of Zoology, Tyumen, Russia.
Etymology -The specific name termitophila refers to the occurrence of the new species in the termitary.
Differential diagnosis -The new species differs from the type species, Ausoribula quagesetosa Lee, 1992, from Australia (Lee 1992 by the presence of a pointed rostrum (vs. rounded), elongate fusiform bothridial setae with short stalks (vs. clavate, with long stalks) and a slightly protruding anterior notogastral margin (vs. strongly protruding).
Integument (Figs 3A-C) -Body color brown. Body surface punctate (visible under high magnification in dissected specimens). Notogaster and ventral side with sculpture, represented by short ridges. Humeral regions, subcapitular mentum, adanal region and lateral parts of prodorsum striate.
Legs -As in Ausoribula termitophila n. sp. Type deposition -The holotype and two paratypes are deposited in the collection of the National Museum, Bloemfontein South Africa; two paratypes are deposited in the collection of the Senckenberg Institute, Görlitz, Germany; three paratypes are deposited in the collection of the Tyumen State University Museum of Zoology, Tyumen, Russia.
Etymology -The specific name bloemfonteinensis refers to the city, Bloemfontein, where the type material was collected.

CONCLUSION
The genus Ausoribula comprises now three species. One species (A. quagesetosa) was recorded from South Australia (Tamboore Homestead, near Mt. Rescue Conservation Park, Mallee-heath, sand and litter) and two species (described above) were recorded from South Africa (Bloemfontein, Franklin Game Reserve on Naval Hill, in the nest of termites Trinervitermes trinervoides).