Laelaspis nematii, Khalili-Moghadam, Arsalan, 2024

Laelaspis nematii sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–10 View Figures 1–2 View Figures 3–4 View Figures 5–8 View Figures 9–10 )

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1BC84D3E-1F54-44B6-B3C2-3F5D1FC5B3CA

Materials examined

Holotype, female, Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari Province , Koohrang County (Dashte Laleh) (32° 35' 15" N, 50° 12' 01" E, 2391 m a.s.l.) from nest materials of Cataglyphis fritillariae ; coll. A. Khalili-Moghadam, 26 May 2021; paratypes: one female, same data as holotype and two females were collected from Khoozestan Province, Ahwaz city (Shahid Chamran University campus), from soil; coll. M. Kavianpour, deposited in APAS.

Type deposition

The holotype and three paratypes as permanent slides have been deposited in the Acarological Laboratory , Plant Protection Department , Agricultural College, Shahrekord University ( APAS), Iran .

Diagnosis (female) Dorsal shield with 39 pairs of smooth setae (r2–4, s1 slightly barbed), including two pairs of extra Zx setae and six unpaired extra Jx seta, the anteriormost inserted at level of J1 setae; dorsal setae long without distinct basal knob, passing base of next setae in series, except j1, z1 and J5 which are shorter; setae Z5 1.45 times as long as J5; anterior margin of sternal shield sclerotized with two distinct angles near to lateral; epigynal shield longer than wide, posterior margin rounded, ornamented with “ V ” and “inverted V ” shaped pattern, central V- shape zone with nine irregular cells, shield with two pairs of setae, st5 on shield, Jv1 are close to the margin, Zv1 inserted adjacent on lateral margins of epigynal shield; ventral skin of idiosoma with nine pairs of long smooth setae (r6, R 1– R 5, UR1, UR2, and one pairs opposite of median part of coxae III) in addition to Jv1–Jv5 and Zv2–Zv5 setae, and one pair of elongate metapodal platelets; posterior edge of peritrematal shields shorter than posterior edge of parapodal shields; postanal seta thicker and longer than para-anal setae; fixed and moveable digits with three and two teeth respectively.

Description (n = 4)

Dorsal idiosoma ( Fig. 1 View Figures 1–2 ) – Dorsal shield oval-shaped covering entire idiosoma, with faint polygonal ornamentation more distinct throughout opisthonotal region, and lineate-reticulate ornamentation at its anterolateral part; shield 470–482 long, 346–353 wide, shield with 39 pairs of long and smooth setae (r2–4, s1 very slightly barbed; j1, z1 and J5 shorter), basal knob indistinct ( Fig. 2 View Figures 1–2 ), 22 pairs on podonotal (j1–6; z1–6; s1–6; r2–5) and 17 pairs on opisthonotal region (J1–5, Z1–5, S1–5), six unpaired setae Jx1 (located between J1–J1), Jx2–Jx3 (located posterior to Jx1), Jx4 (located between J3), Jx5 (located posterior to Jx4), Jx6 (between J4–J4) and including Zx2 between J3 and Z2 setae, and Zx3 a little outside J3 and J4 setae. Dorsal setae almost similar in thickness and length, dorso-marginal setae slightly thicker than dorso-median setae. Lengths of podonotal setae are as follows: j1 31 – 35, j2 63–67, j3 61–66, j4 73–75, j5 85–88, j6 83–88; z1 32–36, z2 70–73, z3 72– 74, z4 80–85, z5 78–81, z6 86–89; s1 69–72, s2 73–75, s3 80–84, s4 85–86, s5 88–91, s6 100–101; r2 72–74, r3 85–86, r4 84–87, r5 93–96, and r6 75–77 located in ventral side opposite to anterior margin of coxae IV. Lengths of opisthonotal setae are as follows: J1 90–95, J2 105–107, J3-4 95– 100, J5 61–63; Z1 90–93, Z2 97–101, Z3 90–93, Z4 85–89, Z5 88–92; S1 83–86, S2 100–102, S3 107–109, S4 105–107, S5 100; Zx2–3 95–99; Jx1 99–103, Jx2 98–101, Jx 3 97–99, Jx 4 94–97, Jx 5 80–83, Jx 6 96–100. Podonotal and opisthonotal regions with 17 pairs of discernible pore-like structures as shown in Figure 1 View Figures 1–2 .

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig 3 View Figures 3–4 ) – Tritosternum with columnar base and pilose laciniae (48–53) long; pre-sternal plates absent; sternal shield with sparsely lineate-reticulate ornamentation on anterior and lateral surfaces, median surface smooth, 96–98 long, 146–151 wide (at level of projection between coxae II – III) and 90–95 wide at level of st2, anterior margin sclerotized with a small notch anteromedially at level of tritosternum placement and two distinct angle near to lateral ( Fig. 4 View Figures 3–4 ); posterior margin slightly concave; sternal setae smooth, st1 58–63, st2 51–56, and st3 61–65 long, iv1 and iv2 slit-like, located slightly behind setae st1 and between st2–st3 respectively. The distances between st1–st1 58 – 61, st2–st2 75–77 and st3–st3 112–114; setae st4 44–49 located on angulate endopodal III–IV, pore-like iv3 on soft integument adjacent to inner margin of these plates; epigynal shield elongate and broad, 255–265 long (from anterior to posterior margins), 136–139 wide at st5 level, 218–222 wide at broadest point between st5–Zv1; shield gradually narrowed from widest point, posteriorly rounded, inverted-inner V stria with nine long, rather narrow V-shape which ends in two irregular distal cells; setae st5 61–71 inserted on shield, setae Zv1 101–107 inserted on lateral margins of shield, setae Jv1 78–81 and Jv2 66–68 inserted adjacent on lateral margins of epigynal shield; paragenital pores (iv5) located on soft integument between lateral margins of epigynal shield and coxa IV; subtriangular anal shield with non-straight lateral sides, anterolateral corner expanded, lobe like, and with sparsely lineate-reticulate on anterolateral surfaces, median surface smooth, 76–79 long, 93–96 wide (with cribrum), paranal setae 22–25 shorter and slightly thinner than postanal seta 32–36; cribrum extending around postanal seta; opisthogastric surface with one pair of elongate metapodal plates (50–52 × 6), 16 pairs of smooth setae, Zv2 42–43, Zv3 66–69, Zv4 83–88, Zv5 93– 97, Jv3 54–59, Jv4 83–88, Jv5 93–97, R1-R3 67–71, R4 83–85, R5 92–94, UR1 70–73 and UR 2 84– 86; and six pairs of pore-like structures including iv5 and gv2. In addition one pair of setae insert on opposite of median part of coxae III; peritreme long and narrow, extending almost to anterior margin of coxa I, peritrematal plate separated from exopodal shield, wider in middle part, bearing two pore-like structures (ip and gp) on lateral margin of shield at level between coxae II–III; stigma located between coxae III–IV, surrounded by relatively broad stigmatal plate and narrower apically, posterior edge of peritrematal shields shorter than posterior edge of parapodal shields; surface of poststigmatal plate bearing two pairs of poroids and one pair of gland pores; exopodal platelets narrow and fused to sternal lateral arm between coxae I–II anteriorly, those laterad of coxae IV fused to moderately developed parapodals; endopodals II–III fused to lateral margins of sternal shield, angulate endopodals III–IV fused to parapodals.

Gnathosoma ( Figs. 5–8 View Figures 5–8 ) – Hypostome ( Fig. 5 View Figures 5–8 ) with three pairs of smooth simple setae; h1 (25– 26), h2 (15–17) and h3 (31–34); palpcoxal setae (pc) 19–22 long; deutosternal groove with six rows of denticles each bearing 5–8 small teeth, and smooth anterior transverse row; corniculi normal, hornlike, relatively short, shorter than internal malae, reaching mid-level of palp femur; internal malae with a pair of adjacent median projections, and pair of sparsely dentate projections at lateral edges. Labrum acuminate, pilose, conspicuously longer than internal malae; epistome slightly subtriangular with smooth anterior margin ( Fig. 6 View Figures 5–8 ); chelicerae typical for genus, moveable digit (31–35) with two teeth, middle article (73–78) ending in fixed digit (29–32) with three teeth, dorsal seta short and simple ( Fig. 7 View Figures 5–8 ); palp (109–115), chaetotaxy normal, with simple setae (al1 and al2 on palpgenu and al on palpfemur thickened); palp apotele two-tined ( Fig. 8 View Figures 5–8 ), 14–17 long from base to anterior tip of longer tine.

Legs – Tarsi I – IV with claws and ambulacra. leg I 466–480, leg II 300–310, leg III 293–303, leg IV 366–381. Legs I and IV longer than legs II and III. Chaetotaxy of all leg segments normal for Laelapidae . All leg setae smooth and pointed. Chaetotaxy of legs are as follows: Leg I: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0; trochanter 1 1/1 0/2 1; femur 2 3/2 2/2 2; genu 2 3/2 3/1 2; tibia 2 3/2 3/1 2; tarsus not counted. Leg II ( Fig. 9 View Figures 9–10 ): coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0; trochanter 1 0/2 0/1 1; femur 2 3/1 2/2 1, (ad1 and pd2 thickened, al2 thinner and smaller); genu 2 3/1 2/1 2; tibia 2 2/1 2/1 2; tarsus 3, 3/2, 3/2, 3 + mv, md. Leg III: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0; trochanter 1 1/1 0/1 1; femur 1 2/1 1/0 1; genu 2 2/1 2/1 1; tibia: 2 1/1 2/1 1; tarsus 3, 3/2, 3/2, 3 + mv, md. Leg IV ( Fig. 10 View Figures 9–10 ): coxa 0 0/1 0/0 0; trochanter 1 0/2 0/1 1(pv slightly thickened); femur 1 2/1 1/0 1 (ad1 and ad2 thickened); genu 2 2/1 3/0 1; tibia 2 1/1 3/1 2; tarsus 3, 3/2, 3/2, 3 + mv, md.

Insemination structures – Not seen.

Remarks The new species most resembles Laelaspis pennatus Joharchi & Halliday, 2012 and Laelaspis mossadeghi Babaeian & Joharchi , in Babaeian et al. (2013) [couplet 11 in the identification key to Iranian species of the genus provided by Saravani Rad et al. (2019) and couplet 5 in the identification key to Western Palaearctic species of the genus provided by Joharchi et al. (2012)], due to having the genitiventral shield broad and oval, posterior margin of genital shield rounded with two pairs setae on the surface, setae Z5 clearly longer than J5, postanal seta longer than para-anal setae and peritreme extends to anterior margin of coxa I. However, the new species can easily be distinguished from both species by combination of some important morphological characters explained as follows: (1) dorsal shield setae long, smooth and without knob basally [vs. with distinct knob basally, marginal setae, j2, j3, z1 and Z5 distinctly serrated in L. mossadeghi and L. pennatus ; in first one dorsal setae shorter, just reaching the base of next posterior setae], (2) presence of six Jx setae [vs. three in L. pennatus and L. mossadeghi ], (3) ratio of Z5 / J5 length ≈1.45 [vs. ≈ 2 in L. pennatus ], (4) anterior margin of sternal shield sclerotized with a pair of distinct pointed processes [vs. non-sclerotized, without pointed processes in two mentioned species], (5) genitiventral shield broadly oval and almost level with outer margin of coxae IV [vs. smaller, circular and nearly extending to mid-level of coxae IV in L. mossadeghi ], (6) opisthogastric soft integument with 16 pairs of smooth setae each arising on minute sclerotized platelet [vs. 15 and 17 pairs of serrate setae each arising on soft skin directly in L. pennatus and L. mossadeghi respectively], (7) posterior edge of peritrematal shields shorter than posterior edge of parapodal shields [vs. well past the posterior edge of parapodal shields in two mentioned species].

The new species shares some features with Laelaspis equitans ( Michael, 1891) , Laelaspis humeratus ( Berlese, 1904) ; Laelaspis sinicus Zhang et al., 1963 , Laelaspis lundi Hunter, 1961 and Laelaspisvolgini Shereef & Afifi, 1980: long dorsal and opisthogastric setae, the genitiventral shield broad and oval, setae Z5 clearly longer than J5 and postanal seta longer than para-anal setae ( Michael 1891; Berlese 1904; Hunter 1961; Zhang et al. 1963; Evans and Till 1966; Shereef and Afifi 1980; Kazemi 2015). Each of these species is compared as follows: Laelaspis equitans is separated from the new species based on the edentate movable digit [vs. bidentate in the new species], position of anteriormost Jx setae [at level of j6 and J 1 in L. equitans and L. nematii sp. nov. respectively], ratio of Z5 / J5 and post-anal/para-anal setae length [both ≈ 1.45 in L. nematii sp. nov., ≈2 and ≈ 2.4 in L. equitans respectively], anterior margin of sternal shield sclerotized with a pair of distinct pointed processes [vs. non-sclerotized, without pointed processes in L. equitans ]. In addition, the dorsal shield setae in L. equitans are very long and wavy, Laelaspis humeratus is separated from L. nematii sp. nov. based on the posterior margin of epigynal shield truncate [vs. distinctly wider and rounded in the new species], ratio of Z5 / J5 length more than 2 [vs. ≈ 1.45 in L. nematii sp. nov.], anterior margin of sternal shield sclerotized with a pair of distinct pointed processes [vs. non-sclerotized, without pointed processes in L. humeratus ], opisthogastric soft integument with 15 pairs of setae each arising on soft skin directly [vs. 16 pairs each arising on minute platelet in the new species], Laelaspis volgini is distinguished from the new species based on the epigynal shield wider than long and almost trapezoidal [vs. oval, longer than wide in L. nematii sp. nov.], number and position of anteriormost Jx setae [vs. five and six Jx setae with anteriormost at level of j5 and J 1 in L.volgini and L. nematii sp. nov. respectively], Laelaspis sinicus is separated from the new species based on ratio of Z5 / J5 and post-anal/para-anal setae length [both ≈ 1.45 in L. nematii sp. nov., ≈2 and more than 3 in L. sinicus respectively], opisthogastric region with 12 pairs of setae each arising on soft skin directly [vs. 16 pairs each arising on minute platelet in the new species], anterior margin of sternal shield sclerotized with a pair of distinct pointed processes [vs. non-sclerotized, without pointed processes in L. sinicus ], Laelaspis lundi is distinguished from the new species based on dorsal shield setae with distinct knob basally [vs. without knob basally in the new species], posterior margin of epigynal shield tapered to pointed [vs. distinctly wider and rounded in the new species], anterior margin of sternal shield sclerotized with a pair of distinct pointed processes [vs. non-sclerotized, without pointed processes in L. lundi ], ratio of post-anal/para-anal setae length ≈1.8 [vs. ≈ 1.45 in the new species], opisthogastric soft integument with 18 pairs of setae each arising on soft skin directly [vs. 16 pairs each arising on minute platelet in the new species].

Laelaspis guilaniensis Ramroodi et al., 2014 , L. kamalii Joharchi & Halliday, 2012 and L. angustiseta Khalili-Moghadam et al., 2018 may be similar to Laelaspis nematii sp. nov. in general appearance, but is distinguished based on: (1) dorsal shield setae long, smooth and without knob basally [vs. with distinct knob basally, most dorsal setae serrated in L. kamalii , L. angustiseta and L. guilaniensis ; thinner and shorter, just reaching the base of the next posterior setae in second one], (2) presence of six Jx setae [vs. two pairs in two later species, three pairs in L. kamalii ], (3) ratio of Z5 / J5 length ≈1.45 [vs. equal in L. kamalii ], (4) anterior margin of sternal shield sclerotized with a pair of distinct pointed processes [vs. non-sclerotized, without pointed processes in three mentioned species], (5) genitiventral shield broadly oval and almost level with outer margin of coxae IV [vs. smaller, circular and nearly extending to mid-level of coxae IV in L. guilaniensis , wider than long and almost trapezoidal in L. kamalii ], (6) opisthogastric soft integument with 16 pairs of smooth setae [vs. 13, 10 and 14 pairs of serrate setae in L. kamalii , L. guilaniensis and L. angustiseta respectively]; (7) posterior edge of peritrematal shields shorter than posterior edge of parapodal shields [vs. well past the posterior edge of parapodal shields in three mentioned species], movable digit bidentate [vs. edentate in L. kamalii and L. guilaniensis ], post-anal seta smooth [vs. serrate in L. guilaniensis ], ratio of post-anal/para-anal setae length ≈1.45 [vs. ≈ 2 in L. guilaniensis ], two pairs setae (st5, Zv1) on the epigynal shield [vs. three pairs of setae (st5, Zv1 and Jv1) on the shield in L. angustiseta ].

Etymology

This species is named in honor of Prof. Alireza Nemati, a distinguished professor of acarology (Shahrekord University), who devoted many years for teaching acarology and training acarologists in Iran.