Oziella gigantica ( Mohanasundaram, 1981 )

Oziella gigantica ( Mohanasundaram, 1981) ( Figs. 1–3 View Figure 1 View Figure 2 View Figure 3 )

Anhchiphytoptus giganticus Mohanasundaram, 1981: 11, Fig. 1 View Figure 1

Female (n = 15)

Body vermiform, 360 (337–380) including gnathosoma, 70 (45–71) wide, and 50 (40–55) thick; white in life. Gnathosoma 26 (24–28), projecting obliquely downwards, basal setae ep 2 (1–2), antapical setae d 11 (9–12), palp tarsal setae v 1, cheliceral stylets 26 (23–28). Prodorsal shield 35 (31–36) without frontal lobe, 53 (50–54) wide; semicircular, with anterior margin weakly rounded and slightly indented medially, ornamentation consisting of median and two admedian lines on posterior third of shield, faint sub-median line forming curving line around scapular tubercles, and short arc-like lines ahead of scapular tubercles. Tubercles of anterior setae ve 30 (28–33) apart, setae ve 16 (14–18), directed forward and slightly laterally; scapular tubercles close to rear shield margin, 23 (23–27) apart, setae sc 13 (12–14), projecting backwards. Coxigenital area smooth, with four semiannuli between coxae and genitalia; anterolateral setae on coxisternum I 1b 15 (13–15), 20 (18– 22) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum I 1a 25 (23–26), 14 (14–15) apart; proximal setae on coxisternum II 2a 40 (38–43), 32 (30–36) apart. Leg I 36 (35–39), femur and genu fused 15 (11–16), basiventral femoral setae bv 8 (8–9), antaxial genual setae l'' 40 (35–41); tibia 10 (8–10), paraxial tibial setae l' 3 (2–3), tibial solenidion φ 4 (3–4); tarsus 8 (8–9); tarsal empodium simple em 15 (13– 17), 5/6 or 6/6-rayed, tarsal solenidion ω slightly tapered, 11 (11–12), paraxial fastigial tarsal setae ft' 9 (9–11), antaxial fastigial tarsal setae ft" 33 (30–34), tarsal setae u' 3–4. Leg II 35 (33–37), femur and genu fused 15 (13–17), setae bv 8 (7–9), setae l'' 10 (10–11); tibia 9 (8–9), tibial solenidion φ 4 (3–5); tarsus 8 (8–9); em 13 (12–14), 5/6 or 6/6-rayed, ω slightly tapered, 11 (11–12), tarsal setae ft' 5 (5–7), setae ft" 32 (30–34), setae u' 3–4. Opisthosoma with 92 (90–93) annuli, dorso-ventrally subequal, with linear-elongate microtubercles on rear annular margins, the last 8 th dorsal microtubercles pointed. Setae c1 141 (91–155), 35 (32–36) apart, on annulus 12 (11–12) from rear shield margin; lateral setae c2 44 (40–54), 60 (58–63) apart, on annulus 10 (10–11) from coxae II; ventral setae d 64 (58–71), 48 (45–52) apart, on annulus 29 (29–301); ventral setae e 17 (17–19), 25 (25–27) apart, on annulus 50 (50–51); ventral setae III f 62 (57–71), 45 (43–45) apart, on 13–14 th annulus from rear. Setae h1 4 (3–4); setae h2 95 (90–100). External genitalia 20 (20–22), 27 (27–29) wide, coverflap smooth, proximal setae on coxisternum ІІІ 3a 22 (19–23), 20 (18–20) apart. Internal genitalia, spermathecae ellipsoid, oriented posterolaterally; proximal part of spermathecal tube short with margins hard to distinguish; a spherical prespermathecal swelling. Anterior genital apodeme trapezoidal. Genital apodeme forming a curved and lateroposterad transverse plate.

Male (n = 6)

Similar to adult female. Body vermiform, 258–364 including gnathosoma, 63–68 wide, and 37– 40 thick; white in life. Gnathosoma 21–23, cheliceral stylets 18–20, setae ep 1–2, setae d 5–7, palp tarsal setae v 1. Prodorsal shield pattern similar to that of adult female, 36–40, 44–49 wide; tubercles of setae ve 26–33 apart, setae ve 13–15, directed forward and slightly laterally; scapular tubercles close to rear shield margin, 25–28 apart, setae sc 14–17, projecting backwards. Coxigenital area smooth; setae 1b 13–15, 20–23 apart; setae 1a 20–24, 18–19 apart; setae 2a 40–42, 39–40 apart. Leg I 33–35, femur and genu fused 13–15, setae bv 7–8, setae l'' 33–37; tibia 6–7, setae l' 2–3, tibial solenidion φ 3–5; tarsus 6–7; em 9–11, 5/6 or 6/6-rayed, ω slightly tapered, 9–10, tarsal setae ft' 7– 10, setae ft" 22–24, setae u' 3–4. Leg II 31–32, femur and genu fused 13–15, setae bv 7–9, setae l'' 9–11; tibia 6–7, tibial solenidion φ 3–4; tarsus 6–7; em 10–11, 5/6 or 6/6-rayed, ω slightly tapered 10–11, tarsal setae ft' 5–7, setae ft" 21–24, setae u' 3–4. Opisthosoma with 73–77 annuli, dorso-ventrally subequal, microtubercle shape similar to that of adult female. Setae c1 100 (90–120), 40 (35–43) apart, on annulus 11 (10–11) from rear shield margin; lateral setae c2 37–42, 61–65 apart, on annulus 10 from coxae II; ventral setae d 29–35, 51–52 apart, on annulus 20–22; setae e 14–16, 27–34 apart, on annulus 38–39; setae f 30–32, 38–40 apart, on 10–11 th annulus from rear. Setae h1 2–4; setae h 2 70–85. External genitalia 15–18, 28–30 wide, setae 3a 14–17, 19–21 apart.

Nymph (n = 4)

Body vermiform, 250–302 including gnathosoma and 57–65 wide. Gnathosoma 23–25, cheliceral stylets 20–23, setae ep 1–2, setae d 5–6, palp tarsal setae v 1. Prodorsal shield semicircular, pattern similar to that of adult female, 33–34 and 44–51 wide; tubercles of setae ve 26–29 apart, setae ve 10–11, directed forward and slightly laterally; scapular tubercles close to rear shield margin, 21– 23 apart, setae sc 10–12, projecting backwards. Coxigenital area smooth; setae 1b 8–9, 20–21 apart; setae 1a 17–19, 16–17 apart; setae 2a 30–32, 35–37 apart; setae 3a 4–5, 13–14 apart. Leg I 24–26, femur and genu fused 9–10, setae bv 4–5, setae l'' 20–23; tibia 4–5, setae l' 1–2, tibial solenidion φ 2–3; tarsus 5–6; em 9–10, 5-rayed, ω slightly tapered, 8–9, tarsal setae ft' 7–10, setae ft" 17–19, setae u' 1–2. Leg II 23–24, femur and genu fused 9–10, setae bv 3–4, setae l'' 9–11; tibia 4, tibial solenidion φ 2–3; tarsus 4–5; em 9–10, 5-rayed, ω slightly tapered 8–9, tarsal setae ft' 4–5, setae ft" 19–21, setae u' 1–2. Opisthosoma with 73–77 annuli, dorso-ventrally subequal, with elongate microtubercles situated on rear margin of semiannuli, smooth on last eight dorsal semiannuli. Setae c1 60 (60–65), 35 (33–38) apart, on annulus 11 (10–11) from rear shield margin; lateral setae c2 35–38, 50–55 apart, on annulus 10 from coxae II; ventral setae d 20–25, 45–49 apart, on annulus 27–28; setae e 10–11, 27–28 apart, on annulus 41–42; setae f 37–40, 38–39 apart, on 10 th annulus from rear. Setae h1 2–3; setae h2 55–59.

Larva (n = 3)

Body vermiform, 210–255 including gnathosoma and 45–52 wide. Gnathosoma 20–22, cheliceral stylets 18–22, setae ep 1–2, setae d 2–4, palp tarsal setae v 1. Prodorsal shield semicircular, smooth, 23–24 and 45–46 wide. Tubercles of setae ve 26–29 apart, setae ve 10–11, directed forward and slightly laterally; scapular tubercles on rear shield margin, 21–23 apart, setae sc 10–12, projecting backwards. Coxigenital area smooth; setae 1b 4–5, 15–16 apart; setae 1a 6–8, 14–17 apart; setae 2a 15–17, 25–27 apart; setae 3a 2–3, 6–7 apart. Leg I 17–18, femur and genu fused 7–8, setae bv 3–4, setae l'' 18–20; tibia 2–3, setae l' 1–2, solenidion φ 1–2; tarsus 4–5; empodium em 5–6 simple, 4- rayed, tarsal solenidion ω 3–4 tapered, setae ft' 7–8, setae ft" 13–15, setae u' 1–2. Leg II 14–16, femur and genu fused 6–7, setae bv 3–4, setae l'' 14–17; tibia 2–3, solenidion φ 1–2; tarsus 3–4; em 5–6, 4- rayed, ω 4 tapered, setae ft' 3–4, setae ft" 13–15, setae u' 1–2. Opisthosoma with 87–90 dorsal semiannuli and 57–60 ventral semiannuli, with rounded microtubercles on dorsal semiannuli and oval on ventral semiannuli. Setae c1 10 (10–15), 28 (27–28) apart, on annulus 10 from rear shield margin; lateral setae c2 8–10, 40–43 apart, on annulus 12 from coxae II; ventral setae d 5–10, 30–33 apart, on annulus 23–25; setae e 3–4, 23–24 apart, on annulus 32–35; setae f 11–13, 23–24 apart, on 6 th annulus from rear. Setae h1 2–3; setae h2 30–33.

Host plants in Egypt Cyperus rotundus L. ( Cyperaceae ).

Geographical distribution – Relation to the host plant

Vagrant underneath the inner surface of the leaf sheath surrounding the stem, causing rusted leaves; it leads to drying and death of plants.

Type locality India .

Material examined

Sixteen females, five males, five nymphs, and four larvae on six slides (slide no. EGYErio123.1- 123.6), from Qalube distinct (30° 17' 21.42" N, 31° 12' 45.82" E), Qalubiya governorate, Egypt GoogleMaps , 30 Oct., 2021; all deposited in the mite reference collection of Fruit Trees Mites Department , Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Egypt . In addition, five females and two males on two slides (slide no. EGYErio123.7-123.8) with the same previous data, deposited in the mite reference collection of the Egyptian Society of Acarology Museum ( ESAM), Zoology and Agricultural Nematology Department, the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza governorate, Egypt . Two slides with the previous same data, deposited in Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences ( ZIN RAS), Russia .

Remarks

This is the first time O. gigantica females and males have been recorded in Egypt, as well as the first description of its male and juvenile stages. Mohanasundaram (1981) described this species based on adult female from India. The morphometry of the Egyptian female resembles that in the original description with the exception of the following characters: body length, prodorsal shield length and width, number of empodium rays, length of setae c1, d, e, f and legs. Setae c1, d, e, f, legs are slightly longer and the prodorsal shield slightly larger in the Egyptian specimens than the Indian specimens; body length in the Egyptian specimens is shorter than that of the Indian specimens; and tarsal empodium in Indian specimens is 5-rayed (5/6-rayed in the Egyptian specimens) ( Table 1).