Laelaspis kamalii Joharchi and Halliday 2012, sp. nov.

Laelaspis kamalii Joharchi and Halliday sp. nov.

(Figure 1)

Specimens examined

Holotype, female, Iran, Alborz, Arrange, 35 ◦ 55 ′ N, 51 ◦ 04 ′ E, altitude 1890 m, 15 April 2010, O. Joharchi coll., in nest of Tapinoma sp. Paratypes, one female, same data as holotype (in JAZM); two females, Karaj city, 35 ◦ 48 ′ N, 50 ◦ 59 ′ E, altitude 1384 m, in nest of Pheidole pallidula (in ANIC).

Description

Female. Dorsal idiosoma. Dorsal shield length 475–485 µm, width 334–374 µm (n = 2) (Figure 1A). Shield oval shaped, with surface reticulation, more distinct in opisthonotal section; with 39 pairs of long setae, 22 podonotal, 17 opisthonotal, including two pairs of Zx setae between J and Z setae; almost all setae slightly swollen at base, with pointed tip, very long, long enough to reach well past base of next posterior seta (j5 42–54 µm, j6 50–54 µm, J1 57–69 µm). Lateral setae thicker than those in centre of shield; almost all marginal setae slightly serrated, Z5 distinctly serrated (Figure 1B,C). Seta Z5 (40–50 µm) similar in length to J5 (42–52 µm); opisthonotal region also with three unpaired supernumerary setae Jx in each specimen. Shield with 10 pairs of large circular to oval-shaped pores, other pores inconspicuous.

Ventral idiosoma (Figure 1D). Tritosternum with columnar base 25–27 µm long and paired pilose laciniae 52–54 µm long. Pre-sternal area with one or two transverse lines, pre-sternal shields absent. Sternal shield length 106–111 µm, narrowest between coxae II (87–94 µm), widest between coxae II and III (156–166 µm), with straight anterior margin and slightly concave posterior margin; with three pairs of smooth sternal setae, lengths st 1 32–42 µm, st 2 37–42 µm, st 3 32–37 µm, one pair of lyrifissures adjacent to setae st 1, another pair of larger lyrifissures between st 2 and st 3; antero-lateral surface of shield with polygonal ornamentation, central area smooth. Metasternal platelets absent, metasternal setae st 4 and metasternal pores located in soft skin; endopodal plates II/III fused to sternal shield, endopodal plates III/IV elongate, narrow, curved. Genital shield wide, length 230–248 µm, maximum width 210–240 µm, posterior edge rounded, abutting anal shield, surface with characteristic ornamentation including distinct Λ- shaped lines and polygonal cells, bearing the genital setae st 5 and three pairs of setae on its lateral edges. Paragenital pores located on soft skin lateral to shield between seta st 5 and a pair of minute platelets behind coxae IV. Anal shield subtriangular, length 87–97 µm, width 124–130 µm, its anterior half with lineate ornamentation and a pair of lateral pores; post-anal seta 20–25 µm long, equal in length to para-anal setae but thicker. Opisthogastric skin with one pair of long narrow metapodal plates (length 54–62 µm) very close to genital shield, and 13 pairs of slightly serrate setae (Jv1 69–89 µm, Jv2 57–62 µm, Jv3 45–50 µm, Jv5 45–57 µm, Zv1 22–25 µm, Zv2 22–27 µm), and three pairs of pores near the metapodal plate. Exopodal plates behind coxae IV widened and triangular. Peritreme extending from coxa IV to mid-level of coxa I, peritrematal shield wide, with two large protrusions on outer margin, a pair of pores opposite coxa II, post-stigmatal section conspicuous, with a pair of pores and a longitudinal incision, and one pair of large pores anterior to the stigmata.

Gnathosoma. Epistome triangular, smooth (Figure 1E). Hypostomal groove with six rows of denticles each bearing 8–10 small teeth, and smooth anterior and posterior transverse lines (Figure 1F). Hypostomal seta h1 25 µm, h2 20 µm, h3 40 µm, palp coxal seta 30 µm. Corniculi robust and horn-like, reaching mid-level of palp femur. Palp chaetotaxy: trochanter 2, femur 5, genus 6, tibia 12, tarsus 15; all setae smooth and needle-like, palp tarsal claw two-tined. Fixed digit of chelicera with two small triangular distal teeth (Figure 1G), pilus dentilis small and slender, dorsal seta short, thick, prostrate. Movable digit without teeth; arthrodial membrane with a rounded flap and a few short filaments.

Legs. Leg III shortest (272–285 µm), leg I longest (433–446 µm). Chaetotaxy: Leg I: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 0/1 1/2 1, femur 2 3/1 2/3 2, genu 2 3/2 3/1 2, tibia 2 3/2 3/1 2. Leg II: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 0/1 0/2 1, femur 2 3/1 2/2 1 (ad 1 thick), genu 2 3/1 2/1 2, tibia 2 2/1 2/1 2 (pv thick). Leg III: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 0/1 0/1 1, femur 1 2/1 1/0 1, genu 2 2/1 2/1 1, tibia: 2 1/1 2/1 1. Leg IV: coxa 0 0/1 0/0 0, trochanter 1 0/2 0/1 1 (al thick), femur 1 2/1 1/0 1 (ad 1 and ad 2 thick), genu 2 2/1 3/0 1 (al 1, al 2 and ad 2 long), tibia 2 1/1 3/1 2 (al 1 and al 2 long); all setae fine and needle-like unless otherwise noted. Tarsi I–IV with 18 setae, 3 3/2 3/2 3 + mv, md. All pre-tarsi with a pair of claws and a long thin membranous ambulacrum.

Insemination structures not seen, apparently unsclerotized.

Etymology

This species is named in honour of Prof. Karim Kamali, who devoted many years to teaching acarology and training acarologists in Iran.

Notes

Laelaspis kamalii differs from almost all other species in the genus by the very long setae on its dorsal shield, with Z5 similar in length to J5 and the other dorsal setae. Laelaspis kamalii is similar to L. badrii Nasr and Nawar, 1989 in the length of the dorsal shield setae, but differs from it by having only 22 podonotal and 17 opisthonotal pairs of setae including two pairs of Zx setae between J and Z setae (23 podonotal and 24 opisthonotal pairs including four pairs of Zx setae between J and Z setae in L. badrii). The anal shield of L. kamalii is much wider than that of L. badrii, and the sternal shield of L. kamalii has polygonal ornamentation (smooth in L. badrii). Laelaspis kamalii is also unusual in having only one very low blunt swelling on the movable digit of the chelicera, instead of the usual two distinct teeth.