A review of myrmecophilous mites of the family Microdispidae (Acari, Heterostigmatina) of Western Siberia

Alexander A. Khaustov

doi:10.3897/zookeys.454.8709

Abstract

Five species of myrmecophilous microdispid mites (Acari: Microdispidae) are recorded from Western Siberia, Russia. Unguidispus lasii Kurosa, 1979, U. japonicus Kurosa, 1979, Caesarodispus minutus (Sevastianov, 1981), and C. samsinaki (Mahunka, 1967), comb. n. are reported from Russia for the first time. Unguidispus polyctenus (Sevastianov, 1969) and Caesarodispus samsinaki are redescribed. The keys to species of the genera Unguidispus Mahunka, 1970 and Caesarodispus Mahunka, 1977 are provided.

Keywords

Acari , Heterostigmatina , systematics, phoresy, ants, Western Siberia

Introduction

The family Microdispidae Cross, 1965 (Acari: Pygmephoroidea) includes 18 genera and about 115 described species (Hajiqanbar and Hosseininaveh 2014). All representatives from the genera Unguidispus Mahunka, 1970, Caesarodispus Mahunka, 1977, Myrmecodispus Cross, 1965, Reductodispus Mahunka, 1977, Perperipes Cross, 1965, and Glyphidomastax Cross, 1965 are associated with various ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (Hajiqanbar and Hosseininaveh 2014). Most of microdispid mites are fungivorous, but the species from the genera Perperipes and Glyphidomastax, associated with army ants, probably feed on their larvae and/or eggs (Kaliszewski et al. 1995). During the study of myrmecophilous mites of Western Siberia we found five species of the family Microdispidae belonging to the genera Unguidispus Mahunka, 1970 and Caesarodispus Mahunka, 1977. The main goal of this paper is to redescribe the poorly known species Unguidispus polyctenus (Sevastianov, 1969) and Caesarodispus samsinaki (Mahunka, 1967), comb. n. and provide new records of myrmecophilous microdispid mites from Western Siberia, as well as the keys to world species of the genera Unguidispus and Caesarodispus.

Materials and methods

Mites were collected from ants or ant nests and mounted in Hoyer’s medium. The terminology of idiosoma and legs follows Lindquist (1986); the nomenclature of subcapitular setae and the designation of cheliceral setae follow Grandjean (1944, 1947), respectively. The system of Pygmephoroidea follows Khaustov (2004, 2008). All measurements are given in micrometers (μm). For leg chaetotaxy the number of solenidia is given in parentheses. The studied material is deposited in the mite collection of the Tyumen State University Museum of Zoology, Tyumen, Russia. SEM photographs were made with the aid of JEOL–JSM-6510LV SEM microscope.

Systematics

Family Microdispidae Cross, 1965

Genus Unguidispus Mahunka, 1970

Type species

Unguidispus stammeri Mahunka, 1970, by original designation.

Diagnosis

Female. Gnathosoma dorsally with 2 pairs of setae. Pharyngeal pumps 1 and 3 vestigial, pharyngeal pump 2 large, transversely striated. Prodorsum usually almost completely covered by tergite C. Cupules ia and ih small, round. Two pairs of pseudanal setae present (ps₂ absent). Posterior margin of posterior sternal fig entire. Leg I distinctly shorter than leg II. Tibiotarsus with well-developed claw; eupathidia tc’-tc” situated on clear pinnaculum; setae s of tibiotarsus I present. Trochanter IV anterodorsally with short spine-like process.

The genus Unguidispus currently includes six species distributed in the Palaearctic region: U. stammeri, U. polyctenus (Sevastianov, 1969), U. contematosus Sevastianov, 1981, U. okumurai Kurosa, 1979, U. japonicus Kurosa, 1979, and U. lasii Kurosa, 1979. All species of the genus Unguidispus phoretic on ants of the genera Formica L. and Lasius Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Formicinae), or inhabit their nests (Hajiqanbar and Hosseininaveh 2014; Kurosa 1979).

Unguidispus polyctenus (Sevastianov, 1969)

Figs 1, 2, 3, 4

Piniphorus polyctenus Sevastianov, 1969, p. 68, fig. 2.

Xystrorostrum polyctenus: Mahunka 1970a: 165.

Unguidispus polyctenus: Mahunka 1970b: 282.

Redescription

Female Length of idiosoma 190–205, width 120–135.

Gnathosoma (Figs 1, 4E, 4F). Gnathosomal capsule beak-like, about 1.5 times longer than its width. Dorsally with two pairs of smooth subequal setae (cha, chb). Dorsal median apodeme absent. Ventral gnathosoma with one pair of subcapitular setae m and a pair of oval pits situated posteromedial to bases of m. Palps with setae dFe and dGe dorsolaterally. Setae dGe slightly longer than dFe. Ventral palpal structures not evident even on SEM photos (Fig. 4F). Palps terminated with a relatively long and thin tibial claw (Fig. 4F).

Figure 1.

Unguidispus polyctenus (Sevastianov, 1969), female: A dorsum of the body B venter of the body.

Idiosomal dorsum (Figs 1A, 4A). Prodorsum almost completely covered by anterior margin of tergite C, with one pair of setae sc₂, one pair of clavate and weakly barbed trichobothria sc₁ with pointed apex, and one pair of large round stigmata. All dorsal shields smooth. All dorsal setae distinctly barbed; setae d and f blunt-ended, other dorsal setae pointed. Posterior margin of tergite C straight; posterior margin of tergite H with tongue-like elongation medially. Cupules ia on tergite D and ih on tergite H small, round. Lateral shields covering lateral parts of tergite D with distinct sclerotized lines (Fig. 4B). With a pair of arch-like structures anteriorly to setae f and a pair of oblique ridges connected to bases of setae e (Fig. 4C). Length of dorsal setae: sc₂ 12–14, c₁ 35–38, c₂ 40–42, d 36–38, e 44–45, f 35–37, h₁ 40–45, h₂ 35–37. Distances between setae: sc₂–sc₂ 37–40, c₁–c₁ 47–50, c₁–c₂ 22–24, d–d 41–43, e–f 18–20, f–f 35–38, h₁–h₁ 19–21, h₁–h₂ 18–21.

Idiosomal venter (Figs 1B, 4D). All ventral figs smooth. All ventral setae pointed and barbed, except smooth ps₃. Apodemes 1 (ap1) weakly developed and joined with prosternal apodeme (appr); apodemes 2 (ap2) well developed, arch-like, fused with appr; prosternal and sejugal (apsej) apodemes well developed; apodemes 3 (ap3) well sclerotized. Apodemes 4 (ap4) well sclerotized and long, apodemes 5 absent. Posterior margin of posterior sternal fig slightly convex in middle part. Posterior margin of aggenital fig rounded. Anterior genital sclerite (ags) bell-like, posterior genital sclerite (pgs) very small, triangular. Length of ventral setae: 1a 35–37, 1b 21–23, 2a 33–36, 2b 36–40, 3a 34–36, 3b 35–37, 3c 36–38, 4a 36–38, 4b 52–55, 4c 39–41, ps₁ 24–26, ps₃ 9–11.

Legs (Figs 2–3, 4F). Leg I (Figs 2A, 4F) distinctly shorter and thinner than leg II. Setal formula: 1–3–4–16(4). Tibiotarsus not thickened, with well-developed terminal claw situated on distinct pretarsus, tip of the claw thin. Length of solenidia ω₁ 11–12 = ω₂ 11–12 > φ₁ 6–7 = φ₂ 6–7; ω₁ and ω₂ finger-shaped, φ₂ baculiform, φ₁ clavate. Setae (u) fused into structure opposing to tarsal claw. Leg II (Fig. 2B). Setal formula: 1–3–3–4(1)–6(1). Tarsus with sickle-like, padded claws and large empodium. Solenidion ω 9–10, finger-shaped, solenidion φ 3–4 weakly clavate. Seta dFe distinctly blunt-ended. Leg III (Fig. 3A). Setal formula: 1–2–2–4(1)–6. Claws of same shape as on tarsus II. Solenidion φ 3–4 weakly clavate. Seta dFe distinctly blunt-ended. Leg IV (Fig. 3B). Setal formula: 1–2–1–4(1)–6. Tarsus long and thin, pretarsus short, with two small simple claws and small empodium. Solenidion φ 3–4, weakly clavate. Seta dFe distinctly blunt-ended.

Figure 2.

Unguidispus polyctenus (Sevastianov, 1969), female: A leg I B leg II.

Figure 3.

Unguidispus polyctenus (Sevastianov, 1969), female: A leg III B leg IV.

Figure 4.

Unguidispus polyctenus (Sevastianov, 1969), female, SEM photos: A dorsum of the body B lateral view of the body C tergites EF and H D venter of the body E gnathosomal capsule F legs I and distal part of gnathosoma laterally.

Male and larva unknown.

Material examined

Eight female paratypes, Ukraine, Khmelnitsk Province, vicinity of settlement Chemerovtsy, on ants Formica polyctena Forster, 23 July 1966, coll. V.D. Sevastianov; 3 females, Russia: Tyumen Province, vicinity of Tyumen, 57°04'03"N, 65°04'12"E, on ants Formica rufa L., 17 August 2014, coll. A.A. Khaustov; 15 females, Russia, Tyumen Province, vicinity of Tyumen, 57°13'43.6"N, 65°28'28.4"E, on ants Formica polyctena, 14 September 2014, coll. A.A. Khaustov.

Distribution and hosts

This species was described from Western Ukraine from ants Formica polyctena Forster (Sevastianov 1969). It was also recorded in northwestern Russia (Sevastianov 1978), Austria (Mahunka 1970b) from ants Formica rufa L., and in Hungary from ant nest (Mahunka 1987).

Remarks

Sevastianov (1969) placed this species in the genus Piniphorus Sevastianov, 1969. Mahunka (1970a) transferred it to Xystrorostrum Mahunka, 1968 (Neopygmephoridae) which he considered as a senior synonym of Piniphorus. The same year Mahunka (1970b) moved this species to the microdispid genus Unguidispus Mahunka, 1970. In spite of this, Sevastianov (1978) retained it in the neopygmephorid genus Xystrorostrum.

The original description of U. polyctenus of Sevastianov (1969) is incomplete, thus I made a redescription of this species. The present redescription of U. polyctenus is based mainly on material from Western Siberia. The female paratypes available for this study are found in bad condition, yet sufficient to prove their identity with mite specimens from Western Siberia.

Unguidispus lasii Kurosa, 1979

Unguidispus lasii Kurosa, 1979, p. 66, figs 5–6.

Material examined

Six females, Russia: Tyumen Province, vicinity of Tyumen, 57°04'03"N, 65°04'12"E, on ants Lasius niger L., 17 August 2014, coll. V.M. Salavatulin; 5 females, Russia: Tyumen Province, vicinity of Tyumen, 57°09'55"N, 65°27'32"E, on ants Lasius niger, 31 August 2014, coll. A.A. Khaustov.

This species was described from Japan where it was found in the nests of ants Lasius niger and L. hayashi Yamauchi and Hayashida (Kurosa 1979). I recorded phoresy of this species on Lasius niger in Western Siberia. This is a new record for the fauna of Russia.

Unguidispus japonicus Kurosa, 1979

Unguidispus japonicus Kurosa, 1979, p. 64, figs 1–2.

Material examined

Five females, Russia: Tyumen Province, vicinity of Tyumen, 57°04'03"N, 65°04'12"E, on ants Lasius niger, 17 August 2014, coll. V.M. Salavatulin. 2 females, Russia: Tyumen Province, vicinity of Tyumen, 57°09'55"N, 65°27'32"E, on ants Lasius niger, 31 August 2014, coll. A.A. Khaustov.

This species was described from Japan from the nests of ants Lasius niger (Kurosa 1979). I recorded phoresy of this species on Lasius niger in Western Siberia. This is a new record for the fauna of Russia.

Key to world species of the genus Unguidispus (females)

1	All dorsal hysterosomal setae unmodified	2
–	At least setae on tergites C and D flattened, widened distally, and heavily barbed	3
2	Setae c₁, d, and f thin and smooth, without arch-like ridges anteriorly to setae f	U. okumurai Kurosa, 1979. Japan. On Lasius hayashi
–	All dorsal hysterosomal setae strongly barbed, with arch-like ridges anteriorly to setae f	U. polyctenus (Sevastianov, 1969). Ukraine, Austria, Hungary, Russia. On Formica rufa, F. polyctena
3	Setae h₁ flattened, widened distally and barbed	4
–	Setae h₁ thin, smooth, pointed	U. contematosus Sevastianov, 1981. Ukraine. On Lasius fuliginosus
4	Setae e distinctly thickened, subequal to or longer than f	5
–	Setae e not thickened, distinctly shorter than f	U. lasii Kurosa, 1979. Japan, Russia. On Lasius niger, L. hayashi
5	Setae h₂ pointed, setae d distinctly thicker than f, trichobothria spherical	U. japonicas Kurosa, 1979. Japan, Russia. On Lasius niger
–	Setae h₂ widened distally, setae d as thick as f, trichobothria pointed distally	U. stammeri Mahunka, 1970. Hungary. In ant nest.

Genus Caesarodispus Mahunka, 1977

Type species

Caesarodispus gaius Mahunka, 1977, by original designation.

Diagnosis

Female. Gnathosoma dorsally with two pairs of setae. Pharyngeal pumps 1 and 3 vestigial, pharyngeal pump 2 large, transversely striated. Prodorsum usually almost completely covered by tergite C. Cupules ia and ih small, usually round. Two pairs of pseudanal setae (ps₂ absent). Posterior margin of posterior sternal fig entire. Leg I distinctly shorter than leg II. Tibiotarsus without claw; pinnaculum absent; setae s of tibiotarsus I present. Trochanter IV anterodorsally without spine-like process.

The genus Caesarodispus currently includes nine species distributed in the Holarctic region: C. gaius, C. samsinaki (Mahunka, 1967), comb. n., C. minutus (Sevastianov, 1981), C. acuminatus (Sevastianov, 1981), C. klepzigi Khaustov & Moser, 2008, C. pusillus Khaustov, 2009, C. brevipes Mahunka, 1986, C. modestus (Berlese, 1903), and C. shandizensis Loghmani & Hajiqanbar, 2014. All species of the genus Caesarodispus phoretic on various ants, or inhabit their nests. Loghmani et al. (2014) discussed distribution and host specificity of the genus Caesarodispus and provided key to eight species.

Caesarodispus samsinaki (Mahunka, 1967), comb. n.

Figs 5, 6, 7

Pygmephorus samsinaki Mahunka, 1967, p. 241, fig. 1.

Brennandania samsinaki: Mahunka 1972: 82.

Petalomium samsinaki: Sevastianov 1978: 37.

Redescription

Female. Length of idiosoma 220, width 135. Gnathosoma (Figs 5–6). Gnathosomal capsule about as long as its width. Dorsally with two pairs of smooth setae (cha, chb). Setae cha slightly longer than chb. Dorsal median apodeme absent. Ventral gnathosoma with one pair of subcapitular setae m and a pair of oval pits situated posteromedial to bases of m. Palps short, with setae dFe and dGe dorsolaterally. Setae dGe slightly longer than dFe. Ventrally with tiny solenidion and accessory setigenous structure. Palps terminated with a relatively short and thick tibial claw. Palpal tibiotarsus laterally with small triangular translucent process. Pharyngeal pumps 1 and 3 small, vestigial; pharyngeal pumps II large, transversely striated (Fig. 5A).

Figure 5.

Caesarodispus samsinaki (Mahunka, 1967), comb. n., female: A dorsum of the body B venter of the body.

Figure 6.

Caesarodispus samsinaki (Mahunka, 1967), comb. n., female: A leg I B leg II.

Idiosomal dorsum (Fig. 5A). Tergite C covering only posterior part of prodorsum, which bears one pair of setae sc₂, one pair of spherical and weakly barbed trichobothria sc₁ and one pair of oval stigmata. Prodorsal shield with sparsely distributed small dimples. All hysterosomal tergites distinctly reticulated and with sparsely distributed small dimples. All dorsal setae lanceolate, sparsely barbed. Posterior margin of tergite C straight; posterior margin of tergite H with tongue-like elongation medially. Cupules ia on tergite D and ih on tergite H very small, round. Length of dorsal setae: sc₂ 32, c₁ 42, c₂ 44, d 58, e 47, f 50, h₁ 54, h₂ 46. Distances between setae: sc₂–sc₂ 43, c₁–c₁ 35, c₁–c₂ 24, d–d 31, e–f 25, f–f 30, h₁–h₁ 29, h₁–h₂ 19.

Idiosomal venter (Fig. 5B). All ventral figs with small dimples. Posterior part of posterior sternal fig and aggenital fig reticulated. All ventral setae pointed and barbed. Ap1 well-developed and joined with appr; ap2 thin, arch-like, fused with appr; appr and apsej well developed; ap3 indistinct. Ap4 well sclerotized and long, apodemes 5 absent. Posterior margin of posterior sternal fig slightly convex in middle part. Posterior margin of aggenital fig rounded. Ags bell-like, pgs elongate, subtriangular. Length of ventral setae: 1a 35, 1b 32, 2a 42, 2b 39, 3a 52, 3b 47, 3c 40, 4a 54, 4b 60, 4c 47, ps₁ 23, ps₃ 24.

Legs (Figs 6–7). Leg I (Fig. 6A) distinctly shorter and thinner than leg II. Setal formula: 1–3–4–16(3). Tibiotarsus not thickened, cylindrical. Length of solenidia ω₁ 11 > φ₁ 5 < φ₂ 10; ω₁ and φ₂ finger-shaped, φ₁ clavate, solenidion ω₂ absent. Seta k very long, slightly longer than combined genu and tibiotarsus I. Leg II (Fig. 6B). Setal formula: 1–2–3–4(1)–6(1). Tarsus with sickle-like, padded claws and large empodium. Solenidion ω 8, finger-shaped, solenidion φ 4 weakly clavate. Setae v” of femur II absent. Leg III (Fig. 7A). Setal formula: 1–2–2–4(1)–6. Claws of same shape as on tarsus II. Solenidion φ 4 weakly clavate. Seta dFe blunt-ended. Leg IV (Fig. 7B). Setal formula: 1–2–1–4(1)–6. Tarsus long and thin, pretarsus short, with two small simple claws and small empodium. Solenidion φ 4, weakly clavate. Seta dFe distinctly blunt-ended.

Figure 7.

Caesarodispus samsinaki (Mahunka, 1967), comb. n., female: A leg III B leg IV.

Male and larva unknown.

Material examined

One female, Russia: Tyumen Province, vicinity of Tyumen, 57°04'03"N, 65°04'12"E, on ants Formica rufa L., 17 August 2014, coll. A.A. Khaustov.

Distribution and hosts

This species was originally described from the Czech Republic (Mahunka 1967) where it was collected from ants Formica rufa. It was also recorded from Ukraine and Belarus (Sevastianov 1978). This is a new record for the fauna of Russia.

Remarks

Mahunka (1967) described this species in the genus Pygmephorus Kramer (Pygmephoridae). Later on, he replaced it to the genus Brennandania Sasa, 1961 (Microdispidae) (Mahunka 1972). Sevastianov (1978) placed this species in the genus Petalomium Cross, 1965 (Neopygmephoridae).

According to key to families of the superfamily Pygmephoroidea provided by Khaustov and Ermilov (2011) this species undoubtedly belongs to the family Microdispidae by having three setae on femur I, unmodified seta dFeI and presence of only one pair of setae on prodorsum. I placed this species in the genus Caesarodispus based on the following combination of characters: 1) tibiotarsus I without claw, 2) leg I distinctly shorter and thinner than leg II, 3) seta s of tibiotarsus I present, 4) pharyngeal pumps 1 and 3 vestigial, pharyngeal pump 2 large, distinctly transversely striated, 5) posterior margin of posterior sternal fig entire. All of these characters well agree with diagnosis of the genus Caesarodispus.

Unlike other known species of the genus Caesarodispus, C. samsinaki has only two setae on femur II (v” absent) and only three solenidia on tibiotarsus I (ω₂ absent). However reduction of leg chaetotaxy was also recorded in C. klepzigi Khaustov and Moser, 2008, which has only two setae on femur I, while other Caesarodispus species have three setae.

The original description of C. samsinaki of Mahunka (1967) is incomplete, thus I made a redescription of this species. The present redescription of C. samsinaki is based on material from Western Siberia. The specimens from Western Siberia are well agreed with original description of C. samsinaki, especially having lanceolate dorsal idiosomal setae and unique reticulated hysterosomal tergites, and undoubtedly conspecific with it.

Caesarodispus minutus (Sevastianov, 1981)

Microdispus minutus Sevastianov, 1981, p. 28, fig. 5.

Caesarodispus minutus: Khaustov 2008: 390.

Material examined

Eleven females, Russia: Tyumen Province, Tyumen region, vicinity of settlement Narimanovo, 57°21'56"N, 65°08'21"E, in the nest of ants Lasius flavus (Fabricius), 30 July 2014, coll. V.A. Stolbov.

This species was described from Ukraine from ants Tetramorium caespitum L. (Sevastianov 1981). Khaustov (2009) redescribed it based on type material. It was also recorded from Iran from Temnothorax sp. (Loghmani et al 2014). This is a new record for the fauna of Russia.

Key to world species of the genus Caesarodispus (females)

1	Hysterosomal tergites not reticulated, femur II with three setae	2
–	Hysterosomal tergites distinctly reticulated, femur II with two setae (v” absent)	C. samsinaki (Mahunka, 1967), comb. n. Czech Republic, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia. On Formica rufa.
2	Seta v’ of genu I not thickened, pointed	3
–	Seta v’ of genu I distinctly thickened, widened distally, strongly barbed	C. pusillus Khaustov, 2009. Crimea. In the nest of Crematogaster schmidti
3	Seta d no more than 1.5 times longer than f	4
–	Seta d about 4 times longer than f	C. klepzigi Khaustov & Moser, 2008. U.S.A. On Solenopsis invicta
4	Seta d of tibia IV heavily barbed, reaching beyond tip of pretarsus IV	5
–	Seta d of tibia IV smooth or weakly barbed, not reaching beyond tip of pretarsus IV	7
5	Seta d of femur IV subequal to or longer than tc” of tarsus IV	6
–	Seta d of femur IV more than 2 times shorter than tc” of tarsus IV	C. gaius Mahunka, 1977. France. On Myrmica sabuleti
6	Setae d and f lanceolate and strongly barbed	C. brevipes Mahunka, 1986. Hungary. In ant nest
–	Setae d and f not lanceolate, weakly barbed	C. modestus (Berlese, 1903). Italy, Russia (Crimea). On Messor spp.
7	Posterior part of aggenital fig smooth	8
–	Posterior part of aggenital fig distinctly reticulated	C. shandizensis Loghmani & Hajiqanbar, 2014. Iran. On Temnothorax sp.
8	Setae f distinctly longer than distance f–f	C. minutus (Sevastianov, 1981). Ukraine, Iran, Russia. On Tetramorium caespitum, Lasius flavus, Temnothorax sp.
–	Setae f shorter than distance f–f	C. acuminatus (Sevastianov, 1981). Ukraine. On Tetramorium caespitum

Acknowledgements

The author thanks Dr. A.V. Tolstikov for valuable comments on the manuscript, Dr. V.A. Stolbov, S.A. Ivanov and V.M. Salavatulin for their help with collecting mites, D.V. Zhuravskiy (Tyumen State University, Russia) for help with SEM micrographs. This research was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, project title “Myrmecophilous Acariform Mites (Acariformes) of the South of Western Siberia”, cooperative agreement No. 6.1933.2014/K.

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