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This paper reports on three species of mites of the genus Laelaspis in Iran – Laelaspis calidus Berlese from Pheidole pallidula, Laelaspis humeratus (Berlese) from Tetramorium caespitum and Laelaspis dariusi Joharchi & Jalaeian, sp. n. fromsoil. The new species is described and illustrations provided.
Laelapidae, taxonomy, Formicidae, Iran, myrmecophiles
The Laelapidae is one of the largest families of free-living Mesostigmata, but it has not yet achieved a stable classification (
Joharchi et al. previously reported on five species of mites of the genus Laelaspis and on several genera associated with ants in Iran (
The cosmopolitan genus Laelaspis includes 17 species in the Western Palaearctic Region and most species are associated with ants or their nests. However, a few were collected with small mammals or in soil, and most species have only been collected on few occasions, so it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions about their host specificity (
Mites associated with ants and soil were collected in Alborz, Khorasan, Kerman and Yazd Provinces over a period of two years (2010–2012). Mites were removed from ants’ nests by individual hand picking and by extraction from ant nest and soil material using Tullgren funnels. Mites were cleared in Nesbitt’s solution and mounted in Hoyer’s medium. The nomenclature used for the dorsal idiosomal chaetotaxy is that of
Laelaps astronomicus Koch, 1839, by original designation.
See
Laelaspis belongs to a group of genera of Laelapidae in which the genital shield of the female is greatly expanded, so that its posterior margin abuts the anal shield and its lateral margins extend outward behind coxae IV. The expanded genito-ventral shield in these genera captures at least two pairs of ventral setae in addition to the genital setae on the the extreme edges of the shield. Laelaspis is distinguished from Gymnolaelaps by its two-tined palp tarsal claw, the absence of pre-sternal shields, and the presence of two distinct Λ-shaped lines on the genital shield. Laelaspis differs from Pseudoparasitus because Pseudoparasitus has at least two pairs of setae on the surface of the genital shield, well separated from the edges of the shield, while all the genital setae of Laelaspis and Gymnolaelaps are on the extreme edges of the shield.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Laelaspis_calidus
Six females, Anar, Kerman, 53°30'N, 18°55'E, alt. 1152 m 10 November 2011, O. Joharchi coll., in nest of Pheidole pallidula.
Laelaspis calidus was described from east Africa (
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BB2DA9B6-4ACF-4F3B-A516-3E33EA3AD1F0
http://species-id.net/wiki/Laelaspis_dariusi
Figures 1–8Holotype, female, Iran, Khorasan Razavi Province, Kalate Naderi (Laeen), 37°07'N, 59°29'E, alt. 858 m, 26 Mar 2010, S. Paktinat-saeej coll., in soil of apple orchard. Paratypes, seven females, same data as holotype (in YIAU, JAZM and ANIC).
Figures 1–8. Dorsal idiosoma. Dorsal shield length 524–534, width 406–426 (n = 8) (Fig. 1). Shield oval shaped, with reticulation, more distinct in opisthonotal region; 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 (Fig. 4), podonotal setae very long, reaching well past base of next posterior setae, setae of central area of dorsal shield decreasing in length from anterior to posterior (j3, z2 74-82, j4 69-74, j6, J1, J3 54-57), lateral setae thicker than central setae, almost all marginal setae including Z5 slightly serrated (Fig. 3), length 89–99, almost double length of J5, length 45–50; opisthonotal region with three unpaired supernumerary seta Jx in each specimen. Shield with three pairs of large circular to oval-shaped pores, other pores inconspicuous.
Ventral idiosoma (Fig. 2). Tritosternum with columnar base (15–17 long × 9–10 wide), paired pilose laciniae, length 67–69 (Fig. 7), pre-sternal shields absent, pre-sternal area with some weak transverse lines. Sternal shield length 111–116, narrowest between coxae II (87–89) widest between coxae II & III (151–153), with slightly concave posterior margin and undulating anterior margin, with three pairs of long and smooth sternal setae, st142–47, st2 59-62, st3 67-69, reaching well past base of next posterior setae, one pair of lyrifissures adjacent to setae st1, a pair of larger lyrifissures between st2 and st3; antero-lateral surface of sternal shield with lineate ornamentation, central area smooth. Metasternal platelets absent, metasternal setae st4 (27–32) and metasternal pores located in soft skin; endopodal plates II/III fused to sternal shield, endopodal plates III/IV elongate, narrow, curved. Genital shield broad, length 277–285, maximum width 248–260, posterior margin rounded, abutting anal shield, surface with characteristic ornamentation including distinct Λ-shaped lines and polygonal ornamentation, bearing the long genital setae st5 (87–89) and two pairs of long setae (89–99) on its lateral edges. Paragenital pores located on soft skin lateral to shield behind coxae IV. Anal shield subtriangular, length 104–109, width 126–131; its anterior half with lineate ornamentation and a pair of lateral pores; post-anal seta 42–45 µm, longer and thicker than para-anal setae, 22–25. Opisthogastric skin with long, narrow and oval metapodal plates (62–64 long × 8–10 wide) very close to genital shield, and 15 pairs of slightly serrate setae, each arising on small sclerotised platelet, and seven pairs of pores. Exopodal plates forming subtriangular extensions behind coxae IV, narrow elongate exopodal plates II/III not fused to peritrematal shield. Peritreme extending from coxa IV to anterior of coxa I, peritrematal shield narrow, post-stigmatal section conspicuous, with two pairs of pores.
Gnathosoma. Epistome triangular, smooth (Fig. 6). Hypostomal groove with six rows of denticles each bearing 8–10 small teeth, and smooth anterior transverse line. Hypostome with four pairs of setae, internal posterior hypostomal setae h3 longest (Fig. 5). Corniculi robust and horn-like, reaching mid-level of palp femur. Palp chaetotaxy: trochanter 2 (v1 thick), femur 5, genu 6, tibia 12, tarsus 15; all setae smooth and needle-like, palp tarsal claw two-tined. Fixed digit of chelicera with six blunt teeth (Fig. 8); pilus dentilis short and robust; dorsal seta short, prostrate; movable digit with two teeth; arthrodial membrane with a rounded flap and short filaments.
Legs. Legs II and III short (302-312, 282-288), I and IV longer (430-446, 372-392). Leg I: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0, trochanter 1 1/1 0/2 1 (ad thick), femur 2 3/2 2/2 2 (ad2, ad3, al1, pl1 and pl2 thick), genu 2 3/2 3/1 2 (all dorsal thick), tibia 2 3/2 3/1 2. Leg II: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0 (all setae thick), trochanter 1 0/1 1/2 1, femur 2 3/1 2/2 1 (ad1, pd2 and pv1 thick), genu 2 3/1 2/1 2 (all ventral thick), tibia 2 2/1 2/1 2 (all ventral thick). Leg III: coxa 0 0/1 0/1 0 (all setae thick), trochanter 1 0/1 0/2 1 (al and av thick), femur 1 2/1 1/0 1 (ad1 and ad2 thick), genu 2 2/1 2/1 1 (ventral setae thick), tibia: 2 1/1 2/1 1(ventral setae thick). Leg IV: coxa 0 0/1 0/0 0, trochanter 1 0/1 0/2 1 (av thick), femur 1 2/1 1/0 1 (al long, ad1 and ad2 thick), genu 2 2/1 3/0 1 (ventral thick), tibia 2 1/1 3/1 2; 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 unsclerotised.
Laelaspis dariusi Joharchi and Jalaeian sp. n., female. 1 Dorsal shield 2 Ventral idiosoma 3 Seta Z5 enlarged 4 Dorsal shield seta s3 5 Hypostome 6 Epistome 7 Tritosternum 8 Chelicera.
The species is named in memory of Darius I (Old Persian: Dārayava(h)uš), also known as Darius the Great, was the third king of the Achaemenid Empire, who proved to be a strong and wise ruler and he was tolerant toward other religions and cultures, promoted learning, agriculture, forestation, and the construction of highways. He also built the great palace cities of Susa and Persepolis.
Laelaspis dariusi differs from all other species in the genus by its dorsal shield setae in central area decreasing in length from anterior to posterior, seta Z5 much longer than J5; seta v1 on the palp trochanter thick, sternal setae long and smooth, long enough to well past base of next posterior setae, movable digit of chelicera with two teeth and fixed digit of chelicera with six blunt teeth.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Laelaspis_humeratus
One female, Alborz, Karaj, 35°56'N, 51°22'E, alt. 2000 m, 11 July 2011, O. Joharchi coll., in nest of Tetramorium caespitum.
Laelaspis humeratus was described from Luxemburg (Berlese 1904), and has been recorded from Latvia (
Before the start of this study, six species of Laelaspis had been reported from Iran. We have added new information on Laelaspis calidus and Laelaspis humeratus.
Joharchi et al. have previously discussed the distinction between Laelaspis and Gymnolaelaps and Pseudoparasitus (
We are indebted to Dr. Bruce Halliday (CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, Australia) for his all helpful and valuable comments. This study was supported by Yazd branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran wich is greatly appreciated. We are very grateful to the reviewers for their comments.