Research Article |
Corresponding author: Omid Joharchi ( j.omid2000@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Farid Faraji
© 2016 Omid Joharchi, Alireza Shahedi.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Joharchi O, Shahedi A (2016) A new species of Hypoaspis Canestrini (Acari, Mesostigmata, Laelapidae) associated with Oryctes sp. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) in Iran. ZooKeys 574: 105-112. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.574.7767
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A new species of the genus Hypoaspis Canestrini, Hypoaspis surenai sp. n., is described based on adult female specimens collected in association with Oryctes sp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Taft, Yazd province, Iran.
Gamasina , Dermanyssoidea , taxonomy, Hypoaspis surenai sp. n., Hypoaspidinae , Taft, Yazd
The mite family Laelapidae includes approximately 800 species of morphologically, ecologically and behaviourally very diverse dermanyssoid mites, including obligate and facultative parasites of vertebrates, insect paraphages, and free-living predators that inhabit soil-litter habitats and the nests of vertebrates and arthropods (
The ecological role of this genus is unknown. They may feed on exudates from the beetle’s body or their eggs, or on other small invertebrates in the microhabitats created by the beetles (
Phoretic laelapids on beetles were collected from Taft, Yazd province, Iran, in 2015. Mites were removed from the beetles using an entomological pin. Specimens were cleared in Nesbitt’s solution and mounted in Hoyer’s medium (
Hypoaspis Canestrini, 1884: 1569.
Gamasus krameri G. & R. Canestrini, 1881, designated by
The short diagnosis below is summarised from the detailed diagnosis in
Dorsal shield oval, without lateral incisions, bearing 35–40 pairs of setae including one or more pairs of Zx setae; some opisthonotal setae greatly elongated, especially Z4 (at least three times as long as J4); post-anal seta distinctly shorter than para-anals; hypostomal setae h3 distinctly longer than other hypostomal setae; tarsus II with two subterminal blunt spines (setae al1 and pl1).
Holotype, female, Iran, Yazd Province, Taft, Kahduiyeh, 31°16'N, 53°43'E, alt. 1496 m a.s.l, 04March 2015, A. Shahedi coll., on adult females of Oryctes sp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Paratypes: ten females same data as holotype.
Dorsal idiosoma (Fig.
Ventral idiosoma (Fig.
Gnathosoma. Epistome irregularly denticulate laterally, apical section smooth with minute denticles in some specimens (Fig.
Legs. Legs II and III shortest (564–570, 604–610), I and IV both longer (702–711, 872–880) (excluding pretarsus). Chaetotaxy normal for free-living Laelapidae. 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 (macrosetae pd1 184–190, pd2 94–97, Fig.
Genital structures. Insemination ducts opening on posterior margin of coxa III, sacculus indistinct, apparently unsclerotised.
Unknown.
The species is named in memory of Surena (died 53 BC) was a Parthian spahbed (“General” or “Commander”) during the 1st century BC.
According to the key to species of Hypoaspiss.s. occurring in the Western Palaearctic Region provided by
Fifteen species regarded to belong to Hypoaspiss.s. had been reported from Iran until now (including the new species): Hypoaspis alborzensis Razavi Susan & Joharchi, 2014; H. campestris (Berlese, 1887) sensu Bregetova, 1977; H. elegans
Almost all of the species of Hypoaspiss.s. occurring in Iran are associated with Coleoptera, especially with a wide variety of species in the family Scarabaeidae, while a few have been collected in soil. Most of these species have been collected on only a few occasions, so it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions about their host specificity. The question of host or microhabitat specificity of the species cannot be analysed in detail until all of the available collections are re-examined to confirm the identifications.
We are indebted to Dr. Bruce Halliday (