Systematic & Applied Acarology (2011) 16, 281–290. ISSN 1362-1971

Cheylostigmaeus gharakhanii sp. nov. (Acari: Trombidiformes: Stigmaeidae) from Northwest Iran

REZA NAVAEI-BONAB1, 2, MOHAMMAD BAGHERI2, EDWARD A. UECKERMANN3, 4, HAMED GHORBANI2, 5, ALI MEHRVAR2 & MOOSA SABER2

1. Young Researchers Club, Islamic Azad University, Marand Branch, East Azerbaijan province (E-mail: reza_kami2005@yahoo.com); 2. Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Mara-gheh, Iran. (E-mail: mbagheri20022002@yahoo.com); 3. ARC-PPRI, Private Bag 134, Queenswood, Pretoria 0121, South Africa.(E-mail: UeckermannE@arc.agric.za); 4. School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West Univer-sity, Potchefstroom Campus 2520, South Africa; 5. Young Researchers Club, Islamic Azad University, Maragheh Branch, Eest Azarbaijan province

Abstract

A new species of Cheylostigmaeus Willmann (Acari: Trombidiformes: Stigmaeidae), Cheylostigmaeus gharakhanii sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on females and males. It was collected from soil in apple orchards at Marand, East Azerbaijan province, Iran.

Key words: Acari, Raphignathoidea, Stigmaeidae, Cheylostigmaeus, Soil, Iran

Introduction

Stigmaeid mites (Acari: Trombidiformes) are predators and feed on a variety of arthropods such as spider mites and scale insects, especially their eggs (Summers 1966). This family is the second most frequent predatory mite family found on plants after the Phytoseiidae (Santos & Laing 1985; Khanjani & Ueckermann 2002; Hernandes & Feres 2005). The Stigmaeidae comprise a large cosmopolitan group of genera, which are found in various ecosystems: soil, litter, plant foliage, vegetation and even occur on sandflies (Martinez-Ortega et al. 1983). This family can be defined as follows: dorsal shields absent or dorsum completely covered by 2-4 shields or partly covered by 3 or more shields; 12–14 pairs of dorsal body setae; chelicerae usually free but partially fused in some genera; palp with thumb-claw complex with a seta or clawlike accessory claw at base of tibial claw; and terminal sensillum on palptarsus varies from a simple bidentate to tridentate spine or four eupathidia. Among genera of this family, the genus Cheylostigmaeus can be distinguished mainly by the partly fused chelicerae. To date 26 species of Cheylostigmaeus have been described worldwide (Fan & Zhang 2004; Koç 2005; Khanjani et al. 2010; Dönel & Doğan 2011). Among them two species have been reported from Iran: Cheylostigmaeus iranensis Khanjani & Ueckermann, 2002 and C. ferdowsii Khanjani et al. 2010. In this paper a new species is described and figured. This new species described here is the third Iranian species, collected from soil under apple trees from East Azerbaijan province.

Material and methods

Mites were extracted from the soil using a Berlese funnel; specimens were cleared in Nesbitt’s fluid, mounted in Hoyer’s medium (Walter & Krantz 2009) and examined under 1000x magnification of

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an Olympus Bx40 phase contrast microscope. The length of the idiosoma was measured from the base of the chelicerae to the posterior margin of the suranal shield; the width of the idiosoma was measured at the broadest part. The leg measurements are taken from the base of the coxa to the pretarsus. Setae were measured from their insertions to their tips; distances between setae were measured between their insertions. The terminology and abbreviations are based on Kethley (1990). All measurements are given in micrometers (μm). The first measurement is that of the holotype followed by the variation in measurements of five specimens in parentheses including the holotype.

Stigmaeidae Oudemans, 1931Type genus: Cheylostigmaeus Willmann, 1951a

Cheylostigmaeus Willmann, 1951aType species: Cheylostigmaeus grandiceps Willmann, 1951a.

Diagnosis. Idiosoma broadly oval in dorsoventral view. Chelicerae basally conjunct. Palptibial claw subequal to or slightly longer than palptarsus; accessory claw stout, tooth-like; terminal eupathidia on palptarsus basally fused and split halfway into 3 long prongs; Subcapitulum with 2 pairs of subcapitular setae, m anterolaterad of pharynx. Prodorsum with a large shield, which bears 4 pairs of setae (vi, ve, sci and sce); eyes present, pob absent. Dorsal hysterosomal area C–F mainly covered with an inverted trapezoid shield, which bears 6 pairs of setae (c1, d1, d2, e1, e2 and f1); humeral shields large, dorso- or ventro- lateral, with setae c2. Suranal shield (H) entire, with 2 pairs of setae (h1 and h2), h3 absent. Endopodal shields I–II and III–IV present, divided along midline. Leg tarsal claws robust; empodial shaft branching into tenent hairs before extending beyond tips of claws, with 3 pairs of tenent hairs. Male tarsi I–IV usually with two solenidia (Fan & Zhang 2005).

Cheylostigmaeus gharakhanii Navaei-Bonab & Bagheri sp. nov. (Figs. 1–18)

Female (Figs. 1–9). Idiosoma oval. Dorsal setae fairly rigid shafts, with few serrations, straight or slightly curved and with distinct sheath terminally (Fig. 5). Length of body (including gnathosoma) 452 (500–512), (excluding gnathosoma) 320 (350–387), width 225 (225–250).

Gnathosoma. All of subcapitulum finely punctated (Fig. 3), with 2 pairs of subcapitular (m, n) and 2 pairs of adoral setae (or1, or2). Palpal chaetotaxy: tarsus with 1 terminal tridentate eupathidium + 1 solenidion + 5 simple setae; tibia with 2 setae + 1 claw + 1 accessory claw; genua with 2 setae; femur with 3 simple setae. No sheathed setae on palpfemur (Fig. 4). Length of fixed digit 87 (85–95) and movable digits 80 (80–83). Subcapitular setae m 35 (30–35) slightly longer than n 25 (22–25); m–m 28 (29–33), n–n 32 (30–34).

Dorsum. (Fig. 1). Dorsum covered with three shields which are smooth laterally. Prodorsal shield bears 4 pairs of setae (vi, ve, sci and sce); eyes present, pob absent. Six pairs of setae (c1, d1, d2, e1, e2, f1) occur on the opisthosomal shield and 2 pairs of setae (h1, h2) on suranal shield. Humeral shield bearing setae c2 between coxae II–III. All of the dorsal setae similar in form, with a few serrations. Dimensions of dorsal setae are as follows: vi 49 (56–60), ve 71 (77–79), sci 49 (55–57), sce 62 (66–70), c1 53 (55–61), c2 57 (57–64), d1 57 (60–65), d2 62 (64–68), e1 57 (64–65), e262 (68–72), f1 75 (80–81), h1 55 (54–60), h2 52 (51–56). Distances between dorsal setae: vi–vi 33 (29–38), ve–ve 83 (87–93), vi–ve 49 (57–60), sci–sci 133 (138–140), sce–sce 172 (163–184), sci–sce23 (18–25), ve–sci 39 (38–40), sce–c2 40 (34–54), sci–c1 37 (41–55), c1–c1 79 (83–93), c1–c2 84 (86–91), c2–c2 219 (210–218), c1–d1 55 (61–66), d1–d1 100 (98–105), d1–d2 63 (62–70), d1–e2 36

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(39– 42), d2–e1 111 (114–127), d2–d2 202 (200–207), e1–e1 95 (93–105), e2–e2 147 (155–170), e1–e2 45 (43–52), e2–f1 96 (101–105), f1–f1 70 (66–78), f1–h1 25 (30–42), h1–h1 31 (30–33), h1–h2 17 (25–26), f1–h2 20 (25–31), vi/vi–vi 1.48 (1.52–1.93 ), c1/c1–c1 0.67 (0.59–0.72), d1/d1–d10.57 (0.52–0.66), e1/e1–e1 0.60 (0.63–0.69), f1/f1–f11.07 (1.02–1.21), h1/h1–h1 1.77 (1.63–1.87), h2/h2–h2 0.69 (0.60–0.74), h1/h2 1.05 (1.05–1.17), c1–c1:d1–d1:e1–e1:f1–f1 1.12 (1.19–1.29): 1.42 (1.59–1.46): 1.35 (1.34–1.38): 1.0.

FIGURE 1. Cheylostigmaeus gharakhanii sp. nov. ( Female)—Dorsal view of body.

Venter (Fig. 2). Covered with striae except for coxal and anogenital area. Coxisternal shields divided and with 3 pairs of setae (1a, 3a and 4a); measurements of setae: 1a 28 (31–34), 3a 33 (34–35), 4a 23 (28–37). Aggenital shield and anogenital covers each with 3 pairs of setae (ag1–ag3, ps1–ps3). Aggenital setae (ag1–ag3) as long as pseudoanal setae (ps1–ps3); Lengths of setae: ag1 21 (20–24), ag2 23 (22–22), ag3 23 (22–23), ps1 21 (22–25), ps2 22 (22–25), ps3 20 (20–21).

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FIGURE 2. Cheylostigmaeus gharakhanii sp. nov. ( Female)—Ventral view of body.

Legs (Figs. 6–9). Lengths of legs I–IV: leg I 350 (337–375), leg II 255 (258–287), leg III 243 (237–287), leg IV 287 (275–300). Setal formulae of legs I–IV: coxae 2-2-2-2, trochanters 1-1-2-1, femora 6-5-3-2, genua 4-3+κ-1-1, tibiae 5(2)-5(1)-5(1)-5(1), tarsi 13(ω)-9(ω)-7(ω)-7(ω). Femora and genua I with 1 and 2 sheathed dorsal setae respectively, femora and genu I-IV and tibia III–IV bear 1 distinct sheathed setae. Lengths of solenidia: I ω 26 (27–29), II ω 17 (18–20), III ω 12 (10–11), IV ω 7 (6–7).

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FIGURES 3–5. Cheylostigmaeus gharakhanii sp. nov. ( Female)—3. Subcapitulum, 4. Palp, 5. Setae ve and vi.

FIGURES 6–9. Cheylostigmaeus gharakhanii sp. nov. ( Female)—6. Leg I, 7. Leg II, 8. Leg III, 9. Leg IV.

Male (Figs. 10–18). Idiosoma broad oval. Length of body (excluding gnathosoma) 250 (262); (including gnathosoma) 375 (400); width 150 (187).

Dorsum (Fig. 10). Dorsum covered with a smooth, large, almost triangular prodorsal shield; a smooth, opisthosomal shield that is the largest shield of body and a suranal shield. Triangular

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humeral shields bearing setae c2 located ventrolaterally between coxae II and III. Dorsal setae sheathed distally and serrated; prodorsal shield with 4 pairs of setae (vi, ve, sci and sce); eyes present, pob absent. Opisthosomal shield with 6 pairs of setae (c1, d1, d2, e1, e2, f1) and suranal shield with 2 pairs of setae (h1, h2). Length of dorsal body setae as follows: vi 30 (33), ve 47 (48), sci 30 (33), sce 41 (42), c1 35 (33), c2 38 (39), d1 36 (34), d2 39 (34), e1 40 (36), e2 39, f153 (56), h1 26 (24), h2 42 (44). Distances between dorsal setae: vi–vi 28 (38), ve–ve 67 (78), vi–ve 36 (39), sci–sci 102 (109), sce–sce 120 (131), sci–sce 11 (14), ve–sci 27 (28), sce–c2 16 (17), sci–c1 49 (44), c1–c1 53 (62), c1–c2 47 (60), c2–c2 155 (150), c1–d1 39 (44), d1–d1 62 (75), d1–d2 40 (49), d1–e2 28 (31), d2–e1 78 (85), d2–d2 127 (135), e1–e1 57 (65), e1– e2 31 (33), e2–e2 98 (102), e2–f1 88 (60), f1–f147 (54), f1–h1 25 (26), h1–h1 24 (27), h1–h2 16 (17), f1–h2 25 (30), h2–h2 51 (50), vi/vi–vi 1.07 (0.97), c1/c1–c1 0.66 (0.53), d1/d1–d1 0.58 (0.45), e1/e1–e1 0.70 (0.55), f1/f1–f1 1.12 (1.03), h1/h1–h1 1.08 (0.88), h2/h2–h2 0.82 (0.88), h1/h2 0.61 (0.54), c1–c1:d1–d1:e1–e1:f1–f1= 1.12 (1.14): 1.31 (1.38): 1.21 (1.20): 1.0.

FIGURE 10. Cheylostigmaeus gharakhanii sp. nov. ( Male)—Dorsal view of body.

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FIGURE 11. Cheylostigmaeus gharakhanii sp. nov. ( Male)—Ventral view of body.

Gnathosoma. Subcapitulum finely punctate; palpi five-segmented. Palpal chaetotaxy: tarsus with 1 terminal tridentate eupathidium + 1 solenidion + 5 simple setae; tibia with 2 setae; genu with 2 setae; femur with 3 simple setae (Fig. 13). Length of subcapitular setae m 23 (30), setae n 18 (20) and length of adoral setae or1 15 (18), or2 25 (27).

Venter. With 3 pairs of setae, 1 pair on coxisternae I–II (1a) and 2 pairs on coxisternae III–IV (3a and 4a). Length of setae: 1a 22 (21), 3a 21 (22), 4a 20 (21). Anogenital area bearing 3 pairs of aggenital setae and 3 pairs of anal setae (ps1–ps3). Length of anogenital setae: ag1 16 (15), ag2 17 (16), ag3 19 (22), ps1 2 (2), ps2 7 (6), ps3 10 (11), setae ps3 five times as long as setae ps1. Distances of between of anogenital setae ag1–ag1 23 (25), ag2–ag2 33 (37), ag3–ag3 49(56), ps1–ps1 10 (8), ps2–ps2 23 (18), ps3–ps3 25 (22).

Aedeagus (Fig. 14). Calyx of aedeagus is cup-shaped. Bulb of aedeagus is distended and capacious. Two pairs of accessory appendages: unciform appendages (unci. app.) divergent posteriorly, ending in minute, tapered to acutely upturned points. Forcipiform appendages (forci. app.) narrow, spatulate, ends lie close beside tip of retracted aedeagus.

Legs (Fig. 15–18). Lengths of leg I 267 (275), leg II 187 (217), leg III 175 (200), leg IV 222 (200). Setal formula of leg segments (solenidia in parentheses) as follows: coxae 2-2-2-2; trochanters 1-1-2-1; femora 6-5-3-2; genua 4-3+κ-1-1; tibiae 5(2)-5(1)-5(1)-5(1); tarsi 13(2)-9(2)-

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7(2)-7(2). Dorsal setae are thick and serrated; dorsal setae on femora and genu 1 sheathed. Length of solenidia; I ω1 50 (55), I ω2 28 (27), II ω1 36 (47), II ω2 21 (23), III ω1 30 (33), III ω2 10 (9), IVω1 40 (38), IV ω2 6 (5).

FIGURES 12–14. Cheylostigmaeus gharakhanii sp. nov. (Male) – 12. Setae vi. 13. Palp. 14. Aedeagus. Unci. app. = Unciform appendages. Forc. app. = Forcipiform appendages.

Immature stages. Unknown Remarks. Cheylostigmaeus gharakhanii sp. nov. is similar to C. pannonicus Willmann, 1951a in the shape of the aedeagus and by having many afilate setae on the legs. However, it can be distinguished from it by: in C. gharakhanii the dorsal shields are smooth laterally while in C.pannonicus it has dimpling on the anterior parts of the hysterosomal and/or propodosomal plates; in C. gharakhanii setae m are not placed on wing-like flanges while in C. pannonicus setae m are placed on wing-like flanges; C. pannonicus has three sheathed setae on genu I and lacks sheathed setae on tibiae III and IV but the new species has one distinct sheathed seta on genu I and tibiae III–IV. Etymology. The new species is named in honor of Dr. Gholamhossein Gharakhani, the head of Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran. Type materials. Holotype female, 4 paratype females and 2 male allotypes of C. gharakhaniisp. nov. collected from soil in apple orchards, 16 August 2009, Marand, East Azerbaijan province, Iran, by Reza Navaei-Bonab. Also, 1 paratype female collected from soil in apple orchards, 3 August 2009, Maragheh, East Azerbaijan province, Iran, by Hamed Ghorbani. The type materials are preserved as slide mounted specimens. The holotype, three paratypes female and allotype male are deposited in the Acarological Collection, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture,

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University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran. Two other paratypes female will be deposited in the Arachnida Collection of Plant Protection Research Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.

FIGURES 15–18. Cheylostigmaeus gharakhanii sp. nov. (Male) – 15. Leg I, 16. Leg II, 17. Leg III, 18. Leg IV.

Acknowledgements

This project was supported by the research division of the University of Maragheh, Iran, which is greatly appreciated. We also wish to thank Dr. Owen Seeman, of the Queensland Museum, South Brisbane, Australia for checking the manuscript.

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Accepted by Owen Seeman: 6 Sept. 2011; published 14 Oct. 2011

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