Dorsal Shield Research Articles

<p class="Body">A new species of the genus Adamystis Cunliffe (Acari: Trombidiformes: Adamystidae) from Iran, with a key to the world species

A new species, Adamystis saboorii sp. nov. (Trombidiformes: Prostigmata: Adamystidae) is described based on adult females from Maragheh city, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. The new species can be distinguished from other species by the following features: three pairs of adoral setae; chelicera with two setae; idiosoma with reticulated dorsal shield; lateral lens-like structures absent, three pairs of aggenital setae (ag1–3) on divided coxisternal shield and two setae (ag4–5) on a large reticulated shield. Also, an identification key to known species of Adamystis is updated.

FIRST RECORD OF THE PARASITIC COPEPOD, LERNANTHROPUS INDICUS (CRUSTACEA: LERNANTHROPIDAE) ON CARANGOIDES BAJAD FROM THE RED SEA, EGYPT

The present work investigated Lernanthropidae copepod genus Lernanthropus based on adult female specimens removed from the gills of orange spotted travally Carangoides bajad, a commercially important teleost fish species of the Red Sea, Egypt in during the period from April 2015 to March 2016. A total of 82 C. bajad (Local name: Bayad) were examined, 35specimens were identified as Lernanthropus indicus. Lernanthropus indicus is an important pest of economically valuable importance fishes in seawater and, therefore, can cause severe damage to the host tissues. The present work represents the first record for the presence of this parasite in C. bajad fish as a new host in Red Sea water. The presented results were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Female body surface ventrally ornamented with patches of setules and elongated with long egg sacs. Cephalothorax with dorsal shield slightly is narrower anteriorly. SEM showed that the 2nd antenna of Lernanthropus is characteristically prehensile and uncinate and thus provides the main force for the attachment to the host tissue.

FIRST RECORD OF THE PARASITIC COPEPOD, LERNANTHROPUS INDICUS (CRUSTACEA: LERNANTHROPIDAE) ON CARANGOIDES BAJAD FROM THE RED SEA, EGYPT

The present work investigated Lernanthropidae copepod genus Lernanthropus based on adult female specimens removed from the gills of orange spotted travally Carangoides bajad, a commercially important teleost fish species of the Red Sea, Egypt in during the period from April 2015 to March 2016. A total of 82 C. bajad (Local name: Bayad) were examined, 35specimens were identified as Lernanthropus indicus. Lernanthropus indicus is an important pest of economically valuable importance fishes in seawater and, therefore, can cause severe damage to the host tissues. The present work represents the first record for the presence of this parasite in C. bajad fish as a new host in Red Sea water. The presented results were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Female body surface ventrally ornamented with patches of setules and elongated with long egg sacs. Cephalothorax with dorsal shield slightly is narrower anteriorly. SEM showed that the 2nd antenna of Lernanthropus is characteristically prehensile and uncinate and thus provides the main force for the attachment to the host tissue.

Two new feather mite species of the genus Montesauria Oudemans (Analgoidea: Proctophyllodidae) from thrushes (Passeriformes: Turdidae) in the Indian Subcontinent

Two new feather mite species of the genus Montesauria Oudemans, 1905, collected from thrushes (Turdidae) in India, are described: Montesauria hernandesi sp. n. from Turdus dissimilis Blyth, 1847 and M. caerulea sp. n. from Myophonus caeruleus (Scopoli, 1786). Both species belong to the merulae species group, being morphologically closest to other two species of the genus, previously described from birds of the family Turdidae in Asia (Japan): M. sibirica Kuroki, Nagahori and Mironov, 2006 and M. aurea Kuroki, Nagahori and Mironov, 2006, respectively. The new species most clearly differ from those described in Japan by the dorsal shield ornamentation. In both sexes of M. hernandesi sp. n., the ornamentation of the prodorsal and hysteronotal shields is represented by round and ovate lacunae, and the ornamentation of the lobar shield of females has few ovate lacunae. In both sexes of M. caerulea sp. n., the ornamentation of the hysteronotal shield is very particular, with large and almost round lacunae in the anterior half and small ovate lacunae in the posterior half.

A new species of the genus Neocunaxoides (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae) from Vietnam

A new mite species from Vietnam, Neocunaxoides tropicus sp. n. (Acari: Prostigmata, Cunaxidae) is described and figured; it differs from related species Neocunaxoides grandis Corpuz-Raros, 1996 by the elongate basal subcapitular polygonal pattern, four pairs of sts on striated integument between sternal shields and genito-anal region, and from the other similar species Neocunaxoides ornatus Corpuz-Raros & Gruezo, 2007 by the absence of foveolae on dorsal shield, and by different setation on genua and tibiae I–IV. A key to females of the known Neocunaxoides is provided.

Morphometric analysis in different geographical populations of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) associated with Apis mellifera colonies in Iran

Varroa destructor is a major ectoparasitic mite which feeds on the western honey bee, Apis mellifera hemolymph. Morphometric analysis of V. destructor in Iran was performed in order to detect differences within some populations of the species. Totally, 145 female mites were collected from A. mellifera colonies in different geographical regions in Iran and Europe (Spain and France). Eight morphological variables were measured: 1) length of dorsal shield (LDS), 2) width of dorsal shield (WDS), 3) length of genital shield (LGS), 4) width of genital shield (WGS), 5) length of metapodal shield (LMS), 6) width of metapodal shield (WMS), 7) length of anal shield (LAS) and 8) width of the anal shield (WAS). The ratios of LDS/WDS, WDS/LDS, LGS/WGS and LAS/WAS were also calculated. Multivariate analyses demonstrated significant differences in means of body length (LDS) and body width (WDS) between populations. Using principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis with pair group method, five morphological groups were established. PCA analyses were also shown one morphotype, A3, between samples. Collectively, our findings suggest a wide phenotypic plasticity within the populations of Varroa mite in Iran.

A revision of the Heatherellidae (Parasitiformes: Mesostigmata) with a new genus and two new species from Australasia.

The discovery of a new genus of Heatherellidae in New Zealand has led us to revise this enigmatic family and its constituent genera. Aheatherella n. gen., based on A. mira n. sp. from the North Island of New Zealand, lacks some of the derived character states that link the Australian Heatherella, most notably the lack of sexual dimorphism in the dorsal shields and in the presence of peritremes in adult Aheatherella. Heatherella osleri n. sp. is described from New South Wales, extending the distribution of this genus beyond Queensland. New collection records of H. callimaulos and a key to the genera and species of the family are provided. We propose that the Heatherellidae-previously placed in its own cohort outside the Gamasina-are best considered a superfamily of gamasine mites within the subcohort Epicriiae.

Description of the Males of Androlaelaps misionalis and Androlaelaps ulysespardinasi (Acari: Parasitiformes: Laelapidae) Parasitic of Sigmondontine Rodents From Northeastern Argentina.

Laelapinae mites are common ectoparasites of small mammals, mainly sigmodontine rodents, but males are not frequent in natural populations. In this study, the morphology of the unknown males of Androlaelaps misionalis Lareschi, 2010 and Androlaelaps ulysespardinasi Lareschi, 2011 are described. The males of these species differ from the male of Androlaelaps rotundus (da Fonseca, 1936), a close species, because of the size and shape of their dorsal shield and the length of paranal and sternal st1 and st2 setae. The males of A. misionalis and A. ulysespardinasi differ in their size, in the distance of j6 setae in the dorsal shield, length of hypostomal seta hyp3, number of accessory setae in holoventral shield, length of postanal and sternal st3 setae, number of opisthogastric setae in unarmed integument lateral to level of coxae IV, and shape of tip of movable digit in the chelicera.

First record of Fergusonina (Diptera: Fergusoninidae) and associated Fergusobia (Tylenchida: Neotylenchidae) forming galls on Leptospermum (Myrtaceae) in Australia, with descriptions of new species

A new species of fly, Fergusonina madidum Taylor sp.n. (Diptera: Fergusoninidae) from Leptospermum madidum A.R. Bean in far north Queensland and a new species of nematode, Fergusobia leptospermum Davies sp.n. (Tylenchida: Neotylenchidae) from L. laevigatum (Gaertn.) F. Muell. in southern Victoria, Australia are described. These represent the first species of the Fergusonina fly/Fergusobia nematode mutualism to be described from the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae). Fergusonina madidum sp.n. forms lateral and terminal multilocular shoot bud galls enclosed in subterminal leaflets. It can be distinguished from all other species of Fergusonina by the lack of dorsal setae on abdominal segment 7 of the female. Unlike most described species of Fergusonina it also lacks the posterior cross vein m-cu in the wing. It shares this character with F. giblindavisi Taylor and F. thomasi Taylor from flower bud galls on Corymbia, but both these species are large and abdominal segment 7 of females is densely setose. Its larva is unknown but from the morphology of puparia the dorsal shield comprises 3 broad transverse bands comprising lateral rows of raised ridge-like sclerotised spicules. Its associated species of nematode is not known. Fergusobia leptospermum sp.n. is associated with cryptic lateral and terminal usually unilocular shoot bud galls. It is characterised by the combination of an open to tight C-shaped parthenogenetic female having a small ‘a’ ratio, with a short but sturdy stylet, flat anterior end; huge dorsal pharyngeal gland, reproductive system with a relatively long uterus, and a sub-conoid tail with a broadly rounded tip; a C-shaped infective female with an almost hemispherical tail tip which may or may not be ventrally hooked; and an open C-shaped male with angular spicules and peloderan bursa arising near the anterior end, and a relatively long (c’ = 2.2–3.2) sub-conoid tail with a bluntly to broadly rounded tip. Its status as a distinct species is confirmed by molecular analyses. Its associated species of fly is known only from several larvae and a puparium, and remains undescribed. The dorsal shield of this Fergusonina species comprises 7 broad bands, the first six having heavily sclerotised raised ridges and the seventh with a medial field of weak spicules. The widely separated collection localities, together with the large number of species in Leptospermum suggest that the mutualism is likely to be speciose and occupy a broad geographic range on this host.

A new species of cave dwelling Neocarus (Acari: Opilioacaridae) from Bahia state, Brazil, with remarks on taxonomic characters.

Neocarus coronatus n. sp., is described from caves and the surrounding epigean habitats from a karst area of São Desidério county, Bahia state, Brazil. A dissection procedure is presented for the better use of scarce Opilioacaridae material, especially to analyze gut contents. Sexual dimorphism is presented, mainly differences in the density of setae on the dorsal shield in the prominent triangular anterior region. Females have an ovipositor with 3 pairs of smooth digitiform projections and 6-8 eugenital setae. Adults have a palpal tibiotarsus with 4 d setae. Using Low-Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy (LT-SEM), evaluation of the chaetotaxy (especially setal shape) and morphology are greatly improved over standard light microscopy techniques enhancing the interpretation of characters for species differentiation. Also, we discuss the fragility of microinvertebrates in cave habitats.

Integrative taxonomy approach for analysing evolutionary history of the tribe Euseiini Chant & McMurtry (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Phylogenetic relationships within the mite Family Phytoseiidae are little known. The presently accepted classification is based on the opinion of specialists, but not on cladistics analysis. The present paper focuses on the tribe Euseiini, containing 271 species, three subtribes and 10 genera. It aims to determine phylogenetic relationships between these taxa and test their monophyly. Molecular analysis combining six markers has been carried out for taxa we succeeded in collecting. Morphological, biogeographic and ecological data have been analysed to determine how these factors can explain the evolutionary relationships emphasized on the phylogenetic tree. Those analyses have been carried out for the taxa available for the molecular study, but also for all species of the tribe. The tribe Euseiini and the two subtribes considered are monophyletic (at least considering the available taxa), supporting the present hypothesis on Phytoseiidae classification. However, the genus Iphiseius seems to not be valid and its unique species is included in the genus Euseius. Clades that were observed within the genus Euseius do not match with recent work on species groups within this genus. It seems that some morphological features such as an insemination apparatus shape and seta length on the dorsal shield constitute some elements explaining the clusters within the genus Euseius. Biogeographic and ecological data analysis led us to hypothesize a west Gondwanian origin of the tribe Euseiini (Africa and Neotropical areas) on Rosids plants (especially of the Orders Malpiphiales and Fabales: subclass Fabidae). Further analyses are still required to (i) take into account more taxa (especially rare ones and species from the Ethiopian part), (ii) to consider more accurate morphological features through more powerful microscopic apparatus, and (iii) to associate a phylogenetic and evolutionary scenario to life traits (pollen feeders).

Redescription of five known species of Hatschekia Poche, 1902 (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida, Hatschekiidae) parasitic on Japanese tetraodontiform fishes, with discussion on sexually dimorphic features in the genus

Abstract Five known species of Hatschekia Poche, 1902, parasitic on the branchial lamellae of Japanese tetraodontiform fishes, are redescribed. They are H. monacanthi Yamaguti, 1939, H. bibullae Uyeno & Nagasawa, 2010, H. kuroshioensis Uyeno & Nagasawa, 2010, H. ostracii Yamaguti, 1953, and H. legouili Nuñes-Ruivo, 1954. The males of H. bibullae and H. legouili, free-living larval stages of H. bibullae reared from eggs, the copepodid IV female of H. kuroshioensis, and both sexes of copepodids III-V of H. legouili are described for the first time. The antenna, the postantennal process, the length of the caudal ramus, and the ornamentation of the dorsal shield of the cephalothorax, if present, are sexually dimorphic within the genus. By showing these sexually dimorphic features of the male, it is inferred that both sexes of copepodid II-IV and copepodid V male, have attributes of the male.

The first record of the genus Myrmozercon Berlese (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) in the Neotropical region and a description of a new species

A new species of the mite genus Myrmozercon Berlese, 1902, Myrmozercon patagonicus n. sp., is described and illustrated based on adult females collected on ants, Camponotus sp., in Southern Chile (Patagonia). The new species differs from all congeners by the following combination of characters: dorsal shield hypotrichous; dorsal cuticle not hypertrichous; setae st1–st5 present; anal shield with circum-anal setae only; peritremes short; ventral soft cuticle hypertrichous; fixed and movable cheliceral digits edentate; epistome smooth; leg setation not hypotrichous. This new species represents the first Myrmozercon from the Neotropical region. A key to non-Palaearctic species of Myrmozercon is provided.

Systematics of the Coal Measures whip spiders (Arachnida: Amblypygi)

The affinities and status of all known fossil whip spiders (Arachnida: Amblypygi) from the Coal Measures of Europe and North America are revised. Graeophonus carbonarius (Scudder, 1876) from Cape Breton in Canada is based on an isolated insect or arachnid abdomen; and both the species and genus names (GraeophonusScudder, 1890) are regarded here as nomina dubia. A second specimen from Mazon Creek, USA was proposed, without justification, as the holotype of G. carbonarius (Scudder, 1876). In fact, it should be fixed as the holotype of the widely overlooked name G. scudderiPocock, 1911 which is placed here in the genus Weygoldtina gen. nov. and rediagnosed in comparison to the well-preserved European species W. anglica (Pocock, 1911). Both Weygoldtina species belong to the suborder Paleoamblypygi, and the family Weygoldtinidae fam. nov. is proposed to accommodate them. The holotypes of the Mazon Creek fossils Sorellophrynus carbonarius (Petrunkevitch, 1913) and Thelyphrynus elongatusPetrunkevitch, 1913 are currently noted as missing. The original description of S. carbonarius yields sufficient characters to enable a differential diagnosis of the genus, and the shape of the prosomal dorsal shield suggests that this could be the oldest representative of the suborder Euamblypygi. For T. elongatus several key characters needed to compare it to Weygoldtina and Sorellophrynus are equivocal; although the genus could probably be recognised again and is treated here as Amblypygi incertae sedis.

Interrelated chemical-microstructural-nanomechanical variations in the structural units of the cuttlebone of Sepia officinalis

“Cuttlebone,” the internalized shell found in all members of the cephalopod family Sepiidae, is a sophisticated buoyancy device combining high porosity with considerable strength. Using a complementary suite of characterization tools, we identified significant structural, chemical, and mechanical variations across the different structural units of the cuttlebone: the dorsal shield consists of two stiff and hard layers with prismatic mineral organization which encapsulate a more ductile and compliant layer with a lamellar structure, enriched with organic matter. A similar organization is found in the chambers, which are separated by septa, and supported by meandering plates (“pillars”). Like the dorsal shield, septa contain two layers with lamellar and prismatic organization, respectively, which differ significantly in their mechanical properties: layers with prismatic organization are a factor of three stiffer and up to a factor of ten harder than those with lamellar organization. The combination of stiff and hard, and compliant and ductile components may serve to reduce the risk of catastrophic failure, and reflect the role of organic matter for the growth process of the cuttlebone. Mechanically “weaker” units may function as sacrificial structures, ensuring a stepwise failure of the individual chambers in cases of overloading, allowing the animals to retain near-neutral buoyancy even with partially damaged cuttlebones. Our findings have implications for our understanding of the structure-property-function relationship of cuttlebone, and may help to identify novel bioinspired design strategies for light-weight yet high-strength foams.

A review of the macrochelid mites of Turkey (Acari: Macrochelidae), with new records and descriptions of three new species

This study reviews the family Macrochelidae in Turkey, with new information about species diversity. Nothrholaspis scutivagus sp. nov., Macrocheles niksarensis sp. nov. and Holostaspella bidentata sp. nov. are described as new species from Turkey. Nothrholaspis scutivagus has a characteristic dorsal shield chaetotaxy, and post-genital platelets that are sometimes fused to the ventri-anal shield. Macrocheles niksarensis has 29 pairs of pilose dorsal shield setae and a machete-like cheliceral dorsal seta. The genus Holostaspella is recorded from Turkey for the first time, on the basis of H. bidentata. Macrocheles peniculatus and M. insignitus are reported from Turkey for the first time. Also, Macrholaspis recki and M. evansi are presented here with some notes on the Turkish specimens.

A new species of the genus Pachydellus (Acari: Pachylaelapidae) from Giresun Province in Turkey, with some notes on pachylaelapid mites in Turkey

ABSTRACTPachydellus giresunensis sp. nov. was collected from Pinus litter in Giresun Province, Turkey. It is a member of the Pachydellus sculptus species group. The new species differs from other species in the group by its very long dorsal shield setae and the absence of tubercles on femur IV of the male. The fauna of Pachylaelapidae found in Turkey is reviewed, and some new records are added.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E0629819-82EB-46EF-B8A2-005A445E2F4E

Formation and morphogenesis of a cuttlebone's aragonite biomineral structures for the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) on the nanoscale: Revisited

This study describes and examines the structural and morphological properties of the hierarchically organized, aragonite cuttlebone forms for the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis, L.), including its main structural parts, the dorsal shield, and the chambers. Specifically, it complements the mechanism for the self-organized formation of aragonite, identifies the presence, and determines the role of soluble organic matrix (SOM) proteins in the morphogenesis of the cuttlebone’s biomineral structures on the nanoscale. The structure and morphology of the cuttlebone were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and their thermal properties by thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Proteins from the SOM were investigated using two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), nano liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC ESI-MS) and Edman degradation. The results showed that the cuttlebone exhibited several diverse biomineral structures characterized by complex morphologies. Their formation is governed by the organic matrix, particularly proteins, which at the earliest stage of development provide templates for the initial extracellular nucleation of the aragonite nanocrystals. This is followed by a bottom-up morphogenesis, based on the nanoscale oriented aggregation and coalescence of primarily formed aragonite nanograins, which results in the hierarchically organized, nanostructured, aragonite forms. The molecular masses of the most pronounced SOM proteins from the dorsal shield were about 10, 15, 40 and 60kDa, while from the chambers they were 10, 20, 25, 30 and 45kDa. Peptide fragments corresponding to Sep7, Sep8, chitin synthase 1, ficoline-2, polyubiquitin and the ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 32-like protein were detected in the SOM, with these proteins having functional properties related to the biomineralization processes. In general, there are mostly acidic proteins present in alternatively glycosylated forms, which are common attributes of biomineralization-related proteins.

Hemipteroseius vikrami Menon: a junior synonym of H. indicus (Krantz & Khot) (Acari: Otopheidomenidae) with comments on the sigilla of the dorsal shield

Hemipteroseius vikrami Menon, 2011 (Acari: Otopheidomenidae: Treatinae) has been considered a junior synonym of Hemipteroseius indicus (Krantz & Khot, 1962). Both species were described from India from the red cotton bugs Dysdercus koenigii (F.) and Dysdercus cingulatus (F.), the latter is widely distributed in India and some other countries. The sigilla of the podonotum and opisthonotum are also described for the first time in this mite.

A new species of Arctoseius Thor, 1930 (Acari: Ascidae) from taiga regions of the Palaearctic, with a key to Arctoseius species of Fennoscandia, NW Europe.

A new mesostigmatid mite species belonging to the genus Arctoseius Thor, 1930, is described based on material from subarctic coniferous forests, Finland, and Altai highlands, Russia. Arctoseius ambiguus sp. nov. is similar to Arctoseius venustulus (Berlese, 1916), but can be distinguished from the latter by its larger size, wider dorsal shield, weakly sclerotized presternal platelets, pronounced differences in the length of opisthonotal setae, and distinct punctation of the anal shield. A key for 15 Arctoseius species recorded in continental North-Western Europe (Fennoscandia) is given. The Fennoscandian fauna of Arctoseius species is rather specialised. It includes four European temperate species and five cryobiontic (arctic, arcto-montane, arcto-boreo-montane) ones.