Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae - BioOne

Systematic & Applied Acarology 20(3): 263–272 (2015) http://dx.doi.org/10.11158/saa.20.3.4 Article

ISSN 1362-1971 (print) ISSN 2056-6069 (online)

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AE4DD552-8D9C-4D4B-AA07-FB88CFDF85A1

New Zealand Austrophthiracarus (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae): three new species from North Island and offshore islands DONG LIU1 & ZHI-QIANG ZHANG2, 3* 1

Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, P. R. China. Email: [email protected] 2 Landcare Research, 231 Morrin Road, Auckland, New Zealand. Email: [email protected] 3 Centre for Biodiversity & Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand *

Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract In this paper, three new species of Austrophthiracarus (Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) from New Zealand are described: (1) Austrophthiracarus waitere sp. nov. from the Waitere, Hawkes Bay, (2) Austrophthiracarus bah sp. nov. from the Mt. Moehau, Coromandel Peninsula, Hen & Chickens Island, and Lady Alice Island, and (3) Austrophthiracarus kirikiri sp. nov. from the Kirikiri, Saddle, Coromandel Peninsula. An updated key to all known species of Austrophthiracarus in New Zealand is provided. Key words: Soil mites, Oribatida, Phthiracaridae, Austrophthiracarus, new species, New Zealand

Introduction The genus Austrophthiracarus (Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) was proposed by Balogh and Mahunka (1978) with Austrophthiracarus radiatus from Queensland, Australia as the type species. Currently, this genus comprises 113 species (Liu and OConnor 2014; Niedbała and Starý 2014) and most of the species have been found in the Southern Hemisphere. The fauna of Austrophthiracarus species in New Zealand is still poorly known. The first species, Neophthiracarus neotrichus (now placed in Austrophthiracarus) was described by Wallwork (1966). After that, Niedbała (1993, 2000) added three species. Recently, our series of efforts (Liu and Zhang 2013, 2014a, b) increased the total number of New Zealand species of this genus to 10. In this study, we continue focusing on this group and add three new species from New Zealand with detailed descriptions. Also, an updated key to all species of Austrophthiracarus known from New Zealand is provided to facilitate identification.

Material and methods Measurements and descriptions are based on specimens mounted in temporary cavity slides. Observations and illustrations were made using a Nikon microscope equipped with a drawing attachment. Terminology used in this paper generally follows Niedbała (1992, 2000, 2011). The unit of measurement is micrometer (μm).

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Specimen depositories are cited using the following abbreviations: NZAC—New Zealand Arthropod Collection, Landcare Research, Auckland. NIGA—Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China.

Descriptions of new species Austrophthiracarus waitere sp. nov. (Figures 1A–J) Diagnosis Entire surface of idiosoma finely punctate; posterior furrows and lateral carinae absent; sensilla short with rounded head; interlamellar and lamellar setae long, stout and sparsely barbed; rostral setae short and spiniform; exobothridial setae short and fine; 15 pairs of notogastral setae present, dorsal setae longer than laterals, all stout and sparsely barbed; vestigial setae f1 positioned posterior to setae h1; two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present; hle>ss>ro>ex, in–in/ro–ro≈2.4. Notogaster (Fig. 1A). 15 pairs of notogastral setae present, similar in shape as interlamellar setae; setae c1, c2, d1, e1, h1 and ps1 longer than others; setae c2 further away from anterior border than setae c1 and c3, setae c3 closest; vestigial setae f1 positioned posterior to setae h1; two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present. Gnathosoma (Figs. 1F–H). Subcapitulum normal (Fig. 1F); setae h, m and a simple and smooth; setae h shorter than distance between them; adoral seta or1 apparently flat with barbs; or2–3 simple and smooth; palp (Fig. 1G) 4-segmented, with femur and genu fused; palpal setation: 0-2-2-7(1); supracoxal seta simple and smooth; chelicera (Fig. 1H) typical of family. Ano-genital region (Figs. 1A, E). Nine pairs of genital setae (g) arranged with formula: 5(4+1):4; ano-adanal plates each with five setae (ad, an), setae ad1 and ad2 vestigial, setae ad3 short and finely barbed; anal setae rough, straight and longer; comparative length: an1>an2>ad3. Legs (Figs. 1I–J). Setal counts for leg segments: I: 1-4-2(2)-4(1)-17(3); II: 1-3-2(1)-3(1)-12(2), III: 2-2-1(1)-2(1)-10, IV: 2-1-1-2(1)-10; setae d on femora I inserted slightly remote from distal ends of articles; setae a’’ on tarsi I and setae ft’’ on tarsi II straight; setae a’’ on tarsi II curved distally; setae s and pv’ on tarsi IV present; setae s on tarsi I and II present.

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FIGURE 1. Austrophthiracarus waitere sp. nov.: A, lateral view of body (legs removed); B, prodorsum, dorsal view; C, sensillum, dorsal view; D, sensillum, dorsal view (paratype I); E, left side of ventral plate; F, subcapitulum, palpi removed; G, palp, antiaxial view; H, chelicera, antiaxial view; I, tibia IV; J, femur I. Scale bars: A–B, E=100 μm; F–J=50 μm; C–D=25 μm. 2015

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Material examined Holotype: adult (NZAC, in alcohol, 84/73), New Zealand: HB, Waitere, from litter, 21 Oct. 1984, leg. C. F. Butcher and J. Paynter. Paratypes: two adults (NIGA, in alcohol, 84/73), same data as holotype. Type deposition Holotype specimen is deposited in NZAC. Paratypes are deposited in NIGA. Etymology The new specific name is after the type locality; it is used here as a noun in apposition. Remarks This new species is very similar to Austrophthiracarus feideri (Balogh & Csiszár, 1963) from Argentina in sharing following features: similar shape of sensilla and similar length of other prodorsal setae; median crista, posterior furrows and lateral carinae of prodorsum absent; notogaster with 15 pairs of different length of setae; formula of genital setae: 5(4+1):4. However, the new species can be distinguished from the latter by the following characters: 1) entire surface of idiosoma finely punctate (versus surface of prodorsum foveolate in A. feideri); 2) interlamellar and all notogastral setae stout, all sparsely barbed (versus interlamellar setae, all dorsal notogastral setae and setae c2, h2 and ps2 flagellate distally, other notogastral setae densely barbed); 3) setae h2 and ps2 much shorter than dorsal setae (versus similar in length); 4) anal setae not flagellate (versus flagellate); 5) setae ad1 and ad2 vestigial (versus minute).

Austrophthiracarus bah sp. nov. (Figures 2A–I) Diagnosis All surface finely punctate; median crista, posterior furrows and lateral carinae absent; median sigillar field short, narrow and bifurcate distally; sensilla short, spindle-shaped with spinulose head; other prodorsal setae long, stout, and sparsely barbed, except exobothridial setae short and fine; rostral setae located remote from anterior margin of prodorsum; 15 pairs of notogastral setae present, similar in shape with interlamellar setae; only one pair of lyrifissures im present observed; hle>ro>ex>ss, in–in/ro–ro≈2.19. 266


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FIGURE 2. Austrophthiracarus bah sp. nov.: A, lateral view of body (legs removed); B, prodorsum, dorsal view; C, sensillum, dorsal view; D, right side of ventral plate; E, subcapitulum, palpi removed; F, palp, antiaxial view; G, chelicera, antiaxial view; H, femur I; I, tibia IV. Scale bars: A=200 μm; B, D=100 μm; E–I=50 μm; C=25 μm. 2015


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Notogaster (Fig. 2A). 15 pairs of notogastral setae present (c1/c1–d1≈ 0.82), similar in shape with interlamellar setae, dorsal setae longer than laterals, setae ps4 shortest; setae c2 further away from anterior border than setae c1 and c3, setae c3 closest; vestigial setae f1 not observed; only one pair of lyrifissures im present observed. Gnathosoma (Figs. 2E–G). Subcapitulum normal (Fig. 2E); setae h, m and a simple and smooth; setae h shorter than distance between them; adoral seta or1 apparently flat with barbs; or2–3 simple and smooth; palp (Fig. 2F) 4-segmented, with femur and genu fused; palpal setation: 0-2-2-7(1); supracoxal seta simple and smooth; chelicera (Fig. 2G) typical of family. Ano-genital region (Figs. 2A, D). Nine pairs of genital setae (g) arranged with formula: 6(4+2):3; ano-adanal plates each with five setae (ad, an), similar in shape as interlamellar setae; comparative length: ad1=ad2>an1>an2>ad3. Legs (Figs. 2H–I). Setal counts for leg segments: I: 1-4-2(2)-4(1)-17(3); II: 1-3-2(1)-3(1)-12(2), III: 2-2-1(1)-2(1)-10, IV: 2-1-1-2(1)-10; setae d on femora I inserted slightly remote from distal ends of articles; setae a’’ on tarsi I and setae ft’’ on tarsi II straight; setae a’’ on tarsi II straight distally; setae s and pv’ on tarsi IV present; setae s on tarsi I and II present. Material examined Holotype: adult (NZAC, in alcohol, 78/273), New Zealand: CL, Mt. Moehau, 760M, from moss, 7 Nov. 1978, leg. B. A. Holloway. Paratypes: two adults (NIGA, in alcohol, 78/273), same data as holotype; one adult (NZAC, in alcohol, 82/7), New Zealand: ND, Hen & Chickens Is., Lady Alice Is., main ridge above Grave Bay, from litter, 1 Jan. 1982, leg. R. Hay. Type deposition Holotype specimen is deposited in NZAC. Paratypes are deposited in NIGA and NZAC. Etymology The new specific name is a combination of initials of B. A. Holloway, a retired entomologist of NZAC and also the collector of the holotype of this species; it is used here as a noun in apposition. Remarks This new species is distinguishable from all congeners by the following combination of features: median crista, posterior furrows and lateral carinae absent; median sigillar short, narrow and bifurcate distally; sensilla spindle-shaped with spinulose head; other prodorsal setae long, stout, and sparsely barbed, except exobothridial; rostral setae located far away from rostrum; 15 pairs of notogastral setae stout and finely barbed; hle=ro, in–in/ro– ro≈4.04. Notogaster (Fig. 3A). 19 pairs of setae present, short (c1/c1–d1=0.40), spiniform, and sparsely barbed; setae c2 further from anterior border than setae c1 and c3; additional setae present in h and ps series; vestigial setae f1 positioned between setae e2 and h2’; two pairs of lyrifissures ia and im present. Gnathosoma (Figs. 3F–H). Subcapitulum normal (Fig. 3F); setae h, m and a simple and smooth; setae h slightly shorter than distance between them; adoral seta or1 apparently flat with barbs; or2–3 simple and smooth; palp (Fig. 3G) 4-segmented, with femur and genu fused; palpal setation: 0-2-27(1); supracoxal seta simple and smooth; chelicera (Fig. 3H) typical of family. Ano-genital region (Figs. 3A, D–E). Nine pairs of genital setae (g) arranged with formula: 9(4+5):0; ano-adanal plates each with six rough setae (ad, an), similar in shape as notogastral setae; comparative length: ad1=ad2>ad3’>an1=an2>ad3. Legs (Figs. 3I–J). Setal counts for leg segments: I: 1-4-2(2)-4(1)-17(3); II: 1-3-2(1)-3(1)-12(2), III: 2-2-1(1)-2(1)-10, IV: 2-1-1-2(1)-10; setae d on femora I erect, inserted remote from distal ends of articles; setae ft’’ on tarsi II straight; setae a’’ on tarsi I and II curved distally; setae s and pv’ on tarsi IV present; setae s on tarsi I and II present. Material examined Holotype: adult (NZAC, in alcohol, 76/81), New Zealand: CL, Kirikiri Saddle, 488M, from litter, 21 Oct. 1976, leg. J. S. Dugdale. Paratype: one adult (NIGA, in alcohol, 76/81), same data as holotype. Type deposition Holotype specimen is deposited in NZAC. Paratype is deposited in NIGA. Etymology The new specific name is from the type locality and is a noun in apposition. Remarks This new species is similar to Austrophthiracarus pulchellus Niedbała, 1993, Austrophthiracarus strigosus (Niedbała, 1984) and Austrophthiracarus cronadun Liu & Zhang, 2013 in having vestigial interlamellar setae, and formula of genital setae: 9(4+5):0, but the new species can be distinguished from them by the following combination of characters: different shape of sensilla; different arrangement of h and ps series; exobothridial setae vestigial (versus present in A. strigosus and A. cronadun); 19 pairs of notogastral setae present (versus 23 pairs in A. Strigosus, 18 pairs in A. pulchellus); notogastral setae shorter (c11/2c1–d1 in A. cronadun); setae g7 situated anterior to the level of g5 (versus posterior in A. cronadun); setae ad3 and ad3’ thick

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and rigid (versus minute and fine in A. cronadun); setae h of subcapitulum not vestigial (versus vestigial in A. pulchellus); setae v’ of femora I present (versus absent in A. pulchellus).

Key to species of Austrophthiracarus reported from New Zealand 1

Sensilla long, setiform, without distinctly swollen head; posterior part of notogaster with peculiar structure of protuberance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - Sensilla short, club-like or fusiform; posterior part of notogaster without peculiar structure of protuberance ................................................................................... 3 2 Protuberance on notogaster large, rounded and tail-like, with four pairs of setae; formula of genital setae: 9(4+5):0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. hiore Liu & Zhang, 2014 - Protuberance on notogaster much smaller, and irregular in shape, with two pairs of setae; formula of genital setae: 7(4+3):0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. daimonios Niedbała, 2000 3 Notogaster with 15 pairs of setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 - Notogaster with more than 15 pairs of setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 4 Interlamellar and lamellar setae short and fine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. tawhai Liu & Zhang, 2013 - Interlamellar and lamellar setae long and thick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 5 Setae ad1 and ad2 vestigial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. waitere sp. nov. - Setae ad1 and ad2 not vestigial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. bah sp. nov. 6 All notogastral setae minute and fine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. karioi Liu & Zhang, 2014 - All notogastral setae long and thick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 7 20 or more pairs of notogastral setae present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 - 18 or 19 pairs of notogastral setae present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 8 Interlamellar setae more than three times longer than lamellar setae; three pairs of lyrifissures present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. neotrichus (Wallwork, 1966) - Interlamellar setae less than two times longer than lamellar setae; two pairs of lyrifissures present . . . . . 9 9 Exobothridial setae vestigial; 21 pairs of notogastral setae present . . . . A. notoporosus Liu & Zhang, 2014 - Exobothridial setae not vestigial; 20 pairs of notogastral setae present. . . . . A. matuku Liu & Zhang, 2014 10 Interlamellar setae not vestigial; three pairs of lyrifissures present . . . . . . . . . . . . A. aureus Niedbała, 2000 - Interlamellar setae vestigial; two pairs of lyrifissures present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 11 Setae ad3 and ad3’ minute and fine; exobothridial setae not vestigial . . . . .A. cronadun Liu & Zhang, 2013 - Setae ad3 and ad3’ long and thick; exobothridial setae vestigial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 12 18 pairs of notogastral setae present; setae h of subcapitulum vestigial; femora I with three setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. pulchellus Niedbała, 1993 - 19 pairs of notogastral setae present; setae h of subcapitulum not vestigial; femora I with four setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A. kirikiri sp. nov.

Acknowledgements We thank all collectors of specimens reported in this paper. The first author’s work was supported by the Funds for The Excellent Youth Scholars of “NEIGAE, CAS” (DLSYQ2012004), the Knowledge Innovation Programs of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-EW-Z-8), the Major Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China—Fauna Sinica (31493021), the key research program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZZD-EW-TZ-16), the Scientific and Technological Developing Scheme of Jilin Province (No. 20130206073), the State Key Program of National Natural Science of China (Grant No. 41430857), and the National Natural ScienceFoundation of China (Grant No. 31101617). The second author’s research on defining New Zealand mites was supported by Core funding for Crown Research Institutes from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Science and Innovation Group.

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