217

SOUTH AFRICAN MITES OF THE SUPERFAMILY UROPODOIDEA (ACARINA)

BY

P. A. J. RYKE

Department of Zoology, Potchefstroom University for C.H.E., Potchefstroom [Communicated by Dr. G . OWEN EvANs-Accepted 8th October 19571

(With 29 figures in the text)

CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trkhouropoda munroi sp. n. . . . . . . . . . . Urodiseella potchefstroomensis sp. n. . . . . . . . . Fuscuropoda uq&na (de Geer) . . . . . . . . . . References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Metagynella africanu sp. n. . . . . . . . . . .

Uroobwella (Urociclellu) browningi sp. n.

Prcdinychw ortlerppi sp. n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Page 217 217 219 223 225 227 228 230

WTRODUCTION

The only uropodid mi te known from South Africa is Urodinyehus pictm Berlese 1916. In the present paper descriptions are given of six species, five of which are new to science. The author wishes to record his gratitude towards Dr. G. 0. Evans of the Dept. of Zoology, British Museum (Nat. Hist.) for many helpful suggestions. The type material of the new species described is deposited in the collection of the Department of Zoology, Potchefstroom University, Union of South Africa.

Fam. METAGYNURIDAE Balogh METAGYNEI.,LA AFRICANA 8p.n.

The genus Metagynella was defined by Berlese (1919) and placed in the family Uropodidae. In 1943 Balogh described Metagynura carpathim, pro- posing a new genus and family for its reception. The genus Metagynura is a synonym of Metagynella and carpathim is probably synonymous with Metagy- nella paradoxa, Berl. Camin (1953) described a new species, Metagynella parvula, found in samples from tree-holes in Illinois. Because of the unique position of the female genital aperture in Metagpella, this author, being unaware of Balogh’s paper, proposed the family Metagynellidae for the genus. Metagynellidae must therefore be considered a synonym of Metagynuridae. The new species collected by me is, in most respects, similar to both panncla and paradoxa.

Female :- Dimensions : Length, 390 p ; breadth, 253 p.

P.Z.S.L.-130 15

218 P. A. J. RYEE

Dorsum (Fig. 1). The majority of the setae on the dorsum are simple and Exceptions are those on the hood which are short and slightly

These represent the first pair of dorsals, the first pair of laterals As in M . parvulu the posterior

filamentous. spine-like. and the first and second pairs of marginah. pair of dorsal setae are strong and, in this case, slightly pectinated.

Fig. Figs. 1-6.-Metagynella afrieo.0 sp. n.

1, dorsum 9 ; fig. 2. venter 9 ; fig. 3, hypostome 9 ; fig. 4, chelicera 9 ; fig. 5, tectum fig. 6, venter phoretic deutonymph.

SOUTH AFRICAN UROPODID MITES 219

Venter (Fig. 2). The “sternal” shield is provided with four pairs of setae and three pairs of pores. According to Camin, sternal setae I1 am absent. The first pair of pores are elongated and slit-like whereas the other two pairs are small, round and closely associated with setae IV and V. The constriction of the sternal shield is not as prominent as in M . parvulu. The ventro-anal shield bears seven pairs of setae, including the para-anals. The exopodal plate between coxae I11 and IV is narrow, approaching the condition in M. prvuh but differing from M . paradoxa. The peritremes and stigmata are shaped as shown in the figure. The tritosternum has a small base and a single slender lacina. The narrow marginal shield is provided with simple setae as illustrated in Fig. 2. An unpaired seta in the middle of this band, behind the anal aperture, might be homologous to the post-anal of certain other uropodoida.

The anterior pair of hypostomal setae are transformed into strong spines. The palp trochanter is provided with a strong seta which is pectinated in the proximal part. The other seta on the trochanter is in the form of a small spine. The specialised seta on the palp tarsus is two-pronged. Both the digits of the chelicera are unidentate (Fig. 4). The tectum has a long, slender, pectinated medial portion and a base with a serrate margin as shown in Fig. 5.

Tarsus I without ambulacral apparatus but provided with four to five sac-like setae, a long terminal seta and other setae of varying lengths. Claws, pulvilli and praetarsi well-developed on legs 11-IV. Setaa on legs simple except the short spine-like setae on tarsi 11-IV.

Phoretic Deutonymph (Fig. 6) :

Gnathosoma (Fig. 3). Basically the same as M. parvula.

Legs.

Dimensions : Length, 320 p ; breadth, 220 p. The dorsum is basically the same aa in the adults. The sternd shield bean,

five pairs of setae and three pairs of pores. As in M. parvula, a pair of setae is situated between the ventral and sterna1 shields. A large medially situated plate, four pairs of small plates and an anal plate are superimposed on the ventro-anal shield. A small post-anal seta is present. The medial ventral plate and the small platelets are all provided with small setae. A row of small platelets, each provided with a seta, occur on the margin of the venter. The gnathosoma and legs are basically the same as the female. Judging from the figure, the deutonymph described by Camin is a phoretic deutonymph.

Locality : A holotype female, five paratype females and one morphotype deutonymph in decaying organic matter in sheep fold, Agricultural College, Potchefstroom, July 1952.

Two paisa of setae are situated on the anal valves.

Fam. UROPODIDAE Berlese. TRICHOUROPODA MUNROI sp.n.

The adults of this genus can readily be recognised by the presence of two pairs of very long setae at the posterior margin of the body. Triehourqoda is known only from the type species, T. longisefa (Berlese) 1888. In 1916 Berlese proposed a new subgenus, Tn’chouro(poda, for Uropoda i!onqk& and

15*

220 P. A. J. RYKE

Figs. 7-ll.-Triehouropoda munroi sp. n., female. Fig. 7 dorsum ; fig. 8, venter ; fig. 9, peritreme ; fig. 10, hypostome ; fig. 11, tectum.

SOUTH AFRICAN UROPODID MITES 221

referred to the two pairs of long whip-like setae as the diagnostic characteristic. Vitzthum (1920, 1923) gave detailed descriptions of the adults and develop- mental stages of this species. In his paper of 1920, this author described the deutonymph of T . longiseta as a new species, Uropoda bipilis, because i t had only one pair of long setae. A second species of this genus wits sent to the present author by Dr. H. K. Munro of the Department of Agriculture, Pretoria. The genus can now be redefined as follows : Two pairs of long, whip-like setae a t posterior margin of venter ; genital shield of female tapering anteriorly and reaching bases of coxae I ; anterior hypostomal setae transformed into broad spine-like structures resembling corniculi in male and female ; developmental stages with only one pair of long whip-like setae postero-ventrally. Trichouro- poda is now generally regarded as a distinct genus.

Female : Dimensions : Length, 880 p ; breadth, 693 p. Dorsum. The chaetotaxy of the dorsum is illustrated in Fig. 7. A striking

difference between the new species and T . longiseta is the well-developed and relatively long vertical setae of t.he former. The other setae are short and simple. The dorsal plate does not cover the entire dorsum. The vertical setae are situated on a sclerotized vertex shield. Between the Iatter and the dorsal shield is a weakly-sclerotized portion bearing four pairs of setae.

The genital plate reaches anteriorly to the base of the tritosternum. The narrow anterior projection of the shield is flanked by two heavily sclerotized ridges. The chaetotaxy of the venter is shown in Fig. 8. A striking feature of the ventral chaetotaxy is the presence of four long, whip-like setae a t the posterior margin. The internal pair are longer (5.50~) than the externals ( 4 1 8 ~ ) . The other setae are short and simple with the exception of the strongly-developed para- anals. The stigma is situated between coxae I1 and 111. The shape of the peritreme is shown in Fig. 9.

Neither Berlese nor Vitzthum studied the hypo- stome of longiseta. In munroi the hypostomal setae are well-developed. Setae 4 are barbed and shorter than the others. Setae 2 and 3 are simple, the former pair being the longest. The first pair of hypostomal setae are transformed into a pair of slender corniculi-like structures. Each is provided with a large setule. On the medial side of setae 1 the hypostome has two long, anteriorly directed projections. The inconspicuous corniculi are situated on the lateral side of setae 1. Judging from Vitzthum’s figures similar conditions obtain in T. longiseta. The trochanter of the pedipalp bears two strongly- developed barbed setae. The specialized seta on the palp tarsus is two- pronged. The entire margin is strongly serrate, with long denticles in its distal half.

Legs. The setae ape simple. As in longiseta the femurs of the legs are each provided with a longitudinal crest.

Venter (Fig. 8) .

Sternal seta I is situated on the ridge.

The tritosternum has a single pilose lacina.

Gnathosmm (Fig. 10).

The tectum (Fig. 11) tapers to a sharp point anteriorly.

All the legs provided with ambulacral apparatus.

222 P. A. J. RYEE

Male : Dimensions : Length, 792 p ; breadth, 627 p. The chaetotactic pattern of the dorsum is basically the same aa that of the

female. The four long whip-like setae have relatively the aame length as those of the female (internals,

The chaetotaxy of the venter is illustrated in Fig. 12.

13

Pigs. 12-15.-Trichouropoda niunroi sp. n. Fig. 12, venter d ; fig. 13, hypostome J ; fig. 14, venter phoretic deutonymph ; fig. 15, chelicera

deutonymph.

SOUTH AFRICAN UROPODID MITES 223

500 p ; externals, 330 p). The male genital aperture is situated at a level with the posterior margins of coxae 111.

The gnathosoma is similar to that of the female with the exception of hypostomal setae 1 and 3 and the corniculi (Fig. 13). Seta 1 has the appear- ance of a bifurcated corniculus. Seta 3 has also joined the collection of anteriorly directed projections as illustrated in the figure. The corniculi are much larger than those of the female. Setae 2 and 4 are similar to those of the female. The tarsi of legs 11-IV are provided with small spurs distally. Other characters of the legs aa in female.

Phoretic Deutonymph : Dimensions : Length, 594 p ; breadth, 425 p.

The venter of the deutonymph is illustrated in Fig. 14. The stsmiti- metasterniti-genital shield is provided with five pairs of setae. A conspicuous, slightly curved, transverse slit occurs immediately posterior to setae I. The ventro-anal shield bears seven pairs of setae. The two pairs of set= associated with the anal aperture suggests a phoretic habit during this stage. The convolutions of the peritreme differ from those of the adults. The length of the single pair of long, whip-like setan: is approximately 420 p. The vertical setae are relatively short. The chelicerae are shown in Fig. 15.

Trichourqoda munroi can readily be distinguished from longiseta by the following characterietics : Long vertical setae ; sclerotizod ridges on sternal shield ; chaetotaxy of dorsum and venter ; two pairs of long, whip-like aetm not equal in length ; deutonymph with transverse slit on sternal shield.

Holotypc female, allotype male, morphotype deutonymph and paratypes of adults and nymph ; in hothouse, Pretoria. Collector : E. Lochner Dept. of Agriculture No. AcP.5116.

Locality.

URODISCELLA POTCHEFGTROOMENSIS sp. n. The genus Urodiscellu was proposed by Berlese (1903) for U . ricasoliana,

U . alophora and L'. phibctena. These species and the other known species of the genus are myrmecophilous. The new species was collected from a decaying straw-heap and may also have been associated with ants.

Female : Dimensions : Length, 625 p ; breadth, 525 p.

Dorsum (Fig. 16). The setae on the dorsal shield are lanceolate (Fig. 17) and are all of approximately equal length. The row of marginal setae are simple. The chaatotaxy of the dorsum is illustrated in the figure.

As shown in the figure the setae on the venter are short and simple. The first pair of setae are situated well behind the anterior margin of the sternal shield. In the holotype female the part of the shield between the endopodal shields and the perigenital shield is provided with six setae on the left and five on the right side. The genital shield is rounded anteriorly and reaches to the posterior margin of coxa 11. It is devoid of any setae. The anterior part of the perigenital shield bears two pairs and the

The body is almost circular and without a hood anteriorly.

Venter (Fig. 18).

224 P. A. J. RYKE

posterior part one pair of setae. of pores. to the para-nnals and post-anal seta.

The latter pair are accompanied by a pair The ventro-anal shield is provided with five pairs of setae in addition

The para-anal setae are situated behind

a

Figs. 16-21.-lJrodiacella potchefstroomensia sp. n., female.

hypostomo ; fig. 21, t e c t u m . Fig. 16, dorsum ; fig. 17, seta on dorsal shield ; fig. 18, venter ; fig. 19, trotosternum ; fig. 20,

SOUTH AFRICAN UROPODID MITES 22 6

the posterior margin of the anal opening. exopodal shields are shaped as shown in the figure. in a line with the hind margin of coxa 11. carrot-shaped. all of approximately the same length.

The two posterior pairs are pectinated. anteriorly. and project far forwards. fringed distal portion.

the legs each with a conspicuous crest. All the legs of approximately equal thickness.

August 1952.

The leg grooves, peritreme and The stigma is situated

The tritosternum (Fig. 19) is The base, stem and each of the three pectinated lacinae are

Gnathosoma. The hypostome (Fig. 20) bears the usual four pairs of setae. The internal malae are fringed

The two salivary styli are very long The tectum (Fig. 21) has a denticulate base and a

Femurs of Ambulacral apparatus well. developed.

Some of the setae are spine-Iike. Holotype female from decaying straw heap, Potchefstroom,

The corniculi are small.

Legs. Coxa I provided with a spur-like lateral protuberance.

Locality.

UROOBOVELLA (UROCICLELLA) BROWNING1 sp. n. The subgenus Urociclella Berlese 1913 can readily be distinguished from

UrooboveEla sens. str. by the absence of a transverse suture anterior to the anal opening in the former. In Urocicklh the suture is only developed on the ventro-lateral portion posterior to the groove for leg 1%'. Metapodal lines am absent in this genus. Urociclelk contains the species U. ( U . ) parvub Berl. 1913 and U . ( U . ) parwuh nostras Berl. 1919.

Female : Dimensions : Length, 418 p ; breadth, 352 p. Dorsum (Fig. 22) . Covered by short simple setae. Most of the setae on

the dorsal shield are accompanied by a small pore. The hood bears a pair of vertical setae which are of approximately the same length as the other dorsal setae. The distribution of the setae is shown in the figure.

The genital shield is rounded anteriorly and extends to the bases of coxae I. It is surrounded by six pairs of short simple setae. Sternal setae I are situated near the anterior margin of the sternal shield. Behind the genital shield is a pair of slit-like pores. The ventro-anal shield is provided with ten pairs of setae excluding the pair of minute para-anals and the post-anal seta. The form of the leg-grooves, exopodal plates and the peritreme are shown in Fig. 23. The tritosternum (Fig. 24) has a relatively large base, a short stem and four free lacincte. The lacinae arise from the main trunk in pairs.

Gnuthosoma. The hypostome (Fig. 25) bears four pairs of setae of which the posterior three pairs are serrated. The second pair is relatively short and stout. The corniculi are normal. The internal malae are provided with a fringe anteriorly. The trochanter of the palp bears a long and a short serrated seta.

The tarsus of leg I (Fig. 27) is provided with a long, slender praetar- sus. The long terminal seta haa approximately the same length aa the tarsus.

The first pair of marginal setae are minute.

Venter (Fig. 23) . The posterior margin of the shield is truncate.

The tectum (Fig. 26) is produced into a long denticulate process. Legs.

226 P. A. J. RYRE

The distal portion of the tarsus also bears a conspicuously twirled seta. median lobe of the pulvilli of legs 11-IV is acutely pointed (Fig. 28). occur on the femurs of all legs.

The Crests

U Figs. 22-28.-Uroobovella ( Urociclella) browningi sp. n., female.

fig. 27, tarsus I ; fig. 28, arnbulaortrl apparatus tanus 11. Fig. 22, dorsum ; fig. 23, venter ; fig. 24, tritosternum ; fig. 25, hypostome ; fig. 26 tectrlm ;

SOUTH AFRICAN UROPODID MITES 227

Male (Fig. 29) : Dimensions : The same as that of the female. The male is essentially similar to the female. The genital opening is situated

The in the middle of the holoventral shield in a line with coxae 111 and IV.

29

Figs. 29-3O.-Uroo6owella ( UroCiClella) braonkngi sp. n. Fig. 29, venter ; fig. 30, venter phorotic deutonymph.

intercoxal region bears seven pairs of setae. As in the female the ventro-anal part of the shield is provided with ten pairs in addition to the para-anals and post-anal sets. The male is unarmed. Phoretic Deutonymph (Fig. 30) :

A phoretic habit is suggested by the two pairs of setm on the anal valves and the large anal opening. The sternal shield bears nine pairs of setae. Five of these pairs are situated submarginally. Antero-lateral to setae I are a pair of slit-like pores and antero-medial to setae VIII a pair of round pores. The ventro-anal plate is provided with six pairs of setae in addition to those mentioned above. The shield is flanked by a pair of small platelets. The peritreme reaches further forward than in the adults.

Holotype female, allotype male, morphotype deutonymph and paratypes of all the Werent forms from decaying straw heap, Yotchefstroom, August 1952.

FUSCUROPODA VEQETANS (de Geer).

Loculity.

Syn : Fmcuropoda marginuta (Koch) Vitzthum. Fuscuropoda vegetans can readily be recognised by the vertical setae being

crossed (Fig. 31). This is the first record of this widely distributed species in South Africa.

The tritosternum (Fig. 32) haa a pilose trunk and three smooth lacinae. The tectum (Big. 33) is produced into a long, slender denticulate process which

228 P. A. J. RYKE

splits anteriorly into three pilose branches. The hypostome {Fig. 34) is provided with four pairs of pectinated setae. The cornicdi are normal. The internal malae are fringed antero-laterally and the distal end of each is three- pronged. In the maIe (Fig. 34), the anterior part of the hypostome bears a pair of thick processes. These projections are absent in the female.

32

Figs. 31-34 . -F~uropodu vegetuns (de Geer). Fig. 31, hood 9 ; fig. 32, tritosternum 9 ; fig. 33, tectum 3 ; fig. 34, hypostome 8.

Localities. This species was found associated with Polyaspis potchef- stroomi Ryke in soil with decaying dahlia bulbs, Potchefstroom, August 1956. At Rosebank, the species was collected in 1926 by R. W. Tucker from stored artichokes. The latter material was sent to the present author by Dr. H. K. Munro.

Fam. PRODINYCHIDAE Berlese PRODINYCHUS ORTLEPPI sp. n.

The Prodinychidae are characterized by the absence of the leg-grooves. The chief contributors to our knowledge of this family are Berlese, TragBrdh (19.23) and SeUnick (1945). In the genus Prodinychus the posterior region of the dorsal shield is without a transverse row of strong pectinated setae, the marginal shield is reduced posteriorly and behind the dorsal shield the scutellae are provided with simple setae. The separation of the species is based chiefly on the shape of the peritreme. Only the male and deutonymph of a new species were found.

Male : Dimensions : Length, 638 p ; breadth, 385 p.

Dorsum (Fig. 35). The hood bears a pair of short simple vertical setae. All the setae on the dorsum are simple except the posterior pair which are slightly pectinated. The marginal shield overlaps the lateral border of the dorsal shield. The former is reduced anteriorly and posteriorly. Three pairs

SOUTH AFRICAN VROPODID MITES 229

of scutella, each provided with a seta, occur behind the dorsal shield. chaetotaxy is illustrated in Fig. 35.

The

Figs. 35-39.-Prodinychua mtleppi sp. n. Fig. 36, doraum d ; fig. 36, venter 8 ; fig. 37, hypostome 8 ; fig. 38, tectum ; fig. 39, venter o f

deutonymph.

230 SOI'TR AFRICAN UROPODID MITES

Tenter (Fig. 36). The holoventral shield bears Hteen pairs of simple setae on the left and sixteen pairs on the right side, distributed as shown in the figure. The genital opening is surrounded by two semicircular sclerotiza- tions. The stigma is situated in a line immediately anterior to the front margin of coxa 111. The tritosternum is carrot-shaped with two pectinated lacinae.

Gnathosoma. The hypostome (Fig. 37) is provided with four pairs of prominent setae. The anterior pair are long and smooth. The other three pairs are comb-like. The corniculi are relatively small. The lateral margins of the internal malae are provided with long sharp denticles. The tectum (Fig. 38) is elongate and denticulate.

Legs. Well-developed ambulacral apparatus on all legs. Terminal seta on leg I slightly longer than the tarsus. One of the setae on the femur of leg I1 is spine-like.

Deutonymph (Fig. 39) :

The shape of the peritreme is shown in Fig. 36.

The distal tips of the posterior pair are bifurcate.

The salivary styli arc long.

Dimensions : Length, 528p ; breadth, 330 p.

The sternal shield is provided with eight pairs of setae and two pairs of pores. The ventro-anal shield typically bears eight pairs of simple setae. This is the cme in all the known deutonymphs of the Prodinychidae. The pair of setae in the centre of the shield are longer than the others. The shape of the peritreme is basically the same as that of the male. Thc endopodal, exopodal and peritrematal plates are fused except for an incision antero- lateral to coxa IV.

Locality. Holotype male, morphotype deutonymph and a paratype deutonymph from decaying straw heap, Potchefstroom, August 1952.

REFERENCES

BALOOH, J. (1943). Metagynura carpathica Ron. nov. spec. nov. (Acari, Uropodiria) e Carpathiis

BERLESE, A. (1888). BERLESE, A. (1903). Acari minnerofili. Rediu I, 299474. BERLESE, A. (1913). Xcari nuovi. Rediu 9, 77-111. BERLESE, A. (1916). CAMTN, J. IT. (1953).

Meridionalibus. Fragm. Fatcn. Hung. 6, 2, 33-35. Acari austro-americani. Boll. SOC. Ent. Ital. 20, 171-222.

Centuria seconda di Acari nuovi. Motagynellidtte, a new family of uropodine mite, with the description of

Bull. Chicago A d . Sci. 9.

Rdio 12, 1255177.

Melagynellu pan(cda, a new species from tree holes. 391-409.

SELLNICK, M. (1945). Alto und neue Milbenarten. Acari. B1. Milbenk. No. 6, 42-49. THROARDH, I. (1943). T ~ K & K J H , I. (1944). TROUESSART, E. & BERLESE, A. (1919). VITZTHUM, H. G . (1920). Acarologische Beobachtungen. 4. Reihe. Arch. Xuturgesch. 86 A,

VITZTEUM, H. G . (1923). Acsrologische Boobachtungen. 7. Reihe. Arch. Naturgeach. 89 A,

Zur Kenntnie der Prodinychidae (Acarina). Zur Systematik der Uropodidon.

Ark. Zool. 34A, 21, 1-29. Enl. Tidskr. 65, 173-186.

Generi nuovi di Acnri. Redh 14, 4.

10, 1-69.

2, 97-181.