Syst Parasitol (2008) 70:185–190 DOI 10.1007/s11230-008-9130-1
Ectoparasites of rodents in Southern Africa: a new species of Androlaelaps Berlese, 1903 (Acari: Parasitiformes: Laelapidae) from Rhabdomys pumilio (Sparrman) (Rodentia: Muridae) Sonja Matthee Æ Edward A. Ueckermann
Received: 24 April 2007 / Accepted: 2 September 2007 Ó Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008
Abstract Androlaelaps rhabdomysi n. sp. is described from the pelage of the endemic rodent Rhabdomys pumilio (Sparrman) in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The formal taxonomic description and illustrations are derived from adults (female and male) and deutonymphs. The specimens are similar in appearance to two congeneric species A. dasymys (Radford, 1939) and A. fahrenholzi (Berlese, 1911), but differ in the following features: genital shield long and almost parallel-sided; metapodal shield elongate; and anal shield longer than wide. Furthermore, the pilus dentilis on the fixed cheliceral digit of A. rhabdomysi is a rather broad sausage-shape and slightly constricted medially, whereas in the other two species it has an inflated base and is slender distally.
of this genus occur in the nests or on the bodies of birds and small mammals, particularly rodents. The diversity, prevalence, mean abundance and temporal variation were recorded for the epifaunistic arthropod species on the endemic four-striped mouse Rhabdomys pumilio (Sparrman) in the Western Cape Province of South Africa during October to December for two consecutive years, 2003 and 2004 (Matthee et al., 2007). Three species of Androlaelaps, A. dasymys (Radford, 1939), A. fahrenholzi (Berlese, 1911) and a new species described below were among the mesostigmatid mites collected from this host. The former two species have previously been recorded from R. pumilio, along with A. marshalli Berlese, 1911 (Till, 1963).
Materials and methods Introduction There are 25 species of Androlaelaps Berlese, 1903 in South Africa (Till, 1963; Jordaan, 1988). Members S. Matthee (&) Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa e-mail:
[email protected] E. A. Ueckermann ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Queenswood, Pretoria 0121, South Africa e-mail:
[email protected]
The project was approved and permits were issued by the Ethical Committee of the University of Stellenbosch and the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board, respectively. The specimens that were examined in the present study were collected from the four-striped mouse Rhabdomys pumilio, a small rodent species endemic to southern Africa and the eastern African mountains. Mice were trapped at nine localities within the Cape Floristic Region that falls within the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Mites were removed from the body of the mice using a stereoscopic microscope and forceps, stored in 70%
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ethanol and mounted in Heinze’s PVA prior to identification. The mites were studied under a Zeiss Axioscope Research microscope and measurements, in micrometres, were made using an Olympus Soft Imaging System. For females, the first given measurement is that of the holotype followed by the range in parentheses and the mean and, in the case of the deutonymphs, the range is followed by the mean in parentheses; only one male specimen was found. Morphological notations follow Evans & Till (1979).
Androlaelaps rhabdomysi n. sp. Type-host: Rhabdomys pumilio (Sparrman). Site: Anterodorsal part of body Type-locality: Wellington region of the Western Cape Province, South Africa (33°260 2500 S; 19°030 0200 E). Other locality: Wellington region of the Western Cape Province, South Africa (33°260 5200 S; 19°010 3800 E). The mites were only present at 2 localities that were in close proximity (\2 km) to one another. Infection data: Recorded during February (warm, dry conditions) and June (wet, cold conditions) of 2004 (Table 1). Abundance low, 1–8 mites per host (mean 3). Prevalence also low, only present on 7 mice (5.5% prevalence). Predominantly present on non-breeding male mice (Matthee et al., 2007). Type-material: National Collection of Arachnida, Plant Protection Research Institute, Pretoria South Africa: holotype female, 13 paratype females, 1 paratype male and 3 paratype deutonymphs [accession nos Acy 07/13 (4 females and 3 deutonymphs), 07/14 (1 male and 1 deutonymph), 07/15 (5 females and 1 deutonymph) and 07/16 (2 females)]; Table 1 Life-stages and total number of Androlaelaps rhabdomysi n. sp. individuals recorded from Rhabdomys pumilio in the Western Cape Province during four sampling periods of 2004 Month
No. of mice Deutonymphs Female Male Total examined
February
87
1
8
0
9
June 40 September 17
5 0
6 0
1 0
12 0
November 58
0
0
0
0
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and the Natural History Museum, London, England: 4 females and 1 deutonymph paratypes (registration nos BMNH(E) 2007-107).
Description Female (Figs. 1–7) Measurements. Length of dorsal shield 804 (716–820) 771, width 539 (508–579) 544; Distances: st1–st3 104 (94–108) 99, st2–st2 98 (88–106) 97; width of genital shield 132 (121–135) 128; length of anal shield 150 (142–162) 153, width 122 (106–122) 109; postanal seta 84 (76–96) 83; chelicerae: movable digit 46 (41– 46) 44; fixed digit 32 (32–36) 34; pilus dentilis 21; legs: I 768 (632–768) 714; IV 866 (801–898) 831; setae: j1 64 (61–65) 63; j2 89 (71–89) 79; j3 87 (74–87) 79; j6 45 (41–52) 45; J1 60 (41–60) 53; J5 55 (42–60) 52; z1 58; Z5 98 (95–102) 99. Dorsum (Fig. 1). Dorsal shield reticulate, with 39 pairs of setae and 1–3 Jx setae. All setae smooth except for setae Z5 and some of long anterior and lateral setae. With full compliment of j-J setae. Peritremes terminate anterior to level of setae s1. Venter (Fig. 2) Sternal shield strongly reticulate, with 3 pairs of setae (st1–3) and 2 pairs of slit-like pores; posterior margin and lateral margins concave. Reticulate presternal region anterior to sternal shield. Third pair of sternal pores and metasternal setae (st4) on integument posterior to sternal shield. Genital shield reticulate, almost parallel-sided and convex posteriorly, bearing single pair of setae (st5). Anal shield longer than wide, triangular. Paranal setae 3/4 length of postanal; former situated posterior to middle of anal opening. Anal opening half its length from anterior margin of anal shield. Opisthogaster cuticle surrounding anal shield and posterior third of genital shield with 14 pairs of setae, 8 pairs of small pore bearing platelets, single pair of elongate metapodal shields (length 9 times width) and 2 elongate platelets adjacent to posterior third of genital shield. Gnathosoma (Figs. 3–5) Hypognathal groove with 6 rows of 2 teeth each, plus anterior row with 3 teeth. Hypostomal process normal (Fig. 5), movable, with 2 teeth and fixed cheliceral digit with 3 prominent teeth (Fig. 3). Pilus dentilis rather stout, sausage-like, with slight constriction medially and slightly swollen proximally. Anterior margin of tectum subtriangular (Fig. 4).
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Figs. 1–5 Androlaelaps rhabdomysi n. sp., female 1. Dorsal view. 2. Ventral view. 3. Chelicera with pilus dentilis. 4. Venter of gnathosoma. 5. Labum of hypostome
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Figs. 6–10 Androlaelaps rhabdomysi n. sp. 6. Ventral view of femur II of female. 7. Socket of coxa IV of female with median attachment to coax. 8. Ventral view of male. 9. Spermatodactyl of male. 10. Ventral view of deutonymph
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Legs (Figs. 6–7). Setae on venter of femur II normal (Fig. 6). Leg chaetotaxy: tarsus I with 18 setae and c.10 solenidia; tarsi II–IV each with 18 setae; tibia I 2–3/2, 3/1–2; tibia II 2–2/1,2/1–2; tibia III 2–2/1,2/1– 1; tibia IV 2–2/1,2/1–2; genu I 2–3/2,3/1–2; genu II 2–3/1,2/1–2; genu III 2–2/1,2/1–1; genu IV 2–2/1,3/ 0–2; femur I 2–3/2,2/2–2; femur II 2–3/2,2/1–1; femur III 1–2/1,1/0–1; femur IV with 6 setae; trochanter I with 6 setae; trochanters II-IV with 5 setae each; coxae I-III with 2 setae each; coxa IV with 1 seta. Anterior seta on coxa I 5/6 length of posterior seta. Coxae IV each with ssingle process medially, most probably attachments for fragile spermatheca (Fig. 7). Trochanter IV with stout dorsal seta. Male (Figs. 8–9) Measurements. Length of dorsal shield 563, width 371; width at broadest part of holoventral shield 205; length of postanal setae 52; legs: I 581; IV 691; length of spermatodactyl 87; setae: j1 46; j2 67; j3 77; j6 66; J1 62; J5 48; z1 44; Z5 80. Dorsum similar to that of female. Intercoxal region covered with reticulate holoventral shield (Fig. 8); genital opening on anterior margin of shield. Anterior to this shield at base of tritosternum is reticulate presternal shield. Posterior triangular part (opisthogaster) of shield with 5 pairs of setae and 3 circumanal setae. This part is flanked by 2 metapodal shields and about 4 pairs of setae exclusive of marginal setae. Spermatodactyl long and curved distally in form of shepherd’s crook (Fig. 9). Fixed and movable digits of chelicerae slender. Only leg II with few spine-like setae ventrally. Deutonymph (Fig. 10) Measurements. Length of dorsal shield 520–615 (568), width 332–388 (360); length of postanal setae 49–63 (56); length of anal shield 98–107 (103), width 77–85 (81); chelicerae: movable digit 30; fixed digit 24; legs: I 523–566 (545); IV 579–636 (608); setae: j1 36–41 (39); j2 54–57 (56); j3 65–68 (67); j6 41; J1 42–45 (44); J5 32–38 (35); z1 25–30 (28); Z5 65–84 (75). Dorsal shield similar to that of female. Sternal shield reticulate, tapers posteriorly, with 4 pairs of setae and 2 pairs of pores (Fig. 10). Setae st5 on integument lateral to posterior end of shield. Opisthogaster with 9 pairs of setae, 2 metapodal shields and reticulate anal shield.
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Diagnosis The following characters distinguish this species: sternal shield strongly and completely reticulated; genital shield long, almost parallel-sided; anal shield longer than wide, metapodal shield elongate; and pilus dentilis rather broad, sausage-like but slightly constricted medially. The parallel-sided genital shield (with posterior margin rounded) in combination with an elongate metapodal shield is unique among the species of Androlaelaps.
Discussion Androlaelaps rhabdomysi n. sp. resembles A. dasymys (Radford, 1939) and A. fahrenholzi (Berlese, 1911) in general appearance and was also collected from the same host as the latter two species in the Western Cape Province. However, it differs from both species in that: (1) the genital shield is long and almost parallel-sided; (2) the metapodal shield is elongate (length nine times the width), whereas that of A. dasymys and A. fahrenholzi is oval to elongate-oval; and (3) the anal shield is longer than wide, whereas that of A. dasymys and A. fahrenholzi is wider or as wide as long. The pilus dentilis on the fixed cheliceral digit the new species is a rather broad sausage-shape and slightly constricted medially, whereas in the other two species it has an inflated base and is slender distally. In the key of Till (1963), A. rhabdomysi keys out to A. zumpti Till, 1963, but differs from the latter in that the setae of the arthrodial membrane of the chelicerae are almost equally long and lack one exceptionally long seta, the genital shield is rounded posteriorly and not tapered, and 1–3 Jx setae are present (absent in A. zumpti). Acknowledgements We wish to thank Western Cape Nature Conservation for permits and assistance with fieldwork and also private landowners and managers for their involvement in the project. We are grateful to M. van Rooyen, P. le Roux, C. Boonzaaier and C. Matthee for field and technical assistance. The project was funded by the National Research Foundation (a fellowship to SM), the University of Stellenbosch and BIOTA southern Africa. We also wish to convey our greatest thanks and appreciation to Prof. Frank Radovsky of the Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA, for his critical review of an early draft.
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References Evans, G. O., & Till, W. M. (1979). Mesostigmatic mites of Britain and Ireland (Chelicerata: Acari-Parasitiformes). An introduction to their external morphology and classification. Transactions of the Zoology Society of London, 35, 139–270. Jordaan, L. C. (1988). Redescription of Androlaelaps paracasalis (Ryke) (Acari: Laelapidae) and a new species, Androlaelaps kathuensis, from South Africa. Phytophylactica, 20, 129–132.
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Syst Parasitol (2008) 70:185–190 Matthee, S., Horak, I. G., Beaucournu, J.-C., Durden, L. A., Ueckermann, E. A., & McGeoch, M. A. (2007). Epifaunistic arthropod parasites of the four-striped mouse, Rhabdomys pumilio, in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Journal of Parasitology, 93, 147–159. Till, W. M. (1963). Ethiopian mites of the genus Androlaelaps Berlese s. lat. (Acari: Mesostigmata). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Zoology, 10, 1–104.
