Leipothrix polygalae (Farkas, 1968) n ...

Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 48 (1), pp. 143–148 (2013) DOI: 10.1556/APhyt.48.2013.1.13

Redescription of Leipothrix polygalae (Farkas, 1968) n. comb. from Hungary (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea) G. Ripka National Food Chain Safety Office, Directorate of Plant Protection, Soil Conservation and Agri-environment, Department of Pest Management Development and Coordination, H-1118 Budapest, Budaörsi út 141–145, Hungary (Received: 30 May 2012; accepted: 11 June 2012) Leipothrix polygalae (Farkas, 1968) n. comb. is redescribed and illustrated. It was collected from Polygala amara subsp. brachyptera (Fam. Polygalaceae) in Hungary. Keywords: Eriophyidae, new taxa, Leipothrix, bitter milkwort, Hungary.

On milkwort species (Polygala spp.) a total of three eriophyoid mites are known (Davis et al., 1982; Amrine and Stasny, 1994, 1996). Two of them were found in Europe, viz. Aceria brevirostris (Nalepa) and Phyllocoptes polygalae Farkas described from Polygala amara and Polygala vulgaris, respectively. Aceria polygalae Mohanasundaram was reported from Polygala chinensis in India. No eriophyoid species is reported from milkwort species in Hungary. No Leipothrix species is known in the Hungarian eriophyoid fauna.

Materials and Methods As part of ongoing research into the biodiversity of plant-inhabiting mite fauna in the last two decades, a survey was also made on bitter milkwort (Polygala amara subsp. brachyptera). A plant sample of bitter milkwort was collected in plastic bag on 11 May 2011 in Pilisszentiván (Central Hungary). The plant material was examined with a binocular stereomicroscope (upper and lower surfaces of the leaves, petioles, stems, buds, inflorescences, etc.). The mites found on the plant sample were put directly into lactic acid using a fine pin. After clearing the specimens in the lactic acid (for 4–6 weeks at room temperature to the desired extent of clearing), the cleaned mites were placed into F-medium with sorbitol (Keifer, 1975). The slide preparations were dried (for 2–4 weeks) at room tem* E-mail: [email protected]

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Ripka: Redescription of Leipothrix polygalae n. comb.

perature, and then sealed with commercial nail varnish (Upton, 1991). Specimens were examined with a phase contrast microscope (Nikon Eclipse E 600), supplied with drawing attachment (Nikon Y-IDT). The generic classification was made according to Amrine et al. (2003) and further updating. The terminology and setal notation used in the morphological descriptions follow Lindquist (1996). The number of measured specimens (n) is given in parentheses following the body length. All measurements of mites were made according to Amrine and Manson (1996) and are given in micrometers. Measurements and means are rounded off to the nearest integer. All measurements, unless specified otherwise, are lengths. Body length was measured from the anterior edge of the prodorsal shield to the end of the terminal anal lobe. Because some measurements of the studied specimen could not be made, due to the position of the mounted mite, means are sometimes reported, with range in parentheses. The scientific name of host plant is used according to Király (2009; Király et al., 2011). TAXONOMY Superfamily ERIOPHYOIDEA Nalepa, 1898 Family ERIOPHYIDAE Nalepa, 1898 Subfamily PHYLLOCOPTINAE Nalepa, 1892 Tribe PHYLLOCOPTINI Nalepa, 1892 Genus Leipothrix Keifer, 1966 Diagnosis – Body fusiform. Dorsal palp genual setae d (antapical setae) moderately long, bifurcate; femoral setae absent; genu II seta present; tarsal solenidia with hemispherical, terminal knobs; opisthosoma with longitudinal middorsal ridge fading above opisthosomal setae f; caudal lobes normal in size and shape. Prodorsal shield with a thick frontal lobe; empodium undivided, small, bilaterally symmetrical. Leipothrix polygalae (Farkas, 1968) n. comb. (Fig. 1) Junior synonym: Phyllocoptes polygalae Farkas, 1968, NEW SYNONYMY. Diagnosis – Pedipalp genual setae d (antapical setae) moderately long, bifurcate and bent; prodorsal shield pattern composed of two, incomplete curved admedian lines; median line absent; irregular and faint dashes; thick anterior lobe broadly rounded; femoral setae lacking on legs I and II; genu II seta present; empodium entire, 4-rayed; coxisterna I forming a median sternal line, coxisternae I and II with fine, small lines; opisthosoma with longitudinal middorsal ridge and two shallow subdorsal furrows, smooth dorsal semiannuli; female genital coverflap with minute dots and dashes. Caudal lobes normal in size and shape. Female – Body light ochre, fusiform, 272 (235–275, n=9), 80 (80–87) wide, (80– 87) thick. Gnathosoma 25 (20–27), projecting obliquely downwards; chelicerae 14 (14–19), dorsal palp genual setae d moderately long 17 (14–18), bifurcate and bent. Prodorsal shield 62 (60–64), 75 (73–77) wide, 39 (33–44) thick, semitriangular; with a thick, 15 (12–15) Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 48, 2013


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Fig. 1. Leipothrix polygalae (Farkas) n. comb. – semischematic drawings

Abbreviations in drawings – CG, coxal and genital region of female with internal female genitalia; CS, lateral view of caudal opisthosoma; DA, dorsal view of the prodorsal shield; E, empodium; GF, genital region of female; LO, lateral opisthosoma; P, pedipalps; SA, lateral view of anterior region Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 48, 2013

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frontal lobe; the posterior margin of shield arched; shield pattern composed of two incomplete curved admedian lines, diverging to rear; irregular and faint dashes, median line absent. Tubercles of scapular setae sc ahead of the rear shield margin, basal axes longitudinal, 17 (15–17) apart, scapular setae sc 5 (4–5), thin, directed to up and centrad. Laterally well-developed microtubercles in rows between shield margin and dorsal coxa of leg II. Leg I 42 (40–43), tibia 10 (10–11), tarsus 7 (6–7), ω 5 (4.5–5), distally knobbed, empodium simple, bilaterally symmetrical, 5 (3–5), 4-rayed, femoral seta absent. Leg II 40 (37–40), tibia 7 (7–9), tibial seta absent, tarsus 6 (5–6), ω 7 (6–7), distally knobbed, empodium simple, bilaterally symmetrical, 4-rayed, femoral seta absent, genu II seta present. Coxisternal plate with small lines, dashes; anterior seta on coxisternum I, 1b 10 (8–11), tubercles setae 1b 16 (16–17) apart, proximal seta on coxisternum I, 1a 15 (13– 19), tubercles 1a 10 (9.5–10) apart, proximal seta on coxisternum II, seta 2a 45 (44–47), tubercles 2a 32 (32–34) apart. Prosternal apodeme 6 (5–7). Opisthosoma with 43 (38–43) dorsal, 75 (68–76) ventral semiannuli. Dorsal semiannuli smooth, from fourth annulus forming a longitudinal middorsal ridge and from opisthosomal seta e two shallow subdorsal furrows. From coxal region to opisthosomal setae e the microtubercles small points located on rear margins of ventral semiannuli. On the lateral sides of ventral semiannuli the microtubercles larger and distinct, while on the middle part of annuli the microtubercles minute dots and faint; elongate and smooth on rear margins of ventral semiannuli from opisthosomal setae e towards caudal tip. Last 8–10 annuli with linear microtubercles on ventral side. Opisthosomal seta c2 23 (20–24), on annulus 13 (10–14); opisthosomal setae d 26 (21–28), on annulus 28 (24–30); opisthosomal setae e 12 (12–15), on annulus 52 (44–52); opisthosomal setae f 32 (27–32), on annulus 68 (61–71), or 6 (6–7) from the rear. Opisthosomal seta h2 57 (52–69), very thin at apex, opisthosomal seta h1 2 (2–3). Caudal lobes normal. Genital plate 25 (23–30), 23 (21–25) wide. Female genital coverflap with irregular minute dots and dashes; coxisternal III setae 3a 15 (15–17) apart, 15 (11–15), very thin. MALE – Unknown. Host plant – Bitter milkwort, Polygala amara subsp. brachyptera (Chodat) Hayek (Fam. Polygalaceae). Relationship to the host – This mite was found on the flower buds, peduncles (flower stalks), underside and upper side of the leaves of the host, no damage was observed. Type locality – Pilisszentiván, Budai Mountains, Kis-Szénás Nature Conservation Area, Pest county (Central Hungary), in magnesian limestone grassland, a dolomite grassland plant association (Festuco pallenti–Brometum pannonici Zólyomi, 1958) of the submediterranean chalk-dolomite grassland plant community group (Bromo-Festucion pallentis Zólyomi, 1966) (Borhidi, 2003), 431 m elev.; 47°603964 N, 18°876482 E. Studied material – the redescribed female circled with black ink among 8 females on one slide, 11 May 2011, slide # 1250a, coll. G. Ripka. Other material – Other specimens were collected – 1 slide (# 1250 b) prepared from material collected by G. Ripka in the same locality and time, containing 4 females from flower buds, peduncles (flower stalks), underside and upper side of the leaves of the same host are in the author’s collection and deposited in the National Food Chain Safety Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 48, 2013


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Office, Directorate of Plant Protection, Soil Conservation and Agri-environment, Department of Pest Management Development and Coordination, Budapest, Hungary. Diagnosis – Farkas (1968) received a sample from Polygala vulgaris from Germany and described a new species as Phyllocoptes polygalae. He did not draw the species. He mentioned that the femoral seta on leg I (foreleg) was absent, and the genital coverflap had extremely fine sculpture (?). According to his original description the majority of the characteristics of P. polygalae and L. polygalae is similar. Based on the re-examination of the type specimens of P. polygalae Farkas on the slides # 847 a, b and c the characteristics of them are as follows: Female – Body fusiform, 150–255 (n=8), 73–83 wide, 50–70 thick. Gnathosoma 23–27, projecting obliquely downwards; chelicerae 14–17, dorsal palp genual setae d moderately long 14–17, bifurcate. Prodorsal shield 55–66, 67–80 wide, semitriangular; with a thick, 13–15 frontal lobe; the posterior margin of shield arched; shield pattern composed of two incomplete curved admedian lines, diverging to rear; irregular and faint dashes, median line absent. Tubercles of scapular setae sc ahead of the rear shield margin, 15–18 apart, scapular setae sc 4–5, thin, directed to up and centrad. Laterally well developed microtubercles in rows between shield margin and dorsal coxae of legs I and II. Leg I 35–44, tibia 7–10, tarsus 5–7, ω 5–6, distally knobbed, empodium simple, bilaterally symmetrical, 4–5, 4-rayed, femoral seta absent. Leg II 31–38, tibia 7–8, tibial seta absent, tarsus 5–7, ω 4–6, distally knobbed, empodium simple, bilaterally symmetrical, 4-rayed, femoral seta absent, genu II seta present. Coxisternal plate with fine small lines; anterior seta on coxisternum I, 1b 5–8, tubercles setae 1b 15–18 apart, proximal seta on coxisternum I, 1a 8–11, tubercles 1a 8–10 apart, proximal seta on coxisternum II, seta 2a 18–35, tubercles 2a 20–33 apart. Prosternal apodeme 5–7. Opisthosoma with 34–44 dorsal, 52–75 ventral semiannuli. Dorsal semiannuli smooth, forming a middorsal ridge. From coxal region to opisthosomal setae e the microtubercles minute points located on rear margins of ventral semiannuli, elongate and smooth on rear margins of ventral semiannuli from opisthosomal setae e towards caudal tip. Opisthosomal seta c2 9–15, on annulus 8–13; opisthosomal setae d 10–16, on annulus 19–28; opisthosomal setae e 12–13, on annulus 33–50; opisthosomal setae f 22–30, on annulus 47–68, or 6–7 from the rear. Opisthosomal seta h2 28–60, very thin at apex, opisthosomal seta h1 1–3. Caudal lobes normal. Genital plate 15–20, 25–26 wide. Female genital coverflap with minute dots; coxisternal III setae 3a 15–17 apart, 9–10, very thin. The redescribed mite differs from Farkas’ description of P. polygalae by the presence of admedian lines and shield pattern (according to Farkas they are negligible or absent), by the presence of longitudinal middorsal ridge (not mentioned by Farkas); by the presence of opisthosomal seta h1; by the absence of femoral seta and tibial seta on leg II (not mentioned by Farkas); in the lengths of proximal seta on coxisternum II, setae 2a, opisthosomal setae c2, d and e, length and width of genital plate; and especially by having the moderately long, bent and bifurcate pedipalp genual seta d (not mentioned by Farkas). These distinctive specialized features are of taxonomic significance. Due to these Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 48, 2013

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characteristics, P. polygalae Farkas and the specimens collected by the author in Hungary belong to the genus Leipothrix. Therefore the reassignment of P. polygalae F. to the genus Leipothrix Keifer is proposed. L. polygalae (Farkas) is the first member of the genus in the eriophyoid mite fauna of Hungary. Differences in the lengths of opisthosomal setae may be explained by individual and geographic variation.

Acknowledgement

Thanks are expressed to Ms. Edit Horváth (Hungarian National History Museum, Budapest) for loan of the slides of Phyllocoptes polygalae Farkas.

Literature

Amrine, J. W., Jr. and Manson, D. C. M. (1996): Preparation, mounting and descriptive study of eriophyoid mites. In: E. E. Lindquist, M. W. Sabelis and J. Bruin (eds): Eriophyoid Mites – Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. Elsevier, World Crop Pests, 6. Amsterdam, Lausanne, New York, Oxford, Shannon, Tokyo. pp. 383–396. Amrine, J. W., Jr. and Stasny, T. A. (1994): Catalog of the Eriophyoidea (Acarina: Prostigmata) of the World. Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, USA. pp. ix + 798. Amrine, J. W., Jr. and Stasny, T. A. (1996): Corrections to the catalog of the Eriophyoidea (Acarina: Prostigmata) of the World. Internat. J. Acarol. 22, 295–304. Amrine, J. W., Jr., Stasny, T. A. H. and Flechtmann, C. H. W. (2003): Revised Keys to World Genera of Eriophyoidea (Acari: Prostigmata). Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, USA. pp. iv+244. Borhidi, A. (2003): Magyarország növénytársulásai. [Plant communities of Hungary.]. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest. 610 p. Davis, R., Flechtmann, C. H. W., Boczek, J. H. and Barké, H. E. (1982): Catalogue of Eriophyid Mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea). Warsaw Agricultural University Press, Warsaw, 254 p. Farkas, H. (1968): On the eriophyoids of Hungary VI. The description of three new species. Annales Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici, Pars Zoologica 60, 239–241. Keifer, H. H. (1975): Eriophyoidea Nalepa. In: L. R. Jeppson, H. H. Keifer and E. W. Baker (eds): Mites Injurious to Economic Plants. University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London. pp. 327–533. Király, G. (ed.) (2009): Új magyar füvészkönyv. Magyarország hajtásos növényei. Határozókulcsok. [New Hungarian Herbal. The Vascular Plants of Hungary. Identification Key.]. Aggteleki Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság, Jósvafő. 616 p. Király, G., Virók. V. and Molnár, V. A. (eds) (2011): Új magyar füvészkönyv. Magyarország hajtásos növényei. Ábrák. [New Hungarian Herbal. The Vascular Plants of Hungary. Illustrations.]. Aggteleki Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság, Jósvafő. 676 p. Lindquist, E. E. (1996): External anatomy and notation of structures. In: E. E. Lindquist, M. W. Sabelis and J. Bruin (eds): Eriophyoid Mites – Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. Elsevier, World Crop Pests, 6. Amsterdam, Lausanne, New York, Oxford, Shannon, Tokyo. pp. 3–30. Upton, M. S. (1991): Methods for Collecting, Preserving, and Studying Insects and Allied Forms. The Australian Entomological Society, Brisbane. Misc. Publ. No. 3. v + 86 p.

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