Ivoria taiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a remarkable new mite genus from West Africa (Acari: Mesostigmata: Urodinychidae)

Abstract

Ivoria taiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a remarkable new mite genus from West Africa (Acari: Mesostigmata: Urodinychidae) Abstract A new monotypic genus, Ivoria taiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (Mesostigmata: Uropodina: Uropodinychidae) is described on the basis of seven females collected in soil samples from Ivory Coast. The new genus has large and robust chelicerae, but it differs from the other Uropodina genera having similar chelicerae in several characters, which are presented in a comparative table. The new genus is placed in the family Urodinychidae based on its long setae h1, chelicerae with an internal sclerotized node, fixed digit of chelicerae apically smooth and devoid of apical processes, corniculi smooth.

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Systematic & Applied Acarology 24(6): 1063–1070 (2019)
http://doi.org/10.11158/saa.24.6.9
1063© Systematic & Applied Acarology Society
ISSN 1362-1971 (print)
ISSN 2056-6069 (online)
Article
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CCDDFCA8-6714-4243-95CE-48989451895A
Ivoria taiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a remarkable new mite genus
from West Africa (Acari: Mesostigmata: Urodinychidae)
JENŐ KONTSCHÁN
Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Researches, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1025, Budapest, PO Box.
102. Hungary. E-mail: kontschan.jeno@agrar.mta.hu
Abstract
A new monotypic genus, Ivoria taiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (Mesostigmata: Uropodina: Uropodinychidae) is
described on the basis of seven females collected in soil samples from Ivory Coast. The new genus has large and
robust chelicerae, but it differs from the other Uropodina genera having similar chelicerae in several characters,
which are presented in a comparative table. The new genus is placed in the family Urodinychidae based on its
long setae h1, chelicerae with an internal sclerotized node, fixed digit of chelicerae apically smooth and devoid
of apical processes, corniculi smooth.
Key words: Uropodina, new genus, new species, taxonomy, Ivory Coast
Introduction
Uropodina is a very common group of soil-inhabiting mites, which diversity is the highest in the
tropical regions, especially in rainforests (Lindquist et al. 2009). Despite their high diversity,
Uropodina mites have scarcely been investigated in many tropical countries, such as West Africa.
Ivory Coast is one of the less-known countries of tropical Africa. Until today, only five species have
been reported from three species rich Uropodina genera (all three with more than 100 species), like
three Trichouropoda Berlese, 1916 sensu lato, one Uroobovella Berlese, 1903 sensu lato and one
Rotundabaloghia Hirschmann, 1975 from Ivory Coast (Kontschán 2009).
During the last few years, I spent numerous weeks in the Natural History Museum of Geneva to
study the diversity of Uropodina from tropical soils. Among the West African soil samples, I found
an unusual urodinychid mite. The Urodinychidae Berlese, 1917 is one of the most confused families
within the Uropodina. Currently, the genera that are placed in this family (Kontschán 2013) are
characterized by (1) elongate h1 setae, (2) each chelicera with an internal sclerotized node associated
with the levator tendon, and (3) with fixed digit apically devoid of mushroom- or flower-shaped
sensory organ (which are present in Uroactinia etc.), (4) corniculi smooth apically, and (5)
pedofossae present. The unusual mite that I found possess all of these features, but differs from the
other genera of Urodinychidae by shape of idiosoma, setation and sculptural pattern of dorsal and
ventral idiosoma, shape of internal male, chelicerae and shape and position of setae h1. Therefore, I
herein propose a new genus to accommodate this new species.
Material and methods
Specimens investigated were cleared in lactic acid and investigated with Leica 1000 scientific
microscope with drawing tube. The photos were taken with Huawei P10 Lite mobile attached to the

1064 SYSTEMATIC & APPLIED ACAROLOGY VOL. 24
microscope and with Keyence 5000 digital microscope. Specimens examined are stored in 70%
ethanol and deposited in the Natural History Museum, Geneva (NHMG). Measurements are given
in micrometers (μm).
Taxonomy
Ivoria gen. nov.
Type species. Ivoria taiensis sp. nov. Monotypic. Genus based on adult female material representing
one newly described species.
Diagnosis
Idiosoma subpentagonal, dorsally domed, marginal and dorsal shields fused anteriorly. All
dorsal setae short, with pilose or serrate distal margins. Five pairs of sternal setae smooth and needle-
like. Genital shield of female subtriangular, anterior margin situated between coxae II. Peritreme L-
shaped. Tritosternum with vase-like base, apically serrate, its laciniae subdivided into two pairs of
short lateral and one pair of long central branches. Hypostomal setae h1 robust, basally with three
lateral teeth, h2, h3 and h4 narrow and marginally serrate. Palptrochanter setae v1 robust and serrate,
v2 situated on small protuberance and divided into a short smooth and a long basally serrate and
apically pilose branches. Corniculi small and horn-like, situated at posterior level of h2. Internal
malae long and smooth. Chelicerae large and robust with internal sclerotized nodes, movable digit
shorter than fixed digit, both digits bearing a large central in addition to a smaller subapical teeth.
Leg I without ambulacral claws; majority of leg setae marginally pilose.
Etymology
The name of the new genus refers to the country where it was collected, Ivory Coast.
Gender. Feminine.
Remark
The Uropodina genera Baloghjkaszabia Hirschmann, 1973, Kaszabjbaloghia Hirschmann,
1973, Wernerhirschmannia Hiramatsu, 1983, Multidenturopoda Wiśniewski & Hirschmann, 1991,
Bloszykiella Kontschán, 2010, Editella Kontschán, 2011 and Jedediella Kontschán & Starý, 2012
have large and robust chelicerae. The chelicerae in all of these genera, except Jedediella, are
multidentate, which bear numerous large or smaller teeth on both digits, contrary with the new genus,
where only one large and one small teeth are presented. Similar shape of the chelicerae is visible in
the species of the genus Jedediella, but the cheliceral node is absent in Jedediella vs. present in the
new genus. The most important differences between the Uropodina genera with large and robust
chelicerae are presented in Table 1 (without Multidenturopoda, which only the immatures are
known).
Systematic position
I provisionally place the new genus in the family Urodinychidae on the basis of the following
characters: setae h1 long; chelicerae with internal sclerotized node and without mushroom- or
flower-shaped sensory organ on fixed digit; corniculi smooth apically, but all taxa of this family need
revision.

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2019 KONTSCHÁN: A REMARKABLE NEW MITE GENUS FROM WEST AFRICA
Ivoria taiensis sp. nov.
(Figures 1–20)
Material examined
Holotype. Female.”Afrique Occidentale, Côte d’Ivore, Forêt de Tai, eun de la station [de]
tamisage, bois mort” (i.e., Ivory Coast, Taï National Park, from decaying wood), 20 Oct 1980, V.
Mahnert and J.L. Peret coll. Paratypes. Six females, with same collection data as those for holotype.
Diagnosis
See the genus diagnosis.
FIGURES 1–4. Ivoria taiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., female.1. Dorsal view of idiosoma; 2. Setae on lateral
margin of vertex; 3. Setae and sculptural pattern on central area of dorsal shield; 4. Caudal area of dorsal
idiosoma.

1066 SYSTEMATIC & APPLIED ACAROLOGY VOL. 24
TABLE 1. Distinguishing characters among the Uropodina genera with large and robust chelicerae.
Description
Female (n=7). Length of idiosoma 1130–1190, width at level of coxae IV 715–785, color
reddish-brown. Shape of idiosoma somewhat pentagonal with strongly developed vertex, dorsally
domed.
Dorsal idiosoma (Figures 1, 15). Anterior margin of vertex rounded and margins of vertex
bearing leaf-like and marginally pilose setae, ca 36–43 long (Figure 2). Marginal and dorsal shields
fused anterolaterally; dorsal shield elevated in medioposterior region (Figure 16). Central area of
dorsal shield covered by reticular pattern, with cells quadrate to subrectangular (Figure 1, see median
region of shield); leaf-like and marginally serrate setae (38–48 long) situated on elevated central area
of dorsal shield (Figures 3, 17); caudal margin of dorsal shield mesally with two pairs of short setae
(ca 27–30), flanked by three pairs of leaf-like and marginally serrate setae (ca 58–62 long) on
posterolateral corners of shield, and born on strongly sclerotized ridges (Figure 4). Marginal shield
not reticulate, but inner margins undulate laterally and posteriorly; inner margin not undulate
posteromesally, and with two broad recessions; marginal shield setae similar in shape and length to
setae on vertex (Figure 18), but inserted on small, rounded protuberance, except for the two long (ca
56–65) and leaf-like and marginally serrate setae inserted just posteriad the recessions.
Ventral idiosoma (Figures 5–7, 19). Five pairs of sternal setae short (ca 15–22), needle-like and
smooth. Setae st1 inserted at level of anterior margin of coxae II, st2 at level of mid-coxae II, st3 at
level of mid-coxae III, st4 at level of posterior margin of coxae III, st5 close to basal margin of genital
shield. Sternal shield smooth, four pairs of poroids situated between st2 and st3, two pairs between
st3 and st4, and one pair posterior to st4; with 7–9 pairs of short (18–22), smooth and needle-like
ventral setae inserted posterior to genital shield; surface around these setae reticulate. Usually with
10–11 pairs of long (44–47), leaf-like and marginally pilose setae more or less all situated on
longitudinal row posterior to coxae IV, and five pairs of setae (also leaf-like and marginally pilose)
(47–52) aligned transversally, slightly anterior to anal opening, and inserted on small and rounded
protuberance. Two pairs of adanal setae similar in length and shape to other pilose ventral setae,
postanal seta absent. Genital shield subtriangular, length 320–335, basal width 200–201, situated
between coxae III and IV; shield reticulate throughout, and with 3–4 pairs of transversal, strongly
sclerotized grooves, the anterior pair almost joining mesally. Peritremes L-shaped, with a small
curve posterior to the 90˚ angle (Figure 6). Pedofossae deep, their surface smooth, without separate
furrow for tarsi IV; a series of 22–24 leaf-like and marginally pilose setae (ca 37–42) laterally to
Jedediella Baloghjkaszabia Kaszabjbaloghia Wernerhirschmannia Editella Hutufeideria Bloszykiella Ivoria
Cheliceral node absent absent absent present present present absent present
Number of
cheliceral teeth
one numerous numerous numerous numerous numerous numerous one
Shape of h1 serrate apically divided apically divided smooth pilose smooth or pilose api cally serrate basally with
three lateral
spines
Shape of internal
male
pilose pilose pilose pilose pilose pilose with a lateral
spine
smooth
Shape of
prestigmatid part
of peritreme
hook-like with three bends tree-like or hook-
shaped with
numerous branches
hook-shaped 1-shaped with two bends L-shaped L-shaped
Shape of
idiosoma
oval oval oval rounded oval oval or rectangularoval pentagonal
Shape of genital
shield of female
linguliform linguliform linguliform linguliform triangular linguliform linguliform triangular
Pygidial shield absent absent absent absent absent present present absent
Distribution North-America South-America South-America South-America South-East Asia South-East Asia,
Austral-Asia
East-Africa West-Africa

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2019 KONTSCHÁN: A REMARKABLE NEW MITE GENUS FROM WEST AFRICA
pedofossae, inserted on small rounded protuberances (Figure 6). Tritosternum with vase-like base,
apically serrate, its laciniae subdivided into two pairs of short lateral and one pair of long central
branches (Figure 7).
FIGURES 5–6. Ivoria taiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., female. 5. Ventral view of idiosoma; 6. Peritreme and
pedofossal area in lateroventral view.
Gnathosoma (Figures 8–10, 20). Corniculi small, smooth and horn-like, inserted posteriorly to
h2; internal malae smooth, 1.5 times as long as corniculi. Hypostomal setae h1 long (115–120),
robust and basally with three short lateral spines. Setae h2 (48–52), h3 and h4 (25–32) marginally
serrate. Deutosternal groove narrow, without teeth or rows of denticles. Chelicerae large and robust
with internal sclerotized nodes (Figure 10). Fixed digit of chelicerae (150–152) slightly longer than
movable digit (137–140); both digits of chelicerae bearing a large tooth midway and a small
subapical tooth. Palp trochanter setae v1 robust and serrate (ca 60–62), v2 inserted on protuberance
and divided basally into a short (ca 15) smooth spine-like branch and a long (ca 90–92) basally
serrate and apically feathery branch (Figure 8). Other setae on palp segments smooth. Palp apotele
bifurcate. Epistome basally serrate and with an elongate and serrate median projection (Figure 9).
Legs. Length of legs (from base of coxae to apex of tarsi): I 530–540, II 370–380, III 450–460,
IV 390–400. Leg I without ambulacral claws; majority of setae on all legs pilose, except some setae
on ventral part of tarsi (Figures 11–14).

1068 SYSTEMATIC & APPLIED ACAROLOGY VOL. 24
FIGURES 7–14. Ivoria taiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., female. 7. Tritosternum; 8. Ventral view of gnathosoma
and palp; 9. Epistome; 10. Lateral view of chelicera; 11. Ventral view of leg I, 12. Ventral view of leg II; 13.
Lateral view of leg III; 14. Lateral view of leg IV.
Etymology
The name of the new species refers to the forest where it was collected (Forêt de Tai).
Discussion
The West African realm is one of the most neglected area of the world in terms of knowledge of the
Uropodina fauna, with the majority of West African countries are absolutely unknown. Among the

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2019 KONTSCHÁN: A REMARKABLE NEW MITE GENUS FROM WEST AFRICA
better studied countries, Ghana has 46 and Cameroon with 39 known species (Wiśniewski 1993).
However, compared with European countries, such as Poland (148 species recorded), Slovakia (144
species) and Germany (18 species), such tallies of Uropodina strongly suggest that these two African
countries are also very poorly known. We may suppose that soil and related habitats of all West
African countries are harboring a plethora of undescribed Uropodina taxa with diverse
morphologies.
FIGURES 15–20. Ivoria taiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., female. 15. Dorsal view of idiosoma; 16. Anterior-lateral
view of dorsal idiosoma; 17. Sculptural pattern on central area of dorsal shield; 18. Marginal setae; 19. Ventral
view of idiosoma; 20. Ventral view of gnathosoma, palp and chelicerae.
Acknowledgements
I am very grateful to Dr. Peter Schwendinger (MHNG) for his kind hospitality during my stay in
Geneva. I would like to thank for an unknown reviewer, Dr. Fred Beaulieu and Dr. Shahrooz Kazemi
for their very useful notes and comments to the earlier version of the manuscript.
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Submitted: 29 Mar. 2019; accepted by Shahrooz Kazemi: 22 May 2019; published: 24 Jun. 2019