Prozercon esati, Karaca, 2025

Karaca, Mehmet, 2025, Review of the mite genus Prozercon Sellnick, 1943 (Acari: Zerconidae) in Turkish Thrace, with descriptions of four new species, Zootaxa 5636 (1), pp. 35-68 : 47-52

Prozercon esati sp. nov.

Specimens examined. Holotype (♀): soil and litter samples under raspberry ( Rubus sp. ) and rose hip ( Rosa canina ), 41º16'N, 27º7'E, 41 m a.s.l., vicinity of Çıkrıkçı and Lahna villages , Hayrabolu county (Tekirdağ province), 23.03.2014. Paratypes: 12 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂, 7 DN, 2 PN: same data as holotype. 5 ♀♀: soil and litter samples under raspberry ( Rubus sp. ), 41º15'N, 27º44'E, 105 m a.s.l., vicinity of UlaŞ village (Ergene riverside), Çorlu county (Tekirdağ province), 21.03.2014. 6 ♀♀: soil and litter samples under alder ( Alnus sp. ) and oak ( Quercus sp. ), 41º10'N, 26º40'E, 51 m a.s.l., vicinity of Kavacık village , Uzunköprü county (Edirne province), 12.04.2014 .

Diagnosis. On podonotum, setae j2–6, z2, z4–5, s1 and s4 smooth, other podonotal setae plumose with various lenghts. On opisthonotum, marginal setae R1–6 smooth and thorn-like, other opisthonotal setae plumose with various lenghts. Seta S4 absent. Gland pore gdS2 located on the line connecting setae Z2 and S2, gdZ3 located on the line connecting setae J3 and Z4, closer to Z4. Dorsal cavities weakly developed. Podonotum covered by reticulate pattern, opisthonotum with alveolar pits and irregular dots.

Description

Female (n=10)

( Fig. 5 )

Dorsal idiosoma. Length (without gnathosoma) and width in holotype 344 and 269, respectively. Measurement of nine paratypes: length 332–348, width 265–273. Ornamentation of idiosomal shields were illustrated in Fig. 5 . Dorsal cavities uniform, equal in size, saddle-like and weakly sclerotized. Podonotal shields with 20 pairs of setae, including six pairs in j row (j1–6), five pairs in z row (z2–6), six pairs in s row (s1–6), and three pairs in r row (r2 and r4–5). Setae r1 and r3 inserted ventrally, on peritrematal shields. Setae z3, r4–5, s3 and s6 markedly elongate, densely plumose, brush-like and apically rounded. Setae j2–6, z2, z4–5, s1 and s4 short, smooth and needle-like or thorn-like. Setae j1, z6, s2, s5 and r2 partly short, but plumose. Seta z6 reaching the margin of posterior part of podonotum. All smooth podonotal setae about the same size. Podonotal shield covered with reticulate pattern with irregular pits in the crossing points on its central and posterocentral surface. Opisthonotal shields with 20 pairs of setae, including five pairs in J row (J1–5), five pairs in Z row (Z1–5), four pairs in S row (S1–3 and S5), and six pairs in R row (R1–6). All opisthonotal setae (except marginal) located on enlarged raised bases. Except setae R1–6, all the others plumose with various lenghts. Setae J1–5, Z1, Z4–5, S1 and S5 similar in appearance, all of them bilateral plumose. Setae Z2–3 and S2–3 unilateral plumose in contrary of other plumose setae. Setae Z5, S1 and S5 densely plumose, brush-like and apically rounded. Seta S4 absent. Marginal seta S1 longer than other setae in R row. Setae R1–6 short, smooth and thorn-like. Only seta J4 reaching the insertions of the following seta in the same row. None of setae reaching the insertions of the following seta in Z and S rows. Although seta Z3 reaching the margin of opisthonotum, setae J4, Z5 and S5 reaching beyond margin of opisthonotum. The range between Z5–Z5 68–79 and Z5–JV5 21–27, respectively. Opisthonotal shield covered with relatively large alveolar pits in anterior parts and irregular dots in the middle parts ( Fig. 5 ). Gland pore gds1 located on the line connecting setae s1 and z2, closer to s1, gdj4 located on the line connecting setae j4 and z4, closer to z4, gds4 located on the line connecting setae s4 and s5, gdZ1 located above the insertion of seta Z1, gdS2 located on the line connecting setae Z2 and S2, gdZ3 located on the line connecting setae J3 and Z4, closer to Z4, gdS5 located on the line connecting setae S5 and JV5 ( Fig. 5 ).

Ventral idiosoma ( Fig. 2 ). Posterolateral tips of peritrematal shield reaching the level of setae R1–2. Chaetotaxy and ornamentation of peritrematal shield characteristical for Prozercon species. Peritrematal shield with two pairs of setae (r1 and r3), both short, smooth and needle-like. Peritreme slightly twisted anteriorly, and gland pore gv1 located closer to anterior part of peritreme. Sternal shield with three pairs of setae (st1–3). Epigynal shield with one pair of setae (st5). Setae st4 present between posterior part of sternal shield and anterior part of epigynal shield. All the above-mentioned setae (st1–5) short, smooth and needle-like or thorn-like. Gland pore gv2 absent between posterior part of epigynal shield and anterior part of ventrianal shield. Ventrianal shield with nine pairs of short, smooth and needle-like setae (JV1–5, ZV2–4, Ad), postanal longest, one pair of gland pore, and one single postanal seta (Pa). Seta JV5 similar to opisthonotal setae Z5 and S 5 in terms of shape, but shorter them. Anterior margin of ventrianal shield with one pair of setae (JV1 present, ZV1 absent). Gland pore gv3 located closer to the insertions of adanal setae. Anterior part of ventrianal shield covered with squamous pattern, continuously extending the insertions of setae JV3 and ZV3–4.

Male (n=6)

( Fig. 6 )

Length and width of idiosoma 268–297 and 215–220, respectively. With a few exceptions, chaetotaxy of idiosomal setae, location of gland pores on idiosoma and ornamentation of dorsal and ventral shields similar to those of female. Podonotal seta z3 markedly elongate, densely plumose, brush-like and reaching beyond the lateral margin of podonotum in female specimens, it is short, smooth, thorn-like and not reaching the lateral margin of podonotum in male specimens. Unlike female specimens, in which the opisthonotal setae J3 and Z2 not reaching the insertions of the next setae, these setae reaching the insertions of the following setae in the same row in male specimens. Additionally, while seta S5 extends vertically beyond the opisthonotum in female specimens, this seta is inclined towards to seta JV 5 in male specimens. Ventral idiosoma as Fig. 3 in general (except seta JV5). Distances between setae Z5–Z5 56–71 and Z5–JV5 18–24, respectively.

Deutonymph (n=7)

( Fig. 7 )

Length and width of idiosoma 256–300 and 207–228, respectively. Dorsal cavities shadowy and weakly sclerotised. Podonotal setae j2–6, z2, z4–6, s1–2, s4 and r2 short, smooth and needle-like or thorn-like. Other podonotal setae plumose (except seta s5) with various lengths. Setae j1, z3, s3 and s6 markedly elongate, densely plumose, brush-like and apically rounded. Setae r4–5 plumose, but shorter than other plumose setae on podonotum. Seta s5 apically pilose. Although setae z6, s2 and r2 plumose in female specimens, these setae short, smooth and needle-like or thorn-like in deutonymph specimens. All gland pores visible on podonotum. Gland pore gds1 located below to insertion of seta s1, gdj4 located on the line connecting setae j4 and z4, closer to z4, gds4 located on the line connecting setae j6 and s4, closer to s4. On opisthonotum, only marginal setae R 1–5 short, smooth and thorn-like. Unlike female specimens, seta R 6 invisible. All the others setae plumose with various lengths on opisthonotum. Setae J1–5, Z1–4, S1 and S3 similar in appearance. Seta S2 unilateral plumose. Setae Z5 and S5 markedly elongate, densely plumose, brush-like and apically rounded, both of them reaching beyond margin of opisthonotum. Seta S4 absent. S5 the longest seta on opisthonotum. Seta J3 reaching the insertions of the following seta in the same row. None of setae reaching the insertions of the following seta in Z and S rows. Three pairs of gland pore visible on opisthonotum, gdZ1 located above the insertion of seta Z1, gdS2 located on the line connecting setae Z2 and S2, gdZ3 located on the line connecting setae J3 and Z4. Gland pore gdS5 invisible. The range between Z5–Z5 55 – 67 and Z5–JV5 17–23, respectively. Podonotum covered by reticulate pattern, opisthonotum with alveolar pits in the middle parts and irregular dots in the remaining parts.

Protonymph (n=2)

( Fig. 8 )

Length and width of idiosoma 206–249 and 157–168, respectively. Dorsal cavities shadowy and weakly sclerotised. Podonotal setae j2–6, z2, z5–6 and s6 short, smooth and thorn-like. Other podonotal setae plumose with various lengths. Setae j1, z4, s4 and r2 markedly elongate, densely plumose, brush-like and apically rounded. Remaining podonotal setae invisible. Although setae z4, s4, r2 smooth and thorn-like in deutonymph specimens, these setae plumose in protonymph specimens. All gland pores invisible on podonotum. On opisthonotum, setae J1, Z1 and S1– 2 short, smooth and needle-like or thorn-like. Unlike deutonymph specimens, marginal setae in R row invisible. All the others setae plumose with various lengths on opisthonotum. Setae J2–5, Z2–4 and S3 similar in appearance and length, all of them finely plumose. There is no unilateral plumose setae on opisthonotum. Setae Z5 and S5 markedly elongate, densely plumose, brush-like and apically rounded, both of them reaching beyond margin of opisthonotum. Seta S4 absent. S5 the longest seta on opisthonotum. None of opisthonotal setae reaching the insertions of the following seta in the same row. Only gland pore gdZ3 visible on opisthonotum, located on the line connecting setae J3 and Z2, closer to Z2. The range between Z5–Z5 47 – 51 and Z5–JV5 9–11, respectively. Lateral parts of podonotum covered by reticulate pattern, middle parts of opisthonotum with alveolar pits and irregular dots.

Lengths and ranges of opisthonotal setae are given in Table 3 for the female, male, deutonymph and protonymph specimens.

Larva. Not found.

Etymology. The name of the new species is dedicated to honour of my dear friend and remarkable ornithologist, Dr. Esat Kızılkaya (Department of Forestry, Sütçüler Prof. Dr. Hasan Gürbüz Vocational School, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Isparta, Türkiye).

Remarks. Prozercon esati is quite similar to P. erdogani Urhan, 2010 , P. martae Ujvári, 2010 and P. morazae Ujvári, 2011 . These species have common morphological features as follows: podonotal seta j5 smooth, all marginal setae (z3, s2–3, s6, r2, r4–5) on podonotum plumose, opisthonotal seta S1 plumose, seta S5 brush-like and reaching the beyond from lateral margin of opisthonotum, big majority of marginal R setae on opisthonotum smooth (except P. martae ), gland pore gdS2 located closer to the insertions of setae Z1–2 or S2, gland pore gdZ3 located between J and Z setal rows, except for P. martae (this gland pore located between Z and S setal rows), none of setae in Z and S rows reaching the insertions of the following setae in the same rows, dorsal cavities equal in size and parallel to transverse axis. On the other hand, the distinctive morphological features of these four species are shown in Table 4 , where all species are compared in terms of shapes of some setae and locations of some glands on the podonotal and opisthonotal regions. Most of the opisthonotal setae of the new species are plumose with various lengths. However, some podonotal setae (j2–6, s1, s4, z2 and z4–5) and some marginal setae in R row ( R 1–7) are smooth, and their shape looks needle-like or thorn-like. Opisthonotal seta JV5 is plumose in P. esati sp. nov. as well as P. erdogani , P. martae and P. morazae . Comparing the other species in Table 4 , smooth podonotal setae and the absence of opisthonotal seta S4 are important distinguishing characters for P. esati sp. nov. and P. erdogani .

According to the identification keys published by Ujvári (2011d) and Karaca (2017), the absence of opistonotal setae S4 is a rare phenomenon among Prozercon species. Among the 70 known species, only seven described species have this deficiency ( P. balikesirensis , P. bircanae , P. celali , P. denizliensis , P. erdogani , P. kurui , and P. yavuzi ), and also in the three new species ( P. elifae sp. nov., P. esati sp. nov. and P. tataroglui sp. nov.) presented in this study. For the species mentioned here, only two species ( P. bircanae and P. kurui ) have an extra setae (Jx) between setae J4–4 on the opistonotum. In the comparison between these two species, although P. bircanae has opistonotal seta S3, P. kurui does not have this seta. In a comparison made in terms of the podonotal setae’s shape, all podonotal setae plumose (except seta j5 which is smooth) for two species ( P. denizliensis and P. yavuzi ). These two species can be distinguished according to whether the opisthonotal seta S1 are plumose ( P. yavuzi ) or smooth ( P. denizliensis ). For the remaining species, all marginal setae are plumose on opisthonotum in two species ( P. elifae sp. nov. and P. erdogani ). In the P. elifae sp. nov. opisthonotal seta Z5 extend parallel to the posterior edge of the opisthonotum, and gland pore gdS2 located below the base of seta Z2. However, in the P. erdogani , seta Z5 extend precipitously to the posterior edge of the opisthonotum, and gland pore gdS2 located below the base of seta S2. In another comparison made in terms of the shape of marginal setae on opisthonotum, although seta S1 plumose other setae ( R 1–6) smooth in two species ( P. esati sp. nov. and P. balikesirensis ). In the P. esati sp. nov. opisthonotal seta S3 not reaching the margin of opisthonotum, and all gland pores on opisthonotum are the same size. However, in the P. balikesirensis , seta S3 reaching beyond the margin of opisthonotum and gland pore gdZ3 larger and more obviously than other opisthonotal pores. In the last two remaining species ( P. tataroglui sp. nov. and P. celali ), it is possible to make a distinction as follows: in the P. tataroglui sp. nov. podonotal setae z6 and s5 plumose, the first three pairs of marginal setae (S1 and R 1–2) on opisthonotum plumose, other R setae smooth, and opisthonotal seta S3 not reaching the margin of opisthonotum. However, in the P. celali , setae z6 and s5 smooth on podonotum, all marginal setae smooth on opisthonotum, and seta S3 reaching beyond the margin of opisthonotum. In line with the above explanations, P. esati sp. nov. was presented as a new species in this study.

Figures

FIGURES 2–5. General views of ventral idiosoma for female and male specimens in the genus Prozercon: 2. female, 3. male. Abbreviations: (Pes) peritrematal shield, (Pr) peritreme, (gv1 and gv3) ventral gland pores, (r1 and r3) peritrematal setae, (Ts) tritosternum, (Sts) sternal shield, (st1–5) sternal setae, (Sgs) sternogenital shield, (Gs) genital shield, (CI–CIV) endopodal shields, (z3, s2–s3, s6, r2, r4–r5) marginal setae of podonotum, (Vas) ventrianal shield, (JV1–JV3) ventromediales setae, (ZV2– ZV3) ventrointernales setae, (ZV4 and JV4–JV5) ventrolaterales setae, (An) anal orifice, (Ad) adanal setae, (Pa) postanal seta, (S1 and R1–R7) marginal setae of opisthonotum (figures not to scale, modified after Moghimi et al. 2021). Figure 4. Dorsal side of Prozercon elifae sp. nov. (holotype ♀). Figure 5. Dorsal side of Prozercon esati sp. nov. (holotype ♀).

FIGURES 6–9. Prozercon, new species. Figure 6. Dorsal side of Prozercon esati sp. nov. (paratype ♂). Figure 7. Dorsal side of Prozercon esati sp. nov. (paratype DN). Figure 8. Dorsal side of Prozercon esati sp. nov. (paratype PN). Figure 9. Dorsal side of Prozercon gamzeae sp. nov. (holotype ♀).