Protoribates

Walter, David Evans & Latonas, Sarah, 2013, A review of the ecology and distribution of Protoribates (Oribatida, Oripodoidea, Haplozetidae) in Alberta, Canada, with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 3620 (3), pp. 483-499 : 497

Key to the species of Protoribates of North America (adults)

1. Genital plates with 5 pairs of setae; sublamella vestigial; tutorium usually present as ridge or tectum; pteromorphs movable ( Figs 4 , 23 arrow)....................................................................... Protoribates ... (2)

- Genital plates with 4 pairs of setae; sublamella strongly developed, reaching lamellar seta; tutorium absent; pteromorphs immovable................................................................................. Lagenobates

2. Ventral keel of femur II smooth distally, without spur; posterior adanal setae ad1 – 2 both well developed, often subequal in length; tarsi either all monodactyl or all heterotridactyl; discidium various......................................... 3

- Ventral keel of femur II produced into a ventrally directed distal spur; posterior adanal setae ad1 very long and ad2 very short; tarsi I usually monodactyl and II–IV heterotridactyl or with variable number of claws; discidium subtriangular, cusp tapered, but not needle-like........................................................ Protoribates dentatus (Berlese, 1883)

3. Monodactyl ( Figs 25–26 , 29 ); sensillus (bo) relatively long (~1/3rd longer than lamella) and reflexed over notogaster ( Fig 21 ); notogastral setae usually reduced to alveoli; acm complex on palp tarsus on distinct apophysis ( Fig 20 )................. 4

- Heterotridactyl ( Figs 12–15 ); sensillus relatively short (~3/4ths length of lamella) and directed dorsally ( Figs 3 , 8–9 ); notogastral setae short, fine; acm complex on palp tarsus nearly sessile ( Fig 11 )................. Protoribates haughlandae sp. n.

4. Notogastral porose areas oval to subcircular ( Figs 1 , 23 ); sensillus acuminate, ciliate along margin ( Fig 21 ).............. 5

- Porose area Aa ( Fig 28 ) and A1 elongate to sinuate; sensillus truncate, without ciliate margin, ending in 2–3 short bristles........................................................................ Protoribates imperfectus (Banks, 1906)

5. Dorsophragmata normally produced, half length or less of mutual distance; lamellar setae long, extending beyond rostrum, interlamellar setae similar to lamellar setae; adanal setae ad 1 – 2 20–50 long, one or both usually visible in dorsal view; discidium with acuminate custodial tip; relatively large mites>465 long............................................... 6

- Dorsophragmata unusually long (~35–40), subequal to mutual distance (~30) ( Fig 27 ); lamellar setae short, not extending beyond rostrum, interlamellar setae short, stout; adanal setae ad1 – 2 both short (~10), usually not visible in dorsal view; discidium large, rounded distally; smaller mites 320–440 long.......................... Protoribates capucinus Berlese, 1908

6. Sensillus sublanceolate or with fusiform head............................................................... 7

- Sensillus setiform, of even diameter to acuminate tip, without expanded head..... Protoribates lophotrichus (Berlese, 1904)

7. Tarsus I with 17 setae (l’’ and both pl absent) ( Fig 25 ); notogastral seta lp (= f2) usually mesad porose area A1.................................................................................... Protoribates robustior (Jacot, 1937)

- Tarsus I with 20 setae (l’’ and both pl present) ( Fig 29 ); notogastral seta lp (= f2) usually posteriad porose area A1................................................................................. Protoribates oblongus (Ewing, 1909)

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Protoribates haughlandae sp. n., Alberta, Canada. Adult. 1 dorsal habitus with left pteromorph extended (scale bar = 100 µm) 2 ventral habitus (scale bar = 50 µm) 3 lateral habitus (scale bar = 200 µm) 4 light micrograph of right pteromorph (scale bar = 100 µm, arrow points to hinge) 5 discidium (scale bar = 5 µm) 6 famulus of leg I (scale bar = 1 µm) 7 arthropod cuticle in gut bolus (scale bar = 25 µm).

FIGURES 18 – 24. Protoribates robustior Jacot, 1937, New York, USA (18 – 20), Alberta, Canada (21 – 24). Adult (scale bars = 50 µm, except 20 = 10 µm) 18 frontal view 19 ventral habitus 20 lateral view palps, rutellum 21 dorsal view prodorsum 22 lateral habitus 23 light micrograph of porose area Aa (12 µm diameter) 24 discidium (60 µm long).

FIGURES 25 – 26. Protoribates robustior Jacot, 1937, New York, USA. Adult (scale bars = 10 µm) 25 tarsus and tibia I – II lateral view 26 tarsus I – II paraxial view.

FIGURES 27 – 29 Protoribates capucinus Berlese, 1908, Nova Scotia. Adult. 27 Dorsosejugal region (arrow points to a dorsophragma). Protoribates imperfectus (Banks, 1906), Florida, USA. Adult. 28 alar region showing elongate, sinuate porose area Aa and setae lm, la. Protoribates oblongus (Ewing, 1909), Missouri, USA. Adult. 29 lateral view of tarsus and tibia I.

FIGURES 12 – 15. Protoribates haughlandae sp. n., Alberta, Canada. Adult legs in lateral views (scale bars = 10 µm). 12 tarsus and tibia I 13 leg II 14 leg III (arrow points to tip of discidium) 15 leg IV.

FIGURES 8 – 11. Protoribates haughlandae sp. n., Alberta, Canada. Adult. 8 lateral view of anterior with legs I – II withdrawn (scale bar = 50 µm) 9 dorso-lateral view of anterior with legs I – II extended to show tutorium (arrow) (scale bar = 30) 10 lateral view mouthparts (scale bar = 10 µm) 11 details of palpal tarsus (it’ not visible, scale bar = 1 µm).