Aleurodamaeus woasi, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Hugo-Coetzee, Elizabeth A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2013
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Sarcoptiformes
Aleurodamaeidae
Aleurodamaeus
Aleurodamaeus woasi

description: Aleurodamaeus woasi sp. nov.   
(Figs 12, 13A)  
 Specific diagnosis. Aleurodamaeus woasi sp. nov. has long notogastral seta p1 and h1 and a weak transverse groove anteriorly on the notogaster. This species resembles A. australis with the main differences that A. woasi sp. nov. is smaller in size and setae p2 and p3 are much shorter.   
 Measurements. Length: females (n = 5) mean 393 (range 371–420), males (n = 5) mean 363 (range 351–376). Width: females mean 222 (range 213–233), males mean 204 (range 200–210). Holotype (male): length 366, width 205. The specimens found in the KwaZulu-Natal region are slightly smaller: males from Cape Vidal State Forest (n = 4) mean length 334 (range 318–342), mean width 182 (range 176–190).   
 Integument (Figs 12A, 13A). Prodorsum and notogaster covered by cerotegument and cerotegumental granules; cerotegument on notogaster arranged in polygonal forms, cerotegument between bothridial and lamellar region in an hourglass shape; legs and setae covered by granules, sensillus with granules and spine-like cerotegument; body surface smooth, exuvial scalps not found.   
 Prodorsum (Fig. 12A, D). Rostrum rounded in dorsal view, slightly projecting forward in lateral view; ro (54) and le (54) slender, smooth, curving inward, ro inserted ventrally and slightly posteriorly to le; in (7) spiniform, thickened, ex (22) thin, inserted anterior-laterally to bothridium; ro, le, in and ex inserted on tubercles; ss of medium length (88), slender and smooth; two distinct internal apophysis in the form of square brackets “[]” dorsolaterally in the lamellar region.   
 Notogaster (Fig. 12A, C, D). Convex in lateral view, the rim not completely around the entire notogaster in dorsal view; anteriorly a weak transverse groove present; lyrifissures ia, im, ip, ih and ips present (8–9); four pairs of thin notogastral setae on posterior edge, setae p1 and h1 twisted, setae p1 longer (140) than h1 (107), p2 longer (50) than p3 (25) (these setae measurements are of a paratype (length 398) since some of the setae on the holotype were broken) (setae p2 and p3 of similar length in some specimens from other localities), h1, p1, p2 on tubercles; p2 bending medially in most cases.   
 Gnathosoma. Subcapitulum longer than wide, hypostomal setae a, m more densely barbed than h; chelicera and palp similar to A. vicinus sp. nov. (Fig. 6 E, F).   
 Epimeral region (Fig. 12B). Sejugal apodeme well developed, other apodemes distinct; number of setae on epimeres (from I to IV) 3-1-3-3, all epimeral setae very thin, smooth, setae 1b, 1c, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4c longer (16-24) than 1a, 2a, 3a, 4b (8–10); Sp present.   
 Anogenital region (Fig. 12B). All setae smooth, genital setae spiniform, almost in a straight line, g1 longer (18) than the other setae (13), an spiniform, of similar length (12), (one paratype with three anal setae on one plate); ad, ag similar to epimeral setae, ad2 and ad3 of similar length (17–18); ag (14) above the level of anal plates.   
 Legs (Fig. 13 A). Leg IV (368)> leg I (306)> leg III (255)> leg II (226); claws of leg I smallest, becoming progressively larger to leg IV; leg setal formula, form of seta and solenidia similar to A. salvadordalii sp. nov. (Table 1, Fig. 3 A–D); famulus in a pit with the edges sticking far out; setae on tarsi with strong barbs, setae on tibiae and genua with thin barbs, setae on femora smooth.   
 Etymology. This species is named in honour of Dr Steffen Woas, associated with the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe in Germany for his contributions to oribatid mite taxonomy.   
 Type material. The holotype and 10 paratypes were sampled in the Fynbos biome in the Western Cape, near Gordons Bay (34º04’S, 18º49’E) in slightly humid soil with decomposed plant material under indigenous shrubs close to the sea by C.M. Engelbrecht on 05.iv.1983. The holotype (NMB 3313.2.1) and six paratypes (NMB 3313.2) are deposited in the Acarology collection of the National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Four paratypes are deposited in the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe, Germany (SMNK-ORIB 0502).   
 Collection data. This species is widely distributed across South Africa in various biomes. For distribution of A. woasi sp. nov. see Fig. 10, indicated by the letter ‘w’.   
 Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome: St Lucia Mission Rocks KZN (28º02’S, 32º32’E, open grassland, coastal dune forest and Acacia); St Lucia Dukuduku KZN (28º26’S, 32º13’E, coastal forest and pine plantations); St Lucia Dukuduku KZN (28º03’S, 32º26’E, coastal dune forest on Western shore); between Salpine and Kwa Mbonambi KZN (28º34’S, 32º11’E, coastal forest- Eucalyptus plantations); Savanna biome: near Harding KZN (30º31’S, 29º46’E, grass and soil under pine trees); Sodwana KZN (27º32’S, 32º40’E, well wooded area near beach); Sodwana Camp KZN (27º32’S, 32º40’E, soil with decomposed plant material); Cape Vidal State Forest KZN (28º02’S, 32º32’E, indigenous forest); between Soutpansberg and Thohoyandou LP (22º52’S, 30º07’E, slightly dry soil rich with decomposed leaf litter); Grassland biome: Sabie MP (25°05’S, 30°46’E, humid soil in dense forest); Sabie district MP (25°05’S, 30°46’E, indigenous forest); Paardeplaats near Lydenburg MP (25°24'S, 30°02'E, topsoil in natural forest); near Frankfort FS (27°18’S, 28°26’E, humid soil and decomposed grass under wild asparagus); Fynbos biome: between Ladysmith and Calitzdorp WC (33º28’S, 21º31’E, humid soil and decomposed leaf litter under shrubs); near Riversdale WC (33º58’S, 21º13’E, humid white sandy soil and leaf litter under bushes); near Gordons Bay WC (34º04’S, 18º49’E, slightly humid soil with decomposed plant material under indigenous shrubs and fynbos close to the sea); Gordons Bay WC (34º09’S, 18º52’E, slightly humid soil with decomposed plant material under indigenous shrubs); between Rooi Els Bay and Kogel Bay WC (34º21’S, 18º54’E, sandy organic-rich soil); Silvermine Nature Reserve WC (34º04’S, 18º25’E, underneath Protea sp.).
description: Published as part of Hugo-Coetzee, Elizabeth A., 2013, New species of Aleurodamaeus Grandjean, 1954 (Oribatida: Aleurodamaeidae) from South Africa, pp. 531-556 in Zootaxa 3670 (4) on pages 549-552, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3670.4.7, http://zenodo.org/record/217577