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

description: Aleurodamaeus angelae sp. nov.   
(Figs 7, 8 A)  
 Specific diagnosis. Aleurodamaeus angelae sp. nov. is difficult to differentiate from its congeners. The species is characterized by a weak discidium, and short notogastral setae, setae h1 and p1 curve upwards and anterior. Aleurodamaeus angelae sp. nov. is most similar to A. niedbalai sp. nov., but it is smaller in size and has a discidium.   
 Measurements. Length: females (n = 5) mean 416 (range 397–439), males (n = 5) mean 376 (range 359–385). Width: females mean 225 (range 215–236), males mean 200 (range 196–206). Holotype (male): length 399, width 209.   
 Integument (Figs 7 A, B, D; 8A). Notogaster with four bands of cerotegument, and a mass of cerotegument anteriorly on notogaster and prodorsum; body covered with sparse spherical cerotegumental granules, body surface under cerotegument smooth; all body setae (except in, genital and anal) sparsely covered with small and large granules, sensillus also with spine-like cerotegument; granules in bands on legs especially seen on Ti I; exuvial scalp of previous instar only found in one specimen (out of 100), loosely fixed.   
 Prodorsum (Fig. 7 A, D). Rostrum rounded in dorsal view, slightly projecting in lateral view; ro (56), le (51) slender, curving medially, ro inserted on the same vertical level as le, in (6) spiniform, ex (24) thin, slender, inserted anterior-laterally to bothridium; le, in, ex inserted on tubercles; ss long (99), slender, smooth.   
 Notogaster (Fig. 7 A, C, D). Notogaster convex; lyrifissures ia not distinct, im, ip slightly visible, ih, ips distinct, lyrifissures of similar length (8); four pairs of notogastral setae on posterior edge, setae thin, smooth, h1 and p1 on small, distinct tubercles, seta p1 (70) longer than h1 (28) (seta p1 a third to two thirds longer than h1 across observed specimens); setae p2 and p3 shorter (15), not inserted on tubercles; h1, p1 directed upwards and anteriorly in dorsal view.   
 Gnathosoma. Subcapitulum longer than wide; hypostomal setae a, h, m, slightly barbed, seta h with sparse granules; chelicera chelate-dentate, setae cha with dense spines, chb slightly barbed; palpal setation 0-2-1-3-9 (+1w), setae on first three segments slightly barbed. Similar to A. vicinus sp. nov. (Fig. 6 E, F).   
 Epimeral region (Fig. 7 B). Sejugal apodeme well developed; number of setae on epimeres (from I to IV) 3-1- 3-3; all epimeral setae thin, smooth, medium length (9-18), 1a shortest, 3c longest.   
 Anogenital region (Fig. 7 B, D). Genital setae, short, in a more or less straight row, g1 slightly longer (9) than the rest (5–8), g1 slightly curving medially, seta g7 on posterior edge of genital plates; an short, spiniform, an2 (7) shorter than an1 (12); ag slender, similar length to epimeral setae (15); ad2 (13) slightly shorter than ad3 (18); lyrifissure iad not evident; discidium weakly developed.   
 Legs (Fig. 8 A). Leg IV (314)> leg I (268)> leg III (237)> leg II (193); claws of legs becoming progressively larger from leg I to IV; leg setal formula, form of setae, solenidia and famulus similar to A. salvadordalii sp. nov. (Table 1, Fig. 3 A–D), setae on trochanters of medium length, similar to A. vicinus sp. nov. (Fig. 6 C, D).   
 Etymology. The species is named in memory of my cousin, Angela van Zyl.   
 Type material. The holotype and 10 paratypes were sampled in the grassland biome, Eastern Cape, Cintsa (32°48’S, 28°05’E) from decomposed plant debris, by C.M. Engelbrecht, 1.xii.1989. The holotype (NMB 3662.5.1) and six paratypes (NMB 3662.5) 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 0497).   
 Collection data. This species is widely distributed across South Africa in various biomes. For distribution of A. angelae sp. nov. see Fig. 4, indicated by filled circles.   
 Grassland biome: Greytown District KZN (28°36’S, 30°36’E, soil and plant debris underneath Acacia species); near Dundee KZN (28°35’S, 30°27’E, soil and decomposed leaf litter under thorn trees); between Weenen and Greytown KZN (28°54’S, 30°11’E, very dry soil and decomposed plant material); between Frere and Estcourt KZN (28°54’S, 29°47’E, humid soil with much decomposed leaf litter under dense indigenous trees); between Nothingham Road and Balgowan KZN (29°22’S, 30°01’E, humid soil and decomposed leaf litter under indigenous trees); Sabie MP (25°05’S, 30°46’E, humid soil in dense forest); Nelspruit MP (25°29’S, 30°59’E, grassland vegetation); Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome: Ballito KZN (29°31’S, 31°11’E, humid soil and decomposed leaf litter under dense indigenous shrubs); near Ixopo KZN (30°04’S, 30°08’E, humid soil and decomposed leaf litter under indigenous shrubs); Blythedale KZN (29°22’S, 31°20’E, moist soil and decomposed plant debris); St Lucia Dukuduku KZN (28°26’S, 32°13’E, indigenous riverine forest and pine plantations); Savanna biome: Cape Vidal State Forest KZN (28°02’S, 32°32’E, indigenous forest); Albany Thicket biome: Port Elizabeth EC (33°37’S, 25°54’E, dry soil and decomposed leaf litter under Portulacaria afra); Port Elizabeth EC (33°58’S, 25°36’E, soil and plant debris underneath dense Port Jackson trees near beach); Fynbos biome: near Riversdale WC (34°05’S, 21°12’E, humid soil and decomposed leaf litter under shrubs); Bredasdorp WC (34°31’S, 20°02’E, moist soil and decomposed plant debris underneath trees); Gans Bay WC (34°35’S, 19°21’E, slightly humid soil and decomposed plant material under shrubs).
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 541-542, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3670.4.7, http://zenodo.org/record/217577