1964] 579 A NEW GENUS OF STIGMAEIDAE (ACARINA, tf PROSTIGMATA) FROM NEW ZEALAND By T. G. Woop, Entomology Division, Departinent of Scientific and Industrial Research, Melson. (Received for publication, 25 August 1964) Summary A stiginaeid mite found on the foliage of various plants is described as Mulledesia arborea, new genus, new species. The new genus is closely related to the genera Ledermuelleria Oudemans and Ledermuelleriopsis Willmann, and two species previ- ously described in the former are considered to belong to Mullederia. INTRODUCTION The new genus Mullederia, described here, is erected for a single New Zealand species. However, the descriptions of Ledermuelleria lineolata Meyer and Ryke (1959) and Ledermuelleria neomaculata Meyer and Ryke (1959) indicate certain features not characterisitc of the genus Leder- muelleria Oudemans, notably the number and position of the dorsal setae, absence of separate propodosomal and hystecosomal plates and the apparent absence of humeral plates. It is suggested that these species should be included in thenew genus Mullederia. Mullederia, new genus Body globate with typical stigmaeid mouthparts, Idiosoma arched dorsally, enclosed for the most part by a single heavily sculptured plate which con- ceals the small posterior suranal plate, Idiosomal plate with indistinct ptopodosomal-hysterosomal groove mid-dorsally, which is not continued laterally, so that there are no separate propodosomal and hysterosomal Plates. No separate humeral plates; humeral setae located ventro-laterally on idiosomal ‘plate, Idiosomal plate with eight pairs of large setae, also one pair of humerals and one pair of postero-laterals much reduced and displaced ventrally. Two pairs of setae on the suranal plate, making 12 pairs of “dorsal” setae. Nomenclature of dorsal setae in Fig. 1A follows that of Summers and Price (1961) for other stigmaeids of this type, but some homologies are uncertain. ‘The eight pairs of major setae are borne on distinct tubercles in all known species. Eyes present ot” absent, Palps thick, five-segmented with well developed “thumb-claw” process; small accessory claw at base of primary claw of palptibia; palptarsus with tri-partite NZ. J. Sei. 7 1579-84580 New ZcaLanp JoURNAL OF SCIENCE [Drc. sensillum distally. The type-species possesses the following features which ate probably characteristic of the genus. Common external ano-genital aperture with three pairs of anal and two pais of genital setae. Legs similar to other stigmaeids except for empodia which consist of a bell- shaped pad (Eig. 2B) from the dorsal surface of which arises a rod terminating in two pairs of raylets; chitinous extensions continue from the rod to the base of the claws. Other stigmaeids have no bell-shaped pad and the rod arises from the base of the claws. Type of genus Mullederia arborea, new species. ReLatep GENERA The new genus is closely related to Ledermuelleria and Ledermuelleriopsis Willmann which will have the same general build with heavily sculptured dorsal plates, although some homologies in the dorsal setae are uncertain. In Ledermuelleria the propodosomal plate bears four pairs of setae. In Mallederia there are four paits of setae in thé propodosomal region, but the pair designated ce in Fig. 1A are situated medially in the position eccupied by setae pm characteristic of Eupalopsellidae (Summers, 1960). In Ledermuelleria the hystetosomal plate bears six pairs of setae, three lateral pairs (/a, Im, 1) and three median pairs (4, 6, c). In Mullederia the median pair b appear to be absent, and. the Jateral intercalary pair 1 ate very much reduced. The following features distinguish these two genera from Mullederia. Ledermuelleria Dorsally three sculptured plates: propodosomal, hysterosomal and suranal. Large humeral plates displaced ventrally with apex betwen coxae II and III. Thirteen pairs of dorsal setae: four propodosomal, one humeral, six hysterosomal, and two suranal pairs. Ledermuelleriopsis Dorsally four sculptured plates: propodosomal, two hysterosomal and suranal, Anterior and posterior hysterosomal plates of equal size with three pairs of setae on each. Humeral plates and other setae as in Ledemuelleria, Species of these two genera live in mosses, lichens, and soil litter, whereas the three known species of Mullederia have been collected only from higher plants. SPECIES OF THE GENUS Mallederia Mullederia arborea, new species FEMALE (Fig. 1) Dorsal plates and arrangement of setae as described for genus. Sculpturing as a pattern of evenly spaced, circular pits separated from each other by1964} Woop —New GENus oF STIGMAEIDAE 581 100 yn AB c 100 A. Female dorsal; B. Female ventral; orea n. gen. c Leg I female dorsal, solenidia » and p. Fic. 1—Mullederia arb ° . c.582 New ZEALAND JOURNAL OF SCIENCE {[Dec. polygonal ridges. The polygonal network is clear under phase contrast lighting, but may not be evident under ordinary lighting in specimens which have been thoroughly cleared, in which case only the base of the pits are obvious and the sculptuting appears as a pattern of circular cells. Major setae long, more or less straight, stout, faintly barbed and borne on distinct tubercles, Pair be are the longest (210 4) and pairs a and ¢ the shortest (130 »). Humeral setae be and intercalary setae // faintly barbed, much reduced (25 .) and often concealed beneath the dorsal plate. Suranal setae smooth, pair /e 43» long, pair e 35 4 long. Two pairs of eyes. No ventral * plates around coxae or in ano-genital region; the four pairs of ventral setae and two pairs of genital setae are borne on striated cuticle. Three pairs of setae on ano-genital valves, middle pair longest. Counts of all setae on legs I-IV as follows: tarsi 13(1)-10(1)-8(1)-7, tibiae 6(1)-6(1)-6(1)-6(1), genua 3-1-0-0, femora 5~5-2-1. The figures in parentheses refer to the number of solenidia. The position and length of solenidion » on the tarsi is similar to that of the male shown in Fig. 2A, except that it is not present on tarsus IV. Empodia as described for genus. Colour in life red. Size variable; holotype idiosoma 420 , X 348». Length of idiosoma in adult females varies from 350 p to 450 p. MALE Similar to female. Idiosoma smaller and tapering posteriorly. Sex- associated solenidion » ¢* on tarsus J longer than solenidion ». Length and position of » on tarsi I to IV varies as shown in Fig. 2A. Palps slightly thicker than in female and with three small spurs ventrally, two on segment I] and one on segment III. Allotype idiosoma 360 p X 290 pu. Wl IV @ 100 yp A & LB 18h 8 Fic, 2—Mullederia arborea n. gen. n. sp. A. Male tarsi I-IV, solenidia @ and w; B. Tarsus ventral, showing empodium,1964] Woop -New GENus oF STIGMAEIDAE 583 CoLtection Data Holotype: adult female from leaf of Weinmannia racemosa at 320m above sea level along the Dun Mountain track, Nelson, 27.vi.64 (T. G. Wood). Allotype: adult male from leaf of Ruby - sp. at G00 m above sea level along the Dun Mountain track, Nelson, 15.ii.64 (T. G. Wood). ‘The species is also known from Waitakere, approximately 10 miles W of Auckland, on Melicytus ramiflorus and Rubus sp. (E. Collyer); Hunua range, approximately 30 miles SE of Auckland, on MM. ramiflorns (E. Collyer; near Tarawera, Hawke's Bay Province, in native Bush, CE. Collyer) ; Lake Waikaremoana - Lake Waikareiti track on Fuchsia excorficata (T. G. Wood) ; Levin on Rubus sp. (D. C. M. Manson) ; Kapiti Island on Coryno- carpus laevigata (R. Marlatt); Otaki on M. ramiflorus (D, C. M. Manson) ; Nelson on Rubus sp. and on apple trees in a neglected orchard (E. Collyer) ; Dun Mountain track, Nelson, on Nothofagus sp., M. ramiflorus, Rubus Sp. and W. racemosa (T. G, Wood). Muallederia arborea is almost certainly a native species and, like other stigmaeids, is probably at least partially predatory in habit. It has beer found only on foliage where it is often associated with other mites such as Agistenus, Tydeus, Eupodes, and Bdellodes; it has not been observed ‘feeding on any of these species, and as it moves rather slowly it may feed on mite eggs. MATERIAL Holotype and allotype in collection of Entomology Division, D.S.LR., Nelson, Paratypes sent to British Museum (Natural History) and United States National Museum, . - OB ey essed, Mullederia lineolata (Meyer and Ryke), new combination. Ledermuelleria lineolata Meyet and Ryke, 1959. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (2) (13), 209-34, Further details (Meyer, pers. comm.) are chaetotaxy of legs I-IV: tarsi 13(2)-10(2)-8(1)-8(1), tibiae 7(2)-6(1)-6(1)-6(1), genua 4—4-1-1, femora 6*5-2-1. Mullederia neomaculata (Meyer and Ryke), new combination. Ledermuelleria neomaculata Meyer and Ryke, 1959, Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (2) (13), 209-34. Curther details (Meyer, pers, comnt.) are chaetotaxy of legs I-IV: tarsi \4(2)-10(2)-9(2)~-8(2), tibiae 6(1)-G6(1)-6(1)-6(1), genua 2-0-0-0, emora 5-5~2-1, Two pairs of genital setae. Females of the “three known species of Mullederia can be separated as ollows ; -584 New ZEALAND JOURNAL OF SCIENCE [Dre 1. Dorsal sculpturing a polygonal network of thin-walled cells. Four longitudinal ridges on the dorsum. Major dorsal setae linear-lanceolate, 166» long. No eyes. Idiosoma 416 p X 350 p. South Africa. M. lineolata (Meyer and Ryke) — Dorsal sculptucing a pattern of thick-walled circular pits which may or may not be separated by polygonal ridges. No longitudinal ridges. Major dorsal setae spinelike and faintly barbed. Eyes Pent 2. . Pits apparently not separated by polygonal ridges. One pair of eyes. Major dorsal setae 87-109 » long. Solenidion present on tarsus IV. Idiosoma 256 x X 236 p. South Africa. N M. neomaculata (Meyer and Ryke) - Pits separated by polygonal ridges. Two pairs of eyes. Major dorsal setae 130-210 long. No solenidion on tarsus LV. Idiosoma 420 X 348 x. New Zealand. M, arborea new species. REFERENCES Meyer, M. K. P.; RyKt, P. A. J.1959: Mites of the Superfamily Raphignathoidea (Acarina : Prostigmata) Associated with South African Plants. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. 2 (13): 209-34. Suamers, F. M, 1960: Expalopsis and Eupalopsellid Mites (Acarina : Stigmacidac, Eupalopsellidae). Florida Ent, 43: 119-38. Suamrrs, F, M.; Price, D. W. 1961: New and Redescribed Species of Ledermactleia from North America. Hilgardia 31: 309-82.