ACTA ENTOMOLOGICA SLOVENICA
LJUBLJANA, DECEMBER 2009 Vol. 17, št. 2: 115-124
CONTRIBUTION TO THE MESOSTIGMATA FAUNA OF SLOVENIA (ACARI: MESOSTIGMATA: ZERCONIDAE ET MACROCHELID AE)
Zsolt Ujvari
Systematic Zoology Research Group of Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Hungarian Natural History Museum, H-1088, Budapest, Baross u. 13., Hungary. E-mail: zs_ujvari@yahoo.com
Abstract - From the material collected on several locations in Slovenia, 7 species of zerconid and 4 species of macrochelid mites were identified. All of the Zerconidae and 2 of the Macrochelidae species are newly recorded for the country. Description of male Zerconella leitnerae Willmann, 1953, morphological notes on Prozercon tragardhi Halbert, 1923, original drawings of some newly recorded species and maps are given.
Key words: Acari, Mesostigmata, Zerconidae, Macrochelidae, fauna, Slovenia
Izvleček - PRISPEVEK K FAVNI REDA MESOSTIGMATA SLOVENIJE (ACARI: MESOSTIGMATA: ZERCONIDAE ET MACROCHELIDAE)
V materialu zbranem na več krajih v Sloveniji smo določili 7 vrst prsic iz družine Zerconidae in 4 vrste družine Macrochelidae. Vse vrste družine Zerconidae in 2 družine Macrochelidae so prvič zabeležene v državi. Dodani so opis samca vrste Zerconella leitnerae Willmann, 1953, morfološke značilnosti vrste Prozercon tragardhi Halbert, 1923, izvirne risbe nekaterih novo najdenih vrst in karte.
Ključne besede: Acari, Mesostigmata, Zerconidae, Macrochelidae, favna, Slovenija
Introduction
Zerconid mites are widely distributed in the holarctic region, represented by over 350 species of 36 genera. They are soil-inhabitant predators, occuring in moss, leaflitter and other organic detritus, feeding mostly on nematodes. Regarding the family Macrochelidae, these predatory mites are distributed world-wide, they can be found in different edaphic habitats, decomposed organic materials, dung, nests of birds and
small mammals or decayed animal tissues, many of them have phoretic association with insects. Our knowledge on distribution of species is scarce, however the Zerconidae and Macrochelidae fauna of numerous Central-European countries is well-investigated, several papers - observing the fauna of different countries - were published recently (e.g. Kontschan 2006a, 2006b, Kontschan & Ujvari 2008, Ujvari 2008a, 2008b). Regarding to Slovenia, only one study has been published so far contributing to the Zerconidae fauna, but mentioning only two species new to science [Zercon primus Košir, 1974, Carpathozercon tuberculatus (Košir, 1974)] and new data of a rare species (Zercon plumatopilus Athias-Henriot, 1961) (Košir, 1974). Latter paper contains only some hints in addition, mentioning that the species-richness of the group is high in the country, especially in mountainous regions, but no references or faunistical data are given. In this paper many new data of members of the two families, and maps with their occurences (Fig. 16) are presented.
Material and methods
Soil samples were taken from several localities in Slovenia. Members of the mesofauna were extracted using Berlese funnels. Specimens were separated under a stereo-microscope, cleared in lactic acid and impregnated with glycerin. Preparations were examined using a light microscope, drawings were made with a camera lucida. Mites are stored in alcohol and deposited in the Collections of Soil Zoology of the Hungarian Natural History Museum. Specimens were identified according to Blaszak (1974) and Masan & Fend'a (2004). Measurements are given as mean, in micrometers, DN stands for deutonymphs.
Results
family Zerconidae G. Canestrini, 1891
genus Prozercon Sellnick, 1943
Prozercon fimbriatus (C. L. Koch, 1839)
New data: Triglav National Park, Koča pri Peričniku, near to the Peričnik waterfall, N 46°26'20.07"; E 13°53'39.39", 787 m, mixed forest, moss from stones, 02.08.2008 leg. Danyi, L. (10 9, 2 1 DN); Triglav National Park, Koča pri Peričniku, Triglavska stream (Bistrica), N 46 °25,681' E 13° 52,548', 1046 m, beech forest, leaf litter, 02.08.2008 leg. Danyi, L. (17 9, 9 2 DN); Triglav National Park, Koča pri Peričniku, near to the Peričnik waterfall, N 46°26'22.91"; E 13°53'37.28", 843 m, beech forest, leaf litter, 02.08.2008 leg. Danyi, L. (8 9); Predjama, leaf litter, 04.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J. (19 9, 7 4 DN); Bohinjska Bistrica, leaf litter, 04.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J. (9 9, 12 4 DN); Ribčev Laz, leaf litter near the lake Bohinjsko jezero, 03.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J. (7 9, 5 &); Ribčev Laz, moss from the beach of lake Bohinjsko jezero, 03.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J. (3 9, 1 &); Slovenske Gorice, Grabsinci, beech forest, N40°32.878'; E 15°59.005', 284 m,
25.06.2008., leg. Dänyi, L., Kontschän, J., Muränyi, D. (1 đ); Piran, Fiesa, soil from laurel forest, 25.06.2008., leg. Sziräki, Gy. (1 9); Goreljek, leaf litter, 02.09.2008., leg. Kontschän, J. (1 9); Mts. Pohorje, litter and soil from beech forest above Oplotnica, 09.08.2005., leg. Muränyi, D. (6 9, 1 đ); Golnik, leaf litter from mixed beech forest, 460 m, 14.04.2006., leg. Dänyi, L., Kontschän, J. (4 9); Golnik, moss from mixed beech forest, 460 m, 14.04.2006., leg. Dänyi, L., Kontschän, J. (1 9); Belca, streamsi-de, leaf litter from beech forest, 695 m, 13.04.2006., leg. Dänyi, L., Kontschän, J. (14 9, 2 đ); over Begunje na Gorenjskem, leaf litter, 788 m, 14.04.2006., leg. Dänyi, L., Kontschän, J. (4 9); Moste, dry-rotten tree from mixed beech forest on a lake shore, 630 m, 13.04.2006., leg. Dänyi, L., Kontschän, J. (1 9); Potoče, leaf litter from riverbank of Kokra, 13.04.2006., leg. Dänyi, L., Kontschän, J. (1 9, 1 đ).
Remarks: Most of specimens bear an additional seta between setae I5. This is the first record in Slovenia.
Prozercon tragardhi (Halbert, 1923) (Figs 1-4.)
Figs 1-4: Prozercon tragardhi - 1: female from Triglav National Park; 2: female from Bohinjska Bistrica; 3: female from Oplotnica; 4: male from Oplotnica.
New
National
Peričniku,
Peričnik
data: Triglav Park, Koča pri near to the waterfall, N
46°26'22.91"; E 13°53'-37.28", 843 m, beech forest, leaf litter, 02.08.2008 leg. Dänyi, L. (1 9).; Bohinjska Bistrica, leaf litter, 04.09.2008., leg. Kontschän, J. (2 9, 1 đ, 1 DN); Mts. Pohorje, litter and soil from beech forest above Oplotnica, 09.08.2005., leg. Muränyi, D. (14 9, 5 đ).
Remarks: The only specimen found in the Triglav National Park (Fig. 1.) has strikingly long S4 setae, reaching beyond the margin of opisthonotum, and setae i3 are elongated and brushlike, differing in shape and length from other podonotal i-, z- and s-setae. However the mentioned characters are atypical for P. tragard-hi, no other remarkable difference can be observed.
Regarding the specimens found in Bohinjska Bistrica and Oplotnica, they differ more strikingly from any other P. tragardhi specimens found in different Central-European countries, also in more important characters. Female specimens of P. tragardhi have only one pair of smooth setae (i3) on podonotum, while females from latter two localities have two paires of smooth podonotal setae - i3 and i4 on the ones from Bohinjska Bistrica (Fig. 2.), i4 and z1 on specimens from Oplotnica (Fig. 3.). Most interesting that males (Fig. 4.) from the two localities are similar in the pilosity of podonotal setae. 3-6 paires of setae (i3-6, z1, s3) smooth, i2, i6 and s3 often slightly pilose. Nevertheless the male of P. tragardhi - similarly to the female - has only one pair of smooth podonatal setae (i3) normally. Apart from the mentioned podonotal differences, no other opisthonotal or ventral charachters (including morphology of shields, chaeto- and poroidotaxy) can be observed, by which these specimens could be distinguished from Prozercon tragardhi. In my opinion - considering the intras-pecific variation in number of smooth opisthonotal setae - these characters are insufficient for establishing a new taxon, however it is important to note that no such variation of P. taragardhi has been recorded before.
This is the first record of the species in Slovenia.
genus Zercon C. L. Koch, 1836
Zercon baloghi Sellnick, 1958 (Fig. 5.)
New data: Piran, Fiesa, seashore meadow, from dry-rotten wood, 25.06.2008., leg. Sziraki, Gy. (1 9).
Remarks: This is the first record in Slovenia.
Zercon latissimus Sellnick, 1944 (Fig. 6.)
New data: Triglav National Park, Koča pri Peričniku, near to the Peričnik waterfall, N 46°26'20.07"; E 13°53'39.39", 787 m, mixed forest, moss from stones, 02.08.2008 leg. Danyi, L. (12 9, 2 đ); Triglav National Park, Koča pri Peričniku, Triglavska stream (Bistrica), N 46 °25,681' E 13° 52,548', 1046 m, beech forest, leaf litter, 02.08.2008 leg. Danyi, L. (4 9, 3 đ); Triglav National Park, Koča pri Peričniku, near to the Peričnik waterfall, N 46°26'22.91"; E 13°53'37.28", 843 m, beech forest, leaf litter, 02.08.2008 leg. Danyi, L. (4 9); Bohinjska Bistrica, leaf litter, 04.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J. (17 9, 4 đ, 1 PN); Ribčev Laz, leaf litter near the lake Bohinjsko jezero, 03.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J. (7 9); Goreljek, leaf litter, 02.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J. (1 9).
Remarks: This is the first record in Slovenia.
Zercon triangularis C. L. Koch, 1836
New data: Predjama, leaf litter, 04.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J. (24 9); Ribčev Laz, moss from the beach of lake Bohinjsko jezero, 03.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J.
Figs 5-7: females of Zercon species new to the fauna of Slovenia - 5: Zercon baloghi; 6: Zercon latissimus; 7: Zercon tematinensis.
(19 9, 2 đ); Slovenske Gorice, Grabsinci, beech forest, N40°32.878'; E 15°59.005', 284 m, 25.06.2008., leg. Danyi, L., Kontschan, J., Muranyi, D. (8 9); Goreljek, leaf litter, 02.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J. (1 9); Golnik, moss from mixed beech forest, 460 m, 14.04.2006., leg. Danyi, L., Kontschan, J. (1 9); Belca, streamside, leaf litter from beech forest, 695 m, 13.04.2006., leg. Danyi, L., Kontschan, J. (1 9, 3 đ).
Remarks: This is the first record in Slovenia.
Zercon tematinensis Masan & Fend'a, 2004 (Fig. 7.)
New data: Slovenske Gorice, Grabsinci, beech forest, N40°32.878'; E 15°59.005', 284 m, 25.06.2008., leg. Danyi, L., Kontschan, J., Muranyi, D. (2 9); Mura Plain, litter and dead wood from forest near Gornja Radgona along the road 3, 09.08.2005., leg. Muranyi, D. (2 9); Mts. Pohorje, litter and soil from beech forest above Oplotnica, 09.08.2005., leg. Muranyi, D. (7 9).
Remarks: Ornamentation on posterior half of opisthonotum varies intraspecifi-cally: usually punctuated, rarely smooth. This is the first record in Slovenia.
genus Zerconella Willmann, 1953
Zerconella leitnerae Willmann, 1953 (Figs 8-11.)
New data: Bohinjska Bistrica, leaf litter, 04.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J. (4 9, 1 đ).
Remarks: This is the first record in Slovenia.
Description of male: Length of idiosoma: 273 m, width: 142 m.
Dorsal side (Fig. 10.): Chaeto- and porotaxy as in female. On podonotum, 22 pairs of simple setae: i-row with 6 pairs, z-row with 2 pairs, s-row with 6 pairs, r-row with 6 pairs and p-row wih 2 pairs. Setae ix medium-sized, s3, s6 and p2 strikingly elongated (6-10 times longer than any other podonotal setae, reaching beyond the margin of idiosoma), others short, smooth and needle-like. Setae px and p2 can be observed dor-
sally on the overcurved peritre-mal shield, p2 can have short hairs medially. On opisthonotum, 21 pairs of smooth setae: I-row wih 5 pairs, Z-row with 5 pairs, S-row with 4 pairs, R-row with 7 pairs. Setae I5 absent. Setae I4, I6, Z4-5 and S2-4 differently elongated, tapering, reaching beyond the margin of opisthonotum. Setae S4
-	as the longest opisthonotal setae
-	7 times longer than short setae (e. g. I1). Setae I4 situated very close to each other, at the same time the distance between inserti-
ons of seate I6 quite long and can reach 90 pm. None of I-setae reaching the followings bases. Dorsal cavities situated in a row tightly close to each other, strongly sclerotized, with smooth anterior- and lobed posterior margin, the lateral pair slightly bigger than the medial pair. Dorsal shields very slightly sclerotized, bearing some small, irregular pits. Measurements of setae and longitudinal distances between their bases as in Table 1.
Figs 8-11: Zerconella leitnerae - 8: female, dorsal view; 9: female, ventral view; 10: male, dorsal view; 11: male, ventral view.
I1	12	Z1	11	S1	13
I1-I2	26	Z1-Z2	26	S1-S2	21
I2	12	Z2	12	S2	62
I2-I3	20	Z2-Z3	28	S2-S3	38
I3	15	Z3	15	S3	65
I3-I4	32	Z3-Z4	19	S3-S4	29
I4	55	Z4	52	S4	79
I4-I6	61	Z4-Z5	36		
I6	41	Z5	30		
Table 1: Length of opisthonotal setae and longitudinal distances between their bases in Zerconella leitnerae male (values in mm).
Ventral side (Fig. 11.): Peritremes short, peritremal shield with a pair of small fissures over the posterolateral tips. Tritosternum bifurcate, with elongated, margi-
nally serrated lacinae. Sternogenital shield with 5 pairs of setae. One pair of adgeni-tal shields with two pores and one pair of postgenital sclerites present. Anterior margin of ventroanal shield with two pairs of setae.
family Macrochelidae Vitzthum, 1930 genus Geholaspis Berlese, 1918 subgenus Geholaspis Berlese, 1918
Geholaspis berlesei Valle, 1953 (Figs 12-13.)
Figs 12-15: females of Geholaspis species new to the fauna of Slovenia - 12: Geholaspis berlesei, dorsal view; 13: Geholaspis berlesei, ventral view; 14: Geholaspis mandibularis, dorsal view; 15: Geholaspis mandibularis ventral view.
New data: Triglav National Park, Koča pri Peričniku, near to the Peričnik waterfall, N 46°26'20.07"; E 13°53'-39.39", 787 m, mixed forest, moss from stones, 02.08.2008 leg. Danyi, L. (3 9); Triglav National Park, Koča pri Peričniku, near to the Peričnik waterfall, N 46°26'22.91"; E 13°53'-37.28", 843 m, beech forest, leaf litter, 02.08.2008 leg. Danyi, L. (2 9, 1 DN); Triglav National Park, Koča pri Peričniku, Triglavska stream (Bistrica), N 46 =25,681' E 13° 52,548', 1046 m, beech forest, leaf litter, 02.08.2008 leg. Danyi, L. (4 9); Predjama, leaf litter, 04.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J. (1 9); Bohinjska Bistrica, leaf litter, 04.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J. (1 9); Goreljek, leaf litter, 02.09.2008., leg. Kontschan, J. (4 9); Mts. Pohorje, litter and soil from beech forest above Oplotnica, 09.08.2005., leg. Muranyi, D. (2 9); Gozd Martuljek, soil from beech forest, 13.04.2006., leg.
Dänyi, L., Kontschän, J. (1 9); Potoče, leaf litter from riverbank of Kokra, 13.04.2006., leg. Dänyi, L., Kontschän, J. (1 9).
Remarks: This is the first record in Slovenia.
Geholaspis longispinosus Kramer, 1876
New data: Piran, Fiesa, seashore meadow, from dry-rotten wood, 25.06.2008., leg. Sziräki, Gy. (1 9).
subgenus Longicheles Valle, 1953
Geholaspis mandibularis Berlese, 1904 (Figs 13-14.)
New data: Triglav National Park, Koča pri Peričniku, Triglavska stream (Bistrica), N 46 =25,681' E 13° 52,548', 1046 m, beech forest, leaf litter, 02.08.2008 leg. Dänyi, L. (1 9); Bohinjska Bistrica, leaf litter, 04.09.2008., leg. Kontschän, J. (4 9); Ribčev Laz, leaf litter near the lake Bohinjsko jezero, 03.09.2008., leg. Kontschän, J. (2 9); Mts. Pohorje, litter and soil from beech forest above Oplotnica, 09.08.2005., leg. Muränyi, D. (10 9); Gozd Martuljek, soil from beech forest, 13.04.2006., leg. Dänyi, L., Kontschän, J. (1 9); Golnik, leaf litter from mixed beech forest, 460 m, 14.04.2006., leg. Dänyi, L., Kontschän, J. (1 9); Potoče, leaf litter from riverbank of Kokra, 13.04.2006., leg. Dänyi, L., Kontschän, J. (2 9).
Remarks: This is the first record in Slovenia.
genus Macrocheles Latreille, 1829
subgenus Macrocheles Latreille, 1829
Macrocheles glaber (Müller, 1860)
New data: 1. Slovenske Gorice, Slavsina, beech forest, 284 m, collected from Geotrupes vernalis (phoresis) N46°31.996' E15°57.631' 25.06.2008., leg. Dänyi, L., Kontschän, J., Muränyi, D. (1 9).
Discussion
New data of the rare Zerconella leitnerae seems to consider the fact that the species is distributed in the whole Alps, presumably as an alpine element. In the case of Z. tematinensis [previously recorded only from Slovakia (Masän & Fend'a 2004) and Hungary (Ujväri 2008)] the new occurrences show that this species can be characterized by an East Alpine distribution. Regarding Z. latissimus its turnout was expected by its presence in the neighbouring countries (Hungary, Croatia and Italy), it seems that the species has a wide Mediterranean distribution from the Iberian Peninsula to the Balkan. Two of the species found (Z. baloghi, G. berlesei) are abundant and prevalent in Central Europe, both inhabiting different forest habitats of low and moderate mountains, occurring in moss and leaf-litter. Accordingly the finding
Fig. 16:. New occurences of Zerconidae and Macrochelidae species in Slovenia.
of Z. baloghi on a seashore grassland is fairly curious, nevertheless the only specimen recorded from a meadow habitat also shows that these mite species are principally associated with forests and can rarely be collected in treeless vegetation. The remaining six species (P. fimbriatus, P. tragardhi, Z. triangularis, G. mandibularis, G. longispinosus, M. glaber) are widely distributed in Europe (Macrocheles glaber can be considered as cosmopolitan), they constituted the largest part of the observed material. The mentioned species can be characterized by wide ecological plasticity, occurring in various forest habitats, on a broad scale of altitudes from plains to mountains.
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA 72744). I am grateful to Dr. Peter Masan and Dr. Ra§it Urhan for their advices in the identification of Prozercon tragardhi specimens.
References
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Received / Prejeto: 11. 6. 2009