Phylogeny of infraorder Sejina (Acari: Mesostigmata)

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships among the families in the infraorder Sejina and the position of Sejina relative to other infraorders of Mesostigmata are re-examined based on molecular and morphological data. Data sets included DNA sequence data for complete 18S, EF-1 , partial CO1genes, and 69 morphological characters. The two families of Heterozerconina consistently group within Sejina, and we propose to synonymize Heterozerconina with Sejina (Sejina s.l). Microgyniina is not the closest relative of Sejina. Rather, Sejina s.l. most often groups with Gamasina. Uropodellidae and Ichthyostomatogasteridae are sister groups and this lineage forms the sister group to Discozerconidae plus Heterozerconidae. Overall, we recognize 5 families within Sejina: Uropodellidae, Ichthyostomatogasteridae, Sejidae, Discozerconidae, and Heterozerconidae.

Holothyrids and ticks: new insights from larval morphology and DNA sequencing, with the description of a new species of Diplothyrus (Parasitiformes: Neothyridae)

“…Criteria for marker selection were: (a) easy amplification and well established protocols; (b) informative at this taxonomic level (mitochondrial markers generally evolve too fast). Markers selected included 18S rRNA (≈1800 bp), the most commonly used marker at this taxonomic level (Black et al 1997;Dobson and Barker 1999;Klompen et al 2007), two segments of 28S rRNA representing the D3-D5 and D9-D10 variable regions (total ≈1200 bp) (Klompen et al 2007), and partial sequences of Elongation factor 1-α (EF-1α); ≈1100bp) (Klompen 2000a;Lekveishvili and Klompen 2004). 18S sequences are available for all of these taxa, but the data set is far from complete for the two other loci (28S, EF-1α).…”

“…Extraction, amplification, and sequencing, followed procedures listed in Lekveishvili and Klompen (2004) and Klompen et al (2007). Alignment for EF-1α is relatively straightforward, although the segment considered included an intron of variable length.…”

A new genus and species of Discozerconidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in New Zealand

“…The cohort-level relationships are unresolved. Johnston in Norton et al (1993) suggested a sister-group relationship with the Trigynaspida, but Klompen (2000) and Lekveishvili & Klompen (2004) presented DNA evidence showing that the Heterozerconina are highly modified members of the cohort Sejina. Although these data are the best available evidence for classifying the Heterozerconina, Lindquist et al (2009) continued to treat the group as its own separate cohort pending further evidence regarding the placement of these two enigmatic families.…”

“…In contrast, those of the Heterozerconidae are connected to the anterior wall of a deep groove, and thus are directed posterolaterally (Gerdeman & Alberti 2007). Although the two families are closely related (Lekveishvili & Klompen 2004), these markedly different suckers caused Domrow (1956) to speculate that they have arisen independently. The existence of an undescribed Heterozerconidae without suckers (Lindquist et al 2009;Klompen, pers.…”

A new genus of the family Sejidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) based on Sejus krantzi and <i>S. manualkrantzi</i> Hirschmann, 1991

“…Based on its unusual suite of characteristics, and results of recently completed analyses of sejine phylogeny (Lekveishvili & Klompen, 2004;Lekveishvili & Klompen, in prep) we remove S. krantzi from Sejus and name it as the sole representative of a new genus, which we describe below. The male and immature stages will be described in a later paper.…”