Wetapolipus jamiesoni gen. nov., spec. nov. (Acari: Podapolipidae), an ectoparasite of the mountain stone weta, Hemideina maori (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae) from New Zealand

Abstract

Wetapolipus jamiesoni gen. nov., spec. nov. (Acari: Podapolipidae), ectoparasitic on Heimdeina maori (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae), is described from the Rock and Pillar and St. Mary's Ranges in New Zealand, and compared with other podapolipid mites. This unique genus shows no obvious relation with other genera and is distinguished from other genera by both apomorphic attributes (adult female with 3 pairs of legs, scaled idiosoma, no stigmata, no ambulacra II, III, no ambulacral claws, no idiosomal plates C, D or EF and male with 3 pairs of legs) and plesiomorphic attributes (adult females with prodorsal plate with a full complement of setae (3 pairs represented by sockets only), ventral gnathosomal setae, setae 3a present on coxae III, 3 femora I setae, 3 genua I setae, 2 femora II setae and males with a posterodorsal genital capsule and setae sc 1 ).

Greater cuticular melanism is not associated with greater immunogenic response in adults of the polymorphic mountain stone weta, Hemideina maori

“…For example, Hochberg (1991) found that group feeding by young lepidopteran larvae put them at high risk to vertically transmitted pathogens and that they had greater resistance than older solitary individuals. Parasitic mites ( Wetapolipus jamiesoni ; Husband & Zhang, 2002), of the family Podapolipidae, were observed on about half of the weta examined. Such mites are ecto‐ and endo‐parasites of insects in the orders Orthoptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera, and are transmitted primarily between hosts via direct contact (Baker & Wharton, 1952; Husband, 1984; cf.…”

Engorgement success of parasitic mites on adult sexes of the colour polymorphic mountain stone weta

“…Wetapolipus jamiesoni is an ectoparasitic mite, found attached primarily to the base of the legs of its only known host, the mountain stone weta. This newly identified mite species belongs to the Podapolipidae, a family of specialised ecto-or endoparasites of a variety of host orders including Blattodea, Orthoptera, Heteroptera, Hymenoptera, and Coleoptera (Husband & Zhang 2002). Podapolipid mites spend their entire life cycle on their host, feeding on host haemolymph.…”

“…Podapolipid mites spend their entire life cycle on their host, feeding on host haemolymph. Larval mites are transmitted to new hosts by direct contact (Baker & Wharton 1952;Husband 1984;Husband & Zhang 2002). Wetapolipus jamiesoni is likely transmitted between its hosts during host mating and possibly during male-male competition for mates similar to the direct host transmission of the parasitic mite Chrysomelobia labidomerae (Tarsonemina: Podapolipidae) (see Abbot & Dill 2001).…”

“…Wetapolipus jamiesoni is likely transmitted between its hosts during host mating and possibly during male-male competition for mates similar to the direct host transmission of the parasitic mite Chrysomelobia labidomerae (Tarsonemina: Podapolipidae) (see Abbot & Dill 2001). This is the first study to examine the relationship of W. jamiesoni and colour morphs of its host, although recent work has examined the mite anatomy and morphological characteristics (Husband & Zhang 2002).…”

Parobia husbandi gen. n., sp. n. (Acari: Podapolipidae): subelytral parasites of paropsine beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

“…Discussion. The relationships between genera of primitive Podapolipidae and the Tarsonemidae have been considered on several occasions (for example Eickwort 1975; Husband 1984; Lindquist 1986; Husband 1990, 1991; Husband & Zhang 2002). Most of these works consider characters deemed plesiomorphic or apomorphic for genera and only Husband (1991) presents a character matrix and phylogeny for podapolipid genera.…”