The single known specimen of the monotypic genus Caenonychus Oudemans, 1902 was examined. No distinguishing characters could be found to justify the retention of Speleorchestes Trägårdh, 1909 as a separate genus from Caenonychus. Grandjean (1939) suspected these genera were synonymous but retained Speleorchestes as valid because of a difference between the two genera in opisthosomal shape. An artifactual explanation for the difference in opisthosomal shape is herein accepted based on the effects of applying different pressures to the coverslip over the same specimen. Therefore, Speleorchestes is treated as a junior synonym of Caenonychus.
Introduction
Nanorchestidae, which predominantly live in soils, sands, mosses and lichens, can be readily distinguished from other Acariformes by the presence of an epistomal plate (Bolton et al. 2017). This family comprises five genera, described in the following order: Nanorchestes Topsent & Trouessart, 1890; Caenonychus Oudemans, 1902; Speleorchestes Trägårdh, 1909; Protospeleorchestes Dubinin, 1962; Neonanorchestes McDaniel & Bolen, 1981.
Protospeleorchestes is known from a single fossil from the Devonian (Dubinin 1962), but the morphology of this mite is too poorly preserved to provide reliable diagnostic characters. Moreover, the placement of this mite within Nanorchestidae is doubtful because it was only based on the shared possession of wedge (fan) shaped opisthosomal setae with Speleorchestes. This single character is unreliable for family-level placement because it is also present in Oehserchestidae and Grandjeanicidae (Theron 1974; Walter 2001).
Neonanorchestes can be distinguished from Nanorchestes by the clavate shape of the posterior pair of trichobothria (McDaniel & Bolen 1981), but otherwise these genera appear identical, and so a case has been made for synonymy (Booth 1984). However, the discovery of alternating calyptostasy in Neonanorchestes but not Nanorchestes has resulted in the retention, for the time being, of the former as a valid genus (Kethley 1991).
Both Nanorchestes and Neonanorchestes are clearly very distinct from Caenonychus and Speleorchestes (Table 1). However, Trägårdh (1909) hypothesized two potentially significant differences between Nanorchestes and Speleorchestes in error because of mistakes from the first description of Nanorchestes by Topsent & Trouessart (1890). Nanorchestes was described as having chelicerae that are like those of Ereynetes, which are not chelate due to the reduction of the fixed chelae. But both Speleorchestes and Nanorchestes have chelate chelicerae (SJB pers. obs.). Nanorchestes was also described as having four-segmented palps (excluding coxae). But Nanorchestes shares the state of five-segmented palps with Speleorchestes (Theron 1975; SJB pers. obs.). The error in the original description of Nanorchestes can be attributed to the difficulty of discerning the palpal trochanters.
Caenonychus was first described from the Netherlands by Oudemans (1902). This was shortly followed by a much more detailed description by the same author (Oudemans 1903). When Trägårdh (1909) described Speleorchestes, he noted the similarities and differences of this genus from Nanorchestes but made no mention of Caenonychus, presumably because he was unaware of it. Robust characters have not been found to distinguish Speleorchestes (13 species) from Caenonychus (monotypic until herein). Grandjean (1939) very cautiously refrained from synonymizing Caenonychus with Speleorchestes due to a single difference that he suspected was an artifact (see Results & Discussion).
This paper only addresses characters that are diagnostic at the genus level in order to justify a taxonomic amendment concerning Caenonychus. The determination of diagnostic characters for species, which was not attempted because of the lack of available specimens and the relatively poor quality of early descriptions, will require a much larger amount of study, including the collection of fresh specimens.
Materials and methods
Only a single specimen of Caenonychus fallax Oudemans, the type species of Caenonychus, appears to have been retained from its only known collection event: Rotterdam, April, 1901 (Oudemans 1902). This specimen, which is considered to be the holotype, was borrowed from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands. Type material of Speleorchestes, thought to have been deposited at either the Swedish Museum of Natural History or the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, could not be found (Gunvi Lindberg, pers. comm.). However, the descriptions by Trägårdh provide a detailed set of diagnostic characters that are sufficient for synonymizing Caenonychus with Speleorchestes. Examinations were also undertaken of recently collected specimens of Caenonychus (identified as Speleorchestes before the realization of synonymy), Nanorchestes and Neonanorchestes.
Most specimens were examined and imaged using a Leica DM 2500 compound microscope equipped with differential interference contrast (DIC) and a digital single lens reflex camera (Canon EOS 80D). Focus stacking was carried out with Zerene Stacker (version 1.04). Low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LT-SEM) was undertaken on Caenonychus sp. A (Fig. 7, 17) and Nanorchestes sp. B (Fig. 8) in accordance with Bolton et al. (2014) but with a single modification: specimens were dead (stored in 95% ethanol) before being frozen.
Relevant drawings from the descriptions by Oudemans (1903) and Trägårdh (1909) are herein republished (their copyright has expired). New drawings were generated in Adobe Illustrator (version 15.0.0) based on DIC images of Nanorchestes (Fig. 3, 11) and the holotype of Caenonychus fallax (Fig. 9). Information on life stage and sex of imaged and drawn specimens is in the appendix. Supplementary images of the holotype of Caenonychus fallax are available at the following URL: https://zenodo.org/record/4774294#.YKWNtr5KhaQ. Specimens mentioned or figured herein are deposited at the following institutions: Ohio State Acarology Laboratory (OSAL), Ohio, USA; Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA), Florida, USA; Naturalis Biodiversity Center, formerly the Riijksmuseum van Natuurliijke Historie (RMNH), Netherlands (see Appendix for more detailed information on specimens and their repositories).
Results and discussion
Caenonychus Oudemans, 1902.
Type species Caenonychus fallax Oudemans, 1902 by monotypy
Speleorchestes Trägårdh, syn. nov.
Type species Speleorchestes formicorum Trägårdh, 1909.
Diagnosis: Caenonychus is readily distinguished from the other extant genera of Nanorchestidae by the possession of opisthosomal setae that are not fractal in form, i.e. all setules (terminal branches) project from the stem (Fig. 5–7). Additional diagnostic characters listed in Table 1.
Caenonychus elongatus (Berlese), com. nov.
Alichus elongatus Berlese, 1904.
Caenonychus fallax Oudemans, 1902
Caenonychus formicorum (Trägårdh), com. nov.
Speleorchestes formicorum Trägårdh, 1909.
Caenonychus globulus (Theron), com. nov.
Speleorchestes globulus Theron, 1975.
Caenonychus latus (Halbert), com. nov.
Alichus latus Halbert, 1920.
Caenonychus meyerae (Theron & Ryke), com. nov.
Speleorchestes meyerae Theron & Ryke, 1969.
Caenonychus natulus (Theron & Ryke), com. nov.
Speleorchestes natulus Theron & Ryke, 1969.
Caenonychus nylsvleyensis (Olivier & Theron), com. nov.
Speleorchestes nylsvleyensis Olivier & Theron, 1989.
Caenonychus paolii (Berlese), com. nov.
Alichus paoli Berlese, 1910.
Caenonychus poduroides (Hirst), com. nov.
Speleorchestes poduroides Hirst, 1917.
Caenonychus potchefstroomensis (Theron & Ryke), com. nov.
Speleorchestes potchefstroomensis Theron & Ryke, 1969.
Caenonychus pratensis (Willmann), com. nov.
Speleorchestes pratensis Willmann, 1936.
Caenonychus termitophilus (Trägårdh), com. nov.
Speleorchestes termitophilus Trägårdh, 1909.
Caenonychus ventriosus (Hirst), com. nov.
Speleorchestes ventriosus Hirst, 1921.
Caenonychus and Speleorchestes share all eight characters that distinguish them from the other extant genera of Nanorchestidae (Nanorchestes and Neonanorchestes) (Table 1; Fig. 1–19). No characters have been found to support the retention of Speleorchestes (referred to as Caenonychus in the figure captions) as a valid genus.
The narrow opisthosomal setae of Caenonychus fallax (Figs. 4, 5) readily distinguish this mite from species of Caenonychus with globose or wedge-shaped setae (Fig. 7), which were all formerly designated Speleorchestes. But note that the type species of Speleorchestes has narrow opisthosomal setae (Fig. 6), like those of C. fallax, and so these differences in setal shape do not provide a basis for retaining Speleorchestes as a valid genus.
Perhaps the strongest character in support of synonymy is the dorsal bulge on tarsus I, which appears identical in shape and position between Caenonychus fallax (Fig. 16) and a mite that was originally identified as Speleorchestes (Fig. 17). This character is also visible in the descriptions of other species that were originally placed in Speleorchestes (Theron & Ryke 1969; Olivier & Theron 1989).
Whereas setae exp are present on the prodorsum of Caenonychus fallax (Fig. 1), these setae appear absent from the type species of Speleorchestes (Fig. 2) (Trägårdh 1909). However, exp are clearly present on species of Caenonychus that were formerly designated Speleorchestes (Hirst 1917; Halbert 1920; Willmann 1936; Theron & Ryke 1969; Theron 1975; Olivier & Theron 1989). Therefore, this difference, assuming it is real and not an omission by Trägårdh, does not justify the retention of Speleorchestes as a valid genus.
Structures that have been termed ‘post-ocular bodies’ (e.g. Theron & Ryke 1969) are herein homologized with a posterior pair of eyes (Figs. 2, 3) in accordance with Uusitalo (2010). Given the difficulty of discerning the posterior paired eyes, especially before the invention of phase-contrast and DIC microscopy, their absence from the drawing of the dorsum of Caenonychus fallax (Fig. 1) is considered to be an omission rather than a distinguishing feature. Unfortunately, none of the eyes are visible from the single available specimen of this species because they have faded out of view.
Grandjean (1939), who makes no mention of setae exp or the eyes, suggested a single possible difference between Caenonychus and Speleorchestes, which is that in the former the opisthosoma is oval whereas in the latter the opisthosoma has an hourglass shape due to two post-pedal furrows. Although Grandjean (1939) cautiously decided against synonymizing the two genera, he indicated that the oval shape observed for the opisthosoma of Caenonychus was probably an artifact. An artifactual explanation for the difference in opisthosomal shape is herein accepted based on the effects of applying different pressures to the coverslip over the same specimen. A high degree of compression causes the opisthosoma to convert from a natural hourglass shape (Fig. 19) to a much more oval shape (Fig. 20). Oudemans appears to have applied a high degree of compression to his specimen of Caenonychus (Figs. 1, 21). However, even the holotype of Caenonychus fallax retains a slight post-pedal furrow (Fig. 21).
For the aforementioned reasons, Caenonychus is herein treated as a senior synonym of Speleorchestes. Caenonychus is seldom mentioned in the biological literature because mites that belong to this genus have almost always been identified as Speleorchestes (e.g. Theron & Ryke 1969; Steinberger & Whitford 1985; Silva et al. 1989; Russell & Alberti 2009).
FIGURE. 1–8.
Body (dorsal): 1, Caenonychus fallax Oudemans (type species of Caenonychus) (from Oudemans, 1903). Prodorsum: 2, C. formicorum (Trägårdh) (type species of Speleorchestes) (from Trägårdh, 1909); 3, Nanorchestes sp. A. Opisthosomal setae: 4, C. fallax (from Oudemans, 1903); 5, C. fallax (DIC); 6, C. formicorum (from Trägårdh, 1909); 7, Caenonychus sp. A (LT-SEM); 8, Nanorchestes sp. B (LT-SEM). Ch=chelicera; Ep=epistomal plate; U=unpaired eye; P=paired eye; ro=rostral seta; le=lamellar seta; exa=anterior exobothridial seta; exp=posterior exobothridial seta; bo=bothridial seta; in=interlamellar seta.
FIGURE. 9–18.
Rutellum: 9, C. fallax; 10, C. formicorum (from Trägårdh, 1909); 11, Nanorchestes sp. C. Palp: 12, C. fallax (from Oudemans, 1903); 13, C. termitophilus (Trägårdh) (from Trägårdh, 1909). Palp tarsus: 14 C. fallax (DIC); 15, Nanorchestes sp. D (DIC). Tarsus I: 16, C. fallax (DIC); 17, Caenonychus sp. A (LT-SEM); 18, Nanorchestes sp. C (DIC). Ta=tarsus; Ti=tibia; Ge=genu; Fe=femur, Tr=trochanter; B=bulge; S?=possible solenidion; SS=swollen stria; tailless arrow (black or white)=palpal solenidion.
TABLE 1.
Characters used to treat Caenonychus as a senior synonym of Speleorchestes.
FIGURE. 19–21.
Opisthosomal shapes (dorsal): 19, Caenonychus sp. B. immediately before any compression under a coverslip (DIC); 20, Caenonychus sp. B. immediately after a large degree of compression under a coverslip (same specimen as Fig. 19) (DIC); 21, C. fallax (DIC). SF=sejugal furrow; PF=Post-pedal furrow.
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to the following individuals: Bram van der Bijl (Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands) for the loan of the only known specimen of Caenonychus fallax; Gunvi Lindberg (Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Stockholm, Sweden) for her attempts to find type specimens of Speleorchestes; Elijah Talamas, Felipe Soto-Adames and Paul Skelley (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville, Florida, USA) provided invaluable advice via internal review. This research was partly funded by the Smithsonian Institution. We also thank the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services—Division of Plant Industry for their support on this contribution. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA; USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Figures 7, 8 and 17 in this publication are sourced from the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit, Beltsville, Maryland, USA. These images are in the public domain.
References
Appendices
Appendix: material examined.
Caenonychus fallax Oudemans, Rotterdam, Netherlands, moss; collector: H. Schütz, April, 1901. Adult/tritonymph, holotype (RMNH. ACA.P 5645). Used for rutellum (Fig. 9), palp tarsus (Fig. 14), tarsus I (Fig. 16) and body shape (Fig. 21).
Caenonychus sp. A. U.S.A., Indiana, Lake County, Marquette Park, 41.6156 N 87.2743 W, top of sand dune (10 cm deep); collector: Samuel Bolton, April, 2013. Nymph/adult. Used for seta (Fig. 7) and tarsus I (Fig. 17). Specimen lost.
Caenonychus sp. B. U.S.A., Maryland, Prince George's Co., Entomology Rd., 39.0417 N 78.8642 W, lichen over soil; collector: Samuel Bolton, August, 2013; Deutonymph (FSCA 00030192). Used for opisthosomal shape (Fig. 19–20).
Nanorchestes sp. A. U.S.A., Indiana, Porter Co., Indiana Dunes State Park, 41.6872 N 86.9944 W, sand dune near Lake Michigan shoreline (10 cm deep); collector: Samuel Bolton, 17 May, 2013. Female (OSAL 0114062). Used for prodorsum (Fig. 3).
Nanorchestes sp. B. U.S.A., Maryland, Prince George's Co., Entomology Rd., 39.0417 N 78.8642 W, lichen over soil; collector: Samuel Bolton, August, 2013; Nymph/adult. Used for seta (Fig. 8). Specimen lost.
Nanorchestes sp. C. U.S.A., Ohio, Athens Co., Burr Oak Rd., Wayne National Forest, 39.5482 N 82.0563 W, loam soil (10 cm deep); collector: Samuel Bolton, 1 June, 2012. Female (OSAL 0114229). Used for rutellum (Fig. 11) and tarsus I (Fig. 18).
Nanorchestes sp. D. U.S.A., Indiana, Porter Co., Indiana Dunes State Park, 41.6872 N 86.9944 W, sand dunes near lake Michigan shoreline (10 cm deep); collector: Samuel Bolton, 17 May, 2013. Female (OSAL 0114263). Used for palp tarsus (Fig. 15).
Neonanorchestes sp. U.S.A., Maryland, Worcester Co., Assateague National Park, 38.1845 N 75. 1633 W, sand dune next to inlet (10 cm deep); collector: Samuel Bolton, April, 2013. Female (FSCA 00030191).
