Unionicola (Chambardicola) banguiensis Vidrine, Borsari and Bastian- Stanford 2005

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1 Unionicola (Chambardicola) banguiensis Vidrine, Borsari, and Bastian- Stanford 2005 SYNONOMY: Unionicola (Chambardicola) banguiensis Vidrine, Borsari and Bastian- Stanford 2005b in Vidrine et al.2006, 2007 and Edwards and Vidrine DIAGNOSIS--Body dark in color; female genital field with two pairs of genital plates; female genital field with plates with medial flaps and setae in the center of the field; flaps and setae less prominent than in Mutelicola; male genital field with a single pair of genital plates, without distinctive, stout setae on each genital plate; 6-12 pairs of acetabula; male and female pedipalps similar in size and shape; pedipalpal tarsus with 3-4 small but obvious clawlets; male and female walking legs apparently similar and densely setose; walking legs densely hirsute; male and female legs similar; distal, dorsal, spoon-like seta over tarsal claws of walking legs; all tarsal claws appearing simple or finely bifid near tip. Measurements (in micrometers (µm)): Male (2 specimens): length of body 900 ( ); length of coxal plate III-IV 275 ( ); dorsal lengths of pedipalp segments: P-1 20, P-2 100, P-3 55, P-4 100, P-5 47 (45-50); length of genital field 250; dorsal lengths of leg segments: I-leg-1 55 (50-60), I-leg-2 74 (70-77), I-leg ( ), I-leg ( ), I-leg ( ), I-leg-6 87 (85-88); IV-leg (90-110), IV-leg-2 98 (95-100), IV-leg ( ), IV-leg ( ), IV-leg ( ), IV-leg ( ). Female (2 specimens): length of body 1200; length of coxal plate III- IV 310; dorsal lengths of pedipalp segments: P-1 25, P-2 120, P-3 70, P-4 130, P-5 54; length of genital field 250; dorsal lengths of leg segments: I-leg-1 57 (55-60), I-leg-2 82 (78-85), I-leg ( ), I-leg ( ), I-leg ( ), I-leg-6 90; IV-leg ( ), IV-leg ( ), IV-leg ( ), IVleg ( ), IV-leg ( ), IV-leg ( ).

2 DISTRIBUTION-- Africa. NOTES Unionicola banguiensis is only known from its orginal collection by Bruno Borsari. In many ways, it symbolizes how little we know about the African mussel mites. The species are illustrated in their original descriptions (Vidrine, Borsari and Bastian-Stanford 2005b). These large mites resemble Mutelicola, but they are divergent in several character states, including the absence of setae in the male genital field, possess distinctive anterior-lateral chitinous extension on coxal plate III, have fewer acetabula, and no sexual dimorphism. Male body length ranges between µm, whereas the females are ca µm in length. There is a bit of variation in our lot of mites. For example, the specimens vary in the number of genital acetabula: males with 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 9 pairs of acetabula (3/5, 2/5 common); females with 8, 10, 11, 12 pairs of acetabula (2/6, 3/7, 3/8, 3/9 common). No obvious dorsal plates were visible but some specimens were preserved poorly thus not permitting ready clearing for view of dorsal plates. HOSTS These mites are parasites of Chambardia wissmanni (von Martens) (Iridinidae) from Ubangi (Oubangui) River, Central African Republic, May 1994, collected by Bruno Borsari.

3 Figure 1: Unionicola banguiensis (after Vidrine et al. 2005): Top left: male venter. Top right: posterior coxal group. Bottom left: male genital field. Bottom right: female genital field. (Drawings by Myriam Bastian-Stanford).

4 Figure 2: Unionicola banguiensis (after Vidrine et al. 2005): Top: male leg I. Middle: male leg IV. Bottom left: tarsal claws of leg IV. Bottom right: pedipalp. (Drawings by Myriam Bastian-Stanford).

5 Plate 1: Top left: male venter. Top right: leg I. Middle left: male coxal plates. Middle upper right: pedipalp and leg I. Middle lower center right: tarsal claw of leg IV. Middle lower right: tarsus of pedipalp. Bottom left: male posterior venter with genital field. Bottom right: pedipalp.

6 Plate 2: Top left: male venter. Top right: female venter. Middle left: male venter. Middle right: female venter. Bottom left: male genital field. Bottom right: composite photo of female genital field.

7 Plate 3: female posterior coxal group:

8 Plate 4: male anterior coxal plates:

9 Plate 5: male posterior coxal group:

10 Plate 6: male genital plate:

11 Plate 7: male genital field at posterior terminus: Plate 8: leg I:

12 Plate 9: female genital field: Plate 10: leg IV:

13 Plate 11: male leg IV: Plate 12: pedipalp:

Unionicola (Unionicolides) calnani Vidrine 1986d. Plates in Vidrine (1996a)

Unionicola (Unionicolides) calnani Vidrine 1986d Plates 53-55 in Vidrine (1996a) Synonomy-- Unionicola sp. nov. type 6 in Vidrine (1980a). Unionicola (Unionicolides) calnani Vidrine 1986d, Vidrine 1986e,