Review of the genus Holostaspis Kolenati, 1858 (Acari: Laelapidae)

Abstract

Mites in the genus Holostaspis Kolenati, 1858 (Acari: Laelapidae) are usually found in association with ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). In this paper we review the genus based on examination of six species from Slovakia, namely H. ambigua sp. nov., H. collina (Huhta & Karg, 2010), H. flexuosa (Michael, 1891) comb. nov., H. isotricha Kolenati, 1858, H. montana (Berlese, 1904) and H. oophila (Wasmann, 1897). We also carried out a careful study of the published work on Holostaspis and related genera, and examined types in the Berlese Acaroteca and other collections. Seven species previously described under the names Hypoaspis (Holostaspis) and Holostaspis are transferred to other genera—H. (H.) brevidentis Karg, 1978 = Pseudoparasitus brevidentis (Karg, 1978) comb. nov., H. (H.) chelaris Teng, Zhang & Cui, 1992 = Euandrolaelaps chelaris (Teng, Zhang & Cui, 1992) comb. nov., H. (H.) metapodalii Karg, 1978 = Gymnolaelaps metapodalii (Karg, 1978) comb. nov., H. mooni Keum, Jung & Joharchi, 2017 = Hypoaspisella mooni (Keum, Jung & Joharchi, 2017) comb. nov., H. (H.) serpentis Karg, 1979 = Hypoaspisella serpentis (Karg, 1979) comb. nov., H. (H.) tridentata Karg, 1979 = Gymnolaelaps tridentatus (Karg, 1979) comb. nov., and Holostaspis (Holostaspis) marginedentatus Trägårdh, 1910 is transferred to Glyptholaspis (Macrochelidae). Based on features of the type specimens (deposited at the Berlese Collection in Florence), the morphological concept of Myrmonyssus (Laelaspulus) acuminatus Berlese, 1903 is revised and the systematic status of the subgenus is re-evaluated. The monobasic Laelaspulus Berlese, 1904 is now removed from synonymy with Myrmozercon Berlese, 1902 and newly considered as a junior synonym of Holostaspis. Another four revised species, originally classified in Laelaps Koch, Myrmozercon Berlese or Hypoaspis Canestrini, are transferred into Holostaspis—L. flexuosa Michael, 1891 = Holostaspis flexuosa (Michael, 1891) comb. nov., M. iranicus Babaeian & Nemati, 2014 = Holostaspis iranica (Babaeian & Nemati, 2014) comb. nov., M. michaeli Joharchi, 2013 = Holostaspis michaeli (Joharchi, 2013) comb. nov., and H. submontana Bai, Gu & Chen, 1994 = Holostaspis submontana (Bai, Gu & Chen, 1994) comb. nov. A complete list of all species formerly classified in Holostaspis is presented, with details of their current placement. An identification key for the species now included in Holostaspis is also provided.