THE FIRST RECORD OF THE SPECIES LACINIUS ERINACEUS STARĘGA , 1966 ( OPILIONES , PHALANGIIDAE ) IN TURKEY WITH SOME SEM STUDIES ON ITS MORPHOLOGY

Abstract The harvestman species of Lacinius erinaceus Staręga 1966, recorded for the first time in Turkey, is presented in this paper. The characteristic features of this species are described and illustrated and data regarding collecting sites and distribution all over the world are given. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies on the dorsal integument, dorsal habitus, chelicerae, pedipalpus, trident, the ocularium and legs of the specimens are also presented. Localities of the collecting sites are plotted on a map.


INTRODUCTION
The harvestmen fauna of Turkey is rather poorly known compared to other regions of the world.To date, 6125 species of 1638 genera of Opiliones have been described in the world (Hallan, 2005).There are only 63 species and 3 subspecies belonging to 7 families known from Turkey (Bayram et al., 2010;Kurt et al., 2010).
The genus Lacinius belongs to the family of Phalangiidae, and is characterized by its trident shape, pedipalp femur covered with many spines and thorns, and femur of the legs ornamented with longitudinal rows of denticles.Sixteen species of Lacinius have been reported all over the world.This genus is represented by 11 species in Europe.Three of them, L. horridus (Panzer, 1794), L. ephippiatus (C.L. Koch, 1835) and L. dentiger (C.L. Koch, 1847), are widely spread in central and northern Europe (Hallan, 2005).The species of L. ephippiatus (C.L. Koch, 1835) was only known in Turkey (Çorak et al., 2008).This work adds L. erinaceus as a new record of harvestmen fauna in Turkey and presents a detailed description of this species.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was carried out in different periods between April and September 2009-2010 in northern Turkey.Samples were collected by hand (with forceps and aspirator) by the authors.Examined specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol and deposited in the Organic Agriculture Department of Şiran Vocational School, Gümüşhane University.The identification of species was made with a ZX61 Olympus stereomicroscope.
For SEM studies, specimens were kept in 70% ethyl alcohol before being photographed by SEM.They were dried at 37°C in an oven for 30 min for dehydration and were fixed on copper stubs covered by two-sided sticky carbon paper.The specimens were then coated with a thin layer of gold by a sput-ter coater in the electron microscopy unit of the University of Karadeniz Technical (Trabzon, Turkey).Finally, the specimens were photographed by SEM (JSM 6400).
Chelicerae: Shaped normally, basal segment with an inconspicuous ventral spur, distal segment covered with setae and hairs.Chelicerae, originally pale yellow, with brown spots on dorsal of basal segment and lateral of distal segment (Figure 4).(0.7+0.3+0.5+1.2).Pedipalps are robust, short and dark yellow.Ventral-dorsal surface of femur and lateral-dorsal surface of patella and tibia are armed with long strong spine.Patella of pedipalp with at least three denticle-like spines.Tarsus is covered with hairs and numerous setae.Tarsal claw is smooth (Fig. 5).

World distribution
To date, this speciesis only recorded in Abkhazia the Caucasus (Staręga, 1966).

Habitat
The members of this species were collected from ruins, shrub, under stones and leaf litter in a Pinus forest glade.