Amerodectes passerinae, Mironov & Chandler, 2017

Mironov, Sergey V. & Chandler, C. Ray, 2017, New feather mites of the genus Amerodectes Valim and Hernandes (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in Georgia, USA, Zootaxa 4344 (2), pp. 201-245 : 230-234

Amerodectes passerinae sp. n.

( Figs. 16–18 )

Type material. Male holotype (BMOC-16-0825-026), 6 male and 10 female paratypes from Passerina ciris (Linnaeus,1758) ( Passeriformes : Cardinalidae ), USA, Georgia, Statesboro,, Georgia Southern University campus, 32°25'15"N, 81°47'22"W, 13 April 2015, coll. C.R. Chandler.

Depository. Holotype, 3 male and 7 female paratypes—BMOC, 3 male and 3 female paratypes—ZISP.

Description. Male (holotype, range for 6 paratypes in parentheses). Idiosoma, length × width, 345 (345–350) × 125 (125–140), length of hysterosoma 225 (220–230). Prodorsal shield: entire, anterolateral extensions acute, lateral margins with concavities almost extending to bases of scapular setae se, posterior margin straight, posterior angles acute, surface without ornamentation, length 105 (100–110), width 95 (95–105), ( Fig. 16A ). Setae ve represented by microsetae. Bases of scapular setae se separated by 53 (50–55). Scapular shields narrow, scarcely developed dorsally. Humeral shields represented by narrow longitudinal sclerites situated ventrally. Setae cp at ventral margins of humeral shields, setae c2 on striated tegument. Subhumeral setae c3 lanceolate, 21 (20–22) × 6 (6–7.5). Hysteronotal shield: anterior margin straight or slightly concave, surface with barely distinct minute lacunae (in some specimens lacunae indistinct), greatest length 225 (225–230), width at anterior margin 87 (85– 95). Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields about 12–20. Opisthosomal lobes approximately as long as wide at base; posterior margins of lobes roughly rounded, with short and truncate extensions at bases of setae h2 and h3. Terminal cleft shaped as an inverted U with widely divergent branches, 25 (25–28) long. Supranal concavity semicircular. Setae f2 anterior to bases of setae ps2. Setae h1 situated at level of supranal concavity. Setae h3 needle-like, 38 (35–38) long; setae ps2 75 (75–90) long. Setae ps1 filiform, about 10 long, situated on margin of terminal cleft approximately at level of setae ps2. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 85 (80–85), d2:e2 82 (80–87), e2:h3 43 (40–43), d1:d2 33 (32–40), e1: e2 31 (28–33), h1:ps2 20 (20–23), h2:h2 50 (48–52), h3:h3 32 (32–36), ps2:ps2 57 (56–62).

Epimerites I fused into a Y with very short stem, posterior end of this stem with three small tooth-like extensions ( Fig. 16B ). Epimerites II with small triangular sclerotized fields on inner margins. Coxal fields I, II without extensively sclerotized areas. Rudimentary sclerites rEpIIa absent. Coxal fields I–III open. Coxal fields IV without sclerotized areas at bases of trochanters IV. Epimerites IVa absent. Genital arch of moderate size, 22 (20– 22) × 38 (37–40); aedeagus sword-shaped, 72 (70–74) long, scarcely extending to anterior margins of anal opening; basal sclerite of genital apparatus shaped as transverse plate with rectangular notch on posterior margin ( Fig. 18A ). Genital papillae not connected at bases. Genital and adanal shields absent. Adanal suckers 11 (11–12) in diameter, corolla smooth, surrounding membrane with radial striae. Opisthoventral shields occupying lateral areas of opisthosoma and almost all of the opisthosomal lobes; inner margins of these shields at level of adanal suckers with small roughly rectangular extensions bearings setae ps3; anterior margins of these shields covering opisthosomal lobes with small heavily sclerotized extension. Setae 4b situated distinctly posterior to level of setae 3a; setae ps3 at level of posterior margins of adanal suckers. Distance between ventral setae: 4b: 3a 5 (5–6), 4b:4a 38 (35–40), 4a:g 43 (36–44), g:ps3 50 (50–52), ps3:ps3 57 (55–60), ps3:h3 33 (32–35).

Femora I, II with narrow ventral crests, other segments of legs I, II without processes ( Figs. 18B, C ). Solenidion σ1 of genu I slightly longer that half-length of this segment, situated at its midlevel. Genual setae cG I, II and mG I filiform, setae mG II slightly thickened basally. Setae d of tarsi II, III much shorter than corresponding setae f. Solenidion φ of tibia IV extending to proximal margin of ambulacral disc. Tarsus IV 25 (25–28) long, with apical process; seta d in basal half of this segment ( Fig. 18D ). Length of solenidia: ω 1 I 13 (13–15), ω 1 II 12 (11– 12), σ 1 I 10 (9–11), σ III 8 (8–10), φ IV 26 (25–27).

FEMALE (range for 10 paratypes). Idiosoma, length × width, 450–470 × 160–170, length of hysterosoma 320–335. Prodorsal shield: generally shaped as in male, posterior margin with a pair of shallow concavities and wide median extension between them, 110–125 × 110–130, surface without ornamentation. Setae ve represented by microsetae. Bases of setae se separated by 65–72. Scapular shields narrow, scarcely developed dorsally. Humeral shields represented by narrow longitudinal sclerites situated ventrally. Setae cp on ventral margins of humeral sclerites, setae c2 situated on striated tegument. Setae c3 lanceolate, 22–24 × 8–9. Anterior and lobar parts of hysteronotal shield separated dorsally by narrow transverse band of soft tegument and connected ventrolaterally ( Fig. 17A ). Anterior hysteronotal shield nearly rectangular, slightly attenuate at posterior end, anterior margin slightly concave, greatest length 250–255, width at anterior margin 110–115, surface with numerous minute circular lacunae, size and density of these lacunae increasing to posterior end of this shield. Length of lobar region 75–85, greatest width 75–80. Terminal cleft narrow, with lateral margins almost touching anteriorly and slightly divergent posteriorly, 50–55 long. Lobar shield completely split longitudinally into two pieces; anterior ends of these pieces bearing setae h1 and 2–3 small circular lacunae. Supranal concavity absent. Setae h1 and f2 arranged in low trapezium. Setae h2 spindle-like, 45–48 × 7–8. Setae ps1 situated near inner margins of opisthosomal lobes, closer to lobar apices than to setae h2. Setae h 3 15–24 long, 1/4–1/3 the length of terminal appendages. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 100–105, d2:e2 110–115, e2:h2 50–60, h2:h3 32–36, d1:d2 40–45, e1: e 2 30–40, h1:h 2 26–30, h1:h 1 28–30, h2:h2 57–62, h2:ps 1 22–24.

Epimerites I fused into a Y with very short and acute stem ( Fig. 17B ). Lateral parts of coxal fields I, II without large sclerotized areas. Epimerites IVa absent. Translobar apodemes of opisthosomal lobes present, wide, not fused to each other anterior to terminal cleft. Epigynum with small blunt-angular lateral extensions, greatest width 63– 72; apodemes of oviporus connected with epimerites IIIa. Pseudanal setae filiform, setae ps2 situated at level of posterior half of anal opening and widely separated from each other; distance between pseudanal setae: ps2:ps2 38–42, ps3:ps 3 19–25, ps2:ps 3 22–27. Primary spermaduct with enlargement in proximal ¼ of its length; continuation of primary spermaduct in spermatheca narrow cone-like; secondary spermaducts about 35 long ( Fig. 18E ).

Femora II with ventral crest, other segments of legs I, II without processes. Solenidion σ1 of genu I half as long as this segment and situated at its midlevel. Genual setae cG I, II, mG I, II as in male. Seta d and f of tarsi II subequal, setae d of tarsi III, IV much shorter than corresponding setae f. Genu IV dorsally inflated, with narrow dorsal crest. Lengths of solenidia: ω 1 I 15–17, ω 1 II 12–13, σ 1 I 13–15, σ III 7–8, φ III 28–30, φ IV 10–11.

Differential diagnosis. Amerodectes passerinae sp. n. is most similar to A. tangarae Mironov, 2008 described from Tangara cayana (Linnaeus) (Thraupidae) in Brazil ( Mironov et al. 2008). In males of both species, the aedeagus extends to the anterior end of the anal opening, setae h3 are relatively long and comparable in length to the distance between their bases, tarsus IV has a small apical claw-like extension, the anterior margin of opisthoventral shields covering opisthosomal lobes have small strongly sclerotized extensions; in females, the lobar shield is completely split longitudinally. Amerodectes passerinae differs from A. tangarae by the following features; in males, setae h3 are spiculiform (35–38 µm long) and longer than the distance between their bases, the width of idiosoma is narrower (125–140 µm), the extensions of opisthoventral shield bearing setae ps3 are acute anteriorly and heavily sclerotized, the distance between levels of setae d1 and d2 is twice less that the distance between levels of setae c1 and d1; in females, setae h3 are about 1/4 the length of terminal appendages, the length of idiosoma is 450–470 µm, the primary spermaduct inside spermatheca is shaped as a narrow cone and without folds on its free margin. In males of A. tangarae , setae h3 are narrowly lanceolate (40–45 µm long) and slightly shorter than the distance between their bases, the width of idiosoma is 150–165 µm, the extensions of opisthoventral shield bearing setae ps3 are short and blunt-angular, the distance between the levels of setae d1 and d2 is approximately equal to the distance between the levels of setae c1 and d2; in females, setae h3 are about 1/5th– 1/6th the length of terminal appendages, the length of idiosoma is 515–530 µm, the primary spermaduct inside spermatheca is shaped as a wide funnel and with denticle-like folds on the free margin.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the generic name of the type host and in a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

FIGURE 16. Amerodectes passerinae sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 17. Amerodectes passerinae sp. n., female. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 18. Amerodectes passerinae sp. n., details. A—opisthosoma of male, ventral view, B, C—legs I, II of male, respectively, D—tibia and tarsus IV of male, E—spermatheca and spermaducts.