Syringophilopsis sittae, Skoracki, Maciej, Hendricks, Sarah A. & Spicer, Greg S., 2011

Skoracki, Maciej, Hendricks, Sarah A. & Spicer, Greg S., 2011, Systematics of the genus Syringophilopsis Kethley, 1970 (Acari: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) with description of three new species from North American passerines, Zootaxa 2793, pp. 1-22 : 9-13

Syringophilopsis sittae sp. nov.

( Figs. 13–24 )

Description. FEMALE ( Figs. 13, 14 and 17–20 ). Total body length of holotype 985 (985–1050 in 6 paratypes).

Gnathosoma . Infracapitulum apunctate. Hypostomal apex with 1 pair of short and sharp-ended protuberances ( Fig. 17 ). Each longitudinal branch of peritremes with 13–14 chambers ( Fig. 18 ). Length of stylophore and movable cheliceral digit 190 (190–215) and (145–155), respectively. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield sparsely punctate at lateral bands. Setae ve and si subequal in length, both about twice longer than vi. Setae se and c1 situated at same transverse level or setae se located slightly anterior to level of setae c1. Hysteronotal shields absent ( Fig. 19 ). Pygidial shield weakly sclerotized, apunctate. Setae f2 and h2 about 4.5–5 times longer than f1 and h1. Aggenital setae ag1– 3 subequal in length. Genital setae g1 and g2 subequal in length, both about 3 times shorter than ag2. Pseudanal setae ps1 and ps2 subequal in length. Coxal fields I–IV sparsely punctate. Setae 3b and 3c subequal in length, or setae 3c 1.1–1.2 times longer than 3b. Cuticular striations as in Figs. 13 and 14 . Legs. Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 8–10 tines ( Fig. 20 ). Setae tc”III–IV 1.8–1.9 times longer than tc’III–IV. Apodemes I fused to middle part of apodemes II. Lengths of setae: vi (165–185), ve 330 (330–350), si 350, se 395 (370), c1 350 (340), c2 355 (320), d1 345 (350–405), d2 375 (405–415), e 345 (370–405), f1 85 (85–90), f2 445 (495), h1 95 (90–95), h2 (430–445), ps1 and ps2 (40–50), g1 and g2 (75–85), ag1 (270–305), ag2 (260–270), ag3 (280–305), sc3 40 (40– 45), sc4 35 (40–45), tc’III–IV (40–50), tc”III–IV (80–95), 3b 145 (135), 3c 155 (150–165).

MALE ( Figs. 15, 16 and 21–24 ). Total body length 680–750 in 4 paratypes. Gnathosoma . Infracapitulum covered by minute punctations. Hypostomal apex smooth ( Fig. 21 ). Each transverse branch of peritremes with 3 chambers, each longitudinal branch with 13–14 chambers ( Fig. 22 ). Length of stylophore and movable cheliceral digit 170–180 and 130–140, respectively. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield punctate at lateral bands. Length ratio of setae vi:ve:si 1:2–2.7:3.6. Setae se situated anterior to level of setae c1. Hysteronotal shield fused to pygidial shield. Setae d2 2–2.3 times longer than setae d1 and e. Setae h 3.3–4.1 times longer than f. Aggenital setae ag1 1.4 times longer than ag2. Genital setae g1 twice longer than g2 ( Fig. 24 ). Pseudanal setae subequal in length. Aedeagus 430 long. Coxal fields I–IV covered by minute punctations. Setae 3c 1.6 times longer than 3b. Cuticular striations as in Figs. 15 and 16 . Legs. Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 8–9 tines ( Fig. 23 ). Setae tc”III–IV 1.7–2.2 times longer than tc’III–IV. Apodemes I fused to middle part of apodemes II. Lengths of setae: vi 50 –65, ve 115– 120, si 200, se 195–215, c1 185, c2 190–200, d1 35–40, d2 80, e 35–50, f 55–65, h 180–195, ag1 140, ag2 100– 105, ag3 110–125, sc3 35–60, tc’III– IV 25–35, tc” III–IV 50–60, 3b 75–80, 3c 130.

Type material. Female holotype, 6 female, 4 male, and 6 nymph paratypes from quill of the White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis Latham, 1790 (Sittidae) ; United States, California, Mendocino Co., UC Hopland, 17 January 2008, coll. G. Spicer (GSS#2579).

Type deposition. All material is deposited in the NMNH, except 3 female and 2 male paratypes in the AMU (AMU–SYR. 301).

Etymology. The species name refers to the generic name of the host.

Differential diagnosis. Syringophilopsis sittae sp. nov. belongs to the turdus species group and is morphologically similar to S. polioptilus Skoracki et al., 2008 described ex Polioptila caerulea (Linnaeus) (Polioptilidae) from USA ( Skoracki et al. 2008). In females of both species, the true hysteronotal shields are absent, and the aggenital setae ag1 and ag2 are subequal in length and longer than the genital setae. The new species differs from S. polioptilus by the following characters: in females of S. sittae sp. nov., the punctate area near the bases of setae d1 are absent, setae tc”III–IV are 1.8–1.9 times longer than tc’III–IV, setae ve are longer than 320, in males setae d2 are 2–2.3 times longer than d1 and e and setae ve are 2–2.7 times longer than vi. In females of S. polioptilus , the punctate area near the bases of setae d1 are present, setae tc”III–IV are 1.4 times longer than tc’III–IV, setae ve are shorter than 290, in males setae d2 are 1.3 times longer than d1 and e, and setae vi and ve are subequal in the length.

Figures

FIGURES 13, 14. Syringophilopsis sittae sp. nov. Female. 13. Dorsal view. 14. Ventral view.

FIGURES 15, 16. Syringophilopsis sittae sp. nov. Male. 15. Dorsal view. 16. Ventral view.

FIGURES 17 – 24. Syringophilopsis sittae sp. nov. Female. 17. Hypostomal apex. 18. Peritreme. 19. Hysteronotal shield. 20. Fan-like seta p’ of leg III. Male. 21. Hypostomal apex. 22. Peritreme. 23. Fan-like seta p’ of leg III. 24. Genito-anal region. Scale bars: 17, 18, 20 – 23 = 20 µm; 19, 24 = 50 µm.