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 c 1 situated at same transverse level or setae se located slightly anterior to level of setae c 1. Hysteronotal shields absent ( Fig. 19 ). Pygidial shield weakly sclerotized, apunctate. Setae f 2 and h 2 about 4.5–5 times longer than f 1 and h 1. Aggenital setae ag 1– 3 subequal in length. Genital setae g 1 and g 2 subequal in length, both about 3 times shorter than ag 2. Pseudanal setae ps 1 and ps 2 subequal in length. Coxal fields I –IV sparsely punctate. Setae 3 b and 3 c subequal in length, or setae 3 c 1.1–1.2 times longer than 3 b. 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), c 1 350 (340), c 2 355 (320), d 1 345 (350–405), d 2 375 (405–415), e 345 (370–405), f 1 85 (85–90), f 2 445 (495), h 1 95 (90–95), h 2 (430–445), ps 1 and ps 2 (40–50), g 1 and g 2 (75–85), ag 1 (270–305), ag 2 (260–270), ag 3 (280–305), sc 3 40 (40– 45), sc 4 35 (40–45), tc’III –IV (40–50), tc”III –IV (80–95), 3 b 145 (135), 3 c 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 c 1. Hysteronotal shield fused to pygidial shield. Setae d 2 2–2.3 times longer than setae d 1 and e. Setae h 3.3–4.1 times longer than f. Aggenital setae ag 1 1.4 times longer than ag 2. Genital setae g 1 twice longer than g 2 ( Fig. 24 ). Pseudanal setae subequal in length. Aedeagus 430 long. Coxal fields I –IV covered by minute punctations. Setae 3 c 1.6 times longer than 3 b. 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, c 1 185, c 2 190–200, d 1 35–40, d 2 80, e 35–50, f 55–65, h 180–195, ag 1 140, ag 2 100– 105, ag 3 110–125, sc 3 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 ag 1 and ag 2 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 d 1 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 d 2 are 2–2.3 times longer than d 1 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 d 1 are present, setae tc”III –IV are 1.4 times longer than tc’III –IV, setae ve are shorter than 290, in males setae d 2 are 1.3 times longer than d 1 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.