Rafapicobia thamnophili, Glowska, Eliza & Schmidt, Brian K., 2014

Glowska, Eliza & Schmidt, Brian K., 2014, New taxa of the subfamily Picobiinae (Cheyletoidea: Syringophilidae) parasitizing antbirds and gnateaters (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae, Conopophagidae) in Guyana, Zootaxa 3861 (2), pp. 193-200 : 196-198

Rafapicobia thamnophili sp. nov.

( Figs. 6–10 )

PHYSOGASTRIC FEMALE. Total body length 535 (555–565 in two paratypes). Gnathosoma . Hypostomal apex tapering, sharp-ended ( Fig. 8 ). Infracapitulum punctate. Borders between chambers both in medial and lateral branches of peritremes invisible ( Fig. 9 ). Stylophore 130 (120–125) long, apunctate. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield divided into three sclerites, 2 narrow lateral, bearing bases of setae si and se, punctate along outer edge and unpaired central shield bearing bases of setae vi, ve and c1, punctate on whole surface. Lateral sclerites fused with central part unilaterally or bilaterally in some specimens. Setae vi bases situated anterior to ve. Length ratio of vi: ve: si 1:2–3:2.6-3. Bases of setae se and c1 situated at same transverse level. Two hysteronotal shields restricted to small punctate areas bearing bases of setae d1. Setae d1 bases situated closer to e2 than d2. Length ratio of setae d2: d1: e2 0.9 –1.5:1:1–1.5. Pygidial shield strongly sclerotized, densely punctate, bearing bases of setae f1 and f2. Length ratio of setae f1: f2 1:3–5, h1: h2 1:3.9–4.5, f1: h1 1:2–3.5, f2: h2 1:2.7–4.3. Agenital plates punctate, bearing bases of setae ag1. Length ratio of setae ag2: g 1:1–2. Two pairs of subequal in length pseudanal setae present. Length ratio setae ag1: ag2: ag3 10:1:10. Most of dorsal setae knobbed. Legs. All coxal fields strongly sclerotized, apunctate. Apodemes I with small thorn-like protuberances. Setae 3c 1.6–2.8 times longer than 3b. Antaxial and paraxial members of claws pairs III–IV subequal in size and shape. Setae tc’ and tc’’ of legs III–IV subequal in length. Lengths of setae: vi 35 (35–40), ve 95 (75–80), si 100 (95–110), c2 155 (125–135), se 150 (120–140), c1 185 (170–195), d2 130 (130–145), d1 145 (105–135), e2 150 (130–165), f1 20 (20–35), f2 95 (70–85), h1 70 (65), h2 275 (295–300), ag1 155 (140–145), ag2 15 (15–20), ag3 150 (150–155), g 20 (15–30), ps1 and ps2 10, l’RIII 20 (20–25), l’RIV 20 (10–20), 3b 20 (30–40), 3c 55 (65–75), 4b 35–45, 4c 80 (70).

MALE. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet thamnophili derives from the generic name of the type host.

Type material. Female holotype (physogastric form) and 4 female paratypes (2 physogastric and 2 nonphysogastric forms) from quills of body feathers of Thamnophilus insignis Salvin et Godman ( USNM 639376) ( Passeriformes : Thamnophilidae ), GUYANA: Cuyuni- Mazaruni, Paruima, ca. 19 km N, at Mt. Holitipu, 25 February 2007, coll. B.K. Schmidt.

Non-type material. From Thamnophilidae in GUYANA: 4 females (non-physogastric forms) from Myrmoborus leucophrys (Tschudi) ( USNM 637174), Upper Takutu–Upper Essequibo, Lower Rewa River, 23 August 2006, coll. C.M. Milensky; 2 females (1 physogastric and 1 non-physogastric) from Myrmeciza ferruginea (St. Müller) ( USNM 637194), Upper Takutu - Upper Essequibo, Upper Rewa River, 9 August 2006, coll. B.K. Schmidt; 12 females (10 physogastric and 2 non-physogastric) from Myrmotherula longipennis Pelzeln ( USNM), Upper Takutu–Upper Essequibo, Lower Rewa River, 19 August 2006, coll. C.M. Milensky; 6 (5 physogastric and 1 non-physogastric) females from Hypocnemis cantator (Boddaert) , Upper Takutu–Upper Essequibo, Lower Rewa River, 23 August 2006, coll. C.M. Milensky.

Material deposition. Holotype female and 2 female paratypes are deposited in USNM, 2 female paratypes in AMU. Additional material, 2 females from Myrmoborus leucophrys , 1 female from Myrmeciza ferruginea , 6 females from Myrmotherula longipennis and 3 females from Hypocnemis cantator are deposited in USNM, 2 females from Myrmoborus leucophrys , 1 female from Myrmeciza ferruginea , 6 females from Myrmotherula longipennis and 3 females from Hypocnemis cantator are deposited in AMU.

Differential diagnosis. This new species is most similar morphologically to Rafapicobia dendrocolaptesi Skoracki and Solarczyk, 2012 described from Dendrocolaptes platyrostris Spix from Paraguay and D. picumnus Lichtenstein from Argentina ( Skoracki and Solarczyk 2012). In females of both species, the hysteronotal shields are present and restricted to small punctate areas bearing bases of setae d1, setae ag2 are short (10–15 and 15–20 in R. dendrocolaptesi and R. thamnophili sp. nov., respectively), most of dorsal setae are beaded, all shields are punctate and antaxial and paraxial members of claws pairs III–IV are subequal. Females of R. thamnophili sp. nov. differ from R. dendrocolaptesi by the propodonotal shield generally divided into three parts, two narrow lateral sclerites bearing bases of setae si and se, punctate along the outer edge and the central shield bearing bases of setae vi, ve and c1 (in some specimens lateral sclerites are fused with the central part unilaterally or bilaterally) and lengths of setae ve 75–95, d2 130–145 and h1 65–70. In females of R. dendrocolaptesi the propodonotal shield is entire and lengths of setae are ve 45–60, d2 165–190 and h1 10.

Figures

FIGURES 6 – 10. Rafapicobia thamnophili sp. nov., 6 — dorsal view, 7 — ventral view, 8 — hypostomal apex, 9 — peritremes, 10 — propodonotal setae ve. Scale bars: 6, 7 = 100 µm; 8 – 10 = 50 µm.