Pteroclidisyringophilus, Skoracki, 2011

Skoracki, Maciej, 2011, Quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) of the Palaearctic region 2840, Zootaxa 2840 (1), pp. 1-414 : 264

Genus: Pteroclidisyringophilus gen. nov.

Type species: Charadriphilus re Skoracki and OConnor, 2010 designated here.

Diagnosis. FEMALE. Medium-sized quill mites (total body length 605–635). Gnathosoma . Hypostomal apex without median protuberances. Two pairs of hypostomal lips present. Lateral hypostomal teeth absent. Peritremes M-shaped, longitudinal branch reduced to 3 small chambers. Movable cheliceral digit edentate. Stylophore slightly constricted posteriorly. Idiosoma . All idiosomal setae smooth. Propodonotal shield entire, without pocket-like structures, bearing bases of setae vi, ve, si, se and c1. Six pairs of propodonotal setae present arranged 2–1–1–2. Hysteronotal shield present, fused to pygidial shield. Setae d1, d2, e2, f2 and h2 long, f1 and h1 short. Terminal setae f2 situated close to level of setae f1. Genital and pseudanal series with 2 pairs of setae. Aggenital series with 3 pairs of setae. Legs. Legs I thicker than II–IV. Apodemes I slightly divergent, not fused to apodemes II, both apodemes different in size and shape. Antaxial and paraxial members of claw pair subequal in size and shape, basal angles absent. Legs with full complement of setae.

MALE. Characteristics as in females except: total body length 485–495; propodonotal setae arranged 2–1–2– 1; setae d2, d1, e2, f2 and h2 short; aggenital series with 2 pairs of setae.

Differential diagnosis. This genus is morphologically similar to Charadriphilus . In females of both genera, the hypostomal apex is rounded; the stylophore is constricted posteriorly; the movable cheliceral digits are edentate; the propodonotal shield is entire and bearing 6 pairs of setae arranged 2–1–1–2; the hysteronotal shield is present; setae d1, d2, e2, f2 and h2 are long, f1 and h1 are short; genital and pseudanal setal series are comprise 2 pairs; the aggenital setal series with 3 pairs; legs are with the full complement of setae. This new genus differs from Charadriphilus by the following characters: in females of Pteroclidisyringophilus , each lateral branch of the peritremes has reduced number of chambers (3); the propodonotal setae are smooth; terminal setae f2 are situated close to the level of setae f1; legs I are thicker than legs II–IV; in males, aggenital series with 2 pairs of setae (ag3 absent). In females of Charadriphilus , each lateral branch of the peritremes has numerous chambers (7–17); the propodonotal setae are ornamented; terminal setae f2 are situated far from the level of setae f1; legs I–IV are subequal in thickness; in males, aggenital series with 3 pairs of setae.

Etymology. This generic name refers to the host order— Pteroclidiformes .

Host range. Mites of this genus are associated with birds of the order Pteroclidiformes (Pteroclididae) .

Habitat. Unknown.

Species included. Type species only, P. re.