Aulonastus lanius, Skoracki, 2011

Skoracki, Maciej, 2011, Quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) of the Palaearctic region 2840, Zootaxa 2840 (1), pp. 1-414 : 146-148

Aulonastus lanius sp. nov.

( Figs. 107 and 108 )

Type hots: Lanius senator Linnaeus ( Passeriformes : Laniidae ). Type locality: Europe.

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Total body length 435 (375–430 in 6 paratypes). Gnathosoma . Infracapitulum sparsely punctate, stylophore apunctate. Each medial branch of peritremes with 2 chambers, each lateral branch with 4–5 chambers. Length of stylophore and movable cheliceral digit 125 (120–125) and 80 (80) respectively. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield constricted posteriorly, punctate, bearing bases of setae ve, si, and c1. Setae se situated slightly anterior to level of setae c1. Length ratio of setae ve: si 1:1. Setae c1 1.4 times longer than se. Length ratio of setae d2: c1 1:1.3–1.6. Hysteronotal shield fused to pygidial shield, sparsely punctate posteriorly, bases of setae d1 and e2 near this shield. Setae f2 about 4 times longer than f1. Setae h2 about 3 times longer than f2. Aggenital setae ag1 and ag2 subequal in length, both about 1.5 times shorter than ag3. Genital plate absent. Both pairs of genital setae subequal in length. All coxal fields sparsely punctate. Setae 3c 1.5 times longer than 3b. Legs. Fanlike setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 6–7 tines. Setae tc” of legs III and IV 1.8 times longer than and tc’III– IV. Lengths of setae: ve 25 (20–25), si 25 (20–25), se 165 (145–170), c1 225 (200–220), c2 145 (155), d1 25 (25– 30), d2 140 (135–155), e2 30 (30–40), f1 20 (20–25), f2 (100–105), h1 20 (20–25), h2 295, ps1 20 (20), g1 and g2 25 (25), ag1 100 (90–110), ag2 90 (90–100), ag3 140 (125–140), tc’III–IV (30), tc”III–IV (55), 3b (45–50), 3c (65–75).

MALE. Unknown.

Type material. Lanius senator Linnaeus ( Passeriformes : Laniidae ): female holotype and 8 female paratypes ( AMU –SYR.247) (cov.); EUROPE, no other data. Host specimen deposited in the MNHW.

Type deposition. All type material deposited in the UAM, except 1 female paratype in the ZISP .

Host range and habitat. Monoxenous species inhabiting quills of covert feathers of Lanius senator .

Distribution. Europe.

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

Differential diagnosis. This new species is closely related to A. loxius , described below. In females of both species, aggenital setae ag1 and ag2 are subequal in the length; setae c1 are 1.2–1.4 times longer than se and no more than 1.6 times longer than d2; setae f2 are 4 times longer than f1. Aulonastus lanius is distinguished from A. loxius by the following characters: in the females of A. lanius , each lateral branch of the peritremes has 4–5 chambers; setae ag3 are 1.5 times longer than ag2; the lengths of setae 3b and 3c are 45–50 and 65–75 respectively. In the females of A. loxius , each lateral branch of the peritremes has 3 chambers; setae ag3 are 1.8 times longer than ag2; the lengths of setae 3b and 3c are 15–20 and 35–50 respectively.

Figures

FIGURE 107. Aulonastus lanius sp. nov., female. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 108. Aulonastus lanius sp. nov., female. A, hypostomal apex; B, peritremes; C, ventral view of opisthosoma; D, fan-like setae p’ of leg III. Scale bars: C = 50 µm; A, B, D–G = 20 µm.