Neoaulonastus picidus, Skoracki, 2011

Skoracki, Maciej, 2011, Quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) of the Palaearctic region 2840, Zootaxa 2840 (1), pp. 1-414 : 124-125

Neoaulonastus picidus sp. nov.

( Figs. 88–89 )

Type host: Picus canus Gmelin ( Piciformes : Picidae ). Type locality: Slovakia.

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Total body length 465 (455–505 in 5 paratypes). Gnathosoma . Infracapitulum apunctate. Each medial branch of the peritremes with 2–3 chambers, each lateral branch with 4–5 chambers. Stylophore apunctate, 135 (135–145) long. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield apunctate, concave on anterior margin. Length ratio of setae ve: si 1:1. Setae c1 and se situated at same transverse level. Hysteronotal shield not fused to pygidial shield, weakly sclerotized, striae visible, situated between bases of setae d1 and d2. Setae c1 3.9–5.3 times longer than d2. Length ratio of setae f1: f2 1:2.5. Length ratio of aggenital setae ag1: ag2: ag3 1.5:1:1.7. Both pairs of pseudanal setae subequal in length. All coxal fields sparsely punctate or apunctate. Setae 3c 1.6 times longer than 3b. Legs. Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 9 tines. Setae tc”III–IV about 1.5 times longer than tc’III–IV. Lengths of setae: ve 30 (25–30), si 30 (25–30), se (145–175), c1 (185–195), c2 195 (145–180), d1 30 (30– 45), d2 40 (35–50), e2 55 (45–50), f1 30 (25–30), f2 70 (65–85), h1 35 (30–40), h2 280 (255–265), ag1 (70–75), ag2 50 (45–50), ag3 80 (80–85), g1 35 (30–35), g2 40 (35), ps1 20 (15–20), ps2 20 (15–20), tc’III–IV 35 (35), tc”III–IV 50 (55), 3b (30), 3c (40–50).

MALE. Unknown.

Type material. Picus canus Gmelin ( Piciformes : Picidae ): female holotype and 5 female paratypes ( AMU – SYR.241) (cov.); SLOVAKIA, Bardejov, 1968, coll. T. Weisz.

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

Non-type material. Dendrocopos leucotos (Bechstein) (Picidae) : 4 females and 2 nymphs ( AMU –SYR.242) (cov.); SLOVAKIA, Valkov, 25 April 1968, coll. T. Weisz. Material deposited in the AMU. Dendrocopos major (Linnaeus) (Picidae) : 2 females ( AMU –SYR.243) (bod.); POLAND, Zachodniopomorskie, Darlowko Wschodnie, Bukowo-Kopan, 2 November 2001, coll. M. Skoracki. Material deposited in the AMU.

Host range and habitat. Oligoxenous species inhabiting quills of covert and body feathers of woodpeckers: Dendrocopos leucotos , D. major and Picus canus .

Distribution. Slovakia and Poland.

Etymology. The name picidus refers to the family name of the hosts.

Differential diagnosis. This new species is morphologically similar to N. riparius . Females of both species have 3–5 chambers in each lateral branch of the peritremes; setae f2 are distinctly longer than f1 and propodonotal shield is present. This new species is distinguished from N. riparius by the following characters: in females of N. picidus , the total body length is 455–505; the propodonotal shield is apunctate; setae f2 are 2.5 times longer than f1; setae c1 are 3.9–5.3 times longer than d2; the lengths of setae f2 and d2 are 65–85 and 35–50 respectively. In females of N. riparius , the total body length is 585–650; the propodonotal shield is sparsely punctate; setae f2 are 6–8 times longer than f1; setae c1 are not significantly (1.1 times) longer than d2; the lengths of setae f2 and d2 are 175–200 and 170–205 respectively.

Figures

FIGURE 88. Neoaulonastus picidus sp. nov., female. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 89. Neoaulonastus picidus sp. nov., female. A, peritreme; B, ventral view of opisthosoma; C, fan-like seta p’ of leg III; D, bases of setae e2. Scale bars: C = 50 µm; A, B, D = 20 µm.