Ascoschoengastia tragulata (Brennan and Jones, 1961)

Stekolnikov, Alexandr A., Capek, Miroslav & Literák, Ivan, 2022, New species and records of chiggers (Acariformes: Trombiculidae) from birds of the Neotropics, Zootaxa 5141 (6), pp. 501-552 : 535-537

Ascoschoengastia tragulata (Brennan and Jones, 1961)

( Fig. 22 )

Euschöngastia tragulata Brennan and Jones, 1961b: 110 , fig. 6.

Ascoschoengastia (Ascoschoengastia) tragulata: Vercammen-Grandjean 1965: 92 .

Euschoengastia tragulata: Brennan & Junker 1966: 235 ; Brennan 1970: 811.

Microtrombicula tragulata: Webb & Loomis 1970: 141 , fig. 4; Brennan & Reed 1975: 56; Hoffmann 1990: 94, fig. 59; Bassini-Silva et al. 2021: 777.

Ascoschoengastia tragulata: Kudryashova 1998: 30 .

Microtrombicula (Microtrombicula) tragulata: Nielsen et al. 2021: 156 .

Diagnosis. SIF = 6B(N)-N-3-3111.1000; fsp = 7.7.7; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fPp = B/b/N(b)N(b)B(f); fSc: PL> AM> AL; Ip = 549–571; fD = 2H-6-6-6-4+(2–8); DS = 26–32; V = 23–30; NDV = 55–56. Palpal femoral seta with small cilia, palpal genual seta with 1–2 branches, dorsal and lateral palpal tibial setae nude or having 1–2 branches, ventral palpal tibial seta branched or forked; scutum nearly pentagonal, punctated, with anterolateral shoulders, with rounded, slightly projected posterior margin; AM anterior to level of AL; sensilla fusiform, with longitudinal rows of setules, far anterior to level of PL (PSB—P-PL = 8–11 µm). Standard measurements of examined specimens given in Table 11.

Distribution. Bolivia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela ( Bassini-Silva et al. 2021), and Costa Rica (this study). “ Microtrombicula nr. tragulata ” was also recorded by Brennan & Lukoschus (1971) from Surinam.

Hosts . Bassariscus astutus (Lichtenstein) , Nasua narica (L.), Potos flavus (Schreber) ( Carnivora : Procyonidae ), Coendou quichua Thomas (= C. rothschildi ) ( Rodentia : Erethizontidae ), Rattus rattus (L.) ( Rodentia : Muridae ), Hylaeamus megacephalus (Fischer) (= Oryzomys capito ) ( Rodentia : Cricetidae ), Didelphis marsupialis L., Marmosa robinsoni Bangs ( Didelphimorphia : Didelphidae ) ( Brennan 1970; Brennan & Reed 1975).

New host records: Glyphorynchus spirurus , Xiphorhynchus erythropygius , Myrmotherula schisticolor .

Localization on hosts. In ears ( X. erythropygius Nos T 071 and T297), around vent ( G. spirurus No T 016), in ears and around vent ( G. spirurus No T 250), in axilla and surrounding area ( M. schisticolor No T 014).

Material examined. 28 larvae ( ZIN 9305–9314, 9318, 9319, 9325, 9486, 9488-9490, 9494, 9533-9542) ex X. erythropygius Nos T 071 and T 297, M. schisticolor No T 014, G. spirurus Nos T 016 and T 250, COSTA RICA: Tapanti Nat. Park, Sector Tapanti, 31 July–9 August 2009.

Remarks. Based on the presence of fusiform sensilla, this species should be placed in the genus Ascoschoengastia Ewing, 1946 rather than Microtrombicula Ewing, 1950 , to which it is referred by most modern authors ( Webb & Loomis 1970; Brennan & Reed 1975; Hoffmann 1990; Bassini-Silva et al. 2021). These two genera are morphologically identical, except for the shape of sensilla—inflated in Ascoschoengastia and flagelliform in Microtrombicula ( Nadchatram & Dohany 1974) .

Figures

FIGURE 22. Ascoschoengastia tragulata (Brennan and Jones, 1961), specimen ZIN 9306 (one sensillum lost). A—general view, B—dorsal aspect of idiosoma, C—scutum, D—ventral aspect of idiosoma. Scale bars: 100 µm (A), 50 µm (B–D).