Gastronyssus philippinensis Bochkov, 2008

Bochkov, Andre V., Zabludovskaya, Svetlana & Oconnor, Barry M., 2008, Phylogeny and systematics of the endoparasitic astigmatid mites (Acari: Sarcoptiformes) of mammals: families Gastronyssidae, Lemurnyssidae, and Pneumocoptidae, Zootaxa 1951 (1), pp. 1-152 : 41-43

2. Gastronyssus philippinensis Bochkov et OConnor sp. nov.

( Fig. 15 )

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Body 1850 long (1580–1870 in 10 paratypes), 350 wide (340–350). Propodonotal shield length 105 (95–105), maximum width 115 (105–115). Sternum 120 long (110–120). Apodemes II fused to each other only at distal ends. Inseminatory canal about 60 long. Tibiae I–II 80 long (70– 80); tibiae III–IV 60 long (55–60); all tibiae about 3 times longer than respective genua. Length/width (at base of segment) ratio of tibiae I–II about 1:3; tibiae III–IV 1:4. Setae r III–IV very small. Setal lengths: 1a 11–12, h2 15–16, vF I–II about 4, cG I–II about 5, mG I–II about 6, gT I–II about 5, ϕI–II about 5, r I–II about 25, w I–II about 9.

MALE (1 paratype). Body 1110 long, 350 wide. Propodonotal shield length 100, maximum width 110. Sternum 125 long. Apodemes II fused to each other only by their distal ends. Aedeagus about 80 long. Vestiges of setae 4b present. Vestiges of setae ps3 situated on nipple-like protrusions. Tibiae I–II 65 long, about 2.5 times longer than respective genua; tibiae III 85 long, 2.5 times shorter than respective genua, tibiae IV about 100 long, 2 times shorter than respective genua, bearing dorso-apical tubercle. Length/width (at base of segment) ratio of tibiae I–II about 1:3; tibiae III–IV 1:5. Genu IV with ventro-apical spur. Setae r III–IV very small. Setal lengths: 1a 13, h2 12, vF I–II about 3, cG I–II about 4, mG I–II about 5, gT I–II about 4, ϕI–II about 4, r I–II about 23, w I–II about 6.

Type material examined. Female holotype, 18 female, 1 male, 6 larvae, 3 protonymph, and 1 tritonymph paratypes ( BMOC 83-1600-104) from Harpyionycteris whiteheadi Thomas (Pteropodidae) ( UMMZ 158839) [stomach], PHILIPPINES: Negros Oriental, Mt. Guinsayawan, 09°45'N, 123°00'E, 11 June 1983, P. Heideman ( PDH 2075).

Type deposition. Holotype and most of paratypes in UMMZ, two female paratypes in NMP, one female paratype in IRSNB, 1 female paratype in OSAL, one female paratype in ZISP, 1 female, 1 larva paratypes in USNM.

Non-type material examined. One larva ( HK 88-0202-002) from Haplonycteris fischeri Lawrence (Pteropodidae) ( UMMZ 159911) [intranasal], PHILIPPINES: Negros Oriental, Sibulan Municip., Lake Balinsasayao, 3km N, 14km W. Dumaguete, 850m., 09°21'N 123°11'E, 10 December 1982, P.D. Heideman ( PDH 1224); 2 larvae ( HK 87-0510-005) from Ptenochirus jagori (Peters) (Pteropodidae) ( USNM 459201) [mouth], PHILIPPINES: Negros Oriental, 9km N, 4km W Dumaguete, 600m, 09°23'N 123°11'E, 10 May 1987, coll. E.A. Rickart ( EAR 1567); 1 larva ( HK 86-0425-001) from Rousettus amplexicaudatus (Geoffroy) (Pteropodidae) ( UMMZ 161504) [intranasal], PHILIPPINES: Negros Oriental, Dumaguete City, 09°18'N, 123°18'E, 5m., 23 August 1982, P.D. Heideman ( PDH 750).

Host range and distribution. This species is known for certain from the type host, Harpyionycteris whiteheadi , from the Philippines. Larvae collected from pteropodids Haplonycteris fischeri , Ptenochirus jagori and Rousettus amplexicaudatus are tentatively assigned to this species. Recovery of larvae in the mouth and nasal cavities of the hosts indicates that this is the dispersing stage.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the country of origin and is a noun in apposition.

Remarks. This new species differs from G. bakeri by the following characters. In both sexes of G. philippinensis sp. nov., apodemes II are fused to each other only by their distal ends, setae r III–IV are very short, microspines; in females the body length is 1580–1870 long, the length/width (at the base of the segment) ratio of tibiae I–II is about 1:3 and tibiae III–IV is 1:4, setae r I–II are about 25; in males the body length is 1110 long, the length/width (at the base of the segment) ratio of tibiae I–II is about 1:3 and tibiae III–IV is 1:5, tibiae IV are with the dorso-apical tubercle, genua IV are with the ventro-apical spur, setae r I–II are about 23 long. In both sexes of G. bakeri , apodemes II are fused to each other in their posterior third, setae r III–IV are claw-like, distinctly developed; in females the body length is 970–1230 long, the length/width (at the base of the segment) ratio of tibiae I–II is about 1:2 and tibiae III–IV is 1:3, setae r I–II are about 13; in males the body length is 730–745 long, the length/width (at the base of the segment) ratio of tibiae I–II is about 1:2 and tibiae III–IV is 1:3, tibiae IV are without the dorso-apical tubercle, genua IV are without the ventro-apical spur, setae r I–II are about 17.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Gastronyssus philippinensis Bochkov et OConnor, sp. nov., female (A–D). A, tibia and tarsus I in dorsal view; B, tibia and tarsus II in dorsal view; C, tarsus and posterior part of tibia III in dorsal view; D, tarsus and posterior part of tibia IV in dorsal view. Male (E–J). E, genu III in lateral view; F, aedeagus; G, anterior part of aedeagus; H, tibia and tarsus I in dorsal view; I, tibia and tarsus II in dorsal view; J, place of fusion of sternum with distal ends of apodemes II and posterior sclerites of coxal fields II. Scale bars: 100 µm (F,J), 50 µm (A–E, G–I).