Opsonyssus Fain, 1959

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 : 65-66

Genus Opsonyssus Fain, 1959

Fain 1959a: 8, 1959b: 160, 1959d: 18, 1964b: 41, 1967: 30, 1970: 160, 1972: 71.

Type species: Rodhainyssus brutsaerti Fain, 1956 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. ADULTS. Setae subc absent. Pair of distinct apically pointed projections present ventrally or ventro-laterally on gnathosoma. Idiosoma moderately elongated, about 2 times as long as wide, almost ellipsoid in outline. Propodonotal shield fused with apodemes I, its posterior margin widely rounded or with median projection. Idiosomal dorsum and opisthosomal venter covered by distinct striations. Sternum connected with apodemes II. Foramen between sternal apex and distal ends of apodemes II present or these structures completely fused to each other. Ventro-median part of idiosoma with butterfly-shape sclerotization between coxal fields II. Apodemes III free or fused to each other; apodemes IV distinctly developed, not fused with apodemes III, coxal fields III open. Median transverse sclerite present or absent. In some species sternum bearing pair of lateral membranous projections. Coxal fields I bearing membranous posterior projections. Folds posterior to coxal fields II absent. Coxal fields III–IV slightly sclerotized. Anus situated ventrally. Tarsi shortened, about 3 times shorter than respective tibiae, without pretarsi. Trochanters III–IV each with distinct, widely rounded, ventral projection.Idiosomal setation (see Table 1): setae f2 absent; c3, ps3, and 4b present or absent; ps2 present in males of some species; se, 1a, 3a, h2 all filiform, h2 whip-like; si, c2, c3, h3, 4a, 4b, g, and ps3 all alveoli or microspines. Leg setation (see Tables 2 and 3): setae s I–IV, kT IV, solenidion ϕIV and solenidion ω 3 I in females absent; setae d I–IV, cG I–II, mG I–II, vF I–II all filiform, setae d I–IV short; gT I–II and kT III very short spines; f I–IV, r I–IV, w I–IV spur-like; solenidion ϕIII rudimentary, in shape of small tubercle.

FEMALE. Bursa copulatrix opening dorsal or terminal. Epigynum variable in form and shape. Posterogynal folds of oviporus smooth. Median fold in some species associated with apodemes IV.

MALE. Pregenital apodeme variable in form and shape. Setae g situated in base of aedeagal cone. Adanal shields present or absent.

JUVENILE STAGES. In many species setae si, c2, 4a, g, or ps3 delayed to adult stage. Larva always bearing idiosomal setae se, 1a, and h2, and leg setae d I–III, e I–III, f I–III, r I–III, w I–III, gT I–II, kT III, cG I–II, mG I–II, vF I–II, solenidia ω 1 I–II, ϕI–III, and famulus ε. Subcapitulum with ventral projections. Apodemes I fused, Y-shaped. Ventral folds on trochanters III present. In protonymph setae d IV, w IV, and r IV added on legs. In tritonymph setae e IV and f IV added on legs.

Species included: O. asiaticus , O. brutsaerti , O. eidoloni , O. klompeni , O. macroglossus , O. pseudoindicus , O. pteropodi .

Host range and distribution. Species of the genus are recorded from the nasal passages and eye orbits of African and Asian bats of the family Pteropodidae (Tables 6 and 7).