Opsonyssus brutsaerti ( Fain, 1956 )

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 : 66-68

1. Opsonyssus brutsaerti ( Fain, 1956)

( Fig. 30 )

Rodhainyssus brutsaerti Fain 1956: 92 , figs. 5–8, 1957: 253.

Opsonyssus brutsaerti, Fain, 1959a: 8 , figs. 4, 11, 1959b: 160, 1964b: 47, figs. 10–12, 1967: 30, 1972: 72.

Redescription. FEMALE (paratype). Body, including gnathosoma, 335 long, 170 wide. Ventral projections of subcapitulum 35 long, slightly curved, situated laterally. Posterior margin of propodonotal shield with median projection. Propodonotal shield length 60, including median projection, maximum width 90. Setae se 4 long. Idiosoma dorsally finely and irregularly striated. Alveoli of setae 4b and ps3 present; setae c3 absent. Setae h2 45 long. Sternum 45 long. Lateral projections of sternal branches widely rounded and distinctly developed, about 8 long, 20 wide. Foramen present between sternum and fused region of apodemes II. Posterior projections of coxal fields I widely rounded, distinctly developed, 15 long, 40 wide. Posterior apodemes of coxal fields II 40 long, with free distal ends. Apodemes of coxal fields III with free distal ends, 35 long. Epigynum very small, about 3 long, 4 wide. Inseminatory canal 20 long. Apodemes of coxal fields IV with free distal ends, 45 long, setae g situated above to these apodemes. Sclerotized areas between setae h2 and h3 absent. Distance ps3–h3 18, 1.4 times greater than h3–h2, 13. Femora I–II each with small dorsal lobe at level of setae vF bases; setae vF I–II about 8 long. Trochanters III–IV ventrally with distinctly developed, widely rounded lobes. Setae kT III situated in median part of tibiae.

MALE (2 paratypes). Body, including gnathosoma, 300 long, 145 wide. Ventral projections of subcapitulum 35 long, straight, situated laterally. Propodonotum as in female. Propodonotal shield length 50, including median projection, maximum width 70. Setae se 4–5 long. Idiosoma dorsally finely and irregularly striated. Microspines 4b, ps3, and alveoli ps2 present; setae c3 absent. Setae g and h3 represented by microspines. Setae h2 43–45 long. Sternum about 45 long. Lateral projections of sternal branches widely rounded and distinctly developed, about 12 long, 20 wide. Foramen between sternum and fusion of apodemes II present. Posterior projections of coxal fields I widely rounded, distinctly developed, about 10 long, 35 wide. Posterior apodemes of coxal fields II about 30 long, with free distal ends. Apodemes of coxal fields III with free distal ends, about 35 long. Pregenital sclerite about 4 long, 18 wide. Aedeagus about 50 long, crimped in posterior half. Apodemes of coxal fields IV about 25 long. Adanal shields separated, bearing setae h3, ps2 and ps3. Femora I–II with small dorsal lobe at level of seta vF bases; setae vF I–II about 8 long. Trochanters III–IV ventrally with distinctly developed, widely rounded lobes. Setae kT III situated in median part of tibiae.

TRITONYMPH. Idiosomal setae si absent, delayed to adult.

Type material examined. One female, 2 male, 2 protonymph, 1 larva paratypes ( IRSNB) from Epomophorus labiatus (Temminck) (Pteropodidae) [nasal cavities], RWANDA: Butare (Astrida), 02°35'50"S, 29°44'20"E, 12 October 1955, coll. A. Fain.

Type deposition. Holotype is deposited in MRAC

Non-type material examined. Four females and 1 male ( IRSNB) from Epomophorus labiatus (= anurus) [eyes], RWANDA: Butare (Astrida), 02°35'50"S, 29°44'20"E, same locality, 12 January 1956, coll. A. Fain; 2 females, 1 male, 1 tritonymph, and 1 larva ( IRSNB) from Epomophorus wahlbergi (Sundevall) , ANGOLA: Dundo, Huambo, 12°35'S, 15°12'E, 5 January 1966, coll. B. Machado; 1 female and 1 male ( IRSNB) from same host and locality, 3 May 1963, coll. B. Machado; 1 female and 1 male ( IRSNB) from same host and locality, 19 April 1967, coll. B. Machado; 2 females, 1 male, and 2 protonymphs ( IRSNB) from same host and locality, 9 June 1967, coll. B. Machado; 3 females, 1 male, and 1 larva ( IRSNB) from Micropteropus pusillus (Peters) (Pteropodidae) , DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Bas-Congo Prov., Boma, 05°50'S, 13°03'E, date and coll. unknown.

Host range and distribution. This species parasitizes megachiropterans in tropical Africa: Epomophorus labiatus (type host) from Rwanda ( Fain 1956, 1959a), Epomophorus wahlbergi from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Angola ( Fain 1959b, 1972), Micropterous pusillus from the Democratic Republic of Congo ( Fain 1959a, b), and Rousettus egyptiacus from the Democratic Republic of Congo ( Fain 1959a).

Figures

FIGURE 30. Opsonyssus brutsaerti (Fain, 1956), female (A–D). A, ventral view; B, chelicera in lateral view; C, palp in ventral view; D, posterior margin of propodonotal shield. Male (E–K); E, leg I in ventral view; F, leg II in ventral view; G, leg III in ventral view; H, leg IV in ventral view; I, opisthosoma in ventral view; J, aedeagus; K, adanal shield. Scale bars: 100 µm (A, I), 50 µm (B–H, J, K).