Dubininia curta ( Trouessart, 1885 )

Mironov, Sergey V., Ehrnsberger, Rainer & Dabert, Jacek, 2017, Feather mites of the genera Dubininia and Cacatualges (Acari: Xolalgidae) associated with parrots (Aves: Psittaciformes) of the Old World, Zootaxa 4272 (4), pp. 451-490 : 456-459

Dubininia curta ( Trouessart, 1885)

( Figs. 1–3 )

Protalges curtus Trouessart 1885: 56 ; Gaud 1980: 10.

Dubininia curta, Gaud and Atyeo 1981a: 69 ; Halliday 1998: 29.

Material examined. Male lectotype, 1 female paralectotype ( MNHN 34G2) from Platycercus elegans (Gmelin) (Psittaculidae) ( Platycercus pennanti in label), Australia, no other data, (lectotype and paralectotypes designated here). Male ( TMAGJ 5962) from Platycercus caledonicus (Gmelin) (Psittaculidae) , Australia, Tasmania, Richmond, 12 July 1978, coll. J. Fitzgerald (bird), O. Seeman (mites).

Description. Male (lectotype). Idiosoma, length × width, 365 × 280, length of hysterosoma 250. Prodorsal shield narrowly oval, with short posterolateral extensions bearing scapular setae se and si, length along midline 88, width at level of extensions 60 ( Fig. 1 A). Setae se separated by 53. Hysteronotal shield completely fused with humeral shields, anterior margin slightly convex, greatest length from anterior margin to level of setae h3 250, surface with a pair of longitudinally striated patches situated mesal to areas of humeral shields. Setae c2 situated on striated tegument near anterior margin of hysteronotal shield. Outer margins of opisthosoma converging posteriorly, width of opisthosoma at level of setae f2 98. Opisthosomal lobes short triangular; terminal cleft shaped as shallow blunt-angular concavity; interlobar septa originating from the anterior end of this cleft extends almost to level of setae e2, length of cleft from anterior end to bases of h3 20, length of cleft including septa 96. Interlobar membrane well-developed, incision in this membrane narrow slit-like, extending to anterior end of terminal cleft, 40 long; terminal extensions of interlobar membrane widely rounded, length of this extensions 22 (from level of setae h3 to distal margin); lateral membranes with smooth lateral margins. Setae d2 broken in lectotype (in sample from P. caledonicus extending to midlevel of opisthosomal lobes); setae e2 extending beyond terminal margins of interlobar membrane. Setae h2, h3, situated on lobar apices, bases arranged in transverse row; setae f2 and ps1 situated slightly anterior to that level. Setae f2 filiform, extending to level of apices of tarsi IV. Setae ps2 situated on posterolateral margin of interlobar membrane, about 52 long. Distance between dorsal setae: c2:d2 70, d2:e2 80, e2:h3 98, h2:h2 85, h3:h3 72, ps1:ps1 50, ps1:h3 8, h3:ps2 11.

Epimerites I free, posterior ends almost touching, area between epimerites not sclerotized ( Fig. 1 B). Rudimentary sclerites of epimerites IIa present. Epimerites IIIa long, with wide sclerotized areas. Coxal fields IV open. Genital apparatus slightly enlarged posteriorly 24 × 16; paragenital apodemes absent; genital shield absent, setae g on soft tegument. Adanal shield split into three small pieces; lateral pieces bearing setae ps3. Adanal suckers circular, diameter 20. Setae 4b situated slightly anterior to level of setae 3a. Setae 1a represented by macrosetae extending to midlevel of opisthosomal lobes; setae 4b short filiform, extending to base of genital apparatus; setae 3a extending to lobar apices. Distance between ventral setae: 4b:g 32, g:ps3 50, ps3:h3 112.

Tarsus I with ventral setae la, ra, and wa filiform, seta s slightly thickened basally ( Fig. 2 A). Solenidion σ1 of genu I 60 long. Tarsus II with semi-oval ventral extensions, seta s lanceolate at base, setae wa whip-shaped ( Figs. 2 B, C). Ambulacral disc I normally developed, rounded with long triangular central sclerite; ambulacral disc II much smaller, oval, about half the length of disc I, central sclerite as small pentagonal plate; ambulacral discs III and IV strongly reduced. Legs III with tarsus and distal part of tibia extending beyond level of lobar apices. Tibia III with triangular apical extension, 105 in length including extension, seta kT extending beyond midlevel of tarsus III ( Fig. 2 D). Tarsus III 90 long, with small spine-like apical process; setae w thickened basally, half as long as segment length; setae e, f situated approximately in middle of segment, subequal in length. Tibia IV 72 long, with dorsal ridge; tarsus IV 36 long, with tridentate apex ( Fig. 2 E). Length of ambulacral discs I 20, disc II 12, discs III, IV about 7.

Female (paralectotype). Idiosoma, length × width, 320 × 195, length of hysterosoma 200. Prodorsal shield narrowly oval, strongly narrowed in anterior part, without posterolateral extensions, with a pair of median ridges, posterior margin slightly extending beyond level of setae se, length along midline 85, greatest width 45 ( Fig. 3 A). Scapular setae se situated on small circular plates, separated by 60. Opisthosoma bluntly rounded. Hysteronotal shield absent. Distance between dorsal setae c2:d2 75, d2:e2 95, e2:h3 36, h2:h2 73, h3:h3 58. Setae c2, d2, e2 filiform, about15 long.

Epimerites I free, area between them not sclerotized ( Fig. 3 B). Epigynum bow-shaped, 14 × 45, tips not extending to level of genital papillae, setae 4b situated on epigynum. Apodemes of oviporus (egg-laying opening) short, extending slightly beyond level of trochanters III. Epimerites IIIa, IVa absent. Setae 1a filiform, not reaching the epigynum. Setae 3a 20 long, 4a 25 long, 4b, g about 15 long. Setae g and 3a situated approximately at same transverse level. Distance between ventral setae: 4b:3a 25, g:4a 55.

Legs I, II as in male. Genual solenidia: σ 1 I 42, σ III 18 long. Length of leg segments: tibia III 35, tarsus III 47, tibia IV 41, tarsus IV 57. Tarsi III, IV without ventral extensions ( Figs. 2 F, G). Setae sR III filiform, about 25 long; setae kT III filiform, shorter than corresponding tibiae; solenidia φ III and φ IV 32 and 20 long, respectively. Setae w III, w IV, r IV thickened basally, with filiform apex; remaining setae of tarsi III, IV filiform. Ambulacral discs: I— 20, II—15, III and IV about 10 long. Ambulacral stalks of tarsi III, IV two times longer than corresponding discs. Setae d III equal to and seta d IV slightly longer than corresponding tarsi.

Remark. Dubininia curta was previously known only from the Crimson Rosella, Platycercus elegans , in Australia ( Trouessart, 1885). The Green Rosella, P. caledonicus , from Tasmania is a new host record for this mite.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dubininia curta (Trouessart, 1885), male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 2. Dubininia curta (Trouessart, 1885), details of legs. A, B—legs I and II of male, respectively, C—tarsus II of male, ventral view, D, E—tibiae and tarsi III and IV of male, respectively, F, G—legs III and IV of female, respectively.

FIGURE 3. Dubininia curta (Trouessart, 1885), female. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.