Aulobia cardueli, Skoracki, Maciej, Hendricks, Sarah A. & Spicer, Greg S., 2010

Skoracki, Maciej, Hendricks, Sarah A. & Spicer, Greg S., 2010, Systematics of the ectoparasitic quill mites of the genus Aulobia Kethley, 1970 (Acari: Syringophilidae) with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 2399, pp. 31-41 : 36-39

Aulobia cardueli sp. nov.

Description. Female ( Figs 14–18 ). Total body length 830 (815–855 in 5 paratypes). Gnathosoma. Infracapitulum punctate. Hypostomal apex with two pairs of unequal, finger-like lips ( Fig. 16 ). Each transverse branch of peritremes with 3–4 chambers, each longitudinal branch with 18–20 chambers ( Fig. 17 ). Stylophore slightly constricted posteriorly, apunctate, 180 (180) long. Movable cheliceral digit dentate, each with two teeth, 130 (130) long. Idiosoma. Propodonotal shield well sclerotized, concave on anterior margin, sparsely punctate near bases of setae ve and si. Length ratio of setae vi:ve:si 1:1.3–1.5:1.7–2. Setae se and c1 subequal in length and situated at same transverse level. Hysteronotal shield apunctate and not fused to pygidial shield. Pygidial shield punctate, bearing only terminal setae f1, f2, h1 and h2. Setae f2 2.5–3.2 times longer than f1. Setae h2 3.3–4 times longer than h1. Length ratio of setae f2:h2 1:1.6. Genital setae about twice longer than pseudanal setae. Genital plate bearing only bases of genital setae. Length ratio of setae ag1:ag2:ag3 1:1:1.4–1.5. Cuticular striations as in Figs 14 and 15 . Legs. Apodemes I not fused to apodemes II. Coxal fields I–IV punctate. Setae 3c about twice longer than 3b. Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 7–8 tines ( Fig. 18 ). Setae tc’ and tc” of legs III and IV subequal in length. Lengths of setae: vi 30 (30– 40); ve (40–60); si (50–75); se 210 (205–225); c1 215 (220–245); c2 210 (225–235); d1 170 (160–190); d2 180 (160–185); e 145 (140–170); f1 60 (60–85); f2 190 (190–210); h1 90 (60–90); h2 295 (300–325); ps1 and ps2 25 (25–30); g1 and g2 60 (55–60); ag1 75 (70–75); ag2 80 (75–80); ag3 115 (100–115); 3b 40 (35–40); 3c 70 (70–80); sc3 and sc4 40 (35–45); tc’III–IV and tc” III–IV 55 (50–55).

Male ( Figs 19–23 ). Total body length 545–550 in 2 paratypes. Gnathosoma. Infracapitulum punctate. Hypostomal apex without lips. Each transverse branch of peritremes with 3–4 chambers, each longitudinal branch with 15–18 chambers ( Fig. 20 ). Stylophore slightly constricted posteriorly, apunctate, 150–155 long. Movable cheliceral digit edentate, 130–135 long. Idiosoma. Propodonotal shield well sclerotized, concave on anterior margin, punctate in anterior part. Setae vi, ve and si subequal in length. Setae se, c1 and c2 subequal in length. Setae se situated anteriorly to level of setae c1. Hysteronotal shield apunctate, bearing bases of setae d1 and e. Setae d1, d2 and e subequal in length. Pygidial shield indiscernible. Genital setae g1 located anterior to level of setae g2 ( Fig. 21 ). Length ratio of setae f:h 1:2.2–3. Two pairs of subequal aggenital setae present. Cuticular striations as in Figs 22 and 23 . Legs. Apodemes I not fused to apodemes II. Coxal fields I–IV punctate. Setae 3c about twice longer than 3b. Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 5 tines ( Fig. 19 ). Setae tc’ and tc” of legs III and IV subequal in length. Lengths of setae: vi 25; ve 25; si 25; se 105–120; c1 115–135; c2 110–120; d 1 20–25; d 2 20–25; e 20–25; f 25; h 55–75; ag1 35–40; ag3 40; 3b 25; 3c 50–55; sc3 and sc4 25; tc’III–IV and tc” III–IV 40–45.

Type material. From quills of secondaries of the Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria (Say) ( Passeriformes : Fringillidae ): female holotype and paratypes: 7 females, 3 males, 13 nymphs; USA, Texas, Johnson Co., Garen Ranch, 21 March 2004, coll. G. Spicer, GSS#1347, Ls3, Ls4, Rs5.

Type deposition. All material is deposited at AMU, except 4 female paratypes and 2 male paratypes at NMNH.

Etymology. The name cardueli refers to the generic name of the host, Carduelis .

Differential diagnosis. This new species is very similar to above mentioned species, A. dendroicae , but differs from it by the following characters: in females of A. cardueli sp. nov., the total body length is 815–855, each longitudinal branch of the peritremes has 18–20 chambers, the length ratio of setae vi:ve is 1:1.7–2, the hysteronotal shield is not fused to the pygidial shield, and the pygidial shield is punctate. In females of A. dendroicae , the total body length is 690–750, each longitudinal branch of the peritremes has 12–13 chambers, the length ratio of setae vi:ve is 1:1.1–1.2, and the hysteronotal shield is fused to the apunctate pygidial shield.

Figures

FIGURES 14, 15. Aulobia cardueli sp. nov. Female. 14, dorsal view; 15, ventral view.

FIGURES 16 – 21. Aulobia cardueli sp. nov. Female. 16, hypostomal apex; 17, peritreme; 18, fan-like seta p’ of leg III. Male. 19, fan-like seta p’ of leg III; 20, peritreme; 21, genito-anal region.

FIGURES 22, 23. Aulobia cardueli sp. nov. Male. 22, dorsal view; 23, ventral view.