Fainalges gracilitarsus, Mironov & Dabert & Ehrnsberger, 2005

Mironov, S. V., Dabert, J. & Ehrnsberger, R., 2005, Six new feather mite species (Acari: Astigmata) from the carolina parakeet Conuropsis carolinensis (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), an extinct parrot of North America, Journal of Natural History 39 (24), pp. 2257-2278 : 2275-2277

Fainalges gracilitarsus sp. n.

( Figures 9 , 10 )

Type material

Male holotype ( ZISP BR 149-6 ) from Conuropsis carolinensis , immature, North America , before 1869, no other data. Holotype: ZISP (registration number ZISP BR 149-6 ).

Description

Male (holotype). Idiosoma length excluding terminal membrane extensions 263, greatest width 195. Prodorsal shield: greatest length 69, width at posterior margin 53, posterior margin with weakly expressed median extension, setae se on most posterior margin of the shield, separated by 42. Hysteronotal shield completely fused with scapular shields, anterior margin weakly convex, greatest length of the shield (from anterior end to level of setae h3) 174, surface with a pair of longitudinally striated patches mesal to setae cp ( Figure 9A ). Setae c2 slightly anterior to margin of hysteronotal shield. Terminal cleft ovate, length (from anterior end to bases of h3) 26, greatest width (distance between ps1) 40. Median longitudinal sclerotization originating from the anterior end of terminal cleft long, extending to level of setae e2. Interlobar membrane well-developed, incision in the membrane triangular, 38 in length, terminal extensions short and rounded. Setae d2 extending to apices of opisthosomal lobes. Distances between dorsal hysteronotal setal rows: c2–d2 41, d2–e2 62, e2–h3 66.

Sternum long and narrow, remnants of epimerites IIa present. Coxal fields IV closed. Genital arch 21×7, epiandrium and shortened genital apodemes fused into semicircular arch, 19 long, 22 wide, genital shield rectangular, adanal shield bow-shaped, bearing setae ps3 ( Figure 9B ). Setae 3a and 3b situated at the same transverse level, setae 3b extending to lobar apices. Distance between ventral setal rows: 3a–g 28, g–ps3 31. Tarsus I with all ventral setae setiform ( Figure 10A ), solenidion S 1 of femorogenu I 42. Tarsus II with seta s lanceolate at base, with seta wa sickle-shaped ( Figure 10B ); femorogenu II with seta mG twice as long as vF. Legs III extending beyond lobar apices by tarsus and distal half of tibia; measurements of segments: femorogenu 56, tibia 83, tarsus 96. Tarsus III with setae w about half and setae f about three-quarters of the tarsus ( Figure 10C ); setae kT of tibia III long, extending to mid-level of tarsus III. Tarsus IV curved, with bidentate apical extension ( Figure 10D ).

Female. Female unknown.

Differential diagnosis

Male of the new species is most similar to Fainalges apicosetiger Mejía-Gonzalez and Pérez, 1988 described from Aratinga canicularis clarae Moore, 1937 in Mexico by having spine-shaped setae s of tarsi II, very thin and long tarsus III, and by similar form of prodorsal shield ( Figure 9 ). The male of Fainalges gracilitarsus sp. n. is distinguished from this species by having longer dorsal setae d2 and coxal setae 3b, both extending to lobar apices, and setae w of tarsus III reaching about half length of the tarsus. In F. apicosetiger , sete d2 and 3b do not extend to bases of opisthosomal lobes, and seta w are only about one-third of tarsus III.

Etymology

Contraction of gracilis (Latin slim) and tarsus to point out very thin tarsi III.

Figures

Figure 9. Fainalges gracilitarsus sp. n., male. (A) Dorsal view; (B) ventral view.

Figure 10. Fainalges gracilitarsus sp. n., tarsi I–IV of male. (A) Tarsus I; (B) tarsus II; (C) tarsus III; (D) tarsus IV.