Neodectes manorinae, Mironov & Proctor, 2023

Mironov, Sergey V. & Proctor, Heather C., 2023, New feather mites of the genus Neodectes (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) from honeyeaters (Passeriformes: Meliphagidae) in Australia, Zootaxa 5330 (3), pp. 349-374 : 361-365

Neodectes manorinae sp. n.

( Figs. 7–9 )

Type material. Male holotype, 1 male and 7 female paratypes from Manorina melanocephala (Latham, 1801) ( Passeriformes : Meliphagidae ), ( QM, O30065 ), AUSTRALIA, Queensland, Glasshouse Mountains , 26° 54’S, 152° 52’48”E, 5 Sep. 1993, coll. unknown; 4 male and 5 female paratypes, same host species, ( QM, O11389 ), AUSTRALIA, Queensland, Brisbane, Capalaba , 27° 33’S, 153° 12’E, date unknown, coll. M.J. Colclough.

Depository. Holotype, 1 male and 7 female paratypes ( S121346 , S121347 )— QM; remaining paratypes — ZISP.

Description. MALE (holotype, range for 4 paratypes in parentheses) ( Figs. 7 , 9A–E ). Idiosoma, length × width, 385 (365–385) × 170 (150–170), length of hysterosoma 340 (230–245). Prodorsal shield: entire, anterolateral extensions pointed, lateral margins sinuous, posterior margin almost straight, posterior corners roughly rectangular, surface with numerous minute circular lacunae, length 145 (135–145), width 120 (115–125). Setae ve represented by alveoli or indistinct. Bases of scapular setae se separated by 62 (58–62). Scapular shields narrow, barely developed dorsally. Humeral shields represented by short longitudinal plates situated dorsally and not extending beyond bases of setae c3. Setae c2 near anterior ends of humeral shields, bases of setae cp on striated tegument. Subhumeral setae c3 lanceolate, 28 (23–28) long, about 8 wide. Hysteronotal shield: anterior margin shallowly concave, greatest length 240 (230–245), width at anterior margin 105 (95–110), surface with numerous minute circular lacunae. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 15 (15–20). Opisthosomal lobes roughly rounded, approximately half as long as wide at base, without extensions at bases of setae h2 and h3. Terminal cleft semicircular, 15 (15–18) long. Supranal concavity ovate, 18 (15–18) long. Setae f2 at level of setae ps2. Setae h1 at level of supranal concavity. Setae h3 spiculiform, 28 (25–32) long; setae ps2 55 (45–55) long. Setae ps1 short filiform, about 5 long, situated at level of setae h2. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 95 (85–95), d2:e2 97 (92–97), e2:h3 45 (42–45), d1:d2 30 (28–30), e1:e2 30 (30–34), h1:ps2 22 (22–25), h2:h2 55 (50–55), h3:h3 45 (40–45), ps2:ps2 65 (60–65).

Epimerites I fused into a Y with very short stem (less than 1/4 the length of epimerites), its posterior end with transverse stick-like extensions not touching epimerites II. Coxal fields I, II without extensively sclerotized areas. Rudimentary sclerites rEpIIa absent. Coxal fields I almost closed; coxal fields II open; coxal fields III closed or with small gap between tips of epimerites III and IIIa. Coxal fields IV without sclerotized bands at bases of trochanters IV. Epimerites IVa present, not extending to setae 4a. Genital arch reduced, its branches represented by small plates directed laterally, 25 (25–28) in width; aedeagus sword-shaped, 75 (75–78) long, extending to midlevel of adanal suckers; basal sclerite of genital apparatus shaped as small transverse plate ( Fig. 9A ). Genital papillae not connected at bases. Genital shields absent. Adanal suckers 15 (15–16) in diameter, corolla with 10–11 minute denticles, surrounding membrane with radial striae. Opisthoventral shields not developed. Adanal shields represented by poorly distinct sclerotization around setae ps3. Setae 4b posterior to level of setae 3a, setae ps3 anteromesal to adanal suckers. Distance between ventral setae: 3a:4b 12 (7–12), 4b:4a 55 (45–55), 4a:g 35 (35–38), g:ps3 30 (28–30), ps3:ps3 17 (15–20), ps3:h3 43 (43–45).

Femora I, II with narrow ventral crests ( Fig. 9B,C ), other segments of legs I, II without processes. Solenidion σ of genu I half as along as this segment and situated at its midlevel. Genual setae cG I, II and mG I filiform, setae mG II slightly thickened basally. Setae d of tarsi II, III half as long as corresponding setae f. Solenidion φ of tibia IV extending to proximal margin of ambulacral disc. Tarsus IV 28 (28–30) long, without apical process; setae d, e button-like, seta d situated in proximal part of this segment ( Fig. 9E ). Length of solenidia: ω1 I 17 (15–17), ω1 II 8 (8–9), σ I 8 (8–10), σ III 3 (3–4), φ IV 35 (33–38).

FEMALE (range for 10 paratypes) ( Figs. 8 , 9F ). Idiosoma, length × width, 555–605 × 185–200, length of hysterosoma 385–420. Prodorsal shield: shape and ornamentation as in the male, 155–170 × 145–155. Setae ve rudimentary, represented by alveoli or indistinct. Bases of setae se separated by 75–80. Scapular shields narrow. Humeral shields represented by narrow longitudinal sclerites. Setae c2 at anterior ends of humeral shield, setae cp at ventral margins of these shields. Setae c3 lanceolate, 25–28 long, about 7–8 wide. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 10–15. Anterior and lobar parts of hysteronotal shield separated dorsally by narrow transverse band of soft tegument, but connected ventrolaterally. Anterior hysteronotal shield nearly rectangular, anterior margin straight or slightly convex, entire surface with numerous minute circular lacunae and with a pair of ovate desclerotized patches near posterior corners, length 295–215, width at anterior margin 130–140. Length of lobar region 105–115, greatest width 95–105. Terminal cleft triangular, 60–65 long, 35–45 in width at lobar apices. Lobar shield entire, anterior margin almost straight, surface with several small circular lacunae at anterior margin. Supranal concavity present, marked with blurry dark oval near anterior end of terminal cleft. Setae h1 near anterior margin of lobar shield; setae h1 and f2 arranged in trapezoid. Setae h2 spindle-like, with apical filament, 115–130 long. Setae ps1 situated on inner margins of opisthosomal lobes, approximately equidistant from levels of setae h2 and h3. Setae h3 12–18 long, 1/5–1/6 the length of terminal appendages. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 110–125, d2:e2 155–175, e2:h2 62–70, h2:h3 37–45, d1:d2 32–42, e1:e2 63–75, h1:h2 52–60, h1:h1 30–37, h2:h2 80–90, h2:ps1 15–22.

Epimerites I fused into a V, fused part with a pair of small transverse extensions. Lateral parts of coxal fields I, II without extensively sclerotized areas. Epimerites IVa absent. Translobar apodemes of opisthosomal lobes narrow and not fused to each other anterior to terminal cleft. Epigynum without lateral extensions, greatest width 68–82; apodemes of oviporus fused with epimerites IIIa. Pseudanal setae filiform, setae ps2 situated slightly anterior to midlength of anal slit and widely separated from each other; distance between pseudanal setae: ps2:ps2 38–55, ps3: ps3 20–30, ps2:ps3 8–13. Primary spermaduct without enlargement at head of spermatheca; secondary spermaducts about 5 long ( Fig. 9F ). Copulatory opening at anterior end of terminal cleft.

Legs I, II as in male, except ventral crest on femur I absent. Solenidion σ of genu I half as long as this segment and situated at its midlevel. Genual setae cG I, II, mG I, II as in male. Setae d of tarsi II–IV approximately half as long as corresponding setae f. Genua III, IV dorsally inflated, with narrow ventral crest. Lengths of solenidia: ω1 I 15–20, ω1 II 9–11, σ I 13–15, σ III 5–8, φ III 40–45, φ IV 15–20.

Differential diagnosis. The new species Neodectes manorinae sp. n. is most similar to N. hallidayi sp. n. described above in having, in both sexes, numerous circular lacunae on the prodorsal and hysteronotal shields and, in males, the opisthisomal lobes short and rounded and the aedeagus not extending into the terminal cleft. Neodectes manorinae sp. n. differs from N. hallidayi sp. n. in the following features: in males, setae h3 are shorter (25–32 long) and length does not exceed the distance between their bases, the terminal cleft is almost semicircular and the posterior ends of humeral shields do not extend beyond the level of setae c3; in females, the posterior margin of the prodorsal shield is straight, the lateral margins of the terminal cleft are divergent, and the translobar apodemes are not connected to each other anterior to the terminal cleft. In males of N. hallidayi sp. n., setae h3 are longer (46–48) and length exceeds the distance between their bases by ~1.5 times, the terminal cleft is triangular, and the humeral shields extend beyond the level of setae c3; in females, the posterior margin of the prodorsal shield has a blunt-angular median extension and a pair of shallow concavities, the lateral margins of the terminal cleft are almost parallel, and the translobar apodemes are fused to each other anterior to the terminal cleft.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the generic name of the type host and is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Neodectes manorinae sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 8. Neodectes manorinae sp. n., female. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 9. Neodectes manorinae sp. n., details. A—opisthosoma of male, ventral view, B, C—legs I, II of male, D, E—tibiae and tarsi III, IV of male, F—spermatheca and spermaducts.