Timalinyssus longitarsus, Wang & Wang, 2008

Wang, Zi-Ying & Wang, Jin-Jun, 2008, A new species of feather mite: Timalinyssus Mironov, 2001 (Astigmata: Pteronyssidae) from Garrulax canorus canorus (Linnaeus) (Passeriformes: Timaliidae) in China, Zootaxa 1962 (1), pp. 65-68 : 65-67

Timalinyssus longitarsus sp. n. ( Figs. 1–2 )

Type material. Holotype male, paratypes: 2 males and 3 females, from Garrulax canorus canorus ( Passeriformes : Timaliidae ), Libo, Guizhou, China; 22.VIII.2008, coll. unknown.

Description. Male (holotype). Length of idiosoma 455 (499, 511), width 272 (285, 299). Prodorsal shield: length 124 (141, 136), width 117 (120, 113), distance between bases of setae se 101 (113, 108), posterior margin almost straight, lateral margins with small incisions at level of setae se, separated from scapular shields ( Fig. 1a ). Setae c2 short, hairlike, length 13 (14, 14), situated on soft tegument dorsally. Setae c3 slightly enlarged in basal part and hair-like in apical part, length 132 (169, 146), width 4.5 (6.5, 5.7). Hysteronotal shield: length 262 (295, 292), width 121 (120, 123), anterior angles acute, anterior margin concave. Dorsal setae d2, e2 hair-like, e2 approximately twice length of d2. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields along median line 68 (63, 83). Opisthosomal lobes small, with acute lateral and medial angles ( Fig. 2c ). Terminal cleft trapeziform, margins of cleft without membrane, length of cleft 24 (42, 34), distance between lobar apices (medial angles of lobes) 64 (82, 85). Setae h2 at base of lobes, setae h3 at margin of acute lateral angle, setae h2 nearly 2 times longer than h3, setae ps2 setiform. Distance between setae and openings: d2–e2 121 (131, 149), d2–gl 65 (64, 64), e1–gl 22 (16, 22), h3–h3 74 (92, 91). Transventral sclerite absent, epiandrum as wide inverted U, 41×39 (54×48, 50×47) in size, completely encompassing genital apparatus, tips of epiandrum extend beyond level of setae g ( Fig. 1b ). Genital apparatus 30×16 (28×15, 29×17). Setae 4a at level of midlength of genital apparatus. Adanal shield as long inverted Y, 72 (87, 88) in length along median line ( Fig. 2d ). Anal discs ovate, 28×22 (34×20, 31×22). Tarsus III length 121 (136, 136), with dorsal row of 5–6 teeth in basal part, setae r, d long, large, other setae hairlike, shorter than segment ( Fig. 2e ).

Female (paratype). Length of idiosoma (438–473), width of idiosoma (233–263). Prodorsal shield: length (116–127), width (113–120), distance between bases of setae se (103–111), shaped as in male ( Fig. 2a ). Setae c2 short, hair-like, length (11–12), situated on soft tegument dorsally. Setae c3 as in male, length (132–150), width (3.2–3.6). Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields along median line (31–35). Hysteronotal shield: length (290–317), width (130–147). Dorsal setae d2, e2 hair-like. Setae f2 not on shield. Opisthosomal lobes absent. Distance between setae and openings: d1–d2 (50–59), d2–e2 (119–128), d2–gl (74–78), gl–e1 (34–38), h3–h3 (93–109). Epigynum bow-like, length (23–28), width (73–87) ( Fig. 2b ).

Differential diagnosis. Timalinyssus longitarsus sp. n. is similar to T. formosanus Mironov, 2001 in having long setae d and teeth on male tarsus III, and the same shape of the genital region in both sexes and anal region in males. The new species is recognized by the separate prodorsal and scapular shield in both sexes. Also, the lateral angles of the opisthosomal lobes are acuter than medial angle, long tarsi III have more teeth in male, idiosomal terminus is rectangular, without opisthosomal lobes in female and the body size are smaller, 455–511 vs 538–578 in male and 437–473 vs 625–655 in female.

Etymology. The specific name, longitarsus , is a combination of the words long [rather Lat. longus =long] and tarsus [to point on very long tarsus III in male].

Remarks. T. longitarsus sp. n. is unique in the genus by the prodorsal shield separate from scapular shields and the female without opisthosomal lobes. These features are contrary to characteristics of the genus proposed by Mironov (2001) and similar to species of Mouchetia . However, the new species is similar to the type species T. formosanus , especially the long setae d and teeth on male tarsus III, the shape of genital region in both sexes and the anal region in the male. The new species is also from birds in Timaliidae . Thus, the description of the new species shows that the current definition of Timalinyssus needs amendment.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Timalinyssus longitarsus, male: a — dorsal view, b — ventral view. Scale in µm.

FIGURE 2. Timalinyssus longitarsus: a — female, dorsal view, b — female, oviporal region, c — opisthosoma of male, dorsal view, d — opisthosoma of male, ventral view, e — tarsus III of male, dorsal view. Scale in µm.