Afrotrombicula (Afrotrombicula) gabonica Kolebinova and Vercammen-Grandjean, 1981

Stekolnikov, Alexandr A., 2023, A revision of the chigger genus Afrotrombicula (Acariformes: Trombiculidae), Zootaxa 5323 (1), pp. 27-55 : 45

Afrotrombicula (Afrotrombicula) gabonica Kolebinova and Vercammen-Grandjean, 1981

Afrotrombicula (Afrotrombicula) gabonica Kolebinova and Vercammen-Grandjean, 1981: 415 , figs. 1–7.

Afrotrombicula gabonica: Stekolnikov 2018: 121 .

Diagnosis. SIF = 7BS-B-3-3111.1000; fPp = B/B/NbB; PL> AM> AL; fD = 2H-6-6-2-6-6-4-2; DS = 34; V = 42; NDV = 76; posterior scutal margin biconvex; f 1 distal to S 1; f 2 behind S 2; Ip = 888–900 (after Kolebinova & Vercammen-Grandjean, 1981). Standard measurements are in Table 4 .

Type deposition. Holotype in SMF (pA.1.1980.1); 13 paratypes in NMNHS.

Distribution and host. Described from Gabon (Makokou) ex Atherurus africanus ( Rodentia : Hystricidae ).

Remarks. Afrotrombicula gabonica differs from all other Afrotrombicula species (except for A. quadriscutala ) in the presence of one branch in lateral palpal tibial seta (fPp = B/B/NbB vs. B/B/NNB). It is similar to A. zairiensis and A. centrafricana , but differs, in addition to fPp, in the position of f 1 distal to S 1 vs. at the level of S 1.