Gunabopicobia masalaje, Kaszewska, Katarzyna, Kavetska, Katarzyna & Skoracki, Maciej, 2014

Kaszewska, Katarzyna, Kavetska, Katarzyna & Skoracki, Maciej, 2014, Two new species of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Cheyletoidea) associated with treronine doves (Columbiformes: Columbidae: Treroninae), Zootaxa 3846 (2), pp. 293-300 : 294-295

Gunabopicobia masalaje sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–3 )

Description. FEMALE, holotype. Total body length 470 (470–493 in 8 paratypes). Gnathosoma . Hypostomal apex truncate with pair of small and blunt-ended shoulders ( Fig. 2A ). Each medial branch of peritremes with 6–7 chambers, each lateral branch with 5–6 chambers ( Fig. 2B ). Length of stylophore 195 (190–210). Distal end of movable cheliceral digit dentate, each with 3 teeth ( Fig. 2A ), proximal end smooth ( Fig. 2D ). Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield divided into 3 sclerites: pair of narrow, densely punctate, bearing bases of setae vi, ve, si and se; and large apunctate central sclerite, bearing setae c1 bases. Length ratio of setae vi: ve: si 1:2.5–2.7:2.6–2.8. Setae d2 about twice as long as e2. Pygidial and hysteronotal shields absent. Length ratio of setae f1: f2 1:1.2–1.6. Setae f1 and f2 located at same transverse level. Setae h1 1.8 times longer than f1. Agenital and genital plates absent. Length ratio of setae ag1: ag2: ag3 2.8–3.5:1:3.6–4. Setae 3c about 4 times longer than 3b. Cuticular striations as in figs 1A, B. Legs. Antaxial and paraxial claw members of legs III and IV dissimilar in size and shape. Setae tc” of legs III and IV slightly (1.2 times) longer than tc’III–IV. Solenidia of legs I as in fig. 2C. Lengths of setae: vi 60 (50–65), ve 150 (150–185), si 160 (150–170), se 255 (250–270), c1 260 (240–280), c2 280 (270–310), d1 215 (190–220), d2 235 (235–255), e2 135 (110–140), f1 25 (20–35), f2 40 (25–40), h1 45 (35–45), ag1 70 (70–100), ag2 25 (20–30), ag3 90 (90–100), tc’III–IV (50), tc”III–IV (60), 3b 30 (25–40), 3c 110 (100–135).

MALE (3 paratypes). Total body length 350–365. Gnathosoma . Hypostomal apex without protuberances ( Fig. 2E ). Distal end of movable cheliceral digit dentate. Each medial branch of peritremes with 6 chambers, each lateral branch with 6 chambers ( Fig. 2F ). Length of stylophore 100–105. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield entire, rectangular in shape, punctate, bearing bases of setae vi, ve, si, se and c1. Length ratio of setae vi: ve: si 1:3.5–4.3:3.8–4. Hysteronotal shield entire, apunctate, bearing bases setae e2 and d1. Setae d2 8 times longer than e2. Pygidial shield apunctate. Agenital plate apunctate, well sclerotised, its anterior margin reach setae 4b. Setae ag1 slightly (1.2 times) longer than ag2. Setae 3c about 3 times longer than 3b. Cuticular striations as in figs 3A, B. Lengths of setae: vi 30–40, ve 130–140, si 155–160, se 185–190, c1 130–145, c2 165–185, d 1 20–30, d2 155–165, e 2 15 –20, f 2 10–15, h2 230–240, ag1 80, ag 2 65, 3b 20, 3c 60–65.

Type material. Female holotype, 8 female and 3 male paratypes from quill of body feathers of Ptilinopus iozonus Gray (Columbidae) ; PAPUA NEW GUINEA: April 1910, coll. Wiedenfeld.

Type material deposition. All specimens are deposited in the AMU (Reg. No. AMU-SYR.489), except 1 female paratype in the ZSM (Reg. No. ZSM- 20112043) and 1 female paratype in the ZISP (ZISP-AVB 011-2908- 023).

Additional material. Four females from Ducula pistrinaria Bonaparte (Columbidae) , PAPUA NEW GUINEA: New Britain Island, 17 August 1912, coll. Basenbruch (deposited in the AMU (Reg. No. AMU- SYR.496) and 1 female in the ZSM (Reg. No. ZSM- 20112044 )). Two females and 3 males from Ducula rosacea (Temminick) (Columbidae) ; INDONESIA: East Nusa Tenggara, Kupang, Semau Island, 21 April 1911, coll. Haniel (deposited in the AMU (Reg. No. AMU-SYR.497), except 1 female in the ZSM (Reg. No. ZSM 20112051 )). Three females from Ducula rufigaster (Quoy and Gaimard) (Columbidae) , PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Astrolabe, 5 March 1894, coll. Hagen (deposited in AMU (Reg. No. AMU-SYR.498)). One female from Ducula luctuosa (Temminick) (Columbidae) , INDONESIA: Sulawesi Island, coll. Rvedel (deposited in AMU (Reg. No. AMU- SYR.501)). Two females from Ducula spilorrhoa (Gray) (Columbidae) , PAPUA NEW GUINEA: 17 March 1911, coll. Wiedenfeld (deposited in AMU (Reg. No. AMU-SYR.502)).

Differential diagnosis. This new species is distinguished from a single previously described species in this genus, Gunabopicobia zumpti ( Lawrence, 1959) , by the following features: in females of G. masalaje sp. nov., each medial branch of the peritremes has 6–7 chambers, each lateral branch has 5–6 chambers; the propodonotal shield is densely punctate near bases of setae vi and si; the length ratios of setae vi: ve: si and ag1: ag2: ag3 are 1:2.5–2.7:2.6–2.8 and 2.8–3.5:1:3.8–4, respectively. In females of G. z u m p t i, each medial branch of the peritremes has 2–3 chambers, each lateral branch of the peritremes has 10–11 chambers, the length ratios of setae vi: ve: si and ag1: ag2: ag3 are 1:2–2.2:3.2–3.8 and 1:1:3, respectively.

Etymology. The specific epithet “ masalaje ” derives from the Papuan and New Guinean spirit which inhabit the forest—Masalaje.

Figures

FIGURE 1 A, B. Gunabopicobia masalaje sp. nov., female. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 2 A – G. Gunabopicobia masalaje sp. nov., female (A – D). A, hypostomal apex with distal part of movable cheliceral digit; B, peritremes; C, solenidia of legs I; D, proximal part of movable cheliceral digit. Male (E – G). E, hypostomal apex with distal part of movable cheliceral digit; F, peritremes; G, genito-anal region.

FIGURE 3 A, B. Gunabopicobia masalaje sp. nov., male. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.