Picobia sturni Skoracki, Bochkov and Wauthy, 2004

Skoracki, Maciej, 2011, Quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) of the Palaearctic region 2840, Zootaxa 2840 (1), pp. 1-414 : 337-341

Picobia sturni Skoracki, Bochkov and Wauthy, 2004

( Figs. 248–251 )

Picobia sturni Skoracki et al., 2004: 159 , figs. 8–20.

Type host: Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus ( Passeriformes : Sturnidae ). Type locality: Poland.

NON-PHYSOGASTRIC FEMALE (holotype and 8 paratypes). Total body length 520–645. Gnathosoma . Hypostomal apex rounded, with shoulders. Infracapitulum apunctate. Peritremes V-shaped, each medial branch with 3–4 chambers, each lateral branch with 7–10 chambers. Movable cheliceral digit edentate in posterior part. Stylophore 215–220 long. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield divided longitudinally into 2 narrow lateral shields, punctate, bearing bases of setae ve, si and se. Setae vi and ve situated at same transverse level. All propodonotal setae strongly beaded. Length ratio of setae vi: ve: si 1.6:1:1.8. Setae c1 located anterior to level of setae se. Setae d1 situated equidistant to setae d2 and e2. Pygidial shield well developed and punctate. Setae f2 1.5 times longer than f1. Setae h1 and f1 subequal in length. Setae h2 6.3 times longer than h1. Alveoles of setae 3a–3a not coalesced. Genital plate absent. Aggenital setae ag1 situated anterior to level of setae ag2. Length ratio of setae ag1: ag2: ag3 1.3:1:1.7. Setae ps1 1.4 times longer than ps2. Setae g1 short and thick, situated on genital lobes. Setae 3c 3 times longer than 3b. Coxal fields I–IV well developed, apunctate. Legs. Most of dorsal setae of legs I and II covered by weakly visible ornamentation. Antaxial and paraxial members of claws pair III and IV subequal in size and shape. Setae tc”III–IV slightly (1.2 times) longer than tc’ III–IV. Lengths of setae: vi 145–160, ve 90–100, si 160–170, se 225– 240, c1 255–265, c2 210–225, d1 225–255, d2 225–275, e2 135–150, f1 55–65, f2 85–95, h1 55–65, h2 380, ps1 55, ps2 45, g1 30, 1a 50–65, 3a 65–75, ag1 80–95, ag2 70–80, ag3 120–130, l’RIII 30–35, l’RIV 30–35, tc’III–IV 65–75, tc”III–IV 80–95, 3b 35–45, 3c 120–140.

PHYSOGASTRIC FEMALE (4 paratypes). Worm-like, total body length 1200–1630 in 4 paratypes. Morphology of body and legs as in non-physogastric form.

MALE (3 paratypes). Total body length 515–545. Gnathosoma . Infracapitulum apunctate. Hypostomal apex flat. Peritremes M-shaped, each medial branch with 3–4 chambers, each lateral branch with 8–10 chambers, borders between these chambers clearly visible. Movable cheliceral digit edentate in posterior part. Stylophore 105 long. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield divided longitudinally into 2 narrow lateral shields, punctate, bearing bases of setae ve, si and se. Setae vi and ve situated at same transverse level. All propodonotal setae strongly beaded. Length ratio of setae vi: ve: si 1.5:1:1.7. Setae c1 located anterior to level of setae se. Hysteronotal shield present, not fused to pygidial shield, bearing bases of setae d1 and e2. Setae d2 8 times longer than d1 and e2. Setae d1 situated closer to setae e2 than to d2. Pygidial shield well developed, apunctate. Setae h2 12–15 times longer than f2. Alveoles of setae 3a–3a not coalesced. Two aggenital plates bearing bases of setae ag1, present. Length ratio of setae ag1: ag2 1:1. Coxal fields I–IV apunctate. Setae 3c 2.4–2.7 times longer than 3b. Legs. Most of dorsal setae of legs I and II covered by weakly visible ornamentation. Antaxial and paraxial members of claws pair III and IV subequal in size and shape. Lengths of setae: vi 105–110, ve 65–75, si 115–125, se 150–160, c1 170–175, c2 145–155, d1 25, d2 160–170, e 15–20, h2 225–230, f2 15–20, 1a 40–50, 3a 30, ag1 55–65, ag2 55–60, l’RIII 30, l’RIV 30, 3b 30–40, 3c 80–95.

Type-material examined. Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus ( Passeriformes : Sturnidae ): female holotype (non-physogastric form) and paratypes: 8 females (non-physogastric form), 4 females (physogastric form), 3 males (AMU– SYR.66) (bod.); POLAND, Darlowko Wschodnie , Bukowo-Kopan, 12 April 1999, coll. M. Skoracki.

Type material deposition. Holotype deposited in the AMU, paratypes in the AMU and ZISP.

Non-type material examined. Same host species: 11 females (non-physogastric form), 10 females (physogastric form), 6 males, 2 nymphs and 2 larvae ( AMU –SYR.66a) (bod.); POLAND, Katy near Murowana Goslina, 4 May 2007, coll. M. Skoracki. Material deposited in the AMU . Same host species: 4 females ( AVB 05–0715 – 030 ); MOLDOVA, 14 August 1958, coll. unknown. Material deposited in the ZISP . Same host species: 1 female (physogastric form) ( AMU –SYR.66B) (bod.); SLOVAKIA, Bardejov , 25 March 1962, coll. T. Weisz. Material deposited in the AMU . Sturnus cineraceus Temminck (Sturnidae) : 1 female (non-physogastric form); 4 females (physogastric forms) ( AMU –SYR.287); JAPAN, no other data. Host specimen deposited in the MNHW. Material deposited in the AMU .

Host range and habitat. Oligoxenous species inhabiting quills of body feathers of Sturnus vulgaris and S. cineraceus .

Distribution. Slovakia, Poland, Moldova and Japan.

Figures

FIGURE 248. Picobia sturni Skoracki et al., female (non-physogastric form). A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 249. Picobia sturni Skoracki et al., female (physogastric form). A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 250. Picobia sturni Skoracki et al., male. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 251. Picobia sturni Skoracki et al., female (A–E). A, hypostomal apex; B, peritreme; C, propodonotal setae ve; D, tarsus III in ventral view; E, opisthosoma in ventral view. Male (F–H). F, hypostomal apex; G, peritreme; H, tarsus III in ventral view. Scale bars: E = 50 µm; A–D, F–H = 20 µm.