Neodectes, Park and Atyeo, 1971

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 : 352-353

Key to Neodectes species

(Males and females)

1 In males, legs I not modified, with tibia and genu cylindrical, without processes, genual setae cG I and mG I filiform or spiculiform.......................................................................................... 2

- In males, legs I strongly modified: tibia with high dorsal crest directed backwards and bearing 2–3 denticles on its apical edge; genu with large dorsal spine-like process at base of solenidion σ I, seta cG I large lanceolate, about 1.5 times longer than this segment (females unknown).................................................... N. manicatus ( Trouessart, 1885)

2 In males, aedeagus extending beyond level of lobar apices, at least with its very tip. In females, setae h1 situated posterior to level of supranal concavity or at level of its posterior end...................................................... 3

- In males, aedeagus not extending to level of lobar apices. In females, setae h1 situated distinctly anterior to level of supranal concavity............................................................................................ 5

3 In both sexes, pseudorutellar processes with angular lateral extensions extending beyond margins of palps; prodorsal and hysteronotal shields with ovate and transverse dash-like lacunae. In males, aedeagus with its tip extending slightly beyond lobar apices, tips of epimerites IVa encompassing bases of setae 4a; setae h3 over 120 long, with narrowly lanceolate enlargement in basal part and with filiform apical part; opisthosimal lobes obliquely cut with distinct angular apex bearing setae h3................................................................................... N. hymenostomus ( Gaud, 1968)

- In both sexes, pseudorutellar processes without angular lateral extensions; prodorsal and hysteronotal shields without ornamentation. In males, aedeagus with distal one quarter extending beyond lobar apices, tips of epimerites IVa not extending to bases of setae 4a; setae h3 not longer than 50, foliform or spiculiform; lobar apices truncate or rounded............... 4

4 In both sexes, prodorsal shield with straight or slightly convex posterior margin. In males, setae h3 foliform, 45–50 long and 20–25 wide, with attenuate apices; setae ps1 spiculiform, prodorsal shield entire. In females, setae h1 situated posterior to level of supranal concavity............................................ N. securiclatus ( Trouessart and Neumann, 1888)

- In both sexes, posterior margin of prodorsal shield with a pair of wide shallow concavities and a blunt-angular extension between them. In males, setae h3 spiculiform, narrowly lanceolate, 25–30 long, prodorsal shield split into anterior and posterior parts; setae ps1 minute, filiform. In females, setae h1 at level of posterior end of supranal concavity......................................................................................... N. pilgrimi Mironov and OConnor, 2017

5 In both sexes, setae f2 absent. In males, setae h3 bifurcate, epimerites IVa elongated and extending to bases of setae 4a; opisthosoma widened posteriorly at level of anal area, its margins with narrow lateral membranes ( Figs. 12A, B , 14A, B )... 6

- In both sexes, setae f2 present (e.g., Fig. 1 ). In males, setae h3 spiculiform or narrowly lanceolate, epimerites IVa not extending to bases of setae 4a; opisthosoma not enlarged posteriorly and without lateral membranes............................ 7

6 In both sexes, prodorsal and hysteronotal shields with numerous circular lacunae. In males, prodorsal shield split into anterior and posterior pieces at level of scapular setae; opisthosomal lobes approximately as long as wide at base, posterior ends of lobes truncate............................................................. N. dicranochaetus ( Gaud, 1968) comb. n.

- In both sexes, prodorsal and hysteronotal shields without ornamentation. In males, prodorsal shield entire; opisthosomal lobes short, much wider at base than long, posterior ends of lobes widely rounded ( Figs. 12–14 ).......... N. ophioglossus sp. n.

7 In both sexes, entire surface of prodorsal and hysteronotal shields with numerous and well outlined circular lacunae ( Fig. 4 ). ................................................................................................... 8

- In both sexes, prodorsal and hysteronotal shields without ornamentation or with poorly pronounced circular lacuna in some areas of these shields.................................................................................. 9

8 In males, setae h3 spiculiform, shorter than the distance between their bases; terminal cleft almost semicircular ( Figs. 7 , 9A ). In females, posterior margin of prodorsal shield straight, lateral margins of terminal cleft divergent, and translobar apodemes not fused to each other anterior to terminal cleft ( Fig. 8 )........................................... N. manorinae sp. n.

- In males, setae h3 narrowly lanceolate, approximately 1.5 times longer than distance between their bases, terminal cleft nearly triangular ( Figs. 4 , 6A ). In females, posterior margin of prodorsal shield with a pair of shallow concavities, lateral margins of terminal cleft almost parallel, and transclobar apodemes fused to each other anterior to terminal cleft ( Fig. 5 )................................................................................................... N. hallidayi sp. n.

9 In males, setae h3 shorter than distance between their bases; supranal concavity small ovate, 8–10 long; corolla of adanal suckers with 10–12 minute denticles ( Figs. 10 , 11A ).......................................... N. cissomelae sp. n.

- In males, setae h3 1.4–1.7 times longer than distance between their bases; supranal concavity circular, 13–15 long; corolla of adanal suckers with 15–16 minute denticles ( Figs. 1 , 3A ).......................................... N. walteri sp. n.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Neodectes walteri sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 3. Neodectes walteri sp. n., details. A—opisthosoma of male, ventral view, B–D—legs I–III of male, E—tibia and tarsus IV of male, F—tibia and tarsus IV of female, G—spermatheca and spermaducts.Abbreviations: hs—head of spermatheca, pd—primary spermaduct, sd—secondary spermaduct.

FIGURE 4. Neodectes hallidayi sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 5. Neodectes hallidayi sp. n., female. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 6. Neodectes hallidayi 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—tibia and tarsus IV of female, G—spermatheca and spermaducts.

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.

FIGURE 10. Neodectes cissomelae sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 11. Neodectes cissomelae sp. n., details of male.A—opisthosoma, ventral view, B, C—legs I, II of male, D, E—tibiae and tarsi III, IV of male.

FIGURE 12. Neodectes ophioglossus sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 13. Neodectes ophioglossus sp. n., female. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 14. Neodectes ophioglossus sp. n., details. A—opisthosoma of male with folded lateral margin, ventral view, B— opisthosoma of male with one lateral extension not folded, C, D—legs I, II of male, respectively, E, F—tibiae and tarsi III, IV of male, respectively, G—spermatheca and spermaducts.