Genus Amerodectes Valim & Hernandes, 2010

Type species: Proctophyllodes (Pterodectes) gracilis Trouessart, 1885, by original designation.

Among the Pterodectes generic complex, which currently includes seven genera ( Pterodectes Robin, 1877, Amerodectes Valim & Hernandes, 2010, Berladectes Valim & Hernandes, 2008, Cotingodectes Valim & Hernandes, 2008, Metapterodectes Mironov, 2008, Tyrannidectes Mironov, 2008, and Hemitriccodectes Hernandes, 2013), Amerodectes is the most species-rich genus, currently comprising 28 species including the two species described below (Trouessart 1885; Stoll 1893; Berla 1958, 1973; Černý 1974; OConnor et al. 2005; Mironov et al. 2008; Valim & Hernandes 2010; Mironov & Gonzalez-Acuña 2011, 2014; Mironov & OConnor 2014; Mironov & Overstreet 2015). Nevertheless, the genus is certainly much more diverse than currently known. Park & Atyeo (1971a) erected the subfamily Pterodectinae and redefined the genus Pterodectes based on 9 described and about 90 undescribed species. Mironov (in Mironov et al. 2008) erected two closely related genera, Tyrannidectes Mironov, 2008 and Metapterodectes Mironov, 2008, distinguished from Pterodectes based on the absence of trochanteral seta sR III and genual solenidion σ on legs III. Valim & Hernandes (2010) revised the genus Pterodectes and erected a new genus, Amerodectes Valim & Hernandes, 2010 to accommodate species with the following features: setae sR III and solenidion σ III are present, epimerites I are fused but never form a long sternum, setae c2 are situated off the hysteronotal shield, and in female setae h2 are dagger-like (with or without terminal filament). Undetermined species of Amerodectes and related pterodectines are often reported in the faunistic literature on bird-associated mites of the Neotropical region (Roda & Farias 1999; Lyra-Neves et al. 2003; Reeves et al. 2007; Kanegae et al. 2008; Valim et al. 2011; Barreto et al. 2012; Enout et al. 2012; Galloway et al. 2014; Daud et al. 2015; Silva et al. 2015).

Hosts of Amerodectes are New World passerines of 11 families: Emberizidae, Cardinalidae, Thraupidae, Parulidae, Furnariidae, Icteridae, Tyrannidae, Turdidae, Troglodytidae, and Mimidae . Silva et al. (2015) also reported undetermined Amerodectes species from Vireonidae .