Bubophilus aluconis, Nattress, Barry & Skoracki, Maciej, 2009

Nattress, Barry & Skoracki, Maciej, 2009, A new species and further records of quill mites (Acari: Cheyletoidea: Syringophilidae) parasitic on birds (Aves) in England, Zootaxa 2133, pp. 49-54 : 50

Bubophilus aluconis sp. nov.

( Figs 1–6 )

Description. FEMALE ( Figs 1-6 ). Total body length 570 in holotype (605–645 in 7 paratypes). Gnathosoma. Ventral gnathosoma and palps as in figures 3 and 4. Hypostomal apex rounded and smooth. Two pairs of tongue-like hypostomal lips present ( Figs 3 and 4 ). Infracapitulum without punctations. Stylophore not punctated, constricted posteriorly and extending beyond propodonotal shield, 180 (180) long. Each branch of peritremes with 2–3 chambers, each longitudinal branch with 5–6 chambers ( Fig. 5 ). Idiosoma. Propodonotal shield weakly sclerotized with deep cleft on anterior margin. Setae vi, ve, si, se and c1 situated on the shield. Length ratio of setae vi:ve:si 1:1.6–2.3:3.3–3.6. Hysteronotal shield present and fused to pygidial shield, narrow and sparsely punctated. Pseudanal setae ps1 and ps2 subequal in length. Genital plate absent. Genital setae g1 and g2 subequal in length. Length ratio of aggenital setae ag1:ag2:ag3 2.6:1:2.6–3.2. Cuticular striations as in figures 1 and 2. Legs: Apodemes I slightly divergent and not fused to apodemes II. Coxal fields III and IV weakly sclerotized, sparsely punctated. Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 8–12 tines ( Fig. 6 ). Setae tc”III–IV 1.6–2.3 times longer than tc’III–IV. Setae 3c about 2–2.6 times longer than 3b. Length of setae: vi 30 (35), ve 55 (55–80), si 105 (115–125), se 210 (205–215), c1 220 (220–250), c2 175 (205), d1 165 (155–170), d2 160 (165–205), e 165 (160–180), f1 40 (35–40), f2 (185–190), h1 40 (40–50), h2 380 (375–405), ps1 and ps2 30 (30–35), ag1 135 (135–145), ag2 60 (55–65), ag3 155 (175–190), g1 50 (45–50), g2 45 (45–60); 3b 40 (40–45), 3c 80 (80–120); sc3 45 (45–55), sc4 45 (40–50), tc’III–IV (35–45); tc”III–IV (70).

MALE. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype female and 8 female and 2 nymph paratypes from greater covert quills of the tawny owl Strix aluco (L.) ( Strigiformes : Strigidae ); England, South Yorkshire, Worsbrough (53°31’N, 1°29’W), 14 July 2008, coll. A. Norman. Holotype and the most of paratypes are deposited at AMU, except 2 female paratypes at ZISP.

Etymology. The name aluconis is derived from the specific name of the host.

Differential diagnosis. To date, this genus comprises only two species associated with owls: B. ascalaphus Philips et Norton, 1978 described from Bubo virginianus (Gmelin) from USA, and B. asiobius Skoracki et Bochkov, 2002 found on Asio otus (L.) from Poland ( Philips & Norton 1978; Skoracki & Bochkov 2002). Females of the new species differ from females of B. ascalaphus by the following characters: in B. aluconis sp. nov., the lengths of the stylophore and aggenital setae ag1 are 180 and 135–145, respectively; each transverse branch of the peritremes has 2–3 chambers; the hysteronotal shield is present. In B. ascalaphus the lengths of the stylophore and aggenital setae ag1 are 150–165 and 155–170, respectively; each transverse branch of the peritremes has one chamber; the hysteronotal shield is absent. This new species differs from B. asobius by the characters as follows: in B. aluconis sp. nov., the total body length is 570–645 and the length ratio of setae ve:si is 1:1.6–2. In B. asiobius , the total body length is 695–770 and the length ratio of setae ve:si is 1:1.1–1.2.

Figures

FIGURES 1, 2. Bubophilus aluconis sp. n. Female. 1. Dorsal view. 2. Ventral viev.

FIGURES 3 – 6. Bubophilus aluconis sp. n. Female. 3. Gnathosoma in ventral view. 4. Palp in dorsal view. 5. Peritremes. 6. Fan – like seta p’III.