Toritrombicula kirhocephales Goff, 1982

K, Sirikamon Koosakulnirand, RajasegaranK, Praveena, Alkathiry K, Hadil A., ChaisiriK, Kittipong, RoundK, Philip D., Eiamampai, Krairat, Ahmad KhusainiK, Mohd K. S., RamjiK, Mohamad Fizl Sidq, AbubakarK, Sazaly, Ya’cobK, Zubaidah, Stekolnikov K, Alexandr A. & Makepeace K, Benjamin L., 2023, On the taxonomy of chigger mites (Acariformes: Trombiculidae) parasitizing birds in Thailand and Malaysia, with the description of a new species, Acarologia 63 (4), pp. 1109-1138 : 1123-1124

Toritrombicula kirhocephales Goff, 1982

( Fig. 5A )

Diagnosis — SIF = 7B-N-3-2111.0000; fPp = B/B/NNN; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; PL> AL> AM; fD = 2H-10(11)-8(10)-(6 – 8)-4-2; DS = 32 – 37; V = 26 – 34; NDV = 58 – 68; Ip = 1026

– 1246; eyes 2 + 2, of moderate size; flagelliform sensilla (trichobothria) with short branches in distal part; sensillary bases anterior to level of PL. Standard measurements are given in Table 5.

Distribution and hosts — This species was described ex Pitohui kirhocephalus (R.P. Lesson & Garnot) ( Passeriformes: Oriolidae ) from Papua New Guinea (East Sepik province). Here it is for the first time recorded in Asia ( Thailand) and on all hosts mentioned below.

Material examined — Six larvae ( ZIN 18004 – 18009) ex one Larvivora cyane (1), two Pachycephala cinerea (2), one Pycnonotus conradi (1), and one Phylloscopus tenellipes (2), THAILAND, Rayong province, Koh Mun Nai, 12.612384°N, 101.687574°E, 9 – 11 March 2021, coll. S. Koosakulnirand; one larva ( ZIN 18010) ex L. cyane , THAILAND, Kanchanaburi province, W Mahidol University Campus, 14.13111°N, 99.14863°E, 10 December 2021, coll. S. Koosakulnirand; two larvae ( ZIN 18011, 18012) ex Ficedula albicilla and Pycnonotus conradi , THAILAND, Kanchanaburi province, 5 km NW Mahidol University Campus, 14.15452°N, 99.12069°E, 13 December 2021, coll. S. Koosakulnirand.

19 larvae (UoL) from same localities, same and additional host individuals of the same species plus one larva (UoL) ex Cyornis tickelliae , THAILAND, Kanchanaburi province,

W Mahidol University Campus, 14.13111°N, 99.14863°E, 10 December 2021, coll. S. Koosakulnirand; one larva (UoL) ex Pycnonotus aurigaster , THAILAND, Kanchanaburi province, 5 km NW Mahidol University Campus, 14.15452°N, 99.12069°E, 13 December

2021, coll. S. Koosakulnirand.

Remarks — Our specimens deviate from the original description (Goff 1982) in more numerous idiosomal setae (fD = 2H-10(11)-8(10)-8(7)-4-2 vs. 2H-10-8-6-4-2, DS = 34 – 37

vs. 32, V = 31 – 34 vs. 26, NDV = 65 – 68 vs. 58) and slightly longer legs (Ip = 1145 – 1246 vs. 1026 – 1045, TaIIIL = 112 – 121 vs. 98). We estimate this difference as a case of intraspecific variation.

Toritrombicula kirhocephales differs from T. densipiliata in exhibiting fewer idiosomal setae (two humeral setae vs. four; 1 st posthumeral row simple vs. double; DS = 34 – 37 vs. 50 – 65; NDV = 58 – 65 vs. about 104) (Goff 1982; Nadchatram 1967b ; Vercammen-Grandjean & Langston 1976).

Figures

Figure 5 Toritrombicula kirhocephalesGoff, 1982: A – specimen ZIN 18009, anterior dorsal aspect of idiosoma. Toritrombicula uphami Nadchatram, 1967: B – specimen ZIN 18169, anterior dorsal aspect of idiosoma. Neoschoengastia longipesNadchatram, 1967: C – specimen ZIN 17947, dorsal aspect of idiosoma. Schoengastia archaea(Taufflieb, 1960): D – specimen ZIN 17967, dorsal aspect of idiosoma.