Allodectes sejugaspis, Hernandes, Fabio Akashi, 2013

Hernandes, Fabio Akashi, 2013, The feather mites (Acari, Astigmata) of the Violet-capped Woodnymph, Thalurania glaucopis (Gmelin) (Aves, Trochilidae), with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 3616 (6), pp. 563-577 : 564-568

Allodectes sejugaspis sp. n.

( Figs. 1–3 )

Type material. Male holotype, 5 male and 3 female paratypes from Thalurania glaucopis (Gmelin) (Trochilidae) , Reserva "Bicudinho-do-brejo", Guaratuba, Paraná, Brazil, 25º45’23.1"S; 48º43’35.2"W, 11.I.2012, coll. F.A. Hernandes.

Description. MALE [holotype, measurements for 5 paratypes in parentheses]. Idiosoma, length × width, 397 (387–402) × 222 (219–224). Prodorsal shield: posterior margin almost straight, total length of shield along midline 116 (112–121), width 156 (152–163), surface uniformly punctate; scapular setae se 169 (158–188), those setae separated by 74 (70–76); setae si separated by 48 (46–49). Scapular shields present dorsally, bearing oblique slit on basal third. Small pair of shields present on the striated tegument between the prodorsal and the anterior hysteronotal shields. Humeral shields situated dorso-laterally, metapodosomal shields present dorsally slightly above trochanters IV. Setae cp situated ventrally on humeral shields. Setae c2 situated on the humeral shields. Subhumeral setae c3 lanceolate, 49 (40–57) × 3 (3). Hysteronotal shield: greatest length 259 (248–262), width in anterior region 144 (142–153), anterior margin nearly straight, surface with faint longitudinal marks uniformly distributed throughout the shield. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 14 (13–19). Posterior ends of opisthosoma with small lamellae. Supranal concavity present ( Figs. 1 A). Setae h1 situated anterior to level of supranal concavity. Setae h3 setiform, 6 (6–8) long; setae h2 365 (319–338) long; setae ps2 20 (12–24) long; setae ps3 34 (22–28) long. Distance between dorsal setae: si:c1 84 (78–85), c1:c2 69 (66–69), c1:d1 67 (54–67), d1:d2 72 (70–91), d2: e1 49 (45–51), e1:h1 35 (33–38).

Epimerites I fused into a narrow V weakly connected at tips ( Fig. 1 B). Coxal fields I-IV closed, setae 1a situated on sclerotization of coxal fields I. Rudimentary sclerite rEpIIa absent. Epimerites IVa present. Length of aedeagus (from anterior bend to apex) 24 (23–25), genital arch width 32 (30–52). Genital shields present, bearing setae g. Anal suckers 21 (20–23) in diameter, distance between centers of suckers 33 (30–34), corolla with indentations. Distance between ventral setae: 3a:4a 41 (38–42), 4a:g 32 (32–40).

Femur I with small ventral crest near base of setae vF. Solenidion σ 1 of genu about 1.5 × the length of segment, situated medio-dorsally. Genual seta cG I and II, and mG I and II, setiform. Genu IV bearing small paraxial spine distally. Solenidia ω 1 of tarsi I and II subequal in length. Legs IV noticeably larger than legs III. Tarsus IV 59 (55–56) long; tarsus III, IV bearing apico-dorsal spine ( Fig. 2 C–D); small spine medially on tarsus IV, near base of seta w; setae d and e vestigial, only alveoli present, seta d situated antero-dorsally, seta e at apex of segment ( Fig. 2 D).

FEMALE [2 paratypes]. Idiosoma, length × width, 429–427 × 214–219. Prodorsal shield: 126–130 × 163–164; scapular setae se 213 in length, those setae separated by 75–80, setae si separated by 43–50; general shape of the shield as in the male. Scapular shields present dorsally, as in the male. Small pair of shields present on the striated tegument between the prodorsal and the anterior hysteronotal shields. Humeral shields situated dorso-laterally. Setae cp situated ventrally on humeral shields. Setae c2 situated on humeral shields. Setae c3 lanceolate, 27–30 × 3–4. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 9–18. Anterior margin of anterior hysteronotal shield nearly straight, posterior margin concave, greatest length 223–213, width at anterior margin 147–152, with longitudinal striae on postero-mesal surface ( Fig. 3 A). Darker area on lateral margins of the shield. Length of lobar region 101–105, greatest width 99. Terminal cleft inverted U-shaped, 47 long. Setae h2 setiform, total length 124–136, width at widest part 4–5. Setae h3 setiform, 67–70 long, ca.1/2 of terminal appendages. Distance between dorsal setae: si:c1 79–84, c1:c2 65–74, c1:d1 63–70, d1:d2 101–104.

Epimerites I free, coxal fields I–IV closed. Coxal fields I and II as in male ( Fig. 3 B). Epimerites IVa present. Epigynum 73 in widest part. Primary spermaduct slightly enlarged near head of spermatheca ( Fig. 3 C); copulatory opening situated ventrally, posterior to anal opening, between inner ends of translobar apodemes. Pseudanal setae ps2 and ps3 setiform, seta ps2 situated at level of setae f2; distances between ventral setae: 1a:3a 30–54, 3 a:g 36–44, g:4a 73–78, 4 a:ps3 84–88, ps2:ps2 58–65, ps3: ps 3 23–36.

Femur I with small ventral crest near base of setae vF; other leg segments without crests or processes. Solenidia of genu and tarsi as in the male. Genual seta cG I and II, and mG I and II, setiform. Solenidion ω 1 of tarsus I slightly shorter than that of tarsus II.

Differential diagnosis. The new species resembles A. amadoni Park & Atyeo, 1974 by having a spine only on male tarsi I, II, setae sRIII and c3 subequal in length, and genu IV with paraxial spine. It can be clearly distinguished from A. amadoni and from all other species of the genus by the presence in both sexes of a pair of dorsal shields in the sejugal region, between the prodorsal and the hysteronotal shield.

Etymology. Contraction from sejugal + Greek aspis, shield, referring to the pair of dorsal shields in the sejugal region, between the prodorsal and hysteronotal shields.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Allodectes sejugaspis sp. n. male: dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views.

FIGURE 2. Allodectes sejugaspis sp. n. male: tarsi I – IV (A – D).

FIGURE 3. Allodectes sejugaspis sp. n. female: dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views; spermatheca (C) (pd = primary duct; sd = secondary ducts; hs = head of the spermatheca).