Neoaulonastus chrysocolaptes, Skoracki & Oconnor, 2010

Skoracki, Maciej & Oconnor, Barry, 2010, New taxa of quill mites (Acari: Cheyletoidea: Syringophilidae), Zootaxa 2341 (1), pp. 1-32 : 22-24

Neoaulonastus chrysocolaptes sp. nov.

( Figs 61–73 )

Description. FEMALE ( Figs 61–66 ). Total body length of holotype 530 (520–555 in four paratypes). Gnathosoma . Infracapitulum not punctated. Each transverse branch of peritremes with 3 chambers, each longitudinal branch with 4–5 chambers ( Fig. 64 ). Stylet of movable digit 105 (105) long. Stylophore rounded posteriorly, without punctations, 145 (140–145) long. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield weakly sclerotized, with concave anterior margin, sparsely punctated, bearing bases of setae ve, si, and c1. Setae se on or near this shield. Setae se and c1 situated at same transverse level. Setae ve and si short and subequal in length. Setae c1 and c2 subequal in length. Setae c1 slightly (1.1–1.2 times) longer than se. Hysteronotal shield absent. Setae d2 2–2.7 times longer than d1 and e. Setae d1 situated 1.5 times closer to d2 than to e. Pygidial shield well sclerotized bearing bases of terminal setae f1, f2, h1 and h2. Setae f1 and f2 subequal in length or setae f2 slightly (1.3 times) longer than f1. Setae h2 about 20 times longer than f2. Length ratio of setae ag1:ag2:ag3 1.8:1:2.2–2.6. One pair of pseudanal setae present. Genital setae g1 and g2 subequal in length. Genital plate absent. Cuticular striations as in Figs 61 and 62 . Legs. Coxal fields of legs III and IV sparsely punctated. Apodemes I parallel not fused to apodemes II. Solenidia of leg I as in figure 65. Setae tc”III–IV 1.5 times longer than tc’III–IV. Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 5–6 tines each ( Fig. 66 ). Setae 3c 1.3–1.7 times longer than 3b. Length of setae: ve 20 (20), si 20 (20), se 280 (250–280), c1 210 (210), c2 200 (180– 200), d1 20 (15–20), d2 40 (30–40), e 20 (15–20), f1 15 (15), f2 20 (15–20), h1 20 (15–20), h2 (310), ps (10– 15), g1 and g2 20 (20), ag1 45 (45), ag2 25 (25), ag3 55 (55–65), tc’III–IV 30 (30), tc”III–IV 45 (45), 3b 20 (15–20), 3c 20 (20–30), sc3 20 (20–25).

MALE ( Figs 67–73 ). Total body length 355–380 in three paratypes. Gnathosoma . Infracapitulum not punctated. Each transverse branch of peritremes with 3–4 chambers, each longitudinal branch with 5 chambers ( Fig. 69 ). Stylet of movable digit 100 long. Stylophore rounded posteriorly, without punctations, 110–115 long. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield weakly sclerotized, margins indistinct, bearing bases of setae ve, si and c1. Setae se situated anteriorly to level of setae c1. Hysteronotal shield absent. Setae d2, d1, and e subequal in length. Pygidial shield restricted to ano-genital region ( Fig. 68 ). Setae h 4–4.5 times longer than f. Aggenital series with two pairs of setae, ag1 and ag2 subequal in length. Cuticular striations as in Figs 72 and 73 . Legs. Coxal fields sparsely punctated. Apodemes I slightly divergent and not fused to apodemes II. Solenidia of leg I as in Fig. 70 . Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 5 tines each ( Fig. 71 ). Length of setae: ve 9–12, si 12–14, se 30–45, c1 45–55, c2 20–30, d1 12–15, d2 12–15, e 12–15, f 10, h 40–45, ag1 25–30, ag2 20–30, 3b 7, 3c 12–15.

Type material. Female holotype, 5 female and 3 male paratypes ( BMOC 81–0728 – 2 ) ex quill of Chrysocolaptes lucidus (Scopoli) ( Piciformes : Picidae ); THE PHILIPPINES: Luzon Is., Cagayan Prov., Pinablanca Munic., between Bagio and Iland Rivers , 11 May 1981, coll. K.M. Mudar.

Type deposition. All material is deposited at UMMZ .

Etymology. The name chrysocolaptes refers to the generic name of the host.

Differential diagnosis. N. chrysocolaptes sp. nov. is most similar to a sole formerly known species N. scirpaceus ( Skoracki, 1999) described from Acrocephalus scirpaceus (Hermann) ( Passeriformes : Sylviidae ) from Poland ( Skoracki 1999) and differs by the following characters: in females of N. chrysocolaptes sp. nov., one pair of pseudanal setae is present, each longitudinal branch of the peritremes has 4–5 chambers, and the hysteronotal shield is absent. In females of N. scirpaceus , two pairs of pseudanal setae are present, each longitudinal branch of the peritremes has 7–8 chambers, and the hysteronotal shield is present.

Figures

FIGURES 61, 62. Neoaulonastus chrysocolaptes sp. n. Female. 61. Dorsal view. 62. Ventral view.

FIGURES 63–71. Neoaulonastus chrysocolaptes sp. n. Female. 63. Hypostomal apex in ventral view. 64. Peritremes. 65. Solenidia of leg I. 66. Fan-like seta p’ of leg III. Male. 67. Hypostomal apex in ventral view. 68. Ano-genital region. 69. Peritremes. 70. Solenidia of leg I. 71. Fan-like seta p’ of leg III.

FIGURES 72, 73. Neoaulonastus chrysocolaptes sp. n. Male. 72. Dorsal view. 73. Ventral view.