Amerodectes seiurus, Mironov & Chandler, 2017

Mironov, Sergey V. & Chandler, C. Ray, 2017, New feather mites of the genus Amerodectes Valim and Hernandes (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in Georgia, USA, Zootaxa 4344 (2), pp. 201-245 : 226-230

Amerodectes seiurus sp. n.

( Figs. 13–15 )

Type material. Male holotype (BMOC-16-0825-019), 14 male and 27 female paratypes from Seiurus aurocapilla (Linnaeus, 1766) ( Passeriformes : Parulidae ), USA, Georgia, Statesboro, Georgia Southern University campus, 32°25'15"N, 81°47'22"W, 24 April 2015, coll. C.R. Chandler.

Depository. Holotype, 9 male and 17 female paratypes—BMOC, 5 male and 10 female paratypes—ZISP

Description. MALE (holotype, range for 10 paratypes in parentheses). Idiosoma, length × width, 350 (340– 390) × 145 (125–150), length of hysterosoma 225 (225–255). Prodorsal shield: entire, anterolateral extensions well developed, with rounded ends, lateral margins slightly concave at level of scapular setae, posterior margin straight, posterior angles nearly rectangular, surface with minute and sparsely distributed circular lacunae, length 105 (100– 115), width 110(100–110) ( Fig. 13A ). Setae ve absent. Bases of scapular setae se separated by 60 (52–60). Scapular shields narrow, scarcely developed dorsally. Humeral shields absent. Setae cp and c2 situated on striated tegument. Subhumeral setae c3 lanceolate, 24 (24–26) × 8 (7–8). Hysteronotal shield: anterior margin straight or slightly concave, surface with minute and scarcely distinct lacunae (lacunae in anterior part indistinct in some specimens), greatest length 225 (220–255), width at anterior margin 98 (92–105). Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields about 12–18. Opisthosomal lobes approximately as long as wide at base; posterior margins of lobes roughly rounded, with small tooth-like extensions at bases of setae h2 and h3. Terminal cleft shaped as an inverted U with widely divergent branches, 25 (25–30) long. Supranal concavity semicircular. Setae f2 anterior to bases of setae ps2. Setae h1 situated at level of anterior end of supranal concavity. Setae h3 narrowly lanceolate, 22 (21–24) long; setae ps2 80 (80–90) long; setae ps1 filiform, about 8 long, situated on margin of terminal cleft approximately at level of setae ps2. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 92 (85–98), d2:e2 75 (75–92), e2:h3 52 (52–55), d1:d2 37 (32–47), e1: e2 25 (25–30), h1:ps2 30 (25–30), h2:h2 50 (50–55), h3:h3 50 (50–53), ps2:ps2 65 (62–65).

Epimerites I fused into a V, fused part with three small tooth-like extensions, a pair of lateral and a median one ( Fig. 13B ). Epimerites II with short triangular extensions on inner margins. Coxal fields I, II without extensively sclerotized areas. Rudimentary sclerites rEpIIa absent. Coxal fields I–III open. Coxal fields IV without sclerotized areas at bases of trochanters IV. Epimerites IVa poorly defined. Genital arch of moderate size, 22 (22–25) × 45 (45– 48); aedeagus sword-shaped, 102 (100–108) long, extending to slightly beyond anterior end of terminal cleft; basal sclerite of genital apparatus shaped as small transverse oval ( Fig. 15A ). Genital papillae not connected at bases. Genital and adanal shields absent. Adanal suckers 13 (12–13) in diameter, corolla smooth, surrounding membrane with radial striae. Opisthoventral shields occupying lateral areas of opisthosoma and distal one third or half of opisthosomal lobes; inner margins of these shields at level of anal suckers with roughly trapezoidal extensions bearings setae ps3. Setae 4b situated slightly posterior to level of setae 3a; setae ps3 at level of posterior margin of adanal suckers. Distance between ventral setae: 4b: 3a 7 (7–10), 4b:4a 43 (43–45), 4a:g 32 (32–45), g:ps3 53 (50– 55), ps3:ps3 60 (52–60), ps3:h3 33 (28–35).

Femora I, II with narrow ventral crests, other segments of legs I, II without processes ( Figs. 15B, C ). Solenidion σ1 of genu I half as along as this segment and situated slightly closer to its base. Genual setae cG I, II and mG I filiform, setae mG II slightly thickened basally. Setae d of tarsi II, III much shorter than corresponding setae f. Solenidion φ of tibia IV extending to proximal margin of ambulacral disc. Tarsus IV 25 (25–28) long, with apical process; seta d in basal half of this segment ( Fig. 3D ). Length of solenidia: ω 1 I 13 (13–15), ω1 II 9 (9–10), σ 1 I 13 (12–14), σ III 10 (9–10), φ IV 25 (25–28).

FEMALE (range for 10 paratypes). Idiosoma, length × width, 480–500 × 145–155, length of hysterosoma 340–355. Prodorsal shield: shaped as in male, but posterior margin slightly concave 125–135 × 120–130, surface with small circular lacunae, bases of setae se separated by 62–70. Setae ve absent. Scapular shields narrow, not developed dorsally. Humeral shields absent. Setae cp and c2 situated on striated tegument. Setae c3 lanceolate, 22– 28 × 7.5–8.5. Anterior and lobar parts of hysteronotal shield separated dorsally by narrow transverse band of soft tegument and connected ventrolaterally. Anterior hysteronotal shield attenuate posteriorly, anterior margin straight, surface with minute circular lacunae most clearly outlined in posterior part of this shield, greatest length 255–270, width at anterior margin 115–125 ( Fig. 14A ). Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 10–20. Length of lobar region 95–100, greatest width 77–83. Terminal cleft narrow, with lateral margins parallel-sided and almost touching, 72–75 long. Lobar shield with short posterior incision extending to area of supranal concavity and almost completely splitting this shield; anterior part with 2-3 pairs of large circular lacunae. Supranal concavity poorly distinct, marked by small sclerotized circle in area connecting lateral parts of lobar shield. Setae h1 situated posterior to level of supranal concavity; setae h1 and f2 arranged in low trapezium. Setae h2 spindle-like, 45–48 × 7.5–8. Setae ps1 situated near to inner margins of opisthosomal lobes, almost equidistant from lobar apices and level of setae h2. Setae h 3 15–17 long, 1/7–1/8 the length of terminal appendages. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 110–120, d2:e2 100–110, e2:h2 60–70, h2:h3 45–50, d1:d2 50–55, e1: e2 32–40, h1:h 2 30–34, h1:h 1 25–28, h2:h2 62–68, h2:ps 1 22–24.

Epimerites I fused into a Y with short stem, fused part without extensions ( Fig. 14B ). Lateral parts of coxal fields I, II without large sclerotized areas. Epimerites IVa not distinct. Translobar apodemes of opisthosomal lobes present, wide, not fused to each other anterior to terminal cleft. Epigynum with lateral extensions, greatest width 55–60; apodemes of oviporus fused with epimerites IIIa. Pseudanal setae filiform, setae ps2 situated slightly posterior anal opening and widely separated from each other; distance between pseudanal setae: ps2:ps 2 30–33, ps3:ps 3 16–18, ps2:ps3 32–35. Primary spermaduct without enlargement near head of spermatheca; continuation of primary spermaduct inside spermatheca narrowly ampuliform, with strongly sclerotized wall; secondary spermaducts 20 long ( Fig. 15E ).

Legs I, II as in male. Solenidion σ1 of genu I slightly longer than half-length of this segment and situated slightly closer to its base. Genual setae cG I, II, mG I, II as in male. Seta d and f of tarsi II subequal, setae d of tarsi III, IV much shorter than corresponding setae f. Genu IV dorsally inflated, with narrow dorsal crest. Lengths of solenidia: ω 1 I 13–16, ω 1 II 10–12, σ 1 I 15–18, σ III 10–12, φ III 25–28, φ IV 8–10.

Differential diagnosis. As the previous species, Amerodectes seiurus sp. n. is most close to A. wilsoniae . In females of both species, the lobar shield is split longitudinally and the distal part of the primary spermaduct (about 20 µm long) is enlarged; and in males, the aedeagus slightly extends into the terminal cleft, and setae h3 are lanceolate and relatively short, slightly exceeding half the distance between their bases. Amerodectes seiurus sp. n. differs from A. wilsoniae by the following features: in males, the fused part of epimerites I has a pair of short and acute lateral extensions, setae ps3 are situated on well-outlined ovate areas on the inner margins of the opisthoventral shields, and the inner tips of epimerites IIIa are distant from epimerites III; in females, each lateral piece of the lobar shield has 2-3 circular lacunae, the median part of lobar shield bears a minute supranal concavity, and the terminal cleft is parallel-sided with almost touching lateral margins. In males of A. wilsoniae , the fused part of epimerites I is ended by a narrow stem without any lateral extensions, areas of opisthoventral shield bearing setae ps3 are not outlined laterally, the inner ends of epimerites IIIa are long, curved and their tips are close to epimerites III; in females, the lateral pieces of the lobar shield are devoid of any lacunae, the median part of lobar shield is weakly sclerotized and with the supranal concavity as a dark circular patch, and the terminal cleft is narrowly triangular.

Etymology. The specific epithet is taken from the generic name of the type host and is a noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Amerodectes cathari sp. n., details. A—opisthosoma of male, ventral view, B—genital arch, dorsal view, C – Elegs I – III of male, respectively, F—tibia and tarsus IV of male, G—spermatheca and spermaducts. Abbreviations: bs—basal sclerite of genital apparatus, co—copulatory opening, hs—head of spermathecal, ps—primary spermaduct, sd—secondary spermaducts.

FIGURE 13. Amerodectes seiurus sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 14. Amerodectes seiurus sp. n., female. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 15. Amerodectes seiurus sp. n., details. A—opisthosoma of male, ventral view, B, C—legs I, II of male, respectively, D—tibia and tarsus IV of male, E—spermatheca and spermaducts.