Leptotrombidium taiyuanense Tian and Wen, 1984

Kaluz, Stanislav, Hung, Nguyen Manh, Capek, Miroslav & Literak, Ivan, 2016, Two new species and new records of chiggers (Acari: Leeuwenhoekiidae, Trombiculidae) from birds in Vietnam, Zootaxa 4061 (5), pp. 483-503 : 485-486

Leptotrombidium taiyuanense Tian and Wen, 1984

( Figs. 1–5 )

Material examined. Location A: Larva from Turdus cardis ( Passeriformes : Turdidae ); 4 February 2010.

Description. Larva, 1 individual measured. SIF = 7B-B.3.2111.0000; fsp = 7-7-7; fPp = N.N. BNN; Ga = B; Pc = 3; Gn = 2; fD = 2H.12.12.12.7.3.3 = 51; fSc: AM = AL = PL; SB/PL; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; DS = 51; VS = 44; NDV = 95.

Idiosoma ( Figs. 1 , 2 ). Scutum roughly rectangular, posterior margin weakly sinuous with very shallow concave median depression, two times wider than long, with AL, AM, PL setae and two flagelliform sensilla ( Fig. 3). Position of AL and PL setae laterally marginal. Scutal puncta spread and cover most of scutum. Sensilla absent. Rounded eyes (2 + 2), anterior larger than posterior, ocular plates not visible. Humeral setae 46 long, dorsal anterior 36–40 long, central 34–38 and posterior setae 36–39 long, densely ciliated, dorsal setae arranged in regular rows, the rows slightly varying in position of setae. Scutal measurements: AW = 63, PW = 71, SB = 29, ASB = 28, PSB = 15, SD = 43, AP = 29, AM = 45, AL = 45, PL = 45, PL = AM = AL, SD <AW <PW, SB situated slightly anteriorly from level of PL. Ventral side with two pairs of sternal setae (fSt = 2.2), fCx = 1.1.1. Ventral side with 44 irregularly arranged ciliated setae. Lengths of ventral setae vary, increase from anterior 21–24 to median 23–26 and posterior 34–39.

Gnathosoma ( Fig. 4 ). Palps 42 (+ claw) long, palpotibial claw unmeasurable, claw with 3 deeply indented prongs, galeala nude. Chelicera anteriorly with tricuspid cap.

Legs ( Fig. 5 ). With pretarsus, claws and normal empodia. All tactile setae on legs barbed, slender. Specialized setae on leg segments—Leg I: Tarsus—S1 17, f1 2, nude pretarsala 11 (PT´= N), nude ST 21 and pST 11, 2 tibialae (15 and 15), microtibiala 3, 2 genualae—anterior 19, posterior 15, microgenuala 3; Leg II: Tarsus—nude pretarsala 11 (PT´´= N), S2 17, f2 2, 2 tibialae—anterior 13, posterior 12, genuala 14; Leg III: tibiala 14 and genuala 15. Number of barbed setae on leg segments (leg formula from coxa to tarsus): Leg I: 1-1- 1-5-4-8-18; Leg II: 1-1- 2 -4- 3-6-16; Leg III: 1-1- 2 -3-3-6-14. Length/width of tarsi I–III: I—57/20, II—49/17, III—69/14. Leg length: pa 251, pm 228, pp 258, Ip 737.

Distribution and hosts. The species was originally described from a single specimen from Tscherskia triton (Winton) ( Rodentia : Cricetidae ) in China ( Tian and Wen, 1984). We found L. taiyuanense in Vietnam for the first time. Turdus cardis is a new host for this chigger.

Number of chiggers (Number of birds parasitized) Copsychus malabaricus 2 14 (1) 1 (1)

Hemixos flavala 1 1 (1) Turdus cardis 5 1 (1) 1 (1) 78 (3)

Turdus dissimilis 2 12 (1) 2 (1)

Total 46 50 (11) 25 (6) 1 (1) 8 (3) 3 (3) 1 (1) 1 (1) 28 (5) 137 (10) 1 (1) 2 (2) 8 (2)

Figures

FIGURE 1. Leptotrombidium taiyuanense (larva) — idiosoma dorsal. Scale bar: 100 µm.

FIGURE 2. Leptotrombidium taiyuanense (larva) — idiosoma ventral. Scale bar: 100 µm.

FIGURE 4. Leptotrombidium taiyuanense (larva) — gnathosoma (left—ventral, right—dorsal). Scale bar: 100 µm.

FIGURE 5. Leptotrombidium taiyuanense (larva) — legs I – III (dots—bases of setae; filled dots—upper side; empty dotsbottom side. Numbers—lengths of solenidia and famuli. Scale bar: 100 µm.