Radfordia (Microtimyobia) cricetulus Fain, 1973

Bochkov, Andre V., 2011, Mites of the subgenus Microtimyobia (Acariformes: Myobiidae: Radfordia) and their host-parasite relationships with cricetid rodents (Cricetidae) 2954, Zootaxa 2954 (1), pp. 1-86 : 69-71

21. Radfordia (Microtimyobia) cricetulus Fain, 1973

( Fig. 61–63 )

Radfordia (Radfordia) cricetulus Fain, 1973: 304

Radfordia (Graphiurobia) cricetulus, Fain 1975: 453 , 8, 9

Radfordia (Microtimyobia) cricetulus, Fain & Lukoschus 1977: 94 , fig. 100

Radfordia (Microtimyobia) cricetulus pakistanensis Fain and Hyland, 1980: 229 ; syn. nov.

Diagnosis. FEMALE ( Fig. 61 ). Subcapitular setae m lanceolate, pointed apically. Setae vi distinctly wider and longer than e2. Setae e1 and f1 narrow lanceolate. Distances c1-d1 and d1-d2 subequal. Vulvar region without ornamentation. Setae ps3 distinctly developed, slightly curved. Setae ag2 at least 2 times longer than ag1. Setae 1b and 1d slightly thicker than 1a. Setae 2a and 3a whip-like, much longer than 2b. Trochanter I with distinct ventral projection and without tubercles. Measurements of holotype (Fain 1975): body, including gnathosoma, 430 long, 220 maximum wide. Lengths of setae: e2 20, 2 a and 3a 90, 4a 30.

MALE ( Figs. 62 ). Subcapitular setae m filiform. Genital cone slightly elongated, length/width ratio 1.5:1; lateral margins straight, without projections. Bases of setae vi situated anterior to level of setae ps2; setae ps1 strongly thickened. Setae e2 about 1.3–1.4 longer than f1. Posterior end of opisthosoma without tubercles dorsally and with tubercles ventrally. Setae 2a whip-like, much longer than 2b and 3a. Trochanter I with weakly developed ventral projection and without tubercles. Measurements (3 specimens from Cricetulus migratorius from Kirghizia): body, including gnathosoma, 270–300, 185–190 maximum wide. Aedeagus 120–130 long. Lengths of setae: vi 13–15, ve 76–78, si 50–55, se 90–100, c2 100–110, e1 33 –47, e2 22 –24, f1 15–17, 2a 60–67, 3a 10–15, 4a 31–33.

FEMALE TRITONYMPH ( Fig. 63 ). Setae f2 and h2 stick-like, other dorsal idiosomal setae narrow lanceolate. Setae 3a and 4a about 30 long. Tarsus IV with 4 setae.

Remark. Fain & Hyland (1980) described the subspecies Radfordia cricetulus pakistanensis Fain and Hyland, 1980 based on a single and slightly damaged female specimen. According to these authors this female (p. 229: agrees with most of the characters of that species [ Radfordia cricetulus —note of AVB], but the specimen is distinctly shorter and wider than in the typical females, plus some of the setae differ slightly in length). In my opinion all these small measured distinctions are results of the intraspecific variability and I consider subspecies Radfordia cricetulus pakistanensis syn. nov. as a junior synonym of Radfordia cricetulus .

Type host and locality. Cricetulus migratorius (Cricetinae) from Iran ( Fain 1973, 1975).

Hosts and distribution. This species is known from the type host Cricetulus migratorius and hamsters of the genus Allocricetulus . The record of a single female specimen of this species on an alcohol preserved example of Ochotona rufescens ( Lagomorpha : Ochotonidae ) from Pakistan is obviously accidental. Even the authors of this record, Fain & Hyland (1980), expressed the same opinion (p. 230: Possible this host was accidentally infested …).

It was recorded from:

Cricetulus migratorius from Iran ( Fain 1973, 1975), Ukraine, Armenia, Kirghizia, and Tadzhikistan ( Bochkov 1995; Chirov et al. 1997);

Allocricetulus curtatus (new host) from Russia (Tuva);

Allocricetulus eversmanni (new host) from Kazakhstan (Karaganda Prov.).

Material examined. Cricetulus migratorius —Female holotype ( IRSNB), IRAN: 1956, coll. X. Misonne; 20 males, 49 females, and 3 TN, UKRAINE: Poltava Distr., Zazhitochnoe village , 22 May 1968, coll. S. Sklyar ; 6 females, UKRAINE: Donetskaya step’ Reservation , 5 November 1968, coll. S. Sklyar ; 3 males and 8 females, UKRAINE: Khomutovskaya Step’ , 16 June 1968, coll. S. Sklyar ; 1 female, UKRAINE: Alekhino village , 18 May 1967, coll. unknown ; 1 male and 3 females, and 2 TN, ARMENIA: Erevan, 5 June 1989, coll. E. Dubinina ; 2 males, 4 females, and 4 TN, KIRGHIZIA: Osh Prov., 9 June 1974, coll. S. Rybin ; 2 males, KIRGHIZIA: Aksay Valley , 14 July 1990, coll. A. Bochkov ; 1 male and 1 female, TADJIKISTAN: Ziddy , 7 August 1953, coll. E. Sosnina ; 4 males, 1 female, and 13 TN (1 pharate with male and 1 pharate with female) ( AVB 09-1201 - 002 ), TAD- JIKISTAN: Leninabad, Sarytag River , 39°3'N, 68°20'E, 1 October 2009 , 16 females, 8 males, 15 TN (3 pharate with females and 1 pharate with male), coll. F. Golenishchev and L. Voyta (FG #6).

Allocricetulus curtatus — 10 males, 10 females, and 19 TN ( AVB 09-1201 - 003 ) ( ZISP 54997 ), RUSSIA: Tuva, [ Samogolgan River ], 1963, coll. M.N. Meyer.

Allocricetulus eversmanni — 2 females and 2 TN ( AVB 09-1201 - 004 ) ( ZISP 45639 ), KAZAKHSTAN: Karaganda Prov. , Zhanaarkinsk Distr., 20 May 1960, coll. I.M. Fokin.

Type depositories. Radfordia cricetulus —IRSNB, female holotype (examined); Radfordia cricetulus pakistanensis —USNM, female holotype (not examined).

Figures

FIGURE 61. Radfordia (M.) cricetulus Fain, 1973 from Cricetulus migratorius, female. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, seta m. Scale bars: A, B = 100 µm; C = 50 µm.

FIGURE 62. Radfordia (M.) cricetulus Fain, 1973 from Cricetulus migratorius, male. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, genital cone. Scale bars: A, B = 100 µm; C = 50 µm.

FIGURE 63. Radfordia (M.) cricetulus Fain, 1973 from Cricetulus migratorius, female tritonymph. A, idiosoma in dorsal view; B, same in ventral view; C, tarsus IV in ventral view. Scale bars: A, B = 100 µm; C = 50 µm.