Geckobiella diolii ( Baker )

Paredes-León, Ricardo, Klompen, Hans & Pérez, Tila M., 2012, Systematic revision of the genera Geckobiella Hirst, 1917 and Hirstiella Berlese, 1920 (Acari: Prostigmata: Pterygosomatidae) with description of a new genus for American species parasites on geckos formerly placed in Hirstiella, Zootaxa 3510, pp. 1-40 : 12

Geckobiella diolii ( Baker) new combination

Hirstiella diolii Baker, 1998: 183 .

Diagnosis. Female. Prodorsal shield distinct, pyriform with 2 pairs of setae (vi and sci) ( Fig. 2 G). All dorsal setae spatulate spinose (subclavate to clavate), except for f2 and h1 which peripectinate or barbed. Solenidion ω 2 on tarsus I as long as companion seta ft (as in G. javieri ).

Male. Characterized by having subclavate median hysterodorsal setae that not overlap and located on smooth plates; dorsal surface largely covered by transverse shields (except posterior end of opisthosoma) ( Baker 1998).

Type. Female HOLOTYPE, female, male, deutonymphal and larval PARATYPES (BM(NH)).

Type locality. Origin unknown, mites collected from captive iguanas in Regent´s Park Reptile House of London Zoo, England.

Type host. Cyclura cornuta (Bonnaterre) .

Material examined. 3 females, 1 male ex Cyclura cornuta USA, captive ( OSAL 0067363–64; 66; 68).

Remarks. Geckobiella diolii was described as very close to Geckobiella javieri (see remarks). Both species are ectoparasite of Cyclura (Iguanidae) species from the Caribbean region.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Prodorsal shields of the species of Geckobiella. A, G. trombidiiformis; B, G. p e l a e z i; C, G. boneti; D, G. bakeri; E, G. pyriformis; F, G. javieri; G, G. diolii; H, G. donnae sp. nov. Scale bar 100 µm.