Neodectes walteri, Mironov & Proctor, 2023

Mironov, Sergey V. & Proctor, Heather C., 2023, New feather mites of the genus Neodectes (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) from honeyeaters (Passeriformes: Meliphagidae) in Australia, Zootaxa 5330 (3), pp. 349-374 : 353-357

Neodectes walteri sp. n.

( Figs. 1–3 )

Type material. Male holotype, 8 male and 8 female paratypes from 3 individuals of Anthochaera phrygia (Shaw, 1794) ( Passeriformes : Meliphagidae ) ( B90077 , B90078 , B90080 ), AUSTRALIA, New South Wales, Sydney, Taronga Zoo , 28 February–19 March 2013, coll. L. Vogelnest.

Depository. Holotype ( ANIC 49-000339 ), 4 male and 4 female paratypes ( ANIC 49-000340 — ANIC 49- 000340 ) — CSIRO, remaining paratypes — ZISP.

Description. MALE (holotype, range for 8 paratypes in parentheses) ( Figs. 1 , 3A–E ). Idiosoma, length × width, 380 (370–390) × 155 (135–165), length of hysterosoma 245 (235–245). Prodorsal shield: entire, anterolateral extensions pointed, lateral margins slightly concave at level of scapular setae, posterior margin slightly convex, posterior corners almost right-angular, length 125 (120–130), width 105 (105–115), surface with poorly outlined circular lacunae or without them. Setae ve absent. Bases of scapular setae se separated by 58 (55–60). Scapular shields narrow, barely developed dorsally. Humeral shields situated laterally, represented by narrow longitudinal sclerites. Setae c2 at anterior ends of humeral shields. Setae cp situated on striated tegument. Setae c3 lanceolate, 23 (23–28) long, about 8 wide. Hysteronotal shield: anterior margin uneven, slightly concave, anterior angles pointed, greatest length 245 (240–250), width at anterior margin 92 (88–100), surface with barely distinct small circular lacunae or without them. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 15 (10–20). Opisthosomal lobes short, roughly triangular, approximately half as long as wide at base, with widely rounded apices bearing setae h3; posterolateral margins of lobes without extensions at bases h2 and h3. Terminal cleft small semi-ovate, 16 (15–17) long. Supranal concavity circular, well outlined, 13 (13–15) in diameter. Setae h1 situated at level of supranal concavity. Setae f2 at level of bases of setae ps2. Setae h3 spiculiform, 48 (43–48) long; setae ps2 58 (55–60) long. Setae ps1 short filiform, about 5 long, situated on margin of terminal cleft, between levels of setae h2 and h3. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 95 (83–95), d2:e2 98 (95–105), e2:h3 45 (43–46), d1:d2 33 (25–33), e1:e2 38 (35–38), h1:ps2 18 (18–20), h2:h2 48 (45–50), h3:h3 30 (28–30), ps2:ps2 68 (63–68).

Epimerites I fused into a V, fused part connected to middle parts of epimerites II with transverse strongly sclerotized bars. Coxal fields I, II without extensively sclerotized areas. Rudimentary sclerites rEpIIa absent. Coxal fields I closed, coxal fields II open, coxal fields III closed or with small gap between tips of epimerites III and IIIa. Coxal fields IV without sclerotized bands at bases of trochanters IV. Epimerites IVa present, not extending to bases of setae 4a. Genital arch small, 15 (14–15) wide × 20 (20–28) long; aedeagus sword-shaped, 98 (95–103) long, almost extending to anterior end of terminal cleft; basal sclerite of genital apparatus semicircular, with median extension on posterior margin ( Fig. 3A ). Genital papillae not connected, situated at midlevel of genital arch. Genital shields absent. Adanal suckers 15 (15–16) in diameter, corolla with 15–16 small denticles, surrounding membrane without striation. Opisthoventral shields not developed. Adanal shields shaped as small plates with irregular border around bases of setae ps3. Setae 4b posterior to level of setae 3a, setae ps3 anteromesal to adanal suckers. Distance between ventral setae: 3a:4b 18 (13–18), 4b:4a 48 (42–48), 4a:g 43 (43–48), g:ps3 33 (28–33), ps3:ps3 23 (18–23), ps3:h3 50 (48–53).

Femora I, II with narrow ventral crests ( Fig. 3B, C ), other segments of legs I, II without processes. Solenidion σ of genu I similar in length to this segment and situated at its midlength or slightly closer to base. Genual setae cG I, II and mG I filiform, setae mG II slightly thickened basally. Setae d and f of tarsi II subequal in length; seta d of tarsus III much shorter than corresponding seta f ( Fig. 3D ). Solenidion φ of tibia IV extending to proximal margin of ambulacral disc. Tarsus IV 28 (25–28) long, without apical process; setae d, e button-like, seta d in basal half of this segment ( Fig. 3E ). Length of solenidia: ω1 I 17 (15–17), ω1 II 8 (7–8), σ I 25 (23–30), σ III 7 (7–10), φ IV 35 (33–37).

FEMALE (range for 8 paratypes) ( Figs. 2 , 3F, G ). Idiosoma, length × width, 595–625 × 185–215, length of hysterosoma 415–455. Prodorsal shield: shaped almost as in the male, 150–155 × 148–155, surface without ornamentation. Setae ve absent. Bases of setae se separated by 75–80. Scapular shields narrow, barely developed dorsally. Humeral shields represented by small narrow longitudinal sclerites situated submarginally. Setae c2 situated in anterior ends of humeral shields, setae cp at ventral margin of these shields. Setae c3 lanceolate, 25–28 long, about 7.5–8 wide. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 20–30. Anterior and lobar parts of hysteronotal shield separated dorsally by narrow transverse band of soft tegument, but connected ventrolaterally. Anterior hysteronotal shield nearly rectangular, anterior margin slightly convex, posterior half with poorly expressed small circular lacunae and with a pair of ovate desclerotized areas in posterior angles, length 295–305, and width at anterior margin 140–145. Length of lobar region 130–140, greatest width 95–100. Terminal cleft narrow, parallel-sided, strongly narrowed in anterior 1/4, 85–95 long, 8–13 wide posteriorly. Lobar shield entire, anterior margin almost straight, surface without ornamentation. Supranal concavity circular, well marked, close to anterior margin of lobar shield. Setae h1 at level of anterior margin of supranal concavity; setae h1 and f2 arranged in trapezoidal arrangement. Setae h2 spindle-like, with apical filament, 95–110 × 8–9. Setae ps1 situated on inner margins of opisthosomal lobes closer to level of setae h2 than to h3. Setae h3 23–29 long, about 1/6–1/5 the length of terminal appendages. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 110–125, d2:e2 150–165, e2:h2 60–70, h2:h3 58–63, d1:d2 35–45, e1:e2 63–68, h1:h2 48–58, h1:h1 33–35, h2:h2 75–80, h2:ps1 18–20.

Epimerites I fused into a V, fused part with a pair of thin and acute lateral extensions. Lateral parts of coxal fields I, II without extensively sclerotized areas. Epimerites IVa present. Translobar apodemes of opisthosomal lobes narrow, fused to each other anterior to terminal cleft. Epigynum with a pair of small lateral ledges at level of epimerites III, greatest width 68–78; apodemes of oviporus fused with epimerites IIIa. Pseudanal setae filiform, setae ps2 situated approximately at midlevel of anal opening and widely separated from each other; distance between pseudanal setae: ps2:ps2 48–55, ps3:ps3 28–30, ps2:ps3 18–20. Primary spermaduct with dentate collar near head of spermatheca; secondary spermaducts noticeably sclerotized only in basal part, about 25 long ( Fig. 3G ). Copulatory opening near anterior margin of fused translobar apodemes.

Legs I, II as in male, except ventral crest on femur I absent. Solenidion σ of genu I as long as this segment and situated at its midlevel. Genual setae cG I, II, mG I, II as in male. Setae d and f of tarsus II subequal in length, setae d of tarsi III, IV half as long as corresponding setae f ( Fig. 3F ). Genua III, IV dorsally not inflated. Lengths of solenidia: ω1 I 19–21, ω1 II 11–13, σ I 40–44, σ III 14–17, φ III 35–40, φ IV 23–25.

Differential diagnosis. Neodectes walteri sp. n. clearly differs from the three formerly known species of the genus in which males have the opisthosoma attenuate posteriorly ( N. hymenostomus , N. securiclatus , and N. pilgrimi ), in having the aedeagus relatively short and not extending into the terminal cleft. In males of the other three species, the aedeagus extends beyond the apices of opisthosomal lobes. Among these species, N. walteri is most similar to N. pilgrimi in having setae h3 spiculiform in males and in lacking angular lateral extensions on pseudorutellar processes in both sexes. Neodectes walteri sp. n. is clearly distinguished from N. pilgrimi by the following features. In males of N. walteri , the aedeagus almost reaches the anterior end of the terminal cleft, the anterolateral pair of adanal shields is absent, the prodorsal shield is entire, and epimerites I are fused into a V; in females, the lateral margins of prodorsal shield are shallowly concave, and the anterior margin of lobar shield is straight. In males of N. pilgrimi , the aedeagus extends beyond the lobar apices, the anterolateral pair of adanal shields is present, the prodorsal shield is split into anterior and posterior parts at the level of scapular setae, and epimerites I are fused into a Y; in females, the prodorsal shield has deep lateral incisions reaching setae se, and the anterior margin of lobar shield is convex.

Etymology. The species in named in honor of the eminent acarologist Dr. David Evans Walter, who has contributed so much to our understanding of mite diversity and ecology in Australia and around the world.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Neodectes walteri sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 2. Neodectes walteri sp. n., female. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 3. Neodectes walteri sp. n., details. A—opisthosoma of male, ventral view, B–D—legs I–III of male, E—tibia and tarsus IV of male, F—tibia and tarsus IV of female, G—spermatheca and spermaducts.Abbreviations: hs—head of spermatheca, pd—primary spermaduct, sd—secondary spermaduct.