Picobia pycnonoti, Skoracki, Maciej & Khourly, Fares, 2007

Skoracki, Maciej & Khourly, Fares, 2007, A new species and new records of syringophilid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) from birds of Jordan, Zootaxa 1635, pp. 63-68 : 64

1. Picobia pycnonoti sp. nov.

( Figs 1–7 )

Description. FEMALE ( Figs 1–7 ). Total body length of holotype 500 (500–590 in 6 paratypes).

Gnathosoma . Gnathosoma ventrally smooth, without punctate ornamentation. Hypostomal apex flat ( Fig. 3 ). Each transverse branch of the peritremes with 4 chambers, longitudinal branch with 3–4 chambers ( Fig. 4 ). Stylophore rounded posteriorly, 185 long. Idiosoma . Two narrow, widely separated propodosomal shields present, each bearing setae ve, sci and sce. Bases of setae vi and ve situated at the same transverse level. All dorsal propodosomal setae covered with numerous small knobs ( Fig. 5 ). Length ratio of setae vi: ve: sci 1.2:1:1. Bases of setae sce and d1 situated at the same transverse level. Pygidial shield present, distinctly sclerotized and punctated, anterior margin with deep incision or whole shield divided longitudinally. Paragenital setae pg1 and pg3 subequal in length. Genital setae (one pair) short and thick. Two pairs of anal setae present. Opisthosomal lobes present ( Fig. 6 ). Cuticular striation as in Figs 1, 2 .

Legs. Coxal fields I and II well sclerotized, III and IV weakly sclerotized. Setae tc’ and tc” of legs III and IV subequal. Dorsal setae of legs I and II and coxal setae cxIII– IV1 and cxIII– IV2 with poorly expressed knobs. Paraxial and antaxial claws of legs III and IV equal in size ( Fig. 7 ).

Lengths of setae: vi 95 (95–110); ve (70–80); sci 80 (80–85); h 205 (205–240); sce 250 (250–280); l1 210 (210–230); l2 (165–170); l4 65 (65–75); l5 320 (320–400); d1 230 (230–270); d2 160 (160–175); d4 45 (45– 55); d5 45 (30–45); a1 20 (20); a2 20 (20–25); g (20–25); pg1 100 (105–120); pg2 95 (80); pg3 100 (105– 120); tc' III–IV and tc'' III–IV 40 (40).

MALE. unknown.

Type material. Holotype female and 7 female paratypes from quills of body feathers of the White-spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos (Ehrenberg) (Pycnonotidae) ; Jordan, Al-Dhleil, 19 March 2002, leg. M. Skoracki.

Etymology. The name pycnonoti refers to the generic name of the host.

Differential diagnosis. Picobia pycnonoti sp. nov. is closely related to Picobia sturni Skoracki, Bochkov et Wauthy, 2004 described from Sturnus vulgaris L. from Poland (Skoracki et al. 2004). In females of both species the propodosomal shield is well sclerotized and divided longitudinally into two narrow bands, bearing setae ve, sci and sce; the bases of setae vi and ve are situated at the same transverse level; the anal series is represented by 2 pairs of setae; and the opisthosomal lobes are developed. The new species differs from P. sturni by following characters. In females of P. pycnonoti sp. nov. the hypostomal apex is flat and without ornamentation; the longitudinal branch of peritremes has 3–4 chambers; the pygidial shield is deeply incised on its anterior margin or divided longitudinally; the length ratio of setae ve:sci is 1:1; and the paragenital setae pg3 are 1.2 times longer than pg2. In females of P. sturni the hypostomal apex is truncate and covered by ornamentation; the longitudinal branch of peritremes has 7–10 chambers; the pygidial shield is not divided longitudinally; the length ratio of setae ve:sci is 1:1.8; and the paragenital setae pg3 are 1.7 times longer than pg2.

Figures

FIGURES 1, 2. Picobia pycnonoti sp. nov. (female). 1, dorsal view; 2, ventral view.

FIGURES 3 – 7. Picobia pycnonoti sp. nov. (female). 3, hypostomal apex; 4, peritremes; 5, base of propodosomal seta ve; 6, opisthosoma, ventral view; 7, tarsus of leg III.