Syringophilopsis sialiae, Maciej Skoracki, Maureen E. Flannery & Greg S. Spicer, 2008

Maciej Skoracki, Maureen E. Flannery & Greg S. Spicer, 2008, Quill mites of the genus Syringophilopsis Kethley, 1970 (Acari: Syringophilidae) from North American birds, Folia Parasitologica 55, pp. 291-300 : 298

Syringophilopsis sialiae sp. n.

Figs. 19–23

Female ( Figs. 19–23 ). Total body length of holotype 1,065 (950–1,150 in 4 paratypes). Gnathosoma . Hypostomal apex with 2 pairs of large, sharp-ended protuberances and 2 pairs of small, blunt-ended hypostomal lips ( Fig. 21 ). Each lateral branch of M-shaped peritremes with 3 chambers, each longitudinal branch with 8–9 chambers ( Fig. 22 ). Cheliceral digit 215 (205–215) long. Stylophore constricted posteriorly, 270 (260–280) long. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield concave on anterior margin, punctated and sculptured, bearing bases of setae vi, ve, sci and d1. Setae sce situated distinctly anterior to level of setae d1. Length ratio of setae vi:ve 1:1.2–1.4. Hysteronotal shields paired, punctated, bearing setae d2. Distance between bases of setae d2–l1 and d2–l2 subequal. Pygidial shield present, with distinct anterior margin. Setae d4 and d5 subequal in length and about 4–5 times shorter than l5. Paragenital setae pg1 and pg3 subequal in length, both 3.8–4 times longer than pg2. Cuticular striations as in Figs. 19 and 20 . Legs. Coxal fields sparsely punctated. Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 13 tines ( Fig. 23 ). Setae tc”III–IV about 1.3–1.5 times longer than tc’III–IV. Length of setae: vi 90 (90–100); ve 105 (105–130); sci 305 (305); h (250–320); sce 330 (295–370); l1 265 (330); l2 280 (270–315); l4 (420–430); l5 405 (415–500); d1 (355– 400); d2 265 (250–340); d4 (80–105); d5 105 (80–105); a1 and a2 45 (35–45); g1 and g2 70 (70–80); pg1 265 (260–300); pg2 70 (70–80); pg3 265 (250–310); sc3 and sc4 (55–60); tc’III–IV 70 (60–70); tc”III–IV 90 (80– 105).

Male. Unknown.

T y p e h o s t: Sialia mexicana Swainson, 1832 ( Passeriformes : Turdidae ).

S i t e: Quills of primary feathers (Lp1).

T y p e l o c a l i t y: USA, Texas, Jeff Davis Co., Fort Davis, 12 April 2005, G. Spicer coll. (GSS#1617).

T y p e s p e c i m e n s: Female holotype and 4 female paratypes.

S p e c i m e n s d e p o s i t e d: Holotype and 3 female paratypes deposited at NMNH, 1 female paratype at AMU.

E t y m o l o g y: The name sialiae refers to the generic name of the host – Sialia mexicana .

Differential diagnosis. Syringophilopsis sialiae is most similar to S. kazmierski Skoracki, 2004 described from Ficedula hypoleucos (Pallas) and F. parva (Bechstein) ( Passeriformes : Muscicapidae ) from Poland ( Skoracki 2004). In both species, females have the hy- postomal apex with 2 pairs of protuberances, paragenital setae pg2 and genital setae g1 and g2 are subequal in length, two hysteronotal shields are present, and setae sce are situated anterior to the level of setae d1. This new species is distinguished from S. kazmierski by the following characters: in females of S. sialiae , the hy- postomal apex has 2 pairs of large protuberances, the stylophore is 260–280 long; the length ratio of setae pg1:pg2:pg3 is 3.8–4:1:3.8–4, the pygidial shield is well sclerotized and has a discernible anterior margin. In females of S. kazmierski , the hypostomal apex has 2 pairs of minute protuberances; the stylophore is 160– 180 long; the length ratio of setae pg1:pg2:pg3 is 2.3:1:3, and the pygidial shield is weakly sclerotized and has an indiscernible anterior margin.

Figures

Figs. 19, 20. Syringophilopsis sialiae sp. n., female. Fig. 19. Dorsal view. Fig. 20. Ventral view.

Figs. 21 – 23. Syringophilopsis sialiae sp. n., female. Fig. 21. Hypostomal apex. Fig. 22. Peritremes. Fig. 23. Fan-like seta p’ of leg III.