Amerodectes spizellae, Mironov & Chandler, 2017

Mironov, Sergey V. & Chandler, C. Ray, 2017, New feather mites of the genus Amerodectes Valim and Hernandes (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in Georgia, USA, Zootaxa 4344 (2), pp. 201-245 : 239-243

Amerodectes spizellae sp. n.

( Figs. 22–24 )

Type material. Male holotype ( BMOC 16-0825-027), 6 male and 11 female paratypes from Spizella passerina (Bechstein, 1798) ( Passeriformes : Emberizidae ), USA, Georgia, Statesboro, Georgia Southern University campus, 32°25'15"N, 81°47'22"W, 13 January 2015, coll. C.R. Chandler.

Type depository. Holotype, 3 male and 6 female paratypes—BMOC, 3 male and 5 female paratypes—ZISP.

Description. MALE (holotype, range for 6 paratypes in parentheses). Idiosoma, length × width, 350 (330– 355) × 130 (130–145), length of hysterosoma 230 (220–230). Prodorsal shield: entire, anterolateral extensions acute with small subapical ledge, lateral margins slightly concave at level of scapular setae, posterior margin straight, posterior angles acute, surface with few minute lacunae in anterior half, length 105 (105–110), width 100(100–105) ( Fig. 22A ). Setae ve rudimentary, represented by alveoli. Bases of scapular setae se separated by 52 (50–55). Scapular shields narrow, scarcely developed dorsally. Humeral shields represented by narrow longitudinal sclerites situated ventrally. Setae cp and c2 situated on striated tegument. Subhumeral setae c3 lanceolate, 20 (19– 21) × 8 (7–8). Hysteronotal shield: anterior margin straight, surface without ornamentation, greatest length 235 (225–240), width at anterior margin 102 (98–105). Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields about 10. Opisthosomal lobes slightly longer than wide at base; posterior margins with small truncate extension forming lobar apex and bearing seta h3 and with bluntly rounded extension at base of seta h2. Terminal cleft shaped as an inverted U with slightly divergent branches, 32 (28–32) long. Supranal concavity semicircular. Setae f2 anterior to bases of setae ps2. Setae h1 situated at level of supranal concavity. Setae h3 thick setiform, 58 (58–65) long; setae ps2 80 (70–80) long. Setae ps1 minute filiform, about 5 long, situated on margins of terminal cleft slightly posterior to level of setae ps2. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 87 (80–88), d2:e2 87 (80–85), e2:h3 50 (50–55), d1:d2 30 (30–38), e1: e2 30 (25–30), h1:ps2 22 (18–25), h2:h2 47 (47–55), h3:h3 30 (30–43), ps2:ps2 62 (62–70).

Epimerites I fused into a V, fused part with three small finger-like extensions ( Figs. 22B , 24E ). Inner margin of epimerites II with small triangular sclerotized areas. Coxal fields I, II without extensively sclerotized areas. Rudimentary sclerites rEpIIa absent. Coxal fields I–III open. Coxal fields IV without sclerotized areas at bases of trochanters IV. Epimerites IVa absent. Genital arch of moderate size, 21 (20–22) × 37 (35–40); aedeagus swordshaped, 92 (90–95) long, almost extending to anterior end of terminal cleft, basal sclerite of genital apparatus shaped as low inverted trapezium or rectangle ( Fig. 24A ). Genital papillae not connected at bases. Genital and adanal shields absent. Adanal suckers 11 (11–12) in diameter, corolla smooth, surrounding membrane with radial striae. Opisthoventral shields occupying lateral areas of opisthosoma and distal half of opisthosomal lobes; inner margins of these shields at level of anal suckers with roughly rounded extensions bearing setae ps3. Setae 4b situated posterior to level of setae 3a. Distance between ventral setae: 4b: 3a 6 (6–10), 4b:4a 38 (35–40), 4a:g 40 (36–40), g:ps3 57 (55–60), ps3:ps3 57 (56–60), ps3:h3 33 (33–38).

Femora I, II with narrow ventral crests, other segments of legs I, II without processes ( Fig. 24B, C ). Solenidion σ1 of genu I less than half the length of this segment and situated at its midlevel. Genual setae cG I, II and mG I filiform, setae mG II slightly thickened basally. Setae d of tarsus II equal to corresponding seta f; seta d of tarsus III much shorter than corresponding seta f. Solenidion φ of tibia IV extending to midlevel of ambulacral disc. Tarsus IV 25 (25–27) long, without apical process; seta d in basal half of this segment ( Fig. 24D ). Length of solenidia: ω 1 I 10 (10–13), ω1 II 7 (7–9), σ1 I 8 (8–11), σ III 8 (8–10), φ IV 30 (28–32).

FEMALE (range for 10 paratypes). Idiosoma, length × width, 475–505 × 145–175, length of hysterosoma 325–350. Prodorsal shield: shaped as in male, 125–130 × 120–130, surface without ornamentation. Setae ve represented by alveoli. Bases of setae se separated by 65–72. Scapular shields narrow, scarcely developed dorsally. Humeral shields represented by narrow longitudinal sclerites ( Fig. 24F ). Setae cp and c2 situated on striated tegument. Setae c3 lanceolate, 20–22 × 7–8. Anterior and lobar parts of hysteronotal shield separated dorsally by narrow transverse band of soft tegument. Anterior hysteronotal shield nearly rectangular, noticeably narrowed posteriorly, anterior margin straight, greatest length 270–280, width at anterior margin 115–125, posterolateral areas with minute circular lacunae ( Fig. 23A ). Length of lobar region 82–90, greatest width 78–88. Terminal cleft narrow triangular, 55–60 long. Lobar shield entire, with short and narrow incision on posterior margin, surface without ornamentation. Supranal concavity poorly distinct. Setae h1 at anterior margin of lobar shield; setae h1 and f2 arranged in a trapezium. Setae h2 spindle-like with acute apices, 42–44 × 7–8. Setae ps1 situated on inner margins of opisthosomal lobes, closer to lobar apices than to level of setae h2. Setae h 3 17–25 long, about 1/4 the length of terminal appendages. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 105–115, d2:e2 105–135, e2:h2 48–55, h2:h3 38–45, d1:d 2 30–50, e1: e2 38–42, h1:h2 32–35, h1:h 1 25–30, h2:h2 63–68, h2:ps 1 25–30.

Epimerites I fused into a V, fused part with small median extension ( Fig. 23E ). Inner margins of epimerites II with small triangular sclerotized areas. Lateral parts of coxal fields I, II without large sclerotized areas. Epimerites IVa absent. Translobar apodemes of opisthosomal lobes present, wide, not fused to each other anterior to terminal cleft. Epigynum with small lateral extensions, greatest width 62–74; apodemes of oviporus free from epimerites IIIa

Pseudanal setae filiform, setae ps2 situated at level of posterior margin of anal opening and widely separated from each other; distance between pseudanal setae: ps2:ps2 45–52, ps3:ps 3 18–22, ps2:ps 3 22–28. Primary spermaduct with narrow ampuliform enlargement near head of spermatheca; secondary spermaducts 35–40 long ( Fig. 24G ).

Femora I, II as in male. Solenidion σ1 of genu I slightly shorter than the half the length of this segment and situated at its midlevel. Genual setae cG I, II, mG I, II as in male. Seta d and f of tarsi II subequal, setae d of tarsi III, IV much shorter than corresponding setae f. Genu IV dorsally inflated, with narrow dorsal crest. Lengths of solenidia: ω1 I 13–15, ω1 II 8–9, σ1 I 12–13, σ III 7–8, φ III 28–36, φ IV 7–10.

Differential diagnosis. The new species, Amerodectes spizellae sp. n., is very close to A. haemorhous described above and A. sialiarum from Sialia sialis (Linnaeus) (Turdidae) ( Valim & Hernandes 2008). In both sexes of these species, the humeral shields are shaped as narrow longitudinal sclerites not connected with bases of setae cp, the dorsal shields bear few lacunae or are devoid of them, the anterolateral angles of the prodorsal shield are acute; in males, setae h3 are thick filiform and longer than the distance between setae se, the aedeagus extends to the anterior end of the terminal cleft, the basal sclerite is shaped as a small transverse rectangle or trapezium, and, in females, the posterior angles of the prodorsal shield are slightly elongated. Amerodectes spizellae differ from these mites by the following features: in males, the opisthosomal lobes are slightly longer than wide and with distinct apex bearing seta h3, the fused part of epimerites I bears three short and apically rounded finger-like extensions; in females, setae ps2 are situated at the level of posterior end of the anal opening, the length of the anterior hysteronotal shield is 2.3-2.4 times longer than wide at the anterior margin, setae h3 are approximately half as long as setae h2, and the posterior margin of the prodorsal shield is shaped as a low recurved bow. In males of A. sialiarum and A. haemorhous , the opisthosomal lobes at base are slightly wider than long, the fused part of epimerites I forms three acute extensions (median one is usually shorter than lateral ones); in females, setae ps2 are situated at the level of the posterior third of the anal opening, the length of the anterior hysteronotal shield is 1.9- 2.2 times longer than its width at the anterior margin, setae h3 are shorter than half the length of setae h2, and the posterior margin of the prodorsal shield is distinctly concave.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the generic name of the type host and is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

FIGURE 22. Amerodectes spizellae sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 23. Amerodectes spizellae sp. n., female. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 24. Amerodectes spizellae sp. n., details. A—opisthosoma of male, ventral view, B, C—legs I, II of male, respectively, D—tibia and tarsus IV of male, E—epimerites I of male, F—humeral shield and epimerite III of female, Gspermatheca and spermaducts.