Protolichus crassior Trouessart, 1884

Mironov, Sergey V. & Dabert, Jacek, 2010, Systematic revision of the feather mite genus Protolichus Trouessart, 1884 (Astigmata, Pterolichidae), Zootaxa 2526, pp. 1-36 : 22-27

Protolichus crassior Trouessart, 1884

( Figs 12 B, 13, 14, 15C, D)

Pterolichus (Protolichus) brachiatus crassior Trouessart 1884: 529 ; Trouessart and Mégnin 1885:63. Protolichus (s. str.) brachiatus crassior: Canestrini 1899: 56 ; Favette and Trouessart 1904: 136. Protolichus crassior: Gaud and Atyeo 1996: 132 .

Material examined. Heteromorph male lectotype, heteromorph male and 2 female paralectotypes (5 slides, TRT 34F6) ex Trichoglossus haematodus ( T. multicolor in original label), Australia, other data unknown; lectotype designated here. 6 heteromorph males, homeomorph male, 1 female ( TRT 34F14, 5 slides) ex Loriculus sclateri , Sulawesi, no other data (accidental contamination).

Description. Heteromorph male (lectotype, measurements for 1 paralectotype in parentheses). Idiosoma, length x width, 575 x 375 (510 x 290). Subcapitulum: posterior margin strongly convex, widest part with bow-shaped transverse fold and central part with faint transverse striae, area around setae subc not encircled by folds ( Fig. 14 F). Prodorsal shield: posterior margin slightly concave in median part, length along midline 160 (142), surface monotonously punctate, transverse bar across scapular setae poorly sclerotized. Setae si spiculiform, 60 (42) long. Distance between scapular setae: se:se 72 (65), si:si 40 (35). Hysterosoma 410 (370) long. Hysteronotal shield: length 410 (370), greatest width 290 (250), anterior margin straight, surface monotonously punctate. Opisthosomal lobes with obliquely cut apex and with transverse crest posterior to bases of setae h3 ( Figs 15 C, D). Supranal concavity ovate, poorly expressed. Terminal cleft as a narrow inverted U, posterior half slightly wider than anterior one, length 60 (52), width in anterior part 10 (8), width posterior to setae e1 20 (16). Lateral setae c2 spiculiform, 50 (45) long, setae d2 setiform, 32 (20) long; setae e2 thickened, extending to lobar apices, 70 (72–75) long; setae e1 setiform, situated on margin of terminal cleft slightly posterior to level of macrosetae h2; setae f2 spatuliform with bidentate or obliquely cut apical part. Distance between dorsal setae: c2:d2 140 (128), d2:e2 160 (140), e2:h3 70 (68), e2: e1 60 (60), e2:e2 125 (120), h2:h2 55 (60), h3:h3 65 (58), ps1:ps1 40 (38), e2:h2 55 (58), h2:h3 18 (17), h2: e1 8 (5) ps1:h3 10 (10). Genital apparatus 23 x 20 (24 x 15), its base at midlevel of trochanters IV. Paragenital apodemes with anterior ends not connected to epimerites IIa, IIIa, middle parts of apodemes with weak semicircular shields not connected as a transverse bridge ( Fig. 13 B). Distance between ventral setae: 3b:3a 12 (15), 3a:g 21 (18), g:4a 76 (75), 4a:ps3 106 (95). Diameter of anal suckers 18 (17).

Legs II approximately 1.4–1.5 times longer than legs I. Tarsus I with crest-like ventral extension stretching along entire segment, proximal end of this extension widely rounded ( Figs 14 A, B). Tibia, genu and femur I without apophyses. Tarsus II with large ventral tubercle-like ventral extension covered with verrucae and bearing setae wa on its apex ( Figs 14 C, D). Tibiae II with short and thick ventral tubercle covered with faint verrucae. Genu II: with small ventral tubercle at base of seta mG II; seta cG II setiform, smooth, strongly thickened in basal part, 1.8–2 times longer than segment. Solenidia φ of tibiae I, II verrucous in basal part. Tarsus IV slightly longer than corresponding tibia; setae d and e spine-like, with clear basal ring ( Fig. 14 E).

Homeomorph male (1 paralectotype). Subcapitulum with pronounced transverse fold at midlevel and with numerous interrupted transverse striae ( Fig. 14 I). Terminal cleft as a narrow U, approximately 3.5–4 times longer than wide in posterior half; (compare Figs 15 C and 15D). Transverse bridge between middle parts of paragenital apodemes absent.

Legs II 1.2–1.3 times longer than legs I. Tarsi I, II with bluntly rounded extensions on ventral margin ( Figs 14 G, H). Tibiae I, II with very short ventral apophyses, genua and femora I, II without apophyses. Setae cG of tibia II thickened in basal quarter, approximately twice as long as segment.

Measurements: Idiosoma, length x width, 510 x 300. Prodorsal shield 145 long. Setae si missing on slide. Distance between scapular setae: se:se 70, si:si 45. Hysterosoma 370 long. Hysteronotal shield: length 340, width 250. Terminal cleft 52 long, 8 width in anterior part, 20 width in posterior part. Lateral setae c2 40 long; setae d2 25 long; setae e2 75. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 130, d2:e2 145, e2:h3 55, e2: e1 58, e2:e2 122, h2:h2 65, h3:h3 60, ps1:ps1 38, e2:h2 52, h2:h3 18, h2: e1 8, ps1:h3 8. Genital apparatus 23 x 18. Distance between ventral setae: 3b:3a 10, 3a:g 18, g:4a 60, 4a:ps3 104. Diameter of anal suckers 20.

Female (2 paralectotypes). Subcapitulum as in homeomorph male. Idiosoma, length x width, 480–500 x 255–280. Prodorsal shield: posterior margin slightly convex, length along midline 120–125, surface monotonously punctate, transverse bar across scapular setae poorly sclerotized. Setae si spiculiform, 30–32 long. Distance between scapular setae: se:se 80–82, si:si 50–52. Hysterosoma 355–365 long. Hysteronotal shield: length 345–350, width 240–245, anterior margin slightly concave, surface monotonously punctate, posterior part between levels of setae e2 and f2 with several lacunae; subtegumental sclerotized bars in postero-lateral parts of opisthosoma narrow ( Fig. 12 B). Setae c2 setiform, setae d2 setiform, short; setae e2 thick setiform, setae f2 setiform or with membranous enlargement in basal part and with additional spine at base; setae ps2 setiform, nearly twice as long as f2; setae e1 posterior to the level of cupules im or nearly on the same level; setae ps1 shorter than half-width of idiosoma. Length of hysteronotal setae: c 2 20–22, d 2 10– 12, e2 80 –85, f2 35–38. Distance between hysteronotal setae: c2:d2 122–130, d2:e2 142–155, e2:h3 62–75, e2:e2, 165–177, h2:h2 88–92, ps1:ps1 32–38. Epigynum bow-shaped, 19–24 x 48 –54. Seta mG of genu I, II setiform.

Type host and locality. Trichoglossus haematodus , Australia.

Remark. Trouessart (1884) reported this species as a subspecies of P. brachiatus from Trichoglossus haematodus (formerly T. multicolor ) and Glossopsitta concinna (Shaw, 1791) (formerly Nannodes australis) from Australia and New Guinea, and from Loriculus sclateri from Sulawesi. The last host record is an apparent case of collection contamination. A natural association of P. crassior with G. concinna also seems to be doubtful, because representatives of the genus Glossopsitta Bonaparte, 1854 are known as hosts of the closely related genus Loriprotolichus Mironov et Dabert, 2007 .

Figures

FIGURE 12. Protolichus females, dorsal view. A— Protolichus sigillator, B— P. crassior.

FIGURE 13. Protolichus crassior, heteromorph male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 14. Protolichus crassior, details of males. A—leg I of heteromorph male, dorsal view, B—leg I of heteromorph male, ventral view, C—leg II of heteromorph male, dorsal view, D—leg II of heteromorph male, ventral view, E—tibia and tarsus IV of heteromorph male, dorsal view, F—gnathosoma of heteromorph male, ventral view, Gleg I of homeomorph male, dorsal view, H—leg II of homeomorph male, dorsal view, I—gnathosoma of homeomorph male, ventral view.

FIGURE 15. Dorsal view of male opisthosoma of Protolichus magnificus (A, B) and P. crassior (C, D). A, Cheteromorph male, B, D—homeomorph male.