Protolichus sigillator, Mironov, Sergey V. & Dabert, Jacek, 2010

Mironov, Sergey V. & Dabert, Jacek, 2010, Systematic revision of the feather mite genus Protolichus Trouessart, 1884 (Astigmata, Pterolichidae), Zootaxa 2526, pp. 1-36 : 19-20

Protolichus sigillator sp.n.

( Figs 9 , 10 , 12 A)

Material examined. Heteromorph male holotype ( TRT 34A9), 4 heteromorph male paratypes ( TRT: 34A7 – 1 slide, 34A8 - 2 slides; 34A9 – 1 slide), and 4 female paratypes ( TRT 34A9, 3 slides) ex Chalcopsitta scintillata chloroptera ( Salvadori, 1876) , New Guinea, no other data. 1 female ( TRT 34F3, 3 slides, originally labeled P. pugilator ) ex Chalcopsitta atra (Scopoli, 1786) , New Guinea, no other data.

Description. Heteromorph male (holotype, measurements for 4 paratypes in parentheses). Idiosoma, length x width, 705 x 365 (670–700 x 335–360). Subcapitulum: posterior margin convex, widest part crossed by bow-shaped transverse fold, ovate area with setae subc encircled by fold of cuticle ( Fig. 10 H). Prodorsal shield with posterior margin slightly convex, length along midline 200 (185–200). Setae si spiculiform, 62 long (missing in all paratypes). Distance between scapular setae: se:se 70 (70–75), si:si 38 (40–42). Hysterosoma 500 (480–500) long. Length of hysteronotal shield 495 (478–480), width 270 (245–290), anterior margin slightly convex, surface monotonously punctate. Opisthosomal lobes elongate, with acute apices ( Figs 9 A, B). Supranal concavity poorly developed. Terminal cleft as a large U, length 102 (95–100), width at level of setae e1 95 (70–85). Setae c2 spiculiform, 45 (40–45) long; setae d2 setiform, 22 (12–20) long; setae e2 represented by macrosetae extending far beyond lobar apices, filiform in apical part, 350 (35– 370) long; setae e1 setiform, situated on the margin of terminal cleft, at level of macrosetae h2; setae f2 spatuliform with bidentate or obliquely cut apical part. Distance between dorsal setae: c2:d2 162 (150–155), d2:e2 175 (165–180), e2:h3 105 (98–105), e2: e1 65 (56–65), e2:e2 165 (162–168), h2:h2 158 (135–155), ps1:ps1 124 (100–110), e2:h2 52 (50–60), h2:h3 45 (40–45), ps1:h3 24 (20–25). Coxal fields II and III closed. Genital apparatus 29 x 20 (24–28 x 15 –18), its base at midlevel of trochanters IV. Paragenital apodemes with anterior ends connected with epimerites IIa and IIIa, middle parts of apodemes connected by large transverse bridge. Distance between ventral setae: 3b:3a 15 (10–15), 3a:g 20 (28–32), g:4a 80 (80–85), 4a:ps3 110 (110–112). Diameter of anal suckers 26 (25–26).

Legs II noticeably elongated, 1.7–1.8 times longer than legs I ( Figs 10 A, C). Tarsus I with crest-like ventral extension stretching along entire segment, proximal angle of this extension acute ( Figs 10 A, B). Tibia, genu and femur I without apophyses. Tarsus II with ventral tubercle bearing setae ra, wa. Tibiae II with strong dorso-basal tubercle covered with numerous verrucae and with small antero-ventral tubercle; solenidion φ smooth. Genu II with large antero-dorsal rectangular extension bearing solenidion σ 1; with small anteroventral tubercle near base of seta mG II; seta cG II narrowly lanceolate with filiform apex, slightly verrucous, shorter than segment. Tarsus IV subequal in length to corresponding tibia; setae d, e, cone-shaped, with inflated basal ring ( Fig. 10 E).

Homeomorph male. Unknown.

Female (4 paratypes). Subcapitulum with posterior margin strongly convex, central part with numerous transverse striae. Idiosoma, length x width, 490–540 x 285–300. Prodorsal shield with posterior margin straight, length along midline 140–150, surface as in male. Setae si setiform, 10–12 long. Distance between scapular setae: se:se 100–105, si:si 65–68. Hysterosoma 355–365 long. Hysteronotal shield: length 340–350, width 245–250, anterior margin straight, surface monotonously punctate; subtegumental sclerotized bars in postero-lateral parts of opisthosoma narrow ( Fig. 12 A). Setae c2 spiculiform; setae d2 setiform, short; setae e2 flattened, saber-shaped; setae f2, ps2 setiform or with narrow membranous enlargement and may bear thin subapical spine; setae e1 posterior to level of cupules im; setae ps1 about half-width of idiosoma. Length of lateral hysteronotal setae: c 2 17–20, d 2 10–14, e2 80 –95, f2 42–60. Distance between setae: c2:d2 130–140, d2:e2 130–145, e2:h3 70–90, e2:e2 162–175, h2:h 2 28–35, ps1:ps 1 28–30. Epigynum bow-shaped, 18–20 x 45 –52. Setae mG of genua I, II thickened.

Differential diagnosis. Protolichus sigillator sp. n. is most similar to P. magnificus by having strongly elongated femora II in heteromorph males, which exceed the total length of corresponding genu and tibia. Heteromorph males of the new species differ from P. magnificus and all other known Protolichus species by having rectangular dorsal crest on genu II bearing solenidion σ 1, terminal cleft relatively wide (about 1.5 times longer than wide), and closed coxal fields II ( Figs 9 B, 10C, D). In heteromorph males of other known species, genu II is lacking any dorsal extension or has a crest of another form; terminal cleft is narrow, over 2 times longer than wide, and coxal fields II are open. Female P. sigillator differ by having setae e1 situated posterior to the level of cupules im; in females of P. magnificus and other species of the brachiatus group, setae e1 are situated at the level of cupules im or anterior to it ( Fig. 12 A).

Type host and locality. Chalcopsitta scintillata chloroptera, New Guinea.

Etymology. The specific name sigillator (L., sealer, a clerk employed for making stamps) derives from a large, antero-dorsal stamp-like apophysis of genu II in heteromorph males.

Remark. Specimens from Chalcopsitta scintillata chloroptera are mounted on slides bearing relatively newly-made labels (not original labels written by the hand of Trouessart) with the name “ Protolichus sigillator sp. n. ” This is a label name, since this species had never been described or mentioned in the papers by Trouessart. We retain the specific epithet sigillator for this species proposed by some unknown investigator.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Protolichus sigillator, heteromorph male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 10. Protolichus sigillator, details of heteromorph male. A—leg I, dorsal view, B—genu, tibia and tarsus of leg I, ventral view, C—leg II, dorsal view, D - genu, tibia and tarsus of leg II, ventral view, E—tarsus IV, dorsal view, Ftarsus IV, ventral view, G—gnathosoma, dorsal view, H—gnathosoma, ventral view.

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