Miridex putorii, Izdebska & Rolbiecki & Rehbein, 2022

Izdebska, Joanna N., Rolbiecki, Leszek & Rehbein, Steffen, 2022, Morphological and ontogenetic characteristics of Miridex putorii (Acariformes: Demodecidae), a new genus and species of skin mite specific to the European polecat Mustela putorius, International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife 18, pp. 225-231 : 228-229

3.2.1. Miridex putorii sp. nov.

MALE (n = 1 holotype and 55 paratypes; Figs. 1 and 3 , Table 1): Body, cylindrical, 207 (186–223) long and 50 (43–56) wide (holotype 208 x 47). Gnathosoma oval (length close to width at base); surrounded by wide membranae capitulum. Palps consist of three clearly-separated segments; basal (coxal) segment wide, next two (trochanter–femur–genu, tibia–tarsus) elongated, narrow at anterior end. On dorsal surface of basal segments at external edges, hooked supracoxal spines (setae elc.p) present, ca. 2 long (holotype, 2); each palp terminating in three spines: two large spines (one bifurcated), ca. 3 long (holotype, 3) and one small, conical, ca. 1.5–2 long (holotype, 2); also relatively strongly-developed setae dG and dF, and large, conical setae v ” F on middle segment (trochanter–femur–genu) present. On ventral part of gnathosoma, funnel-shaped pharyngeal bulb, with pair of relatively large, conical subgnathosomal setae (setae n) located half-way, or

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below, along pharyngeal bulb on both sides. Podosoma cylindrical; on dorsal side podosomal shield present, reaching level of legs III. Four pairs of short legs, with coxa integrated into ventral idiosomal wall and clearly separated five free segments; coxa with large, triangular spines, located medially; two strongly bifurcated, massive claws, ca. 7 long (holotype, 7) with large, hooked spur on each tarsus; additionally, two large, conical spines present in anterior part of tibia. Epimeral plates (coxal fields) trapezoidal, distinctly sclerotized; I– III epimeral plates connect medially; pair IV poorly separated, only anterior edge clearly visible. Opisthosoma constitutes 45% (40–51%) of body length (holotype, 42%); cylindrical, rounded at end; width slightly smaller or close to podosoma. Whole opisthosoma clearly, densely annulated; annuli ca. 1 wide (holotype, 1); annulations reach posterior edge of podosomal shield on dorsal side of podosoma and IV epimeral plates on ventral side of podosoma. Opisthosomal organ absent. Aedeagus 109 (100–123) long (holotype, 107), constitutes 53% (45–59%) of body length (holotype, 51%), narrow, bar-shaped, on dorsal side, located from border of opisthosoma and podosoma to middle part of gnathosoma; genital opening located on dorsal side, at anterior part of epistome .

FEMALE (n = 51 paratypes; Figs. 1 and 3 , Table 1): Usually slightly longer than males: 227 (201–246) long and 49 (45–57) wide. Gnathosoma of similar shape and morphological details to males. Podosoma cylindrical, wide; on dorsal side of podosoma podosomal shield present, reaching level of legs III. Legs clearly separated, similar to those in males. Epimeral plates trapezoidal, distinctly sclerotized; I– III epimeral plates connect medially; pair IV poorly separated, only anterior edge clearly visible; posterior edges of pair IV forming triangular incision. Opisthosoma usually longer than males, constitutes 50% (45–54%) of body length; width close or greater than podosoma; cylindrical, wide, rounded at end, and very delicate but densely annulated. Opisthosomal organ absent. Vulva 10 (8–12) long; tubular, located below posterior edge of epimeral plates IV .

EGG (n = 11 eggs; Fig. 2 ): Operculate, club-shaped, 93 (88–100) long and 26 (23–28) wide.

LARVA (n = 3 paratypes; Fig. 2 , Table 2): Club-shaped, stocky, 143 (132–152) long and 26 (25–28) wide; length-to-width ratio 5.4:1 (5.3:1–5.6:1). Gnathosoma relatively large, distinctly separated, trapezoidal. Palps 3-segmented; all segments clearly separated, narrow, elongated, the basal segment large. On dorsal surface, in central part of basal segments, wedge-shaped supracoxal spines (setae elc.p) present, ca. 2–3 long. Terminal segments of palps topped with two spines (one claw-like and one fine spine). On ventral surface of gnathosoma, horseshoe-shaped pharyngeal bulb; at inner edge of anterior margin of basal segment, pair of long setae present, ca. 3 long, probably corresponding to subgnathosomal setae. Three pairs of unsegmented, clearly separated legs; pairs I and II larger, ca. 13 long than pair III ca. 9–10 long; each legs equipped with two 4-pointed claws, ca. 1.5 (for III legs) wide and ca. 2 (for I and II legs) wide; also three pairs of oval ventral scutes, located between I–III pairs of legs present. Opisthosoma conical, constitutes 54% (49–57%) of body length. Podosoma and opisthosoma densely annulated.

PROTONYMPH (n = 6 paratypes; Fig. 2 , Table 2): Protonymph similar to larva but longer and slender, and more cylindrical, 203 (173–246) long and 32 (25–40) wide, length-to-width ratio 4.0:1 (3.0:1–5.7:1). Shape of gnathosoma and morphological details similar to those in larvae, but subgnathosomal setae shorter than in larvae. Three pairs of unsegmented, clearly separated, same-size legs; each leg equipped with two 4-pointed claws, ca. 3 wide; also three pairs of oval ventral scutes topped with triangular spurs, located between I– III pairs of legs present. Opisthosoma cylindrical, constitutes 62% (57–65%) of body length. Podosoma and opisthosoma distinctly, densely annulated .

DEUTONYMPH (n = 42 paratypes; Figs. 2 and 3 , Table 2): Cylindrical, slightly spindle-shaped (widest in middle of podosoma). Deutonymph larger, more elongated than protonymph, 364 (236–449) long and 46 (35–65) wide; length-to-width ratio 8.0:1 (5.2:1–11.0:1). Shape of gnathosoma and morphological details similar to those in protonymphs, but supracoxal spines longer (ca. 3–4) than in protonymphs. Four pairs of unsegmented, clearly separated, same-size legs; each leg equipped with two 4-pointed claws, ca. 4 wide; also four pairs of oval ventral scutes topped with triangular spurs, located between I–IV pairs of legs present. Opisthosoma, cylindrical, constitutes 53% (38–69%) of body length. Podosoma and opisthosoma distinctly, densely annulated.

In development, adult stages are located in the middle region of deutonymph (gnathosoma of adults at level of I–II pair of deutonymph legs); furthermore, two deutonymph morphotypes were observed, one with a shorter ( Fig. 3C ) and one with a longer ( Fig. 3D ) opisthosoma: the former probably male and latter female.

Figures

Fig. 1. Miridex putorii gen. nov., sp. nov. A, male, ventral view; B, male, dorsal view, a. aedeagus; C, female, ventral view, b. vulva; D, female, dorsal view; E, gnathosoma, male, dorsal view, c. seta dG, d. seta dF, e. supracoxal spine (seta elc.p), f. genital opening, g. anterior end of aedeagus, h. membrane capitulum; F, gnathosoma, male, dorsal view, i. everted anterior part of aedeagus; G, gnathosoma, male, ventral view, j. spines on palps, k. seta v”F, l. pharyngeal bulb, m. subgnathosomal seta (seta n); H, claw on the leg.

Fig. 3. Miridex putorii gen. nov., sp. nov. A, female, ventral view; B, male, ventral view; C, pharate male, deutonymph with visible male inside, a. anterior end of male gnathosoma, b. posterior end of male opisthosoma; D, pharate female, deutonymph with visible female inside, c. anterior end of female gnathosoma; d. posterior end of female opisthosoma.

Fig. 2. Miridex putorii gen. nov., sp. nov., egg and immature stages. A, egg; B, larva, ventral view, a. vimineous seta, b. leg with claws, c. ventral scutum; C, protonymph, ventral view; D, deutonymph, ventral view; E, F, G, claw, various views; H, supracoxal spine of deutonymph, arrow indicate the orientation of left spine as viewed on the gnathosoma.