Picobia oritis SKORACKI, ANTCZAK et RIEGERT, 2009

Skoracki, M., Antczak, M., Riegert, J., Fainova, D. & Mikes, V., 2009, New Species And New Records Of Quill Mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) Inhabiting African Passerines (Aves: Passeriformes), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 55 (2), pp. 123-137 : 132-136

Subfamily: Picobiinae JOHNSTON et KETHLEY, 1973 Genus Picobia HALLER, 1878

The genus Picobia includes 19 named species described from six orders of bird hosts: Passeriformes, Upupiformes , Psittaciformes , Galliformes , Columbiformes, Piciformes ( SKORACKI et al. 2004). African quill mite fauna comprises only four picobiin species. Each of these is associated with a different host order: 1) P. zumpti LAWRENCE, 1959 recorded from South Africa from two bird species of the genus Streptopelia ( Columbiformes : Columbidae ) – the Ring-necked Dove, S.

capicola (SUNDEVALL), and the Laughing Dove, S. senegalensis (LINNAEUS) , 2) P. alectoris FAIN, BOCHKOV et MIRONOV, 2000 described from an undetermined bird host of the genus Alectoris ( Galliformes : Phasianidae ) from Rwanda, 3) P. phoeniculi FAIN, BOCHKOV et MIRONOV, 2000 found inside quills of the Green Woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus (MILLER) (Upupiformes: Phoeniculidae ), from Rwanda and 4) P. poicephali SKORACKI et DABERT, 2002 described from the Senegal Parrot, Poicephalus senegalus (LINNAEUS) ( Psittaciformes : Psittacidae ), from Cameroon ( LAWRENCE 1959, FAIN et al. 2000, SKORACKI & DABERT 2002). Below, we give the description of a new species found in the quills of its nectariniid host, the Cameroon Sunbird, Cyanomitra oritis (REICHENOW) . It is worth noting, that this host species represents a new host family ( Nectariniidae ) for the genus Picobia .

Picobia oritis SKORACKI, ANTCZAK et RIEGERT sp. n.

( Figs 15–25 )

Female. Total body length of holotype 500 (520–615 in 4 paratypes). Gnathosoma . Hypostomal apex rounded ( Fig. 17 ). Each lateral branch of M–shaped peritremes with 3 chambers, each longitudinal branch with 7 chambers ( Fig. 18 ), borders between all chambers clearly visible. Cheliceral digit 100 (100–110) long, posterior part with cuticular processes ( Fig. 19 ). Stylophore rounded posteriorly, 140 (140–150) long. Idiosoma . Propodonotum with two narrow and sparsely punctated propodonotal shields bearing bases of setae ve, sci and sce. Setae vi, ve and sci subequal in length and strongly knobbed ( Fig. 20 ), remaining setae of idiosoma smooth ( Fig. 21 ). Bases of setae vi and ve situated at same transverse level, bases of setae d1 located slightly anterior to level of setae sce. Hysteronotal shield absent. Setae l1 slightly (1.2 times) longer than d2 and 1.4–1.6 times longer than l2. Pygidial shield, divided longitudinally, weakly sclerotized in anterior part, punctated in posterior part. Setae l4 about twice longer than d4. Bases of paragenital setae pg1 and pg2 situated at same transverse level. Length ratio of setae pg1: pg2: pg3 1.1–1.3:1:1.6–2.2. Anal series with two pairs of setae subequal in length, setae a1 situated terminally, setae a2 located ventrally, on short punctated projections. Genital series with one pair of filiform setae situated on short projections ( Fig. 22 ). Cuticular striations as in figures 15 and 16. Legs. Coxal fields well sclerotized. All setae situated on coxal fields, smooth. Setae tc’ and tc “ of legs III–IV subequal in length. Tarsus of legs I as in figures 23 and 24. Antaxial and paraxial members of claws pair III–IV unequal in size ( Fig. 25 ). Dorsal setae of legs I and II smooth. Setae cxIII2 2.4–3 times longer than cxIII1. Length of setae: vi 125 (110–125); ve 125 (110–125); sci 130 (125–140); h 190 (195–205); sce 215 (210–225); l1 130 (120–145); l2 95 (90–95); l4 55 (55–60); l5 295 (285–295); d1 215 (210–245); d2 105 (105–130); d4 20 (20–30); d5 40 (30–45); a1 and a2 30 (30–40); g 15 (15–20); pg1 70 (60–65); pg2 55 (45–65); pg3 90 (100–120); sc3 25 (25–30); sc4 25 (25–30); tc’III–IV and tc”III–IV 45 (45–50); cxIII1 35 (30–40); cxIII2 85 (80–95).

Male. Not found.

Type material. Holotype female and 6 female paratypes from quill of contour feather of the

Cameroon Sunbird, Cyanomitra oritis (REICHENOW, 1892) ( Passeriformes : Nectarinidae); Western µm for figs 17–21 and 23–25, 50 µm for fig. 22

Africa, Cameroon, coll. J. Riegert. Specimens deposited: holotype and 4 female paratypes deposited at AMU, 1 female paratype at ZIN , 1 female paratype at MRAC .

Etymology. The name oritis refers to the specific name of the host, Cyanomitra oritis .

Differential diagnosis. This new species is morphologically similar to Picobia cissa SKORACKI, BOCHKOV et WAUTHY, 2004 , described from the Green Magpie, Cissa chinensis (BODDAERT) ( Passeriformes : Corvidae ) ( SKORACKI et al. 2004). In females of both species, the hypostomal apex is rounded, the propodonotal shield is divided longitudinally, the bases of setae vi and ve are situated at the same transverse level, the hysterosomal shield is absent, the anal series comprises two pair of setae, the bases of setae ic1 are fused, paragenital setae pg1 and pg2 are situated at the same transverse level. Picobia oritis is distinguished from P. cissa by the following characters. In females of P. oritis , each longitudinal branch of the peritremes has clearly visible borders between particular chambers, the length ratio of setae vi: ve: sci is 1:1:1 and all of these setae are strongly knobbed, the pygidial shield is divided longitudinally, setae l4 are about twice longer than d4, antaxial and paraxial members of the claws pair III–IV are unequal in the size, and setae tc’ and tc ” of legs III–IV are subequal in length. In females of P. cissa there are no visible borders between particular chambers of each longitudinal branch of the peritremes, the length ratio of setae vi: ve: sci is 1.5:1:1.8 and all of these setae slightly knobbed, the pygidial shield is entire, setae l4 are 1.3 times longer than d4, antaxial and paraxial members of the claws pair III–IV are equal in the size, and setae tc”III–IV are about twice longer than tc’III–IV.

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Acknowledgements – We thank Dr. TERRY D. GALLOWAY (Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Canada) and Dr. ANDRE V. BOCHKOV (Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia) for their critical review of the manuscript. Senior author was financial supported by the Grant of the Polish Committee for Scientific Research (Grant No. NN 303318433). The work of the junior authors in Africa was supported by the Grant Agency of the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic (Grant No. GAAV-IAA 601410709).

Figures

Figs 15–16. Picobia oritis sp. n., female: 15 = dorsal view, 16 = ventral view

Figs 17–25. Picobia oritis sp. n., female: 17 = gnathosoma in dorsal view, 18 = peritremes, 19 = chelicerae, 20 = propodonotal setae ve and sci, 21 = seta h, 22 = opisthosoma in ventral view, 23 = tarsus I in dorsal view, 24 = tarsus I in ventral view, 25 = tarsus III in ventro-lateral view. Scale lines 20