Amerodectes tretiakae, Mironov & Galloway, 2021

Mironov, Sergey V. & Galloway, Terry D., 2021, Feather mites of the subfamily Pterodectinae (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines and kingfishers in Canada, Zootaxa 5016 (1), pp. 1-55 : 5-9

Amerodectes tretiakae sp. n.

( Figs. 1–3 )

Type material. Male holotype, 10 male and 12 female paratypes from the Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater (Boddaert, 1783) ( Passeriformes : Icteridae ), (BHCO/512/CEN/00, SM 293), CANADA, Manitoba, Winnipeg Beach, 9 June 2000, coll. T.D. Galloway,

Depository. Holotype, 3 male and 3 female paratypes — CNC, remaining paratypes — WRME and ZISP.

Additional material. 8 male and 11 female paratypes from M. ater (SM 926), USA, Texas, Kickapoo Canyon , June 2001, coll. T.D. Galloway and K. Ellison ; 6 males, 25 females same host species, (SVM 08-0527-2/1), MEX- ICO, Jalisco, Chamela Village , 19°31’39’’N, 105°4’23’’W, 27 May 2008, coll. S.V. Mironov ; 4 males, 5 females, same host species, (SVM 08-0528-2/1), same locality, 28 May 2008, coll. S.V. Mironov.

Description. MALE (holotype, range for 10 paratypes in parentheses) ( Figs. 1 , 3 A-E). Idiosoma, length × width, 365 (345–370) × 160 (135–160), length of hysterosoma 235 (220–240). Prodorsal shield: entire, anterolateral extensions pointed, usually with subapical ledge, lateral margins slightly concave at level of scapular setae, posterior margin straight, posterior corners pointed, surface with minute circular lacunae, length 110 (100–115), width 115 (105–115). Setae ve rudimentary, represented by alveoli. Bases of scapular setae se separated by 63 (57–65). Scapular shields narrow, scarcely developed dorsally. Humeral shields absent. Bases of setae cp and c2 situated on striated tegument. Subhumeral setae c3 lanceolate, 20 (18–20) long, about 7.5 wide. Hysteronotal shield: anterior margin straight, greatest length 240 (225–245), width at anterior margin 115 (110–120), surface with minute circular lacunae. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 18 (10–20). Opisthosomal lobes roughly trapezoidal in shape, approximately as long as wide at base, with strongly oblique posterior margins and with inner corners forming lobar apices bearing setae h3; posterior margin of lobes without extensions at bases of setae h2 and h3. Terminal cleft shaped as wide triangle with rounded anterior end, 28 (26–28) long. Supranal concavity semicircular. Setae f2 anterior to bases of setae ps2. Setae h1 situated at level of anterior end of terminal cleft. Setae h3 setiform, 75 (70–75) long; setae ps2 80 (70–80) long. Setae ps1 short filiform, about 5 long, situated on margin of terminal cleft at level of setae h2. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 95 (86–95), d2:e2 82 (78–85), e2:h3 48 (45–50), d1: d2 40 (40–45), e1: e2 25 (24–30), h1:ps2 15 (15–22), h2:h2 55 (50–55), h3:h3 45 (40–45), ps2:ps2 65 (60–65).

Epimerites I fused into a narrow U with posterior parts of epimerites close to each other and almost parallel; fused part with a pair of small acute lateral extensions and small and acute median extension. Coxal fields I, II without extensively sclerotized areas. Rudimentary sclerites rEpIIa absent. Coxal fields I–III open. Coxal fields IV without sclerotized bands at bases of trochanters IV. Epimerites IVa absent. Genital arch of moderate size, 25 (24–25) × 43 (42–44); aedeagus sword-shaped, 100 (95–105) long, extending to anterior end of terminal cleft; basal sclerite of genital apparatus semicircular ( Fig. 3A ). Genital papillae not connected at bases. Genital and adanal shields absent. Adanal suckers 12.5 (10–12.5) in diameter, corolla smooth, surrounding membrane with radial striae. Opisthoventral shields occupying lateral areas of opisthosoma and distal quarter of opisthosomal lobes; inner margins of these shields at level of adanal suckers with small rounded extensions bearings setae ps3; anterior border of these shields on opisthosomal lobes smooth. Setae 4b situated posterior to level of setae 3a, setae ps3 at level of posterior margin of adanal suckers. Distance between ventral setae: 3a:4b 12 (7–12), 4b:4a 35 (35–42), 4a:g 45 (40–45), g:ps3 53 (52–55), ps3:ps3 58 (53–58), ps3:h3 33 (27–32).

Femora I, II with narrow ventral crests, other segments of legs I, II without processes ( Figs. 3B, C ). Solenidion σ of genu I half as along as this segment and situated at its midlevel. Genual setae cG I, II and mG I filiform, setae mG II slightly thickened basally. Setae d and f of tarsi II subequal in length; setae d of tarsi III much shorter than corresponding setae f. Solenidion φ of tibia IV extending to proximal margin of ambulacral disc. Tarsus IV 30 (28–30) long, without apical process; setae d, e button-like, seta d situated slightly closer to base of this segment ( Fig. 3E ). Length of solenidia: ω1 I 12 (12–15), ω1 II 10 (10–12), σ I 11 (8–11), σ III 7 (7–8), φ IV 35 (30–35).

FEMALE (range for 10 paratypes) ( Figs. 2 , 3F, G ). Idiosoma, length × width, 490–510 × 150–175, length of hysterosoma 345–360. Prodorsal shield: shaped almost as in the male, 120–130 × 125–130, surface of posterior part with minute circular lacunae. Setae ve rudimentary, represented by alveoli. Bases of setae se separated by 70–75. Scapular shields narrow, not developed dorsally. Humeral shields rudimentary, represented by small sclerite situated ventrally, anterior to bases of setae cp. Setae cp and c2 situated on striated tegument. Setae c3 lanceolate, 18–20 long, about 7–8 wide. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 8–15. Anterior and lobar parts of hysteronotal shield separated dorsally by narrow transverse band of soft tegument, but connected ventrolaterally. Anterior hysteronotal shield nearly rectangular, slightly attenuate posteriorly, anterior margin slightly convex, entire surface with poorly expressed small circular lacunae and with a pair of ovate poorly sclerotized areas in posterior angles, length 280–290, width at anterior margin 122–138 ( Fig. 2A ). Length of lobar region 72–78, greatest width 80–85. Terminal cleft narrow, almost parallel-sided and slightly divergent posteriorly, 58–55 long, 12–15 wide posteriorly. Lobar shield entire, anterior margin sinuous with small median incision, posterior margin with narrow semi-ovate incision, surface without ornamentation. Area of supranal concavity with blurry dark ring or semicircle near anterior margin of lobar shield. Setae h1 at level of supranal concavity; setae h1 and f 2 in trapezoidal arrangement. Setae h2 spindle-like, without apical filament, 50–55 × 7.5–8.5. Setae ps1 situated on inner margins of opisthosomal lobes, close to lobar apices. Setae h3 10–18 long, about 1/6th the length of terminal appendages. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 115–130, d2:e2 115–120, e2:h2 65–80, h2:h3 30–35, d1:d2 45–65, e1: e2 32–42, h1:h2 32–37, h1:h1 30–32, h2:h2 62–65, h2:ps1 24–30.

Epimerites I fused into a U strongly narrowed posteriorly, fused part with thin and acute median extension ( Fig. 2B ). Lateral parts of coxal fields I, II without extensively sclerotized areas. Epimerites IVa absent. Translobar apodemes of opisthosomal lobes narrow, not fused to each other anterior to terminal cleft. Epigynum with small lateral ledges, greatest width 63–75; apodemes of oviporus fused with epimerites IIIa. Pseudanal setae filiform, setae ps2 situated at level of posterior half of anal opening and widely separated from each other; distance between pseudanal setae: ps2:ps2 38–50, ps3:ps3 15–20, ps2:ps3 13–18. Primary spermaduct with ampuliform enlargement at head of spermatheca; continuation of primary spermaduct inside spermatheca heart-shaped and slightly sclerotized; secondary spermaducts 50–60 long, noticeably sclerotized only in basal parts ( Fig. 3G ).

Legs I, II as in male. Solenidion σ of genu I approximately half as long as 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 in length, 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 15–17, ω1 II 12–14, σ I 10–12, σ III 10–11, φ III 25–28, φ IV 9–12.

Differential diagnosis. The new species, Amerodectes tretiakae sp. n., is close to A. molothrus (Mironov, 2008) in having the following: in both sexes, the anterior margin of hysteronotal shield straight; in males, setae h3 long filiform, aedeagus extending to anterior end of anal opening, and the opisthosomal lobes without extensions at bases of setae h2, h3; and in females, primary spermaduct with an ampuliform enlargement at the head of the spermatheca. Amerodectes tretiakae differs from A. molothrus by the following features: in males, the humeral shields are absent, the aedeagus extends to the anterior margin of the terminal cleft, and the prodorsal and hysteronotal shields bear minute circular lacunae; in females, the humeral shields are rudimentary sclerites anterior to bases of setae cp, and the entire surface of the anterior hysteronotal shield is covered with small circular lacunae. In males of A. molothrus , the humeral shields are represented by small longitudinal sclerites situated dorsally at the level of setae cp, the aedeagus extends to the anterior margin of the anal opening, and the prodorsal and hysteronotal shields lack any ornamentation; in females, the humeral shields are rudimentary sclerites situated lateral to the bases of setae cp and c3, and only the posterior half of the hysteronotal shield bears small circular lacunae.

Etymology. The species in named in honor of Lisa Tretiak, who worked for many years with the MWRO at Glenlea, Manitoba, before becoming the founder and manager of the Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (PWRC, St. Adolphe, Manitoba). For many years, Lisa provided specimens from her rehabilitation hospitals for this survey.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Amerodectes tretiakae sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 2. Amerodectes tretiakae sp. n., female. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 3. Amerodectes tretiakae sp. n., details.A—opisthosoma of male, ventral view, B–D—legs I–III of male, respectively, E—tibia and tarsus IV of male, F—tibia and tarsus IV of female, G—spermatheca and spermaducts. Abbreviations: bs—basal sclerite of genital apparatus, co—copulatory opening, ga—genital arch, hs—head of spermatheca, os—opisthoventral shield, pd—primary spermaduct, sd—secondary spermaducts.