Proterothrix Gaud, 1968

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 : 42-43

Genus Proterothrix Gaud, 1968

Type species: Pterodectes wolffi Gaud, 1962 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Both sexes. Moderately elongated pterodectines. Full set of hysteronosomal setae, or dorsal setae c1 absent. Full set of leg setae occurring in pterodectines. Setae c2 on humeral shields or on striated tegument. Setae c3 lanceolate.

Male. Opisthosomal lobes present, strongly variable in shape and length (from half as long as wide to nearly three times longer than wide at base; semicircular, rectangular, or triangular), with or without narrow membranous margin. Ventral surface of opisthosomal lobes sclerotized in distal half or not. Setae ps3 situated anteromesal to adanal suckers. Opisthoventral shields at level of adanal suckers present, usually with smooth margin. Setae h3 greatly variable in form: simple filiform, foliform, or whip-shaped macrosetae. Aedeagus variable in shape, from sword-shaped to long whip-shaped and extending beyond lobar apices. Genital papillae anterior to branches of genital arch. Genital apparatus with or without pre- and paragenital apodemes. Adanal shields present, represented by one or two pairs.

Female. Setae ps2, ps3 always setiform and arranged in large trapezoid at level of anal opening. Setae h2 with spindle-shaped enlargement in basal part and with long filiform apex.

Remarks. This genus belongs to the Proterothrix generic group, which can be considered to include the ‘archaic’ genera of the tribe Pterodectini (Mironov 2009; Mironov & Wauthy 2010; Hernandes & Valim 2012; Mironov et al. 2012; Mironov & Tolstenkov 2013; Constantinescu et al. 2018). The main clear diagnostic characteristic of the generic group, separating it from the Pterodectes goup, is the position of setae ps3 anteromedial to the adanal suckers in males ( Figs. 25B , 27A ), rather than lateral or posterolateral to them. The genus Proterothrix is the most species-rich in this group, and to date, has included 34 species known from avian hosts only in the Old World ( Gaud 1968, 1979; Park & Atyeo 1971a; Mironov 2009; Mironov & Proctor 2009; Mironov et al. 2008b; 2010; 2012, Mironov & Tolstenkov 2013; Constantinescu et al., 2014 b, 2017a, 2017b, 2018, 2019, 2021; Han et al. 2019). Most representatives of this genus are associated with oscine passerines from tropical and temperate areas, and only four species were previously described from kingfishers ( Coraciiformes : Alcedinidae ) and two from woodpeckers ( Piciformes : Picidae ). The genus is arbitrarily subdivided into three species groups, wolffi (26 species), megacaula (3) and schizothyra (4), based on a specific sets of characters ( Mironov et al. 2008b; Constantinescu et al. 2018). Mites of the megacaula species group are known from Old World flycatchers ( Muscicapidae ) and the schizothyra group is apparently restricted to kingfishers ( Alcedinidae ). The wolffi group includes morphologicaly quite diverse Proterothrix species distributed on various passerines, mainly oscines, and on woodpeckers. The paradoxornis species complex, recently recognized within the wolffi group by Mironov and Proctor (2009) and characterized by the unique structure of tarsi I in males, apparently deserves to be treated as an additional species group within the genus

Herein, we describe a new Proterothrix species from a kingfisher in Canada, representing the first member of its genus in the New World.

Figures

FIGURE 25. Proterothrix megaceryle sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 27. Proterothrix megaceryle 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.