Megalaimobius massarae Constantinescu

Constantinescu, Ioana Cristina, Chişamera, Gabriel, Mukhim, D. Khlur B. & Adam, Costică, 2014, Two new species of feather mites (Acarina: Psoroptidia) from the Great Barbet, Psilopogon virens (Piciformes: Megalaimidae), Zootaxa 3893 (1), pp. 127-142 : 128-130

Megalaimobius massarae Constantinescu sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–4 )

Description. MALE ( Fig. 1 A, B; Fig. 2 A–D; holotype, ranges for 4 paratypes). Idiosoma 260 long (255–260), 135 wide (120–130); length of hysterosoma 155 (150–165). Prodorsal shield fused with scapular shields, length along midline 96 (94–98), width 82 (80–82), posterior margin almost straight, lateral margins with narrow transverse incision posterior to scapular setae, setae se separated by 56 (56–58). Setae c3 narrowly lanceolate, 22 (20–22) in length, 6 (5–6) in width, setae c2 on inner margin of humeral shields. Hysteronotal shield with median part of anterior margin slightly convex, its anterior angles acute, length from anterior margin to bases of setae h3 135 (130–135), width at anterior margin 88 (76–90). Distance along midline between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 26 (24–32). Posterior end of opisthosoma with semi-ovate terminal lobules. Terminal incision between lobules small, like inverted U, 11 (10–12) in length, not extending to level of setae ps1. Lateral margin of opisthosoma between bases of setae h2 and h3 with rounded subterminal membranous extension. Supranal concavity long, open posteriorly. Dorsal measurements: c2–d2 62 (52–56), d2– e2 62 (62–65), d2–gl 48 (46–50), e1–gl 16 (13–16), e2–h3 34 (31–36), e2– e2 36 (33–36), h2–h2 22 (22–24), h3–h3 12 (11–12).

Epimerites I fused as a Y, sternum about ¼ of total length of epimerites, coxal fields III closed, coxal fields I and II opened. Transventral sclerite present, 12 (10–14) along midline, anterior margin strongly concave, tips of epiandrium not expressed, posterior margin with small median extension. Genital arch length 13 (12–14), width 7 (7–10), setae g at base of genital apparatus, genital shield extends to level of femora IV. Adanal shield present, represented by median sclerite and a pair of lateral sclerites. Diameter of anal suckers 12 (10–13). Ventral measurements: ps2–ps2 32 (30–34), ps3–ps3 16 (17–18), ps3–h3 36 (34–35).

Legs IV extended beyond level of lobar apices. Tarsus III 32 (32–36) in length, setae r shorter than half-length of this segment.

FEMALE ( Fig. 3 A, B; Fig. 4 A–D, ranges for 4 paratypes.) Idiosoma 330–340 long, 135–150 wide; length of hysterosoma 200–220. Prodorsal shield fused with scapular shields, length along midline 110–115, width 84–90, posterior margin slightly convex, lateral margins with a narrow transverse incision posterior to scapular setae, setae se separated by 63–68. Setae c3 narrowly lanceolate, 22–26 in length, 6–7 in width, setae c1 on the posterior margin of prodorsal shield, setae c2 on striated tegument. Central sclerite with anterior end convex, extending to level of trochanters III, margin with well-expressed borders (except for posterior end with borders poorly distinct and crossed with longitudinal striae). Lateral opisthosomal sclerites kidney-shaped, crossed by two oblique striae, anterior half narrowed. Pygidial sclerites small, connected to lateral opisthosomal sclerites. Setae d1, d2 on striated tegument, setae e1 on lateral margins of central sclerite. External copulatory tube straight, conical, with acute apex, 13 (11–14) in length. Posterior end of opisthosoma with a pair of small cone-like extensions bearing setae h3. Dorsal measurements: c2–d2 62–70, d2–e2 110–115, d2–gl 66–72, e1–gl 16–20, e2–h 3 22–26, e2– e2 32–40, h2–h2 66–72, h3–h3 54–64.

Epimerites I fused as a Y, sternum about ¼ of total length of epimerites. Epigynum semicircular, 28–30 in length, 58–66 in width.

Type material. Male holotype (ANA300), 4 male (ANA302, ANA303, ANA304, ANA305) and 4 female paratypes (ANA301, ANA306, ANA307, ANA308) from Psilopogon virens (Boddaert) ( Piciformes , Megalaimidae ) [large upper covert feathers of wings], INDIA: Meghalaya, Jaintia Hills, Shnongrim village, 25°21'12.36"N, 92°31'3.06"E; 1151 m alt; subtropical forest, 25 January 2014, coll. D.K.B. Mukhim.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Dr. Chrysanthemum Massar, the Principal of the Lady Keane College from Shillong (Meghalaya, India), for her support of our research on ectoparasites of birds from Meghalaya (Northeastern India).

Differential diagnosis. Megalaimobius massarae sp. nov. is closest to M. kalyakini Mironov, 2005 from Psilopogon lineatus (Vieillot) ( Piciformes : Megalaimidae ). Males of both species have the posterior end of the opisthosoma with semi-ovate terminal lobules, and epimerites I fused as a Y, with the sternum about ¼ of the total length of epimerites. Megalaimobius massarae sp. nov. can be readily differentiated from M. kalyakini by the following male features: the length of the idiosoma is 255–260 Μm, the terminal incision between lobules is like an inverted U and is not extending to the level of setae ps1, the lateral margin of the opisthosoma has the subterminal membranous extensions between bases of setae h2 and h3, the anterior margin of the transventral scleriteis is strongly concave and its bottom is at the level of setae 3a, the tips of the epiandrium are not expressed, the genital shield is extended to the level of the femoras IV and the legs IV are extended beyond the level of the lobar apices. In males of M. kalyakini , the idiosoma is much longer (315–340 Μm), the terminal incision between lobules is like an inverted V and extends to the level of setae ps1, the lateral margins of opisthosoma do not have subterminal membranous extensions between the bases of setae h2 and h3, the anterior margin of the transventral sclerite is moderately concave, the tips of epiandrium are expressed, the genital shield extends to the level of trochanters IV, and legs IV by the ambulacral disc beyond the level of lobar apices. Females of both species have setae d1 and d2 on the striated tegument, similar shape of the posterior margin of the prodorsal shield and the lateral opisthosomal sclerites with the anterior half narrowed. Females of the new species are clearly different from those of M. kalyakini by the following features: the length of the idiosoma is 330–340 Μm, setae c1 are on the posterior margin of the prodorsal shield, the central sclerite extends to the level of the trochanters III and has the well-expressed border, the lateral opisthosomal sclerites are crossed by two oblique striae, the pygidial sclerites are connected to the lateral opisthosomal sclerites, epimerites I are fused as a Y, and the external copulatory tube has an acute apex. In females of M. kalyakini the length of idiosoma is 375–405 Μm, setae c1 are on the striated tegument, the central sclerite does not extend to the level of trochanters III and does not have well-expressed border, the lateral opisthosomal sclerites are without oblique striae, the pygidial sclerites are not connected to the lateral opisthosomal sclerites, epimerites I are fused as a V, and the external copulatory tube has a truncated apex.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Megalaimobius massarae sp. nov., A—male idiosoma, dorsal view, B—same, ventral view.

FIGURE 2. Megalaimobius massarae sp. nov., dorsal view of male legs. A—leg I, B—leg II, C—leg III, D—leg IV.

FIGURE 3. Megalaimobius massarae sp. nov., A—female idiosoma, dorsal view, B—same, ventral view.

FIGURE 4. Megalaimobius massarae sp. nov., dorsal view of female legs. A—leg I, B—leg II, C—leg III, D—leg IV.