Allodectes thaluraniae, Hernandes, Fabio Akashi, 2013

Hernandes, Fabio Akashi, 2013, The feather mites (Acari, Astigmata) of the Violet-capped Woodnymph, Thalurania glaucopis (Gmelin) (Aves, Trochilidae), with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 3616 (6), pp. 563-577 : 568-571

Allodectes thaluraniae sp. n.

( Figs. 4–6 )

Type material. Male holotype, 5 male and 2 female paratypes from Thalurania glaucopis (Gmelin) (Trochilidae) , Reserva "Bicudinho-do-brejo", Guaratuba, Paraná, Brazil, 25º45’23.1"S; 48º43’35.2"W, 11.I.2012, coll. F.A. Hernandes.

Description. MALE [holotype, measurements for 3 paratypes in parentheses]. Idiosoma, length × width, 384 (355–390) × 228 (215–228). Prodorsal shield: posterior margins slightly concave, total length of shield along midline 104 (92–105), width 155 (145–160), surface with longitudinal marks on median region anterior to scapular setae, transverse marks posterior to scapular setae; scapular setae se 225 (221–209) in length, those setae separated by 70 (68–72); setae si separated by 42 (41–46). Scapular shields present dorsally, bearing oblique slit on basal third. Humeral shields situated dorso-laterally, metapodosomal shields present dorsally slightly above trochanters IV. Setae cp situated ventrally on humeral shields. Setae c2 situated on anterior end of humeral shields. Subhumeral setae c3 lanceolate, 55 (48–62) × 4 (4). Hysteronotal shield: greatest length 255 (241–263), width in anterior region 155 (139–149), anterior margin straight, surface mostly longitudinally striated except for lateral parts. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 27 (25–31). Posterior ends of lobes with small lamellae ( Fig. 4 A). Supranal concavity present ( Fig. 4 A). Setae h1 situated anterior to supranal concavity. Setae h3 setiform, 7 (7–9) long; setae h2 380 (365–371) long; setae ps2 22 (23–24) long; setae ps3 24 (25–28) long. Distance between dorsal setae: si:c1 70 (68–72), c1:c2 75 (70–74), c1:d1 64 (61–68), d1:d2 71 (70–71), d2: e1 56 (50–54), e1:h1 32 (31–33).

Epimerites I fused into a narrow V weakly connected at tips ( Fig. 4 B). Coxal fields I-IV closed, setae 1a situated on striated tegument of coxal fields I. Rudimentary sclerite rEpIIa absent. Epimerites IVa present. Length of aedeagus (from anterior bend to apex) 22 (22–23), genital arch width 34 (27–29). Genital shields present, bearing setae g. Anal suckers 19 (19–22) in diameter, distance between centers of suckers 31 (28), corolla with indentations. Distance between ventral setae: 3a:4a 43 (41–46), 4a:g 30 (27–31).

Femur I with small ventral crest near base of setae vF. Solenidion σ 1 of genu about 1.5 × the length of segment, situated medio-dorsally. Genual seta cG I and II, and mG I and II, setiform. Genu IV bearing small paraxial spine distally. Solenidia ω 1 of tarsi I and II subequal in length. Legs IV noticeably larger than legs III. Tarsus IV 60 (58–62) long, tarsus III, IV bearing apico-dorsal spine ( Fig. 5 C–D); small spine medially on tarsus IV, near base of seta w; setae d and e vestigial, only alveoli present, seta d situated antero-dorsally, seta e at apex of segment ( Fig. 5 D).

FEMALE [2 paratypes]. Idiosoma, length × width, 435–437 × 209–211. Prodorsal shield: 118–122 × 167–169, scapular setae se 181–184 in length, those setae separated by 79–80, setae si separated by 47–48. Scapular shields present dorsally, as in the male. Humeral shields situated dorso-laterally. Setae cp situated ventrally on humeral shields. Setae c2 situated on anterolateral margins of humeral shields. Setae c3 lanceolate, 27–28 × 4. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 10–16. Anterior margin of anterior hysteronotal shield nearly straight, posterior margin concave, greatest length 218–219, width at anterior margin 152–156, with longitudinal striae on postero-mesal surface ( Fig. 6 A). Darker area on lateral margins of the shield. Length of lobar region 111–115, greatest width 152–156. Terminal cleft inverted U-shaped, 54–60 long. Setae h2 setiform, total length 130–133, width at widest part 5. Setae h3 setiform, 75 long, c.1/2 of terminal appendages. Distance between dorsal setae: si:c1 76–77, c1:c2 75, c1:d1 63–68, d1:d2 98–99.

Epimerites I free, coxal fields I-IV closed. Coxal fields I and II as in male ( Fig. 6 B). Epimerites IVa present. Epigynum 73 in widest part. Primary spermaduct slightly enlarged near head of spermatheca ( Fig. 6 C); copulatory opening situated ventrally, posterior to anal opening, between inner ends of translobar apodemes. Pseudanal setae ps2 and ps3 setiform, seta ps2 situated at level of setae f2; distances between ventral setae: 1a:3a 29–32, 3 a:g 43–45, g:4a 72–74, 4 a:ps3 85–87, ps2:ps2 56–57, ps3: ps 3 25–26.

Femur I with small ventral crest near base of setae vF; other leg segments without crests or processes. Solenidia of genua and tarsi as in the male. Genual seta cG I and II, and mG I and II, setiform. Solenidia ω 1 of tarsi I slightly shorter than of tarsi II.

Differential diagnosis. The new species closely resembles A. amaziliae , but can be readily distinguished by the longer length of setae h 3 in males, and shorter length of setae h 2 in females. Setae h 3 in males is approximately three times the length of seae ps2 (those setae about the same size in A. amaziliae ), and h 2 in females does not reach the end of the terminal lamellae (reaches beyond lamellae tips in A. amaziliae ). Also, in males of A. amaziliae the sclerite anterior to the genital organ bears two projections towards the genital arch; such projections are absent in the new species.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the genus of the type host, and is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Allodectes thaluraniae sp. n. male: dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views.

FIGURE 5. Allodectes thaluraniae sp. n. male: tarsi I – IV (A – D).

FIGURE 6. Allodectes thaluraniae sp. n. female: dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views; spermatheca (C).