Dubininia micropsittae, Mironov, Sergey V., Ehrnsberger, Rainer & Dabert, Jacek, 2017

Mironov, Sergey V., Ehrnsberger, Rainer & Dabert, Jacek, 2017, Feather mites of the genera Dubininia and Cacatualges (Acari: Xolalgidae) associated with parrots (Aves: Psittaciformes) of the Old World, Zootaxa 4272 (4), pp. 451-490 : 479-483

Dubininia micropsittae sp. n.

( Figs. 22–24 )

Type material. Male holotype, 1 males and 1 female paratypes ( AMNH 333991-3-4 , YSU 2299) from Micropsitta pusio pusio (Scaltter) (Psittaculidae) , Territory of New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, New Britain, Wide Bay , 14–16 January 1933, coll. W.F. Coultas .

Depository. Holotype and all paratypes—AMNH.

Description. Male (holotype, sizes for 1 paratype in parentheses). Idiosoma, length × width, 265 (260) × 175 (170), length of hysterosoma 175 (170). Hysteronotal shield fused with prodorsal and humeral shields into entire complex shield covering almost all dorsal surface of idiosoma, scapular shields fused at their antero-medial angles with lateral areas of prodorsal shield, median ridges on prodorsal shield absent ( Fig. 22 A). Setae se separated by 63 (60). A pair of longitudinally striated patches situated mesal to area of humeral shields. Setae c2 situated slightly anterior to level of sejugal furrow. Lateral margins of opisthosomal lobes straight or slightly convex, width of opisthosoma at level of setae f2 85 (90). Opisthosomal lobes long, slightly attenuate apically; terminal cleft deep, semi-oval; interlobar septa extending beyond level of setae e2; length of cleft from anterior end to bases of h3 65 (60), length of cleft including septa 86 (85). Interlobar membrane well-developed, incision in this membrane deep triangular, with acute anterior end, 55 (48) long; terminal extension of interlobar membrane acute, 27 (25) long; lateral membranes with smooth lateral margins and with very small and acute posterior extensions ( Fig. 22 B). Setae d2 extending to anterior end of terminal cleft, setae e2 broken in both specimens. Setae h2, h3, f2 situated on lobar apices, bases arranged in oblique row, setae ps1 situated anterior to level of setae f2. Setae f2 lanceolate with filiform apex, 60 (58) long, 9 (8) wide, extending beyond apices of tarsi IV. Setae ps2 situated on posterolateral margin of terminal extensions of interlobar membrane. Distance between dorsal setae: c2:d2 38 (40), d2: e2 53 (58), e2:h3 89 (75), h2:h2 78 (84), h3:h3 70 (72), ps1:ps1 53 (54), ps1:h3 11 (12), h3:ps2 10 (8).

Epimerites I fused as a Y, sternum about 1/2 of total length of epimerites, area between anterior parts sclerotized ( Fig. 22 B). Rudimentary sclerites of epimerites IIa present. Epimerites IIIa long and straight. Coxal fields IV open. Genital apparatus enlarged basally, 15 (13) × 7 (6); paragenital apodemes present, wide, connected each other at antero-mesal ends; genital shield absent, setae g on soft tegument ( Fig. 23 C). Adanal shield entire, bow-shaped, bearing setae ps3, with tips scarcely extending to level of adanal suckers. Adanal suckers oval, longitudinal diameter 13 (13). Setae 4b situated posterior to level of setae 3a. Setae 1a represented by macrosetae extending to level of adanal suckers; setae 4b extending to base of genital apparatus; setae 3a enlarged and flattened in basal part, extending to adanal shield. Distance between ventral setae: 3a:4b 17 (16), 4b:g 30 (33), g:ps3 34 (32), ps3:h3 90 (88).

Tarsus I with ventral setae la, ra, filiform, setae s, wa slightly thickened basally ( Fig. 23 A). Genual solenidia: σ 1 I 34 (35), σ III 30 (32) long. Tarsus II without noticeable ventral extensions, seta s lanceolate at base, setae wa whip-shaped ( Fig. 23 B). Ambulacral disc I normally developed, oval, with long triangular central sclerite; ambulacral disc II much smaller, about half as long as disc I, central sclerite triangular; ambulacral discs III and IV strongly reduced. Legs III with tarsus and distal part of tibia extending beyond lobar apices. Tibia III without spinelike apical extension, 77 (78) in length; seta kT III extending to midlevel of tarsus III ( Figs. 22 , 23 D). Tarsus III 83 (84) long, with small spine-like apical process; setae w half as long as segment length; setae e, f situated in basal part of segment, approximately at level of seta w, subequal in length. Tibia IV 42 (39) long, without dorsal ridge; tarsus IV 24 (22) long, with bidentate apical process ( Fig. 23 E). Length of ambulacral discs: I—11 (10), II—9 (8), III about 7, IV—less than 5.

Female (1 paratype). Idiosoma, length × width, 290 × 130, length of hysterosoma 195. Prodorsal shield, hysteronotal and humeral shields fused into entire complex shield covering almost all dorsal surface of idiosoma, central area of this shield with several bow-shaped transverse striae; scapular shields fused at antero-medial ends with lateral areas of prodorsal shield ( Fig. 24 A). Scapular setae se separated by 62. Opisthosoma with a pair of small lobes bearing setae h3 on apex and setae h2 on lateral ledges; terminal cleft small U-shaped, 22 × 17, with slightly divergent lateral margins. Setae cp thickened along all their length, without filiform apex. Distance between dorsal setae c2:d2 70, d2:e2 76, e2:h3 52, h2:h2 45, h3:h3 28. Setae c2, d2 and e2 filiform, 5–8 long.

Epimerites I fused into a Y with sternum about 2/3 of total length of epimerites, area between their free parts strongly sclerotized ( Fig. 24 B). Epigynum large bow-shaped, 35 × 60, tips extending to level of setae 3a, genital papillae and setae 4b situated on epigynum. Apodemes of oviporus short and wide, extending slightly beyond level of trochanters III. Areas of coxal fields III and IV completely sclerotized. Setae 1a filiform, short. Setae 3a, 4a, 4b and g minute, 5–8 long. Setae g situated at level of setae 3a. Distance between ventral setae: 4b:g 22, g:4a 48.

Legs I, II as in male. Genual solenidia σ 1 I 25, σ III 8 long. Length of leg segments: tibia III 32, tarsus III 38, tibia IV 48, tarsus IV 46. Tarsi III, IV without ventral extensions ( Figs. 23 F, G). Setae sR III filiform, 13 long; setae kT III filiform, shorter than corresponding tibiae; tibial solenidia: φ III 25, φ IV 23 long. All setae of tarsi III, IV filiform. Length of ambulacral discs: I –12, II—9, III and IV about 5 long. Ambulacral stalks of tarsi III, IV slightly longer than corresponding discs. Setae d of tarsi III, IV approximately half as long as corresponding tarsi.

Differential diagnosis. The new species, Dubininia micropsittae sp. n., is close to D. lorina and D. charmosynae described above in having, in males, lanceolate setae f2 and setae 3a with a basal lanceolate enlargement. Dubininia micropsittae sp. n. differs from these mites and all other known Dubininia species by the following features: in both sexes, the prodorsal, hysteronotal and humeral shields are fused into an entire dorsal shield covering almost the whole surface of the idiosoma; in males, three setae (f, e, w) are situated at the base of tarsus III, the terminal cleft is very deep and extends to the level of trochanter IV; in females, the opisthosoma has a pair of distinct opisthosomal lobes bearing setae h3 on apices. In both sexes of other known Dubininia species, the prodorsal and hysteronotal (if present) shields are well separated and distant from each other; in males, only seta w is situated at the base of tarsus III and the anterior end of the terminal cleft extends only to the level of femorogenua IV; in females, the opisthosoma is widely rounded, without any lobes.

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

Figures

FIGURE 22. Dubininia micropsittae sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 23. Dubininia micropsittae sp. n., details. A, B—legs I and II of male, respectively, C—genital apparatus of male, D, E—tibiae and tarsi III and IV of male, respectively, F, G—legs III and IV of female, respectively.

FIGURE 24. Dubininia micropsittae sp. n., female. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.