Dubininia Vassilev, 1958

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 : 454-455

Genus Dubininia Vassilev, 1958

Type species: Dubininia dobrevelikovi Vassilev, 1958 by original designation (= Protalges accipitrinus Trouessart, 1885 ).

Diagnosis. Both sexes. Ingrassiines of small and medium size. Prodorsal shield narrowly oval or narrowly trapezoidal, scapular setae se, si, situated on posterolateral extensions of this shield or on separate sclerites situated posterolaterally to this shield (except D. micropsittae sp. n. with prodorsal shield occupying all median area of prodorsum and fused with hysteronotal shield). Scapular setae se represented by macrosetae. Scapular shields without flat suprategumental extensions on inner margin. Dorsal hysteronotal setae c1, d1, e1, h1 absent. Hysteronotal gland openings gl absent. Epimerites I in most species fused into a Y or V, rarely free ( D. curta ). Tarsi I, II with short dorso-apical spine; tarsus II with semi-circular or semi-oval ventral extension. Tarsus I with four ventral setae (ra, wa, la, s); tarsus II with two ventral setae (wa, s); these setae are setiform or flattened basally with distal filament. Tibiae I, II with a pair of spine-like ventral apophyses, on tibiae II they are noticeably stronger than those on tibiae I. Retrograde paraxial apophyses of genu I and antiaxial apophyses on femora I, II absent. Genu I with one solenidion s1. Setae cG on genua I and II, seta mG I dilated basally or spiculiform, seta mG II long, shaped as macroseta. Ambulacral discs present on all legs, circular or oval; discs of tarsi I, II similar in size, or discs of tarsi II slightly smaller than those on tarsi I; discs of tarsi III, IV noticeably smaller in size than on tarsus I. Males: Hysteronotal shield fused with humeral shields and outer sclerites of epimerites IV into entire shield covering the dorsum of hysterosoma. Cupules ia distinct or indistinct. Opisthosomal lobes long, parallel or slightly divergent, separated by large semi-oval or triangular terminal cleft and largely fused medially. Terminal cleft completely occupied by interlobar membrane shaped as a pair of rounded terminal extensions on lobar apices separated by median triangular incision. Outer margin of lobes with lateral membranes. Supranal concavity long and narrow, modified into well sclerotized interlobar septa. Genital organ narrow, located at level of trochanters III or slightly anterior. Genital shields absent (in species from parrots) or present (in species from falconiform birds). Paragenital apodemes usually absent; if present, short and fused at anterior ends into an arch. Epimerites IIIa long and wide, anterior ends encompassing bases of setae 4b. Epimerites IVa long, with anterior ends extending to level of genital organ base and often fused to medial part of corresponding epimerites IIIa. Coxal fields IV closed or open anteriorly. Adanal suckers oval or circular, with radially striated corolla and surrounded by smooth membrane. Adanal shield bow-shaped, entire or split into three pieces, bearing bases of setae ps3. Setae 4a on coxal fields IV. Legs III and IV hypertrophied, pretarsi of these legs much smaller than on tarsi I, II. Tarsus III narrowed, elongate and slightly curved, with small apical claw-like extension. Tarsus IV short and much thinner that corresponding tibia, with small apical denticles; seta d of tarsus IV reduced to small spine; seta e absent.

Females: Hysteronotal shield absent in most species; if present, represented by darker sclerotized longitudinal band ( D. lorina ) or large punctated shield covering entire surface of hysterosoma and fused anteriorly with prodorsal shield ( D. micropsittae sp. n.). Epigynum bow-shaped, situated at level of sejugal furrow or humeral shields. Apodemes of oviporus well developed, usually with long posterior extensions. Copulatory opening ventral, immediately posterior to anal opening. Macrosetae h2 and h3 subequal in length. Setae sR III thin, shorter than corresponding femorogenua. Tarsi III, IV elongated, straight, slightly longer than corresponding tibiae, without apical spine, ambulacral discs smaller than on tarsi I and II.

Hosts and distribution. Parrots of the families Psittacidae , Psittaculidae and Strigopidae (Psittaciformes) of the Old World and falcons of the family Falconidae (Falconiformes) of both hemispheres.

Remarks. The genus currently includes 12 species, with four new species described herein. Two species known from Falconiformes were recently (re)described ( Mironov & Galloway 2014; Dabert & Mironov 2015). Nine species are associated with parrots distributed in the Old World. The record of D. circiniger ( Trouessart, 1887) , known from a single male, on Tauraco persa buffoni (Vieillot) in Africa ( Trouessart 1887) is most probably an accidental museum contamination.

Among species associated with parrots, three species, D. lorina ( Trouessart, 1885) , D. charmosynae sp. n. and D. micropsittae sp. n. constitute the lorina group, characterized by having lanceolate setae f2 and flattened and enlarged basal part of setae 3a in males, while in all remaining species of the genus, these setae are simple filiform.