Crassacarus alexfaini Bochkov

Bochkov, Andre V, Oconnor, Barry M. & Klompen, Hans, 2015, A review of the mite subfamily Harpirhynchinae (Acariformes: Harpirhynchidae) — parasites of New World birds (Aves: Neognathae), Zootaxa 4023 (1), pp. 1-130 : 67-68

Crassacarus alexfaini Bochkov , OConnor and Klompen sp. nov.

( Figs. 50–52 )

Harpirhynchus (Harpirhynchus) cylindripalpus Fritsch, 1954 , Fain 1995: 78 (misidentification).

Description. FEMALE (holotype, 7 paratypes, Figs. 50 , 52 A–E). Body, including gnathosoma, 515 long (500– 565) and 420 wide (400–430). Gnathosoma about 150 long and 140 wide. Palp 100 long (90–100) and 55 wide (45–60). Lengths of palpalae ( Fig. 52 A): dF 18–20, dG 18–19, and l”G 14–16. Setae vF about 110 long, smooth. Subcapitulum without ventro-lateral projections. Peritrematal branch about 100 long. Idiosoma 400 long (400– 435). Smooth cuticle between peritrematal branches and transverse striations apunctate. All dorsal setae, including h2, serrate. Dorsal shield unornamented, 160 long (150–165) and 285 wide (265–290), trapezoidal in shape, with rounded angles and widely concave anterior and posterior margins. Idiosoma ventrally without scales or verrucosities, distinctly striated. Coxal fields I and II with weakly developed soft posterior lobe. Lengths of setae: vi, ve, si, se, and c2 120–135, h2 about 150. Solenidia ω 1 I and ω1 II 12–13 long, narrow straight and conical, with rounded apex. Legs I and II with 4 articulated segments (femur and genu completely fused). Femora-genua I and II bearing 2 setae, dF and vF. Leg III with 1 articulated segment bearing 6–7 setae. Leg IV with 5–6 setae.

MALE (3 paratypes, Figs. 51 , 52 F–I). Body, including gnathosoma, 260–300 long and 230–250 wide. Gnathosomal length and width subequal, about 85. Palp about 60 long and 50 wide. Palpalae strongly different in length ( Fig. 52 F): dF about 30, dG about 20, and l”G about 15. Setae vF about 40 long, smooth. Subcapitulum ventrally as in female. Idiosoma 230–245 long. Smooth cuticle between peritrematal branches and transverse striations apunctate. Dorsal shield about 160–170 long and 165–175 wide; with anterior margin almost straight and posterior margin with narrow and deep concavation in median part. Aedeagus about 135 long, straight, situated posterior to genital opening. Genital opening situated in anterior third of dorsal shield. Genital arch about 15 long. Genital setae 2–3 long; setae g2 situated almost at same level with setal bases g1. Distance g1–g1 about 20, g2–g2 about 25, and g3–g3 15. Setae vi 5–6 long, ve, si, se, and c2 serrate, 90–105 long. Idiosoma ventrally without scales or verrucosities, fully striated. Coxal fields I and II smooth. Leg I and II setation as in female, except genua I and II with 3 setae (d, l’, v’). Solenidia ω 1 I and ω1 II 11–12 long, narrow straight and conical, with rounded apex. Apical segment of leg III with 5 setae; preapical segment with 1 setae. Leg IV with 4 setae.

Type material. Holotype female ( UMMZ BMOC 09-1222-004, #1), 7 female and 3 male paratypes ( UMMZ BMOC 09-1222-004, #2–11) from Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus) ( Passeriformes : Cardinalidae ) ( UMMZ 242115) [in clusters in ears], USA: Michigan, Livingston Co., 4 mi S. Howell, 42.5495394°N, 83.9409112°W (from specimen catalogue), 13 November 2009, via Howell Nature Center.

Additional material. Nine females and 1 male ( UMMZ BMOC 09-0730-001, #1–10) from Setophaga petechia (Linnaeus) ( Passeriformes : Parulidae ) ( UMMZ 241861) [on skin of head], USA: Michigan, Washtenaw Co., 3 mi NW Dexter, 42.3632667°N, 83.93475°W (from specimen catalogue), 31 July 2009, coll. B.M. OConnor; 1 female ( OSAL 0083651) from Zonotrichia querula (Nuttall) ( Passeriformes : Emberizidae ), USA: Kansas, Douglas Co., Lawrence, 38.97°N 95.24°W (GNIS-USGS), 21 October 1962, coll. W.W. Moss; 1 female ( IRSNB) from Passerina ciris (Linnaeus) ( Passeriformes : Cardinalidae ), died in the Antwerp Zoo, 28 June 1964, coll. A. Fain.

Type deposition. Holotype and most of paratypes in UMMZ, 2 female paratypes in ZISP.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to the late great Belgian acarologist Prof. Alex Fain.

Hosts and distribution. Cardinalis cardinalis [type host] ( Passeriformes : Cardinalidae ), Setophaga petechia ( Passeriformes : Parulidae ) from USA (Michigan) and Zonotrichia querula ( Passeriformes : Emberizidae ) from USA (Kansas) (present paper) and from Passerina ciris ( Passeriformes : Cardinalidae ) died in the Antwerp Zoo (determined as Harpirhyncus cylindripalpus Fritsch, 1954 ) ( Fain 1995).

Differential diagnosis. Females of Crassacarus alexfaini sp. nov. differ from all other species of this genus by the serrate setae h2 (vs. smooth in all other species) and four-segmented legs I and II, having the femur and genu completely fused (vs. femora and genua I and II fused dorsally in C. tinae sp. nov. or completely separated in four remaining other species).

Remarks. In females from Setophaga petechia, leg IV bears 4–6 setae.

Figures

FIGURE 50. Crassacarus alexfaini sp. nov., female. A—dorsal view; B—ventral view.

FIGURE 51. Crassacarus alexfaini sp. nov., male. A—dorsal view; B—ventral view.

FIGURE 52. Crassacarus alexfaini sp. nov., details. Female (A – E): A—palpalae; B—palpal tibio-tarsus in ventral view; Cleg I in ventral view; D—tarsus I in dorsal view; E—solenidion ω 1 II. Male (F – I): F—palpalae; G—genital opening; Hsolenidion ω 1 I; I—solenidion ω 1 II.