Afrotrombicula (Afrotrombicula) nicolei ( Taufflieb, 1958 ) Stekolnikov, 2023

Stekolnikov, Alexandr A., 2023, A revision of the chigger genus Afrotrombicula (Acariformes: Trombiculidae), Zootaxa 5323 (1), pp. 27-55 : 34-36

Afrotrombicula (Afrotrombicula) nicolei ( Taufflieb, 1958) , comb. nov.

( Figs. 5 , 6 )

Neotrombicula nicolei Taufflieb, 1958: 418 , fig. 2; Stekolnikov 2018: 181 .

Neotrombicula (Neotrombicula) nicolei: Vercammen-Grandjean 1965: 71 .

Diagnosis. SIF = 7BS-B-3-3111.1000; fPp = B/B/NNB; PL> AM> AL (PL> AL> AM); fD = 2H-6-6-6(5)+(22– 27); DS = 38–46; V = 52–64; NDV = 90–110; palpal femur, genu, and tibia with multiple puncta; palpal femoral seta heavily branched, palpal genual seta with few short branches; shape of scutum between pentagonal and hexagonal; scutal puncta dense and small; posterior scutal margin prominent, rounded, almost straight in center; f 1 at level of S 1; f 2 at level of S 2; Ip = 1066–1147. Standard measurements are given in Table 2 .

Note. *—after Taufflieb (1958); **—after Kolebinova & Vercammen-Grandjean (1981).

Type deposition. Holotype (60B 1) and one paratype (60B 2) in MNHN; one paratype in MHNG; one paratype was in the collection of Abonnenc; three paratypes were in the collection of Taufflieb.

Distribution and hosts. This species was described from Congo (vicinities of Brazzaville), ex ears of Dasymys incomtus (Sundevall) , Lophuromys sikapusi (Temminck) , and Oenomys hypoxanthus (Pucheran) ( Rodentia : Muridae ).

Type material examined. Holotype ( MNHN 60 B 1) ex Oenomys hypoxanthus , B/ville (Brazzaville)-[19]56.

Additional material examined. One topotypic specimen ( MHNG), 2046-2, ex Dasymys incomtus, Gango Luigolo (obviously, Gangalingolo = Nganga Lingolo, 4°19′43″ S, 15°09′24″ E), Congo-[19]62, from Taufflieb .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Afrotrombicula nicolei (Taufflieb, 1958), comb. nov., holotype. A, dorsal aspect of idiosoma; B, ventral aspect of idiosoma; C, dorsal idiosomal seta; D, preanal seta. Abbreviations: cxI, leg coxa I; cxII, leg coxa II; cxIII, leg coxa III; H, humeral seta; sta, anterior sternal setae; stp, posterior sternal setae; u, uropore (anus); V, ventral idiosomal setae. Borders between rows of setae are shown by dotted lines. Scale bars: 100 µm (A, B), 20 µm (C, D).

FIGURE 6. Afrotrombicula nicolei (Taufflieb, 1958), comb. nov., holotype. A, scutum (eyes not shown); B, dorsal aspect of gnathosoma; C, ventral aspect of gnathosoma; D, leg I, genu–tarsus; E, leg I, trochanter–telofemur; F, leg II, trochanter–tarsus; G, leg III, trochanter–telofemur; H, leg III, genu–tarsus. Abbreviations: AL, anterolateral scutal seta; AM, anteromedian scutal seta; Cb, cheliceral base; Cs, cheliceral blade; Ga, galeal (deutorostral) seta; ga, genuala I (σ); gm, genuala II (σ); gns, gnathocoxal (tritorostral) seta; gp, genuala III (σ); f1, microtarsala I (ε); f2, microtarsala II (ε); ic, infracapitulum (gnathobase, gnathocoxa); Mt, mastitarsala; PC, palpal claw (odontus); PF, palpal femur; PG, palpal genu; PL, posterolateral scutal seta; pST, parasubterminala (z); PT’, pretarsala I (ζ); PT”, pretarsala II (ζ); PTa, palpal tarsus; PTi, palpal tibia; S, sensillum (trichobothrium); S0, palpal tarsala (ω); S1, leg tarsala I (ω); S2, leg tarsala II (ω); ST, leg subterminala (ζ); ta, tibiala I (φ); tm, tibiala II (φ); tp, tibiala III (φ); ζ, palpal subterminala (ζ); µga, microgenuala I (κ); µta, microtibiala I (κ). Scale bars: 50 µm (A, D–H), 20 µm (B, C).