Afrotrombicula (Tauffliebicula) machadoi ( Taufflieb, 1962 )

Stekolnikov, Alexandr A., 2023, A revision of the chigger genus Afrotrombicula (Acariformes: Trombiculidae), Zootaxa 5323 (1), pp. 27-55 : 45-48

Afrotrombicula (Tauffliebicula) machadoi ( Taufflieb, 1962)

( Figs. 13 , 14 )

Neotrombicula (Neotrombicula) machadoi Taufflieb, 1962: 137 , fig. 1; Taufflieb 1965a: 21; Vercammen-Grandjean 1965: 71.

Afrotrombicula (Tauffliebicula) machadoi: Kolebinova & Vercammen-Grandjean 1978: 129 .

Afrotrombicula machadoi: Stekolnikov 2018: 122 .

Neotrombicula (Neotrombicula) lophuromyia Vercammen-Grandjean 1965: 71 (nomen nudum).

Afrotrombicula (Tauffliebicula) lophuromyia Kolebinova and Vercammen-Grandjean, 1978: 104 , pl. 1, syn. nov. Afrotrombicula lophuromyia: Stekolnikov 2018: 122 .

Diagnosis. SIF = 7BS-B-3-3111.0000; fPp = B/B/NNB; PL> AM> AL; fD = 2H-6-6-6-6+7; DS = 32–35; V = 48–54; NDV = 83–86; palpal femur, genu, and tibia with sparse puncta; barbs of scutal and idiosomal setae and branches of palpal setae very long; scutum nearly pentagonal, with dense small puncta; posterior scutal margin prominent, arquate; f 1 proximal to S 1; f 2 behind S 2; Ip = 951–997. Standard measurements are in Table 5 .

Note. *—after Taufflieb (1962); **—after Kolebinova & Vercammen-Grandjean (1978).

Type deposition. Holotype (60D 14) and two paratypes (60D 13, 15) in MNHN; nine paratypes in MDLA; five paratypes were deposited in the personal collection of Taufflieb.

Holotype (88030) and 36 paratypes of A. lophuromyia are deposited in MRAC.

Distribution and hosts. This species was described from Angola (Dundo) ex Lophuromys aquilus (True) (syn.

Lophuromys aquilus rita Dollman ) and Praomys jacksoni ( Rodentia : Muridae ). Later, Taufflieb (1965a) identified large additional material from the vicinities of Dundo, mainly from the same hosts and from Colomys goslingi Thomas and Wroughton , Gerbilliscus leucogaster (Peters) (syn. Tatera afra angolae Wroughton ), Grammomys dolichurus (Smuts) (syn. Grammomys dolichurus surdaster Thomas and Wroughton ), and Mastomys natalensis ( Rodentia : Muridae ). One specimen was collected from Potamogale velox (Du Chaillu) ( Afrosoricida : Potamogalidae ) and one from Hipposideros ruber ruber Noack (syn. Hipposideros caffer centralis K.Andersen ) ( Chiroptera : Hipposideridae ). However, Taufflieb (1965a) believed that the latter record is questionable and could be a result of a contamination. Four specimens were collected ex P. jacksoni in another place, at Nhefo River (7°42′21″ S, 20°41′50″ E, according to my analysis).

Afrotrombicula lophuromyia was described from DR Congo (Kindu) ex ears of Lophuromys aquilus ( Rodentia : Muridae ).

Type material examined. Holotype ( MNHN 60 D 14) ex Praomys jacksoni , 22 VII [19]60, Dundo , Angola.

Remarks. Kolebinova & Vercammen-Grandjean (1978) placed this species in their new genus and subgenus Afrotrombicula (Tauffliebicula) , but they erroneously used the combination “ Neotrombicula (Tauffliebicula)

machadoi ”. The same has happened to Afrotrombicula lophuromyia described as a new species in the same work with the erroneous combination “ Neotrombicula (Tauffliebicula) lophuromyia ” in the original description.

In the original descriptions of A. lophuromyia, Kolebinova & Vercammen-Grandjean (1978) compared this species with A. nyongae and A. liberia . However, it is more similar to A. machadoi . I was unable to find characters that allow an unambiguous distinguishing A. lophuromyia from A. machadoi ; therefore, I consider the former species as a synonym of the latter.

Figures

FIGURE 13. Afrotrombicula machadoi (Taufflieb, 1962), holotype. A, dorsal aspect of idiosoma; B, ventral aspect of idiosoma; C, dorsal idiosomal seta; D, preanal seta. Abbreviations as in Fig. 5. Scale bars: 100 µm (A, B), 20 µm (C, D).

FIGURE 14. Afrotrombicula machadoi (Taufflieb, 1962), holotype. A, scutum; 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 as in Fig. 6. Scale bars: 50 µm (A, D–H), 20 µm (B, C).