Harpyrhynchoides athene 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 : 56-58

Harpyrhynchoides athene Bochkov , OConnor and Klompen sp. nov.

( Figs. 44 A–F, 45A–I)

Description. FEMALE (holotype, 3 paratypes, Fig. 44 A–E). Body, including gnathosoma, 335 long (300–335) and 250 wide (235–260). Gnathosoma about 100 long and 105 wide. Palp 41 long (40–43) and 45 wide (42–45), without lateral notches. Palpalae thickened, different in shape ( Fig. 44 C): dG 12–13 long, with 5–6 pectinations, about 2 times thicker than other palpalae, dF 23–25 long and l”G 15–16 long. Setae vF about 50 long, smooth. Subcapitulum ventrally without membranous projections. Peritrematal branch about 35 long. Idiosoma 235–250 long. Smooth cuticle between peritrematal branches and transverse striations apunctate. All dorsal setae slightly serrate. Dorsal shield unornamented, 165 long (145–165) and 180 wide (170–180) with almost straight anterior margin and posterior margin concave in median part. Idiosoma ventrally without scales or verrucosities, almost completely striated striated excluding area bearing setal bases 3a and pocket-like vulvar structure. Setae 1a situated slightly anterior to level of setal bases 1c. Setae 3a situated at level of coxal fields III. Distance between setal bases 3a about 3 times longer than between setal bases 1a. Ventral setae h1 present. Distance h2–h2 about 2.5 times longer than h1–h1. Coxal fields I and II smooth. Vulvar pocket-like structure without long lateral longitudinal folds. Vulvar apodemes well discernible. Lengths of setae: vi, ve, si, se, and c2 —all 100–115, h1 and h2 about 45. Solenidia ω 1 I and ω1 II 12–13 long and 9–10 long, respectively, narrow straight and conical, with rounded apex. Empodium of tarsi I and II not elongated, only slightly longer or subequal to respective tarsus. Genua I and II with 3 setae (d, l’, v’), femora I and II with 2 setae (d and v), trochanters I and II with 1 seta (v). Apical segment of leg III with 5 setae; preapical segment with 1 seta. Leg IV with 1 segment bearing 4 setae.

MALE (4 paratypes, Fig. 45 A–F). Body, including gnathosoma, 265–275 long and 200–235 wide. Gnathosoma about 65 long and 85 wide. Palp about 35 long and 37 wide, without notches. Palpalae strongly different in shape ( Fig. 45 D): dG 14–15 long, almost twice as wide as other palpalae, dF 20–22 long, and l”G 13– 14 long. Setae vF about 35 long, smooth. Subcapitulum ventrally as in female. Idiosoma 190–215 long. Smooth cuticle between peritrematal branches and transverse striations apunctate. Dorsal shield about 140 long and 150 wide with almost straight anterior margin and posterior margin slightly concave medially. Aedeagus about 65 long, almost straight, situated posterior to genital opening. Genital opening situated in posterior third of dorsal shield. Genital arch about 35 long. Genital setae 11–12 long; setae g2 situated equidistant to g1 and g3. Distance g1–g1 about 25, g2–g2 about 20, and g3–g3 16. Setae vi, ve, si, se, and c2 slightly serrate, 85–100 long. Idiosoma ventrally without scales or verrucosities, fully striated excluding small median area around setal bases 3a. Coxal fields I and II smooth. Leg I and II setation as in female. Solenidion ω 1 I about 12 long and 6 maximum wide in median part, solenidion ω 1 II 9–10 long, narrow straight and conical, with rounded apex. Apical segment of leg III with 5 setae; preapical segment with 1 seta. Leg IV with 1 segment bearing 3 setae.

Type material. Holotype female ( OSAL 0082592), 3 female and 4 male paratypes ( OSAL 0082588–0082591, 0 0 82593, 0 0 82597, 0082599) from Athene cunicularia (Molina) ( Strigiformes : Strigidae ), USA: Texas, Lubbock Co., Lubbock, 33.58°N, 101.86°W (GNIS-USGS), 22 February 1962, coll. R.W. Strandtmann.

Type deposition. Holotype and most of paratypes in OSAL, 1 female paratype in ZISP, 1 in UMMZ.

Additional material. One female and 2 males ( OSAL 0 0 82224, 0 0 82230, 0082231) from Athene noctua (Scopoli) ( Strigiformes : Strigidae ), THE NETHERLANDS: Gelderland Province, Nijmegen, 51.8333°N, 5.8667°E (GEOnet), 10 February 1971, coll. F.S. Lukoschus.

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

Hosts and distribution. Athene canicularia ( Strigiformes : Strigidae ) from USA (Texas) [type host] and Athene noctua from the Netherlands (present paper).

Differential diagnosis. Among species of complex B, the new species is very close to Harpyrhynchoides aegolius Bochkov and OConnor, 2013 ( Figs. 44 G, 45J–M). In both sexes of these species, scales or verrucosities are absent on the ventral idiosomal surface, genua I and II bear three setae each, and femora I and II bear two setae each, and the basal segment of legs III bears a single seta; in females, the apical segment of leg IV bears four setae, and palpal seta dG is relatively short and thicker than other palpalae, setae h1 and h2 are subequal in length, solenidion ω 1 I is strongly thickened, the idiosoma ventrally has a nonstriated median area bearing setae 3a, and the apical segment of leg IV bears three setae. These species differ from each other by the following character states. In females of Harpyrhynchoides athene sp. nov., the idiosoma ventrally is non-striated between the level of setal bases 3a and the pocket-like vulvar structure (vs. striated in H. aegolius ); in males, the body is 265–275 long (vs. 310–320 long), setae g2 are situated equidistantly from g1 and g3 (vs. 1.5 times close to g1 than to g3), distance g2–g2 is longer than g1–g2 (vs. slightly shorter), genital setae are 11–12 long (vs. 18–20 long).

Figures

FIGURE 44. Harpyrhynchoides athene sp. nov., female from Athene canicularia (A – E): A—dorsal view; B—ventral view; C—palpalae; D—solenidion ω 1 I; E—solenidion ω 1 II. Details of H. athene from Athene noctua (F – H): F—palpalae; Gsolenidion ω 1 I; H—solenidion ω 1 II. Harpyrhynchoides aegolius Bochkov and OConnor, 2013, details of female (I – K): Ipalpalae, J—solenidion ω 1 I; K—solenidion ω 1 II. Scale bars: A, B = 100 Μm; C – K = 50 Μm.

FIGURE 45. Harpyrhynchoides athene sp. nov., male from Athene canicularia (A – F): A—dorsal view; B—ventral view; Cgenital opening; D—palpalae; E—solenidion ω 1 I; F—solenidion ω 1 II. Details of male from Athene noctua (G – I): Gpalpalae; H—solenidion ω 1 I; I—solenidion ω 1 II. Harpyrhynchoides aegolius Bochkov and OConnor, 2013, details of male (J – M): J—genital opening; K—palpalae; L—solenidion ω 1 I; M—solenidion ω 1 II. Scale bars: A, B = 100 Μm; C – M = 50 Μm.