Syringophiloidus quetzali, Skoracki, Maciej, Mironov, Sergey V. & Unsoeld, Markus, 2013

Skoracki, Maciej, Mironov, Sergey V. & Unsoeld, Markus, 2013, The first records of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) from trogoniform birds (Aves: Trogoniformes), Zootaxa 3701 (2), pp. 291-297 : 292-294

Syringophiloidus quetzali sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–3 )

Description. FEMALE, holotype. Total body length including gnathosoma 685 (620–720 in 8 paratypes). Gnathosoma . Infracapitulum densely punctate. Each medial branch of peritremes with 2–3 chambers, each lateral branch with 7–8 chambers. Stylophore 170 (170–185) long, basal part of its dorsum with striae ornament. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield weakly sclerotized, longitudinal striae visible, apunctate. Length ratio of setae vi: ve: si 1:2.2–2.4:4.8–5.7. Propodonotal setae thin with delicate ornament. Setae si, c2 and se subequal in length. Hysteronotal shield not fused to pygidial shield, anterior end extending beyond level of setae d2. Setae d2 slightly (1.2 times) longer than setae e2. Setae f1 and h1 subequal in length. Genital plate well sclerotized, bases of setae ag2 and ag3 situated on lateral margins of this plate. Both pairs of genital setae subequal in length. Agenital setae ag3 slightly (1.2–1.3 times) longer than ag1 and ag2. Pseudanal setae ps2 1.3 times longer than ps1. Coxal fields I– IV sparsely punctate. Setae 3c 2.6–3 times longer than 3b. Legs. Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 10 tines. Lengths of setae: vi 35 (30–40), ve 85 (70–95), si 170 (170–200), se (200–220), c1 205 (200–220), c2 190 (180–200), d1 180 (175–220), d2 (170–220), e2 155 (150–180), f1 30 (30–35), f2 (215–245), h1 30 (30–40), h2 (355–380), ps1 15 (15–20), ps2 20 (20–25), g1 (30–40), g2 (30–40), ag1 155 (140–155), ag2 135 (130–140), ag3 (180–190), 3b 35 (35–40), 3c 90 (90–105), l’RIII 40 (35–40), l’RIV 35 (35–45).

MALE. Total body length 400–405 in 2 paratypes. Gnathosoma . Infracapitulum densely punctate. Each medial branch of peritremes with 3–4 chambers, each lateral branch with 7–8 chambers. Stylophore 145–150 long, with longitudinal striae in central part. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield poorly outlined, covered by minute punctuations, bearing bases of setae vi, ve, si and c1. Length ratio of setae vi: ve: si 1:1.2–1.3:2. Hysteronotal shield weakly sclerotized, sparsely punctate, bearing setae d1 and e2. Pygidial shield apunctate. Setae d2 variable in the length. Setae ag1 slightly longer than ag2. Coxal fields I–IV densely punctate. Setae 3c about 3 times longer than 3b. Lengths of setae: vi 25–30, ve 30–45, si 50–60, se 125–145, c1 130, c2 115–120, d 1 20–25, d2 35–80, e 2 20 –25, f2 20, h2 215–235, ag1 125, ag2 70–100, 3b 35, 3c 105, l’RIII 30, l’RIV 25.

Etymology. The specific epithet “ quetzali ” derives from the common name of the type host, which is the national bird of Guatemala.

Type material. Female holotype, 12 female and 2 male paratypes from secondary covert quill of Pharomachrus mocinno Llave ( Trogoniformes : Trogonidae ); GUATEMALA, no other data. Host specimen deposited in ZSM (Reg. no. ZSM 81/13).

Type deposition. Holotype and most part of paratypes deposited in AMU, except 2 female paratypes in ZISP, and 2 female paratypes in ZSM.

Additional material. Four females and 2 males from secondary covert quill of Pharomachrus antisianus (Orbigny) ; ECUADOR, 20 July 1961, no other data. Host specimen deposited in the ZSM (Reg. no. ZSM 64/515). All mite material is deposited in AMU, except 1 female and 1 male in ZSM.

Differential diagnosis. Syringophiloidus quetzali sp. nov. belongs to the group “ glandarii ” and is closely related to S. molothrus Skoracki, Flanery and Spicer, 2009 described from Molothrus ater (Boddaert) ( Passeriformes : Icteridae ) in the United States (Skoracki et al. 2009). In females of both species, the hysteronotal shield is not fused to the pygidial shield; the genital plate is present; the propodonotal shield is apunctate; each medial branch of the peritremes has 2–3 chambers; setae ve and si are longer than vi, and setae ps1 and ps2 are subequal in length. This new species is distinguished from S. molothrus by the following characters: in females of S. quetzali , the propodonotal shield is weakly sclerotized and striae are visible; the length ratio of setae vi: ve is 1:2.2–2.4; the pygidial shield is densely punctate; setae d2 are slightly (1.2 times) longer than e2, and fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV have 10 tines. In females of S. molothrus , the propodonotal shield is well sclerotized and striae are indiscernible; the length ratio of setae vi: ve is 1:2.8; the pygidial shield is sparsely punctate; setae d2 are 1.5 times longer than e2, and fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV have 7–8 tines.

Genus Syringophilopsis Kethley

Mites of this genus inhabit feather quills of primaries and secondaries, and up to now they have been reported from two host orders, Passeriformes and Coraciiformes (Skoracki et al. 2012).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Syringophiloidus quetzali sp. nov., female. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 2. Syringophiloidus quetzali sp. nov., male. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 3. Syringophiloidus quetzali sp. nov., female (A – C). A, peritremes; B, propodonotal setae ve and si; C, fan-like seta p’III. Male (D, E). D, peritremes; E, fan-like seta p’III.