Meitingsunes columbicus, Skoracki, 2011

Skoracki, Maciej, 2011, Quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) of the Palaearctic region 2840, Zootaxa 2840 (1), pp. 1-414 : 302-305

Meitingsunes columbicus sp. nov.

( Figs. 222–224 )

Type host: Columba oenas Linnaeus ( Columbiformes : Columbidae ). Type locality: Kazakhstan. Description. FEMALE (holotype). Total body length 720 (770–800 in 2 paratypes). Gnathosoma . Hypostomal apex smooth, 2 pairs of unequal hypostomal lips present. Infracapitulum apunctate. Lengths of stylophore and movable cheliceral digit 230 (215–230) and 200 (180–200) respectively. Each medial branch of peritremes with 3 chambers, each lateral branch with 4 – 5 chambers. Podomers of palps apunctate. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield rectangular in shape, punctate at lateral margins, bearing bases of setae ve, si, se and c1. Length ratio of setae ve: si: c1 1:1.6 – 1.8:2.5 – 2.7. Setae se situated slightly posterior to level of setae c1. Hysteronotal shield well sclerotized, fused to pygidial shield, enlarged at posterior end, apunctate, bases of setae d1 set on anterior margin of this shield. Setae d2 slightly (1.2 times) longer than d1. Setae f2 5.5 – 6.8 times longer than setae f1 and h1. Setae h2 about twice as long as f2. Genital plate absent. Length ratio of ag1: ag2: ag3 1.9–2.2:1:3.6. Genital setae subequal in length, both twice as long as pseudanal setae. Coxal fields I – IV well sclerotized, apunctate. Bases of setae 3a situated on coxal fields III. Setae 3c 1.4–1.5 times longer than 3b. Legs. Seate l’RII–IV subequal in length. Fan - like setae p’ and p” with 18 – 20 short tines. Setae tc” of legs III and IV 1.5 – 1.7 times longer than tc’III–IV. Podomers of legs apunctate. Lengths of setae: ve 105 (110), si (180 – 185), se 255 (260), c1 260 (265 – 280), c2 255 (260), d1 230 (225 – 230), d2 260 (270 – 280), e2 250 (220 – 250), f1 35 (30 – 40), f2 275 (220 – 250), h1 35 (30 – 40), h2 500 (405 – 480), ag1 170 (175 – 180), ag2 100 (80 – 95), ag3 (285), g1 and g2 40 (40), ps1 and ps2 20 (20), tc’III–IV 30 (30 – 45), tc”III–IV 70 (60 – 70), l’RII 50 (50 – 60), l’RIII 55 (55 – 65), l’RIV 50 (50 – 65), 3b 105 (100), 3c 150 (140 – 160).

MALE. Total body length 515 – 555 in 3 paratypes. Gnathosoma . Infracapitulum apunctate. Lengths of stylophore and movable cheliceral digit 180 – 195 and 175 respectively. Each medial branch of peritremes with 3 – 4 chambers, each lateral branch with 4 chambers. Podomers of palps apunctate. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield weakly developed, deeply concave on anterior margin, punctate near bases of setae si, bearing bases of setae ve, si, c1. Length ratio of setae ve: si: c1 1:1:2. Hysteronotal shield weakly sclerotized, apunctate. Setae d2 4.5 – 5.3 times longer than d1 and e2. Setae f2 and h2 subequal in length. Aggenital setae ag1 and ag2 subequal in length. Genital setae g1 situated anterior to level of setae g2, both subequal in length. Coxal fields I – IV well sclerotized, apunctate. Bases of setae 3a situated on coxal fields III. Setae 3c slightly (1.2 – 1.3 times) longer than 3b. Legs. Setae l’RIII–IV subequal in length. Fan - like setae p’ and p” with 16 – 18 short tines. Setae tc” of legs III and IV 1.6 – 1.8 times longer than tc’III–IV. Podomers of legs apunctate. Lengths of setae: ve 90–95, si 90–125, se 180, c1 180, c2 180 – 200, d1 25 – 30, d2 165 – 195, e2 30 –40, f2 40 – 45, h2 40–45, ag1 135 – 145, ag2 145, g1 and g2 10, tc’III–IV 35 – 40, tc”III–IV 55 – 70, l’RIII 65 – 75, l’RIV 65 – 75, 3b 90 – 105, 3c 130.

Type material. Columba oenas Linnaeus ( Columbiformes : Columbidae ): female holotype, 2 female and 3 male paratypes ( AVB 07 – 0110 – 010); KAZAKHSTAN, Ongtustik Qazaqstan , Chockpak Ornithological Station, elevation 1134 m. (42°30'45.2"N, 70°35'46.2"E), 1 October 2007, coll. A.V. Bochkov.

Type material deposition. All material deposited in the ZISP, except 1 female and 1 male paratypes in the AMU .

Non-type material. Columba livia Gmelin (Columbidae) : 3 females, 7 nymphs and 6 larvae ( AMU –SYR.284) (sec.); POLAND, Wielkopolska, Poznan, 20 May 2000, coll. M. Skoracki. Material deposited in the AMU. Columba palumbus Linnaeus (Columbidae) : 2 females and 3 nymphs ( AVB 05–0714–011); RUSSIA, Novogrod, Chudovo Dist., Oskuy village (59°17'00"N, 32°05'00"E), 19 August 1999, coll. A.V. Bochkov. Material deposited in the AMU and ZISP.

Etymology. The name columbicus refers to the generic name of the hosts.

Differential diagnosis. This new species is morphologically similar to P. tympanistria . In females of both species the body is longer than 700; the length ratio of setae f 1: h1 is 1:1 and hysteronotal shield is represented by unpaired shield. The new species is distinguished by the following characters: in females of P. columbicus , the hysteronotal shield is fused to the pygidial shield and represented by long and narrow sclerit. In females of P. tympanistria , the hysteronotal shield is not fused to the pygidial shield and represented by small sclerit situated between bases of setae d1.

Host range and habitat. Oligoxenous species inhabiting quills of secondaries of three bird species of the genus Columba : C. livia , C. oenas and C. palumbus .

Distribution. Poland, Russia and Kazakhstan.

Key to Meitingsunes species

(Females)

1. Body length 530–570. Length ratio of setae f1:h1 2:1........................ M. aldwelles Glowska and Skoracki, 2010

– Body length equal or more than 600. Length ratio of setae f1:h1 1:1............................................ 2

2. Body length 600–700. Hysteronotal shield represented by 3 sclerites...................... M. zenadourae ( Clark, 1964)

– Body longer than 700. Hysteronotal shield represented by unpaired shield....................................... 3

3. Hysteronotal shield not fused to pygidial shield and represented by small sclerit between bases of setae d1 ................................................................................. M. tympanistria ( Skoracki and Dabert, 2002)

– Hysteronotal shield fused to pygidial shield and represented by long, narrow shield............... M. columbicus sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 222. Meitingsunes columbicus sp. nov., female. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 223. Meitingsunes columbicus sp. nov., male. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 224. Meitingsunes columbicus sp. nov., female (A–F). A, gnathosoma in ventral view; B, peritremes; C, fanlike setae p’ of leg III; D, solenidia of leg I; E, tarsus II in ventral view; F, tarsus I in dorsal view. Male (G–J). G, hypostomal apex; H, peritreme; I, genito-anal region; J, fan-like setae p’ of leg III.