Aulonastus anthus, Skoracki, 2011

Skoracki, Maciej, 2011, Quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) of the Palaearctic region 2840, Zootaxa 2840 (1), pp. 1-414 : 150

Aulonastus anthus sp. nov.

( Figs. 111 and 112 )

Type host: Anthus trivialis ( Passeriformes : Motacillidae ). Type locality: Poland.

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Total body length 430. Gnathosoma . Infracapitulum and stylophore apunctate. Each medial branch of peritremes with 2 chambers, each lateral branch with 4 chambers. Length of stylophore and movable cheliceral digit 125 (120 in 1 paratype) and 85 respectively. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield rectangular in shape with indiscernible anterior margin, sparsely punctate, bearing bases of setae ve, si, se and c1. Setae ve and si subequal in length, setae c1 1.4 times longer than se. Setae se and c1 located at same transverse level. The length ratio of setae d2: c1 1:1.6. Hysteronotal shield fused to pygidial shield, weakly sclerotized, striae visible in anterior part, apunctate, bases of setae e2 set near this shield. Setae f2 twice as long as f1. Aggenital setae ag1 and ag2 subequal in length. Genital plate absent. Both pairs of genital setae subequal in length. Coxal fields I–IV sparsely punctate. Setae 3c about 2.5 times longer than 3b. Legs. Setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 6–7 tines. Setae tc” of tarsi III–IV twice as long as tc’III–IV. Lengths of setae: ve 20 (20); si 20 (20); se 100 (90); c1 140 (125); c2 100 (100); d1 20 (15); d2 85 (75); e2 20 (15); f1 20; f2 40; h1 20; ps1 20; g1 and g2 20; ag1 55; ag2 55; tc’III–IV 25 (25); tc”III–IV 50 (50); 3b 20 (15); 3c 50 (40).

MALE. Unknown.

Type material. Anthus trivialis (Linnaeus) ( Passeriformes : Motacillidae ): female holotype, and 1 female paratype ( AMU –SYR.248) (cov.); POLAND, Wielkopolska, Katy , April 2006, coll. M. Skoracki.

Type deposition. All type material deposited in the AMU .

Non-type material. Anthus cervinus (Pallas) (Motacillidae) : 1 female ( AMU –SYR.282) (bod.); SLOVAKIA, Stropkov okr., Lomne, 24 April 1979, coll. T. Weisz. Material deposited in the AMU .

Host range and habitat. Oligoxenous species inhabiting quills of covert feathers of Anthus trivialis and quills of body feathers of A. cervinus .

Distribution. Slovakia and Poland.

Etymology. The name anthus refers to the generic name of the host.

Differential diagnosis. This new species is morphologically similar to A. prunellae . In females of both species, aggenital setae ag1 and ag2 are subequal in the length and setae c1 are longer than se. This new species differs from A. prunellae by the following characters: in females of A. anthus , the propodonotal shield is punctate on whole surface; the lengths of setae f2 and ag1 are 40 and 55 respectively; the length ratios of setae c1: se, tc’III– IV: tc”III–IV and f2: f1 are 1.4:1, 1:2 and 2:1 respectively. In females of A. prunellae , the propodonotal shield is without punctations; the lengths of setae f2 and ag1 are 60–70 and 70–80 respectively; the length ratios of setae c1: se, tc’III–IV: tc”III–IV and f2: f1 are 1.2:1, 1:1.6–1.7 and 3:1 respectively.

Figures

FIGURE 111. Aulonastus anthus sp. nov., female. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 112. Aulonastus anthus sp. nov., female. A, hypostomal apex; B, peritremes; C, ventral view of opisthosoma; D, fan-like setae p’ of leg III. Scale bars: C = 50 µm; A, B, D = 20 µm.