Aulobia leucostictus, Skoracki, 2011

Skoracki, Maciej, 2011, Quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) of the Palaearctic region 2840, Zootaxa 2840 (1), pp. 1-414 : 110-111

Aulobia leucostictus sp. nov.

( Figs. 78 and 79 )

Type host: Leucosticte arctoa (Pallas) ( Passeriformes : Fringillidae ). Type locality: Europe. Description. FEMALE (holotype). Total body length 700 (700–745 in 4 paratypes). Gnathosoma . Infracapitulum sparsely punctate. Each medial branch of peritremes with 3–4 chambers, each lateral branch with 11–13 chambers. Stylophore 215 (200–215) long. Movable cheliceral digit 160 (155–160) long. Podomers of palps apunctate. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield weakly sclerotized, sparsely punctate near bases of setae ve and si. Length ratio of setae vi: ve: si 1:1.3–1.6:1.6–2. Hysteronotal shield small and weakly sclerotized, striae visible, not fused to pygidial shield, apunctate. Pygidial shield well sclerotized, apunctate. Length ratios of setae ag3: f2 1:1.5–2; ag1: ag2 1.2– 1.4:1; setae ag2 not significantly (1.1 times) longer than g1. Pseudanal setae ps1 and ps2 subequal in length. Genital plate bearing only genital setae g1 and g2. Coxal fields I–IV punctate. Setae 3c 2.5 times longer than 3b. Legs. Fan-like setae p’ and p” with 9–11 tines. Setae tc”III–IV not significantly (1.1 times) longer than tc’III–IV. Podomers of legs I sparsely punctate or apunctate. Lengths of setae: vi 45–55, ve 60–70, si 75–95, se 280–305, c1 280– 315, c2 280–310, d1 210–270, d2 220–240, e2 285–205, f1 65–85, f2 200–285, h1 60–80, h2 355–395, ps1 and ps2 25–35, g1 and g2 65–75, ag1 100–115, ag2 80–95, ag3 125–135, 3b 25, 3c 70, tc’III–IV 45–50, tc”III–IV 55–65.

MALE. Unknown.

Type material. Leucosticte arctoa (Pallas) ( Passeriformes : Fringilidae ): female holotype and paratypes: 12 females, 1 male and 3 nymphs ( AMU –SYR.204) (sec.); EUROPE, 1903, no other data .

Type deposition. Holotype and most of paratypes deposited in the AMU, 2 female paratypes in the ZISP and 1 female paratype in the ZSM. Host specimen deposited in the MNHW.

Host range and habitat. Monoxenous species inhabiting quills of secondaries of Leucosticte arctoa .

Distribution. Europe.

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

Differential diagnosis. This new species is morphologically similar to A. stachyris . In females of both species setae ve and si are distinctly longer than vi and each lateral branch of the peritremes has no more than 15 chambers. A. leucostictus differs from A. stachyris by the following characters: in females of A. leucostictus , the total body length is 655–745; the lengths of aggenital setae are shorter than 140 where the lengths of setae ag1, ag2 and ag3 are 100–125, 80–95 and 125–135 respectively; the lengths of genital setae g1 and g2 are 60–70. In females of A. stachyris , the total body length is 770–895; the aggenital setae are longer than 165, the lengths of ag1, ag2 and ag3 are 170–200, 170–175 and 200–245 respectively; the lengths of genital setae g1 and g2 are 35–45.

Figures

FIGURE 78. Aulobia leucostictus sp. nov., female. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 79. Aulobia leucostictus sp. nov., female. A, hypostomal apex in dorsal view; B, peritreme; C, ventral view of opisthosoma; D, fan-like seta p’ of leg III; E, pseudanal setae. Scale bars: C, E = 50 µm; A, B, D = 20 µm.