Neodectes cissomelae, Mironov & Proctor, 2023

Mironov, Sergey V. & Proctor, Heather C., 2023, New feather mites of the genus Neodectes (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) from honeyeaters (Passeriformes: Meliphagidae) in Australia, Zootaxa 5330 (3), pp. 349-374 : 366-368

Neodectes cissomelae sp. n.

( Figs. 10 , 11 )

Type material. Male holotype, 1 male paratype from Cissomela pectoralis (Gould, 1841) ( Passeriformes : Meliphagidae ), ( WAM, A34607 ), AUSTRALIA, Western Australia, Beverley Springs Homestead, 16°43`00”S, 125°28`00”E, 1 Jan.1993, coll. M. Barrett.

Depository. Holotype ( T161002 ) and 1 male paratype ( T161003 )— WAM.

Additional material. 2 males from Melithreptus gularis laetior Gould, 1875 ( Passeriformes : Meliphagidae ), from 3 birds from the following localities in AUSTRALIA: Western Australia, St. George Range, Gap Creek , 18°40’00”S, 125°17’00”E, 15 July1975, coll. W.H. Butler, ( WAM, A13988 ); Western Australia, Kimberley, 7.5 km W of Lissadell Homestead , 16°40’58”S, 128°28’46”E, 6 May 1980, coll. P.G. Griffen, G. Harold, and G.R. Barron, ( WAM, A16588 ; A16589 ).

Description. MALE (holotype, measurement for 1 paratype in parentheses) ( Figs. 10 , 11 ). Idiosoma, length × width, 370 (355) × 150 (155), length of hysterosoma 235 (230). Prodorsal shield: entire, anterolateral extensions short and pointed, lateral margins slightly concave at level of scapular setae, posterior margin straight, posterior corners rounded, surface with several small circular lacunae in anterior part, length 125 (120), width 115 (115). Setae ve rudimentary, represented by alveoli. Bases of scapular setae se separated by 52 (50). Scapular shields narrow, barely developed dorsally. Humeral shields represented by narrow longitudinal sclerites with poorly distinct borders. Setae c2 near anterior ends of humeral shields, setae cp situated on striated tegument. Subhumeral setae c3 lanceolate, 23 (22) long, about 6 wide. Hysteronotal shield: anterior margin slightly concave, greatest length 230 (220), width at anterior margin 95 (95), surface with small circular lacunae in posterior quarter. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 20 (25). Opisthosomal lobes short and rounded, approximately half as long as wide at base, without extensions at bases of setae h2 and h3. Terminal cleft blunt-angular with rounded anterior end, 13 (12) long. Supranal concavity small ovate, 10 (8) long. Setae d1 represented by alveoli and poorly distinct. Setae f2 at level of setae ps2. Setae h1 at level of supranal concavity. Setae h3 spiculiform, 24 (23) long; setae ps2 53 (45) long. Setae ps1 short filiform, about 5 long, situated at level of setae h2. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 95 (87), d2:e2 87 (83), e2:h3 38 (45), d1:d2 25 (20), e1:e2 28 (30), h1:ps2 13 (15), h2:h2 47 (50), h3:h3 33 (30), ps2: ps2 64 (52).

Epimerites I fused into a Y, with stem about 1/3 the length of epimerites, its posterior end connected to epimerites II with a pair of transverse sclerotized bands. Coxal fields I, II without extensively sclerotized areas. Rudimentary sclerites rEpIIa absent. Coxal fields I closed; coxal fields II open; coxal fields III almost closed, with small gap between tips of epimerites III and IIIa. Coxal fields IV without sclerotized bands at bases of trochanters IV. Epimerites IVa present, not extending to setae 4a. Genital arch strongly reduced, branches of genital arch directed anterolaterally, width of arch 25 (24); aedeagus sword-shaped, 72 (70) long, extending beyond adanal suckers, but not reaching anterior end of terminal cleft; basal sclerite of genital apparatus semicircular ( Fig. 11A ). Genital papillae not connected at bases. Genital shield absent. Adanal suckers 12 (13) in diameter, corolla with 10–11 minute denticles, surrounding membrane with radial striae. Opisthoventral shields not developed. Adanal shields represented by small sclerotized areas with unclear border around bases of setae ps3. Setae 4b situated posterior to setae 3a, setae ps3 anteromesal to adanal suckers. Distance between ventral setae: 3a:4b 13 (16), 4b:4a 48 (45), 4a: g 37 (38), g:ps3 25 (28), ps3:ps3 15 (13), ps3:h3 35 (38).

Femora I, II with narrow ventral crests, other segments of legs I, II without processes ( Fig 11. B, C ). Solenidion σ of genu I half as along as this segment and situated at its midlength. Genual setae cG I, II and mG I filiform, setae mG II slightly thickened basally. Setae d of tarsi II, III approximately half as long as corresponding setae f. Solenidion φ of tibia IV extending to midlength of ambulacral disc. Tarsus IV 24 (23) long, without apical process; setae d, e button-like, seta d situated in proximal half of this segment ( Fig. 11E ). Length of solenidia: ω1 I 16 (15), ω1 II 5 (6), σ I 10 (10), σ III 4 (3), φ IV 30 (33).

FEMALE. Unknown.

Differential diagnosis. Males of Neodectes cissomelae sp. n. are most similar to those of N walteri sp. n. in having the aedeagus not extending into the terminal cleft, dorsal shields with poorly developed ornamentation (rather than numerous small circular lacunae covering entire surface of shields), setae h3 spiculiform, and epimerites I connected to epimerites II with transverse bands. Males of N. cissomelae sp. n. differ from those of N walteri sp. n. in the following features: the anterolateral extensions of the prodorsal shield are short, the supranal concavity is shaped as a small oval 8–10 long, epimerites I are fused into a Y, the aedeagus is 70–72 long, and setae h3 (23–24 long) are shorter than the distance between their bases. In males of N. walteri sp. n., the anterolateral extensions of the prodorsal shield are long with subapical ledge, the supranal concavity is large circular (16–18 in diameter), epimerites I are fused into a V, the aedeagus is 95–105 long, and setae h3 (43–48 long) are 1.5–1.8 times longer than the distance between their bases.

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

Figures

FIGURE 10. Neodectes cissomelae sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 11. Neodectes cissomelae sp. n., details of male.A—opisthosoma, ventral view, B, C—legs I, II of male, D, E—tibiae and tarsi III, IV of male.