Amerodectes Valim and Hernandes, 2010

Mironov, Sergey & González-Acuña, Daniel, 2011, New feather mites of the subfamily Pterodectinae (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) from Chile and Cuba, Zootaxa 3057, pp. 1-48 : 4-5

Genus Amerodectes Valim and Hernandes, 2010

Type species: Proctophyllodes (Pterodectes) gracilis Trouessart, 1885 by original designation.

Diagnosis. BOTH SEXES. Vertical setae ve present, rudimentary. Full set of hysterosomal setae present, or setae f2 absent ( A. caribaeus ). Prodorsal shield covering most of prodorsum, with well developed posterior angles. Scapular shields narrow. Humeral shields variable among species: narrow longitudinal dorsal sclerites, rudimentary plates situated ventrally near setae cp, or completely absent. Setae c2 situated laterally or dorso-laterally on striated tegument. Setae wa anterior to setae la and ra on tarsi I, II. Seta gT of tibia I in distal half of segment. Setae cG and mG on genua I, II setiform, or setae cG I, II blade-like ( A. bilineatus , A. storkani ). Solenidion σ 1 of genu I distinctly shorter than solenidion ω 3 of corresponding tarsus. Femora I, II usually bear ventral crests, other segments of these legs without processes and other modifications. Seta sR of trochanters III present; solenidion σ 1 of genu III present. Supranal concavity usually well expressed.

MALE. Epimerites I fused into a narrow U, or V or Y with short sternum, fused part can bear short lateral extensions or connected with epimerites II by narrow transverse bands. Coxal fields II–IV open; lateral parts of coxal fields II and IV without extensive sclerotized areas. Opisthosomal lobes moderately elongated, approximately as long as wide, with roughly rounded posterior margin or even with short tooth-like extensions. Terminal cleft as a wide inverted U. Setae h3 long, variable in form, whip-like, narrowly lanceolate, or spiculiform, situated on lobar apices. Setae h1 situated anterior to bases of opisthosomal lobes. Setae ps1 filiform, minute. Genital arch with well developed branches, its base approximately at midlevel of trochanters IV; aedeagus sword-like, much (3 or more times) longer than genital arch, in most species aedeagus running backward from very arch apex of genital arch (in A. gracilis running forwards and then bending backwards at level of trochanters III). Genital papillae anterior to branches of genital arch. Pregenital apodeme, paragenital apodemes, genital shield and other sclerotized structures around genital apparatus absent. Setae 4a situated on soft tegument of coxal fields IV. Opisthoventral shields present, variable in shape. Corolla of anal suckers without indentations; suckers surrounded by membrane with radial striation. Adanal shields absent (present in A. thraupicola ). Setae ps3 lateral or postero-lateral to anal suckers, situated on inner margins of opisthoventral shields. Setae g and ps 3 in high trapezoid arrangement. Legs I slightly thicker and longer than legs II. Legs III and IV subequal in size. Solenidia φ of legs IV longer than on legs III. Tarsus IV without distinct apical claw-like process, setae d and e button-like.

FEMALE. Epimerites I shaped as in males. Lobar region of opisthosoma clearly separated from remaining part of opisthosoma; opisthosomal lobes well developed, with long terminal appendages. Hysteronotal shield split dorsally into anterior and lobar shields, these parts remain connected ventro-laterally. Macrosetae h2 spindle-like, usually without filiform apices (with filiform apices in A. turdinus ). Epigynum horseshoe-shaped, large. Apodemes of oviporus connected with epimerites IIIa or free from them. Translobar apodemes present. Setae ps2, ps3 filiform, arranged in trapezium, setae ps2 at level of anal opening or posterior to it. Legs I slightly thicker and longer than legs II. Legs III, IV subequal in size; genu IV dorsally inflated. Solenidia φ of tibiae III much longer than on tibiae IV.

Remarks. Within the Pterodectes generic complex ( Mironov 2009), Amerodectes is the most species-rich genus and to date has included 16 species ( Valim & Hernandes 2010). This genus was established over the course of taxonomic revisions of the genus Pterodectes Robin, 1877 (sensu Park & Atyeo 1971a) that resulted in its splitting into five separate genera ( Mironov et al. 2008b; Valim & Hernandes 2008, 2009, 2010). In contrast to the two closest genera of this complex, Metapterodectes and Tyrannidectes (see below), Amerodectes species retain the full set of leg setae observed in the family Proctophyllodidae . Representatives of the genus Amerodectes are known only from passerine hosts of the New World. Most previously known species (14) were found on oscines of the superfamily Passeroidea, and two species were described from suboscines from the families Furnariidae and Tyrannidae .

In the present paper we describe six new species and for the first time propose a key to Amerodectes species. This genus is taxonomically the most complicated within the Pterodectes complex, and the identification of species usually needs individuals of both sexes. Modern redescriptions and adequate figures of all previously known Amerodectes species are given in the following papers: OConnor et al. (2005), Mironov et al. (2008b), and Valim & Hernandes (2006, 2008, 2010). It is only necessary to take in attention that before the work of Valim and Hernandes (2010), previously known species were considered in the context of the genus Pterodectes .