Afrotrombicula (Afrotrombicula) zairiensis ( Taufflieb, 1966 ) Stekolnikov, 2023

Stekolnikov, Alexandr A., 2023, A revision of the chigger genus Afrotrombicula (Acariformes: Trombiculidae), Zootaxa 5323 (1), pp. 27-55 : 42-43

Afrotrombicula (Afrotrombicula) zairiensis ( Taufflieb, 1966) , comb. nov.

( Figs. 11 , 12 )

Neotrombicula (Neotrombicula) zairiensis Taufflieb, 1966: 296 , fig. 1; Taufflieb et al. 1967: 119.

Neotrombicula zairiensis: Stekolnikov 2018: 183 .

Diagnosis. SIF = 7BS-B-3-3111.1000; fPp = B/B/NNB; PL> AL> AM (PL> AM> AL); fD = 2H-6-6-4-4-4-2(3), anterior rows also can be counted as 6-6-2-6; DS = 28–30; V = 38–46; NDV = 68–75; palpal femur and genu with puncta; scutum nearly hexagonal, with dense small puncta; posterior scutal margin prominent, straight in center and obliquely cut at edges; f 1 at level of S 1; f 2 behind S 2; Ip = 946–968. Standard measurements are in Table 4 .

Type deposition. Holotype (58H 13) and three paratypes (58G 1, 2; 58H 15) in MNHN; two paratypes in

RMCA (128388); two paratypes were deposited in the personal collection of Taufflieb .

Distribution and hosts. This species was described from Congo (Ile M’Bamou) ex Praomys tullbergi (Thomas) ( Rodentia : Muridae ). In addition, Taufflieb (1966) reported it from another locality of Congo (Pointe-Noire) ex Crocidura sp. (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae ); from Cameroon (Mbalmayo) ex Lophaetus occipitalis (Daudin) ( Aves: Accipitriformes ); from Angola (Dundo) ex Praomys morio (Trouessart) ; from the Central African Republic (Bangui) ex Rattus rattus ; and from the Central African Republic (Boukoko) ex Praomys sp. and Lophuromys sikapusi .

Type material examined. Holotype ( MNHN 58 H 13) ex Praomys tullbergi, Ile N’Bamou (Ile M’Bamou); one paratype ( MNHN 58 H 15) with same data.

Note. *—after Taufflieb (1966); **—after Goff (1995); #—after Kolebinova & Vercammen-Grandjean (1981).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Afrotrombicula zairiensis (Taufflieb, 1966), comb. nov., holotype (A, B) and paratype (C–E). A, dorsal aspect of idiosoma; B, ventral aspect of idiosoma; C, dorsal idiosomal seta; D, humeral seta; E, preanal seta. Abbreviations as in Fig. 5. Scale bars: 100 µm (A, B), 20 µm (C–E).

FIGURE 12. Afrotrombicula zairiensis (Taufflieb, 1966), comb. nov., holotype (D–H) and paratype (A–C). A, scutum (eyes not shown, one AL broken, sensilla lost); B, dorsal aspect of gnathosoma; C, ventral aspect of gnathosoma; D, leg I, genu–tarsus; E, leg I, trochanter–telofemur; F, leg II, trochanter–tarsus; G, leg III, trochanter–telofemur; H, leg III, genu–tarsus. Abbreviations as in Fig. 6. Scale bars: 50 µm (A, D–H), 20 µm (B, C).