Afrotrombicula (Afrotrombicula) rickenbachi (Taufflieb, 1965) Stekolnikov, 2023

Stekolnikov, Alexandr A., 2023, A revision of the chigger genus Afrotrombicula (Acariformes: Trombiculidae), Zootaxa 5323 (1), pp. 27-55 : 39-41

Afrotrombicula (Afrotrombicula) rickenbachi (Taufflieb, 1965) , comb. nov.

( Figs. 9 , 10 )

Neotrombicula rickenbachi Taufflieb, 1965b: 523 , figs. a–f; Stekolnikov 2018: 181 .

Neotrombicula (Neotrombicula) rickenbachi: Taufflieb 1965a: 22 ; Vercammen-Grandjean 1965: 71; Taufflieb et al. 1967: 119. Neotrombicula (Neotrombicula) cercopitheci cercopitheci Vercammen-Grandjean, 1965: 70 (nomen nudum), syn. nov. Neotrombicula (Neotrombicula) chicapa Vercammen-Grandjean, 1965: 70 (nomen nudum), syn. nov.

Afrotrombicula chicapa: Stekolnikov 2019: 32 (nomen nudum).

Neotrombicula (Neotrombicula) kinduensis Vercammen-Grandjean, 1965: 71 (nomen nudum), syn. nov.

Diagnosis. SIF = 7BS-B-3-3111.1000; fPp = B/B/NNB; PL> AM> AL; fD = 2H-6-6-4-4-(4–7)-(0–3), anterior rows also can be counted as 6-6-2-6; DS = 26–30; V = 37–45; NDV = 67–75; palpal femur with sparse puncta; scutum nearly pentagonal, with dense small puncta; posterior scutal margin prominent, arquate, sometimes slightly concave in center; f 1 distal to S 1; f 2 behind S 2; Ip = 800–917. Standard measurements are in Table 3 .

Type deposition. Holotype (58D 10) and 15 paratypes (58D 1–9, 11–16) in MNHN; five paratypes in RMCA (128386, 128387); 24 paratypes were deposited in the personal collection of Taufflieb.

Distribution and hosts. This species was described from the Central African Republic (Bangui) ex Rattus rattus , Arvicanthis sp. ( Rodentia : Muridae ), and Crocidura olivieri occidentalis (Pucheran) (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae ). In the same year Taufflieb (1965a) reported it from Angola (Dundo) ex Heliosciurus sp. ( Rodentia : Sciuridae ), Mastomys natalensis Smith , and Praomys jacksoni (de Winton) ( Rodentia : Muridae ), and from Angola (Nhefo River) ex Funisciurus bayonii (Bocage) ( Rodentia : Sciuridae ). In the same paper, Taufflieb noted that he had many specimens belonging to this species that originated from Cameroon and Congo (Congo-Brazzaville).

Herein, this species is for the first time recorded in DR Congo ex Cercopithecus ascanius schmidti Matschie ( Primates : Cercopithecidae ), Lemniscomys striatus , Oenomys hypoxanthus (Pucheran) , Rattus rattus (syn. Rattus rattus frugivorous ) ( Rodentia : Muridae ), Lissotis melanogaster (Rüppell) ( Aves: Otidiformes ), and Gypohierax angolensis (Gmelin) ( Aves: Accipitriformes ).

Note. *—after Taufflieb (1965b); **—after Kolebinova & Vercammen-Grandjean (1981).

Type material examined. Holotype ( MNHN 58 D 10) ex Rattus , Bangui, R.C.A.; one paratype ( MNHN 58 D 16) with same data; two paratypes ( MRAC 128386 ) ex Rattus rattus, Rep. Centr. Afr. , Bangui, R. Taufflieb.

Additional material examined. One larva ( MHNG) labeled “ Trombicula (Neotrombicula) cercopitheci cercopitheci ”, L:26454/8 (larva collected 26 April 1954), Pt 7 (Paratype No. 7) ex Cercopithecus ascanius schmidti , oreilles (ears), Bunyakiri (C-B) ( DR Congo, South Kivu Prov.), P.G. Vercammen (P.H. Vercammen-Grandjean) ; one larva ( MHNG) labeled “ Trombicula chicapa ”, L: 25754/D/6 (larva collected 25 July 1954), PT 5 (Paratype No. 5) ex Lemniscomys striatus , oreilles (ears), Alto Chicapa ( Angola), coll. Barros Machado, det. P.G. Vercammen (P.H. Vercammen-Grandjean); one larva ( MHNG) labeled “ Trombicula (Neotrombicula) kinduensis ”, L: 29754/20 (larva collected 29 July 1954) ex Rattus rattus frugivorous , oreilles (ears), Coq’ville (C-B) (DR Congo, Mbandaka), coll. C. Lucasse, det. P.G. Vercammen (P.H. Vercammen-Grandjean); two larvae ( MRAC 87939 , 87965 ) labeled “ Trombicula (Neotrombicula) kinduensis ”, L: 28754/99 and L: 29754/47 (larvae collected 28 and 29 July 1954, respectively), other collection data as for the previous sample .

The collection of MRAC includes, in total, more than 300 specimens identified by Vercammen-Grandjean as T. (N.) kinduensis (nomen nudum) and collected in Kindu ( DR Congo) ex L. striatus , O. hypoxanthus , and R. rattus , and in Coq’ville ( DR Congo, Mbandaka) ex R. rattus . Four specimens (Nos. 87716–87719) were collected ex Lissotis melanogaster in Luvungi ( DR Congo) and two specimens (Nos. 87714, 87715) ex Gypohierax angolensis in Kamaniola ( DR Congo).

Seven specimens of T. (N.) cercopitheci cercopitheci (nomen nudum) (Nos. 88064–88070), including two nymphs reared from larvae, and one T. chicapa (nomen nudum) (No. 113934) with the same collection data as given above are also deposited in MRAC.

Remarks. Detailed examination of the specimens supplied with the provisional names T. (N.) cercopitheci cercopitheci (nomen nudum), T. chicapa (nomen nudum), and T. (N.) kinduensis (nomen nudum) by Vercammen-Grandjean showed that they have no differences from Afrotrombicula rickenbachi ; therefore, I regard them as synonyms of the latter.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Afrotrombicula rickenbachi (Taufflieb, 1965), comb. nov., holotype. A, dorsal aspect of idiosoma; B, ventral aspect of idiosoma; C, dorsal idiosomal seta; D, preanal seta. Abbreviations as in Fig. 5. Scale bars: 100 µm (A, B), 20 µm (C, D).

FIGURE 10. Afrotrombicula rickenbachi (Taufflieb, 1965), comb. nov., holotype. A, scutum and eyes; B, dorsal aspect of gnathosoma; C, ventral aspect of gnathosoma; D, leg I, trochanter–tarsus; E, leg II, trochanter–tarsus; F, leg III, trochanter– tarsus. Abbreviations as in Fig. 6. Scale bars: 50 µm (A, D–F), 20 µm (B, C).