Proctolaelaps threnetes Dusbabek & Literak

Dusbabek, Frantisek, Literak, Ivan, Capek, Miroslav & Havlicek, Martin, 2007, Ascid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata: Ascidae) from Costa Rican hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae), with description of three new species and a key to the Proctolaelaps belemensis species group, Zootaxa 1484, pp. 51-67 : 53-56

Proctolaelaps threnetes Dusbabek & Literak , sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–9 )

Type material: Female holotype, male paratype and five female paratypes ex Threnetes ruckeri (Bourcier, 1847), Costa Rica, Barbilla NP, 570 m elevation, September 2004, coll. I. Literak. Female holotype, male paratype on one slide deposited at the type collection of the Biology Centre of the AS CR, Institute of Parasitology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, under the accession number CSAV 2005. Paratypes are deposited in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History), London, UK, in the Museum of Biological Diversity, the Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212, USA, and in the Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, P.O.Box 22-3100, Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica.

Material examined. Two males and 25 females ex 6 specimens of the same host, locality and data as the holotype; 2 males and 26 females ex 7 specimens of Eutoxeres aquila (Bourcier, 1847) , 3 females ex Phaethornis superciliosus (L., 1766) and 2 females ex one specimen of Chalybura urochrysia (Gould, 1861) of the same data and locality; 2 females ex Threnetes ruckeri, Hitoy Cerere BR, August 2004; 3 females ex 3 specimens of Phaethornis superciliosus and 3 females ex 2 specimens of Phaethornis longuemareus (Lesson, 1832) of the same data and locality; all coll. I. Literak.

Diagnosis. Species of the P. belemensis group with setae j1 and r3 with lateral bulbous swelling. Relatively large species, with female body length frequently exceeding 600 μm. Dorsal plate with 43 pairs of setae, setae r2–r6 on the plate. Setae j5 short (15–22) setae z5 long (32–39), setae S5 long (42-54). Spermatodactyl of male very long (250–332), strong ventral spine on femur IV absent.

Female (Holotype). Dorsum: Unfed specimen with body length 564 (614–620 in five paratypes), width 385 (401–420). Dorsal plate 552 (539–570) long, 376 (351–401) wide, finely structured, with row of small denticles on its anterior margin. There are 43 pairs of setae on the plate, series j, z and s each with 6 pairs of seta, series r with 5 pairs. Series J, Z and S each with 5 pairs of setae. Setae j1 and r3 with lateral bulbous swelling, setae Z5 setiform. Setae j1 measuring 44 (40–44), j5 17 (15–22), z5 32 (32–39), r2 32 (30–36), r3 42 (40–47), J5 12 (12–15), S5 51 (42-51), Z5 93 (88–95). Peritreme reaching setae z1, peritremal plate narrow.

Ve n te r: Sternal plate 137 (135–164) long (presternum included), 137 (133–147) wide, finely structured, with 3 pairs of sternal setae and 2 pairs of lyriform pores. Setae St1 length 38 (37–42), St2 and St3 44 (41–44), Mst 44 (42–49). Distance St1–St2 56 (54–61), St2–St3 37 (34–39). Genital plate broad and rounded at the end, slightly enlarged posterior to coxa IV, finely structured. Genital setae 39 (37–44) long. Anal plate egg-shaped, anal setae situated at posterior margin of anal pore, 113 (103–115) long, 78 (74–87) wide. Adanal setae 22 (22–27), post-anal seta 74 (69–95) long. Unsclerotised integument with 15 pairs of setae, some of them with lateral bulbous swelling. Setae Jvl 37 (39–44) long, Jv2 49 (41–54), Jv5 87 (74–88). Endopodal platelets present, metapodal platelets small and narrow (32x8), situated posterior to coxa IV.

Gnathosoma: Deutosternum with 7 rows of denticles, 5th and 6th rows widened and curved. Corniculi pointed and curved inward. Epistome rounded and strongly toothed. Fixed chela with three fine subapical teeth, movable chela with three lateral teeth and membranous lobe. Inner seta on palpfemur and palpgenu flattened at the tip.

Legs: Tibia III with 8–9 setae, tibia IV with 10 setae.

Male. Dorsum: Body oval, 483 long (478–489 in five paratypes), 326 (282–314) wide. Dorsal plate 458 (464–480) long, 307 (280–310) wide, with fine scale-like structure as shown on figures, covered with 43 pairs of setae. All setal series complete, except r series lacking setae r1. Setae r2–r6 and R1–R5 situated on the plate. Setae j1 and r3 strong, with lateral bulbous swelling. Setae j1 spine-like, 37 (32–37) long, setae j5 short, measuring 27 (17–23) only, setae z5 longer, measuring 32 (30–34). Setae J5 minute, 12 (11–12) long, setae Z5 stout, spine-like, 78 (74–83) long. Setae r2 fine, 27 (24–27) long, setae r3 40 (34–39) long. Anterior margin of dorsal plate finely denticulate. Peritreme reaching setae z1. Peritremal shield narrow.

Ve nt e r: Genitoventral plate triangular, 233 (228–236) long (including genital pore), 130 (120–127) wide, finely structured, with 5 pairs of setae 38–42 (30–44) long. Two pairs of lyriform pores close to Gv1 and Gv2, and a pair of small circular pores between Gv3 and Gv4. Ventri-anal plate broadly triangular, finely structured, with 6 pairs of setae anterior to anal pore, a pair of adanal setae and unpaired post-anal seta. The length of these setae is as follows: Jv1 39 (32–38), Jv2 49 (42–47), Jv5 65 (60–74), Zv1 30 (25–32).

Gnathosoma: Deutosternum with 7 rows of denticles, 5th and 6th rows widened and bent. Spermatodactyl extremely long, measuring 275 (250–332).

Legs: Legs II slightly thickened. Strong ventral spine on femur IV absent. All setae on legs setiform and smooth. Tibia III with 9 setae, tibia IV with 10 setae.

Notes. This new species belongs to the P. belemensis species group. The new species differs from other species of this group, i.e. P. belemensis Fain et al., 1977 , P. contumex OConnor et al., 1991, P. certator OConnor et al., 1991 and P. contentiosus OConnor et al., 1991 mainly in the short j5 and long z5 setae, strong r3 and S5 setae and the lateral bulbous swelling on j1, r3 and some ventral setae. The male of the new species is characterized by an extremely long spermatodactyl and the absence of ventral spine on femur IV.

Etymology. The name of the new species is derived from the generic name of its type host, Threnetes ruckeri.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Proctolaelaps threnetes Dusbabek & Literak, sp. nov. Fig. 1. Female dorsum. Fig. 2. Female venter. Fig. 3. Male dorsum. Fig. 4. Male venter.

FIGURES 5 – 9. Proctolaelaps threnetes Dusbabek & Literak, sp. nov. Fig. 5. Chelicera and spermatodactyl of male. Fig. 6. Leg II of male, ventrally. Fig. 7. Leg IV of male, ventrally. Fig. 8. Epistome of female. Fig. 9. Chelicera of female.