Protolichus gratus Favette et Trouessart, 1904

Mironov, Sergey V. & Dabert, Jacek, 2010, Systematic revision of the feather mite genus Protolichus Trouessart, 1884 (Astigmata, Pterolichidae), Zootaxa 2526, pp. 1-36 : 32-33

Protolichus gratus Favette et Trouessart, 1904

( Figs 19 , 20 , 21 B)

Protolichus (s. str.) brachiatus gratus Favette and Trouessart 1904: 136, Pl. V, fig. 3; Dubinin 1956: 294, fig. 140D. Protolichus gratus: Gaud and Atyeo 1996: 132 .

Material examined. Heteromorph male lectotype ( TRT 34A1) and female paralectotype ( TRT 34A2) ex Trichoglossus forsteni Bonaparte, 1850 , Timor, other data unknown; lectotype designated here.

Description. Heteromorph male (lectotype). Idiosoma, length x width 640 x 360. Subcapitulum with posterior margin slightly convex, postero-lateral parts crossed by oblique folds ( Fig. 20 F). Prodorsal shield with posterior margin with wide and short median extension, length along midline 185, surface monotonously punctate, transverse area around scapular setae and near bases of epimerites Ia poorly sclerotized. Setae si spiculiform, 58 long. Distance between scapular setae: se:se 70, si:si 40. Hysterosoma 440 long. Hysteronotal shield: length 430, width 275, anterior margin straight, surface monotonously punctate. Opisthosomal lobes with obliquely cut apices and transverse crest posterior to bases of setae h3 ( Fig. 20 G). Supranal concavity ovate, poorly expressed. Terminal cleft as an inverted U with slightly divergent branches, length 72, width at level of setae e1 30, greatest width 40. Lateral setae c2 spiculiform, 58 long; setae d2 missing in specimen; setae e2 thickened, extending to level of lobar apices, 100–102 long; setae e1 setiform, situated approximately at level of macrosetae h2, setae f2 leaf-like, with 1 or 2 teeth on distal part, setae e1 situated at level of macrosetae h2. Distance between dorsal setae: c2:d2 140, d2:e2 165, e2:h3 80, e2: e1 52, e2:e2 135, h2:h2 95, h3:h3 88, ps1:ps1 56, e2:h2 58, h2:h3 25, ps1:h3 12. Genital apparatus situated at level of anterior margin of trochanters IV, 30 x 22. Paragenital apodemes with anterior end extended to midlevel of coxal fields III, not connected to epimerites IIIa, apodemes not connected to each other by transverse bridge ( Fig. 19 B). Distance between ventral setae: 3b:3a 10, 3a:g 28, g:4a 75, 4a:ps3 112. Diameter of anal suckers 23.

Legs II approximately 1.4–1.5 times longer and thicker than legs I. Tarsus I with crest-like ventral extension stretching along entire segment, proximal end of this extension widely rounded ( Figs 20 A, B). Tibia, genu I without ventral apophysis; genual seta cG I setiform, strongly thickened basally, smooth. Femur I with longitudinal ventral crest. Tarsus II with large tubercle-like ventral extension covered with verrucae and bearing setae wa and ra on apex; dorsal surface between bases of solenidion ω 1 and seta d slightly inflated and verrucous ( Figs 20 C, D). Tibiae II with tubercle-like antero-ventral apophysis with verrucous surface. Genu II with ventral surface verrucous, genual seta cG II strongly thickened, with verrucous distal part, 1.8–2 times longer than segment. Femur II with two spine-like dorso-apical apophyses and with verrucous ventral surface. Solenidia φ of tibiae I, II verrucous in basal part. Tarsus IV slightly longer than corresponding tibia; setae d, e spiculiform, with distinct basal ring ( Fig. 20 E).

Homeomorph male. Unknown.

Female (paralectotype). Subcapitulum with transverse striae in median part, posterior margin strongly convex. Idiosoma, length x width, 470 x 275. Prodorsal shield with posterior margin slightly convex, length along midline 130, surface monotonously punctate, transverse bar across scapular setae weakly sclerotized. Setae si spiculiform, 30–32 long. Distance between scapular setae: se:se 90, si:si 60. Hysterosoma 340 long. Hysteronotal shield: length 320, width 230, anterior margin slightly concave, surface monotonously punctate; subtegumental sclerotized bands posterior to setae e2 slightly enlarged ( Fig. 21 B). Setae c2 missing (probably spiculiform), setae d2 setiform, short; setae e2 thick setiform, setae f2 with narrow membranous expansion and acute spine in medial part; setae ps2 missing in specimen; setae ps1 partly broken in specimen but certainly long, setae e1 situated slightly posterior to level of cupules im. Length of lateral hysteronotal setae: d2 10, e2 over 65 (apical parts broken off), f2 48. Distance between hysterosomal setae: c2:d2 120, d2:e2 142, e2:h3 62, e2:e2 170, e1: e2 60, h2:h2 85, ps1:ps1 28. Epigynum bow-shaped, 18 x 50. Setae mG of genu I, II setiform.

Type host and locality. Trichoglossus forsteni, Timor.

Remarks. This species was originally described from Pseudeos fuscata and Trichoglossus forsteni , from New Guinea and Timor, respectively ( Favette & Trouessart 1904). One male and one female from T. forsteni are present in the Trouessart collection; these slides are marked by W.T. Atyeo as lectotype and paralectotype. No specimens form Ps. fuscata labeled as Protolichus gratus were found; apparently they were not retained in the Trouessart collection. The male from T. forsteni corresponds quite well to the photo of P. gratus given by Favette and Trouessart (1904), particularly in the structure of genual seta cG II and ventral tubercle of tibia II.

Figures

FIGURE 19. Protolichus gratus, heteromorph male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 20. Protolichus gratus, details of heteromorph male. A—leg I, dorsal view, B—leg I, ventral view, C—leg II, dorsal view, D—leg II, ventral view, E—tarsus IV, dorsal view, F—gnathosoma, ventral view, G—opisthosoma, dorsal view.

FIGURE 21. Protolichus females, dorsal view. A— Protolichus casuarinus, B— P. gratus.