Ptilonyssus melissae, Greg S. Spicer, 1977

Greg S. Spicer, 1977, Two New Nasal Mites Of The Genus Ptilonyssus (Mesostigmata: Rhinonyssidae) From Texas, Acarologia 18 (4), pp. 594-601 : 597-598

Ptilonyssus melissae n. sp.

Type host: purple finch ( Carpodacus purpureus ), family Fringillidae

Type material: Holotype female (F.W. M. S.H. no. 102), and nine paratype females from Diamond-A Ranch, Hood Co., Texas, 7 March 1975 and two paratype females from Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas, 1 March 1975 collected by Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Lee are deposited in the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. A paratype female is deposited in the United States National Museum.

F emale ( Figs. 7 - 12 )

The idiosoma is 494 (436-534) in length and 236 (175-264) in width.

Dorsum: The podosomal and opisthosomal plates are large and well developed, with many muscle insertions. The podosomal plate is 183 (168-190) in length and 171 (168-180) in width, with seven pairs of setae and two pairs of pores. One pair of setae are large and spinose. The podosomal plate is flanked by four pairs of setae. Peritreme is 19 (17-22) in length and is found at level of Coxa III. The opisthosomal plate is 192 (158-204) in length and 149 (137-158) in width with a reticulate pattern and three pairs of setae. This plate is flanked by four pair of setae with two pairs of setae posterior to the plate.

Venter: Sternal plate is 92 (86-96) in length and 73 (70-79) in width, lightly sclerotized with irregular margins. Three pairs of large sharptipped setae and two pairs of lyrifissures are on the plate. One pair of metasternal setae are present. Genital plate is 91 (86-98) in length and 60 (53-66) in width, with one pair of setae on and one pair of pores just posterior to the plate Seven pairs of setae and one pair of pores are on the ventral opisthosoma. Anal plate is 78 (72 105) in length and 53 (48-60) in width, with two setae anterior and one setae posterior to the anal opening; cribrum present.

Gnathosoma: The gnathosoma is 130 (125-134) in length and 57 (54-62) in width, the palps are 53 (49-56) in length. One pair of hypostomal setae and one pair of deutosternal setae are present. Deutosternal teeth range from four to five in number. Chelicerae is 56 (54-61) in length and 7.5 (7.2-84) in width.

Legs: Leg I is the longest. The length of the legs are: Leg I 280 (270-294), Leg II 218 (210 225), Leg III 210 (206-216), Leg IV 256 (245-270). The setae on Coxa IV is large and spinose Ambulcra well developed, claws stout and hooked. MALE-UNKNOWN

NYMPH-UNKNOWN

Diagnosis Ptilonyssus melissae n. sp. is similar to P. morofskyi Hyland (1961) , but can be distinguished by the presence of seven pairs of setae on the ventral opisthosoma (three pairs in P. morofskyi ), one pair of hypostomal setae (three pairs in P. morofskyi ), one pair of metasternal setae and two pairs of lyrifissures (lacking in P. morofskyi ). This mite is named in honor of the collectors' (Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Lee) daughter, Melissa Jean Lee.

Figures

Figs. 7 - 12. — Ptilonyssus melissae n. sp. 7) female dorsum; 8) female venter; 9) venter of female gnathosoma; 10) female chelicera; 11) venter of female tarsus I; 12) dorsum of female tarsus I.