Genoprotolichus simplex, Mironov & Dabert & Ehrnsberger, 2005

Mironov, S. V., Dabert, J. & Ehrnsberger, R., 2005, Six new feather mite species (Acari: Astigmata) from the carolina parakeet Conuropsis carolinensis (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), an extinct parrot of North America, Journal of Natural History 39 (24), pp. 2257-2278 : 2262-2265

Genoprotolichus simplex sp. n.

( Figures 3 , 5A, B )

Type material

Male holotype ( ZISP BR 149-2 ), two male and eight female paratypes from Conuropsis carolinensis , immature, North America , before 1869, no other data. Holotype, paratypes: ZISP (registration number ZISP BR 149-2 ); other paratypes: AMU (registration number AMU 01729-2 ), UMB (registration number N10297 /02.6.30.2) .

Description

Male (holotype). Idiosoma length excluding membrane on lobar apices 505, greatest width 320 (idiosomal size in two paratypes 506–510×320–325). Prodorsum completely sclerotized ( Figure 3A ), rectangular area anterior to scapular setae slightly more sclerotized than the remaining part of prodorsum. Scapular setae si spiculiform, 45 long, distance between scapular setae: se–se 72, setae si–si 35. Hysteronotal shield: anterior margin straight, length from anterior margin to bases of setae h3 350, width at anterior margin 213, surface without ornamentation, supranal concavity indistinct. Lateral sclerotized bands separated from hysteronotal shield in its anterior one-third and fused with humeral shields and lateral sclerites of epimerites IV. Terminal cleft almost semicircular, 67 long, 94 wide (at level of setae ps1), with wide entire interlobar membrane spreading along all the cleft margin and forming short rounded terminal extensions on lobar apices; median incision in interlobar membrane triangular, 74 in length. Cupules im posterior to openings gl, cupules ip invisible. Setae c2 spiculiform, 25 long; d2 setiform 32 long; setae e2 thick spiculiform, 65 long; setae f2 foliform, bent in Lshape; setae ps1 foliform, ovate. Distances between hysteronotal setae and setal rows: c1–c1 118, d1–d1 92, e1–e1 95, e2–e2 151, h2–h2 156, h3–h3 143, c2–d2 105, d2–e2 173, e2–h3 64, c1–d1 70, d1–d2 22; setae e1, e2 at the same transverse level.

Genital arch narrow, 30 long, 10 wide; anterior end of genital arch extending to posterior margin of trochanters III, not connected with epimerites IIIa ( Figure 3B ). Setae g at level of genital arch apex, setae 3a posterior to 3b and situated approximately at level of tips of epimerites IIIa. Distances between ventral setal rows: 3b–3a 15, 3a–g 20, g–4a 50, 4a–ps3 105. Cupules ih small, at level of setae ps2. Adanal discs 25 in diameter, with 14–16 teeth on corolla; adanal membranes present. Tarsus IV shortened, 32 in length, apex with three small indentations and hook-shaped paraxial process; setae d, e as suckers, with welldeveloped apical disc ( Figure 3C, D ).

Female (paratype). Idiosoma length 500, greatest width 312 (idiosomal size of five paratypes 495–510×305–320). Prodorsal shield almost rectangular, with rounded angles, not extending to scapular setae, without ornamentation, 93 long, 78 wide ( Figure 5A ); scapular setae si thin spiculiform, 35 long; distances between scapular setae: se–se 84, si–si 40. Hysteronotal shield rectangular, not extending to posterior end of opisthosoma, 272 in length, 205 in width at anterior margin; lateral bands separated only from anterior quarter of the shield; surface uniformly dotted, with weakly expressed longitudinal lacunae in posterior half. Pygidial shield covers only terminal extension of opisthosoma, about 35 long, 108 wide. Lateral hysterosomal setae c2–e2 setiform, short; length of these setae: c2 20, d2 9, e2 22. Cupules im and openings gl at the same transverse level, cupules ip not visible. Terminal margin of opisthosoma between setae h3 with very short copulatory extension, about 6 long. Distances between dorsal setae and setal rows: c1–c1 99, d1–d1 86, e1–e1 62, e2–e2 173, h2–h2 93, c2–d2 100, d2–e2 170, e2–h3 66, c1–d1 74, d1–d2 15, e1–h3 62–72. Epimerites I free. Epigynium bow-shaped, 27×75, folds of oviporus weakly sclerotized ( Figure 5B ).

Differential diagnosis

Among three previously described species, the males of the new species are most similar to those of Genoprotolichus major ( Favette and Trouessart, 1904) described from the austral parakeet Enicognathus ferrugineus (Müller, 1776) in Patagonia by lacking ornamentation on the hysteronotal shield. The males of G. simplex sp. n. differ from that species by having completely sclerotized prodorsum without any striation, and much smaller idiosomal size, 506–510; females are distinguished by weakly expressed narrow longitudinal lacunae in posterior half of the hysteronotal shield and also by idiosomal size less than 510. In the males of G. major , the prodorsal shield is rectangular, extending slightly beyond the row of scapular setae, while the remaining part of prodorsum is striated and weakly sclerotized, the length of idiosoma is 630–650; the females have clear longitudinal striation in lateral parts of hysteronotal shields, and their idiosomal length is 610–630.

Etymology

Specific name (Latin simplex , simple) points out a monotonously punctured surface of the hysteronotal shields.

Figures

Figure 3. Genoprotolichus simplex sp. n., male. (A) Dorsal view; (B) ventral view; (C) tarsus IV, antaxial view; (D) tarsus IV, paraxial view.

Figure 5. Females of pterolichid mites. (A) Genoprotolichus simplex sp. n., dorsal view; (B) Genoprotolichus simplex sp. n., oviporal region; (C) Neorhytidelasma conuropsis sp. n., dorsal view; (D) Neorhytidelasma conuropsis sp. n., oviporal region.