Picobia caudati, Skoracki et Hebda

Skoracki, Maciej & Hebda, Grzegorz, 2004, Quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) from Aegithalos caudatus (Passeriformes: Aegithalidae), Zootaxa 691, pp. 1-6 : 2-5

Picobia caudati, Skoracki et Hebda , sp. n.

Type material

Female holotype (No. Syr.111) and 4 female paratypes from body feathers of Longtailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus (L., 1758) ( Passeriformes : Aegithalidae ) (no. of ring LE91381); Poland, Popielow near Opole, 16.03.2004, leg. G. Hebda. Holotype and 3 female paratypes are deposited at UAM, 1 female paratype at ZIN.

Additional material

From the same habitat and host; 4 females, (LE91383), Poland, Popielow near Opole, 0 1.04.2004, leg. G. Hebda; 3 females, (LE91372), Poland, Turawa Lake, 0 7.02.2004, leg. G. Hebda; 2 females, (LE91382), Poland, Popielow near Opole, 0 1.04.2004, leg. G. Hebda; 2 females, (LE91380), Poland, Popielow near Opole, 12.03.2004, leg. G. Hebda; 5 females, (LE91334), Poland, Popielow near Opole, 0 7.03.2004, leg. G. Hebda.

Description

Female ( Figs. 1–9 ). Total body length of holotype 665 (670–685 in 4 paratypes).

Gnathosoma . Hypostomal apex rounded, without protuberances ( Fig. 3 ). Peritremes M–shaped, each transversal branch with 2–3 chambers, each longitudinal branch with well visible 5–6 chambers ( Fig. 4 ). Stylophore rounded posteriorly, 140 (140) long.

Dorsal idiosoma. Two narrow propodosomal shield present, each of them well sclerotized, punctuated near bases of setae ve and sci ( Fig. 5 ). Setae ve, sci and sce situated on propodosomal shields. Setae vi and ve subequal, setae sci about 1.5 times longer than vi and ve. Setae h, sce and d1 subequal. Bases of setae vi set slightly posterior to the level of ve bases; bases of setae d 1 set anterior to the level of bases of setae sce ( Fig. 1 ). Setae vi, ve and sci with knobbed ornamentation ( Fig. 5 ), the other setae of idiosoma smooth and hair­like. Pygidial shield divided longitudinally, bearing bases of setae l4 and d4. Setae l4 and d4 subequal, or setae l4 slightly longer (1.2–1.4) than d4.

Ventral idiosoma. Anal setae a1 and a2 short and subequal in length. Genital setae (g) hair­like, situated on opisthosomal lobes ( Fig. 6 ). Length ratio of paragenital setae pg1:pg2:pg3 1: 1.3: 2.3.

Legs. Dorsal setae of legs I–II with weakly visible ornamentation. Epimeres I parallel Coxae I–II well sclerotized, III–IV weakly sclerotized, all coxae scarcely punctuated. Setae cxIII2 3–3.5 times longer than cxIII1. Antaxial and paraxial members of claws pair of legs III–IV unequal in size ( Fig. 9 ). Setae tc’’ III–IV about 1.4 times longer than tc’ III– IV.

Lengths of setae: vi 75 (60–75), ve 70 (60–75), sci 100 (100), sce 170 (175–180), h 170 (175), l1 115 (90), l2 90 (80), l4 50 (30–45), l5 (225) d1 170 (175), d2 105 (90), d4 (30), d5 (20–25), ic1 35 (30–35), ic3 (25–30), a1 and a2 subequal 7 (7), g 30 (30), sc3 20 (20), sc4 20 (20), pg1 40 (35–45), pg2 65 (60), pg3 90, cxIII1 20 (20), cxIII2 70 (60–70); tc’ III–IV 40, tc’’ III–IV 55.

Male unknown.

Differential diagnosis

Picobia caudati sp. n. is closely related to P. currucae Skoracki et Magowski, 2001 described from Sylvia curruca (L., 1758) ( Passeriformes : Sylviidae ) ( Skoracki, Magowski 2001). In females of both species seta vi and ve bases situated at the same level, the hypostomal apex is rounded, pygidial plate is present, setae d1 are situated anteriorly to the level of setae sce. This new species is distinguish by the following characters: in females of Picobia caudati sp. n., setae d5 and g are subequal, anal setae (a1 and a2) are subequal and about four times shorter than genital setae. In females P. c u r r u c a e setae d5 are twice shorter than g, anal setae a1 are twice shorter than a2 and setae a2 are twice shorter than genital setae.

Etymology

The name caudati refers to the specific name of the host – Aegithalos caudatus .

Figures

FIGURES 1, 2. Picobia caudati sp. n. Female. 1. Dorsal view; 2. Ventral view.

FIGURES 3 – 9. Picobia caudati sp. n. Female. 3. Gnathosoma ventrally; 4. Peritremes; 5. Part of propodosomal shield with setae ve and sci; 6. Opisthosoma ventrally; 7. Tarsus I dorsally; 8. Tarsus I ventrally; 9. Tarsus III ventrally. FIGURE 10. Picobia currucae Skoracki et Magowski, 2001. Female. Opisthosoma ventrally.