Passeroptes motacillae, Mu, Ning, Kuang, Xi-Jun, Liu, Huai & Wang, Zi-Ying, 2015

Mu, Ning, Kuang, Xi-Jun, Liu, Huai & Wang, Zi-Ying, 2015, Feather mites of the genus Passeroptes Fain (Acariformes: Dermationidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) of China, Zootaxa 3985 (1), pp. 53-68 : 57-59

Passeroptes motacillae sp. nov.

( Figs. 3 , 4 , 9 G, 12E–H)

MALE (holotype). Body 145 long (140–155 in 9 paratypes) and 97 wide (95–105). Idiosomal shields without ornamentation, soft idiosomal cuticle striated, without scales or tubercles. Dorsum. Distance between propodonotal and hysteronotal shields 19 (15–23). Propodonotal shield 32 long (27–39) and 33 wide (40–45), its posterolateral extensions encompassing bases of setae se and si. Posterior margin of propodonotal shield straight. Setae se long, 32 long (32–41), se–se 39 (38–41). Hysteronotal shield about 93 long, its length along midline 56, with deep lateral incisions at level of femora IV; its anterior part 44 long (40–47) and 45 wide, anterior part of hysteronotal shield wider than or subequal in width to posterior part of hysteronotal shield. Setae d2 absent. Humeral shields not developed, without bent extensions. Opisthosomal lobes 30 long (36–41), widely separated from each other. Terminal cleft slightly longer than its greatest width. Interlobar membranes wide, entire, about 38 long and 16 wide, widely separated from each other. Maximum distance between lobes about 13. Venter. Coxal apodemes IIa to IV free. Genital arch as an inverted V with tips strongly curved laterally, 10 length and 18 width. Aedeagus about 20 long, beyond genital arch. Adanal shields about 27 long and 7 wide, subparallel to each other. Diameter of adanal suckers about 7. Cupules ih situated posterolateral adanal suckers, ih–ih 37. Legs. Legs III and IV subequal, 80 long (76–88). Femora III and IV with 1 dorsal and 1 ventral moderately developed retrorse processes. Other processes on legs III and IV absent. Solenidion ω 1 I absent. Setae ba I, II absent. Tarsi IV straight, without apices, 17 long. Lengths of setae: cp 99 (98–105), c3 23 (24–26), h2 155 (150–170), h3 32 (28–32), ps1 8, ps2 25 (18–27), d II 68 (66–70), d III 80 (61–76), ω3 about 14, ω 1 II 26 (19–23), φ I about 18, φ II about 35, φ III about 1, φ IV about 18, σ 1 I about 18, σ II about 2. Distances between setae: g–g 3, ps3–ps3 30, g–ps3 38, ps1–ps1 13, h3–h3 26 (25– 30), ps2–ps2 47 (45–50), h2–h2 39 (38–43), 4a–4a 43, 4b–4b 43 (51–53).

FEMALE (5 paratypes). Body 160–175 long and 110–125 wide. Idiosomal shields without ornamentation, soft idiosomal cuticle without scales or tubercles. Dorsum. Distance between propodonotal and hysteronotal shields about 18. Propodonotal shield 37–40 long and 45–53 wide, posterolateral extensions encompassing bases of setae se and si. Posterior margin of propodonotal shield straight. Setae se about 35 long. Hysteronotal shield 70–81 long and 54–65 wide. Posterior margin of hysteronotal shield straight, entire. Setae d2 absent. Humeral shields without bent extensions. Venter. Coxal fields II to IV opened. Adanal shields well developed, separated from each other. Setae ps3 situated on these shields. Legs. Legs III and IV subequal, 90 long. Femora III and IV each with 1 dorsal and 1 ventral moderately developed retrorse processes. Other processes on legs III and IV absent. Solenidion ω 1 I absent. Setae ba I, II absent. Lengths of setae: cp 87–98, c 3 27–31, h2 150–165, h 3 23–30, ps2 25, d II 61 –68, d III 72 –76, ω 3 I about 13, ω 1 II 32–38, φ I 26–29, φ II 32 –37, σ 1 I 11–17, and σ II 3. Distances between setae: se–se 45– 48, g–g 50, ps3–ps3 16, g–ps3 47–68, ps1–ps 1 14–18, h3–h3 16, ps2–ps 2 29–33, h2–h 2 24–30, 4 a–4a 16–22, 4 b– 4b 24–30.

Type material. Holotype male [IOZ(E) 227740], 9 male and 5 female paratypes ex Motacilla cinerea Tunstall ( Passeriformes : Motacillidae ), CHINA: Sichuan, 31°03'38.35'' N, 103°33'21.84'' E, 23 April 2014, coll. N. Mu.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the generic name of the host.

Differential diagnosis. The new species is closest to Passeroptes hippolais Bochkov and Mironov, 2012 from Hippolais icterina (Vieillot) ( Passeriformes : Acrocephalidae ) ( Bochkov & Mironov 2012). In both sexes of these two species, setae d2 are absent and the humeral shields lack bent extensions, setae se are long, extending beyond the anterior margin of hysteronotal shield, at least five times longer than si, and tarsi IV are straight, without apices; in males, the hysteronotal shield is not transversely separated, but has a pair of deep lateral incisions at level of femora IV, femur IV has one ventral and one dorsal retrorse processes (an unique feature shared by both these species), the shape of the lateral incisions of the hysteronotal shield is simple, the opisthosomal lobes, including the interlobar membrane, are not overlapping; in females, femora III and IV each bear one dorsal and one ventral moderately developed retrorse process.

The new species differs from P. hippolais by following features. In both sexes of P. motacillae sp. nov., setae ba I, II are absent, and coxal fields II to IV are completely opened; in males, cupules ih are situated posterolateral to adanal suckers, and the aedeagus is about 20 long, extending beyond the genital arch; in females, the posterior margin of the hysteronotal shield is straight.

In both sexes of P. hippolais , setae ba I, II are present, coxal fields III are nearly closed, being opened only in the anterior third; in males, cupules ih are situated at the same level as the adanal suckers, and the aedeagus is about 7 long, not extending beyond nor reaching to the genital arch; in females, the posterior margin of the hysteronotal shield is concave.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Passeroptes motacillae sp. nov., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 4. Passeroptes motacillae sp. nov., female. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 9. Passeroptes periparus sp. nov., male. A—leg I in dorsal view, B—leg II in dorsal view, C—leg III in dorsal view, D—leg IV in dorsal view, E—tarsus IV in dorsal view; F— Passeroptes lioparis, tarsus IV in dorsal view; G— Passeroptes motacillae, tarsus IV in dorsal view; H— Passeroptes cyanodermae, tarsus IV in dorsal view; I— Passeroptes aegithalos, tarsus IV in dorsal view.