Aulonastus fringillus, Skoracki, 2011

Skoracki, Maciej, 2011, Quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) of the Palaearctic region 2840, Zootaxa 2840 (1), pp. 1-414 : 152

Aulonastus fringillus sp. nov.

( Figs. 113 and 114 )

Type host: Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus ( Passeriformes : Fringillidae ). Type locality: Poland.

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Total body length 480 (450–480 in 7 paratypes). Gnathosoma . Infracapitulum sparsely punctate. Each medial branch of peritremes with 2 chambers, each lateral branch with 4–5 chambers. Length of apunctate stylophore and movable cheliceral digit 125 (120–125) and 90 (90) respectively. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield rectangular in shape, punctate on whole surface, with concave anterior margin, bearing bases of setae ve, si, c1 and se. Length ratio of setae ve:si 1:1. Setae se and c1 set at same transverse level. Setae c1 1.2– 1.3 times longer than se. Length ratio of setae d2:c1 1:1.9–2. Hysteronotal shield fused to pygidial shield, weakly sclerotized, apunctate, bases of setae d1 and e2 located near this fused shield. Setae f2 about twice as long as f1. Setae h2 6.6–7.6 times longer than f2. Aggenital setae ag1 and ag2 subequal in length, ag3 about 1.5 times longer than ag1 and ag2. Genital plate absent. Both pairs of genital setae subequal in length. All coxal fields apunctate. Setae 3c 2.8 times longer than 3b. Legs. Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 6 tines. Setae tc” of legs III and IV 1.7 times longer than tc’ III–IV. Lengths of setae: ve 15 (10–20), si 15 (10–20), se 120 (120–125), c1 145 (140–165), c2 100 (90–100), d1 10 (10–15), d2 80 (80–90), e2 10 (10–15), f1 20 (20), f2 50 (40–50), h1 20 (15– 20), h2 (305–330), ps1 20 (15–20), g1 and g2 25 (25–30), ag1 95 (90–95), ag2 90 (80–90), ag3 125 (125–135), tc’ III–IV 30 (30), tc” III–IV 50 (50), 3b 20 (20), 3c 55 (55–60).

MALE. Unknown.

Type material. Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus ( Passeriformes : Fringillidae ): female holotype, 7 female and 2 nymph paratypes ( AMU –SYR.249) (bod.); POLAND, Wielkopolska, Katy , April 2006, coll. M. Skoracki.

Type deposition. All type material deposited in the AMU, except 1 female paratype in the ZISP .

Host range and habitat. Monoxenous species inhabiting quills of body feathers of Fringilla coelebs .

Distribution. Poland.

Etymology. The name fringillus refers to the generic name of the host.

Differential diagnosis. This species is morphologically similar to the previous mentioned species, A. loxius . In females of both species, aggenital setae ag1 and ag2 are subequal in the length and setae c1 are longer than se. It differs from A. loxius , by the following characters: in females of A. fringillus , the propodonotal shield is apunctate; setae c1 are 1.8–2 times longer than d2, and setae f2 are about twice as long as f1. In females of A. loxius , the propodonotal shield is punctate; setae c1 are 1.3 times longer than d2, and setae f2 are about 4 times longer than f1.

Figures

FIGURE 113. Aulonastus fringillus sp. nov., female. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 114. Aulonastus fringillus sp. nov., female. A, hypostomal apex; B, peritremes; C, ventral view of opisthosoma; D, fan-like setae p’ of leg III. Scale bars: C = 50 µm; A, B, D = 20 µm.