Torotrogla merulae Skoracki, Dabert and Ehrnsberger, 2000

Skoracki, Maciej, 2011, Quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) of the Palaearctic region 2840, Zootaxa 2840 (1), pp. 1-414 : 228-230

Torotrogla merulae Skoracki, Dabert and Ehrnsberger, 2000

( Figs. 166–168 )

Torotrogla merulae Skoracki et al., 2000: 192 , figs. 1–10.

Type host: Turdus merula Linnaeus ( Passeriformes : Turdidae ). Type locality: Poland.

FEMALE (holotype and 10 paratypes). Total body length 730–900. Gnathosoma . Hypostomal apex with pair of long and sharp-ended protuberances. Each medial branch of peritremes with 4–5 chambers, each lateral branch with 6–8 chambers. Stylophore constricted posteriorly, apunctate. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield concave on anterior margin, sparsely punctate near lateral margins. Length ratio of setae vi:ve:si 1:2:3. Setae c2 and se situated at same transverse level. Hysteronotal shields present, bearing bases of setae d1, apunctate. Pygidial shield apunctate, with rounded anterior margin. Setae f1 and h1 short and subequal in length. Genital setae about 1.5 times longer than pseudanal setae. Coxal fields I–IV apunctate. Setae 3b and 3c subequal in length. Legs. Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 11–12 tines. Setae tc’ and tc” of legs III and IV subequal in length. Lengths of setae: vi 70–90, ve 160–175, si 180–220, se 195–200, c1 215–225, c2 195–200, d1 180–205, d2 155–180, e2 205–220, h1 60–70, h2 555, f1 65–75, f2 460–550, ps1 and ps2 30–40, g1 45–65, g2 35–65, 1a 185, 3a 165, l’RI 30–40, l’RII 55–75, l’RIII 70–100, l’RIV 65–75, tc’III–IV and tc”III–IV 90–95, 3b 95–110, 3c 95–120.

MALE (4 paratypes). Total body length 650–710. Gnathosoma . Hypostomal apex with pair of short and sharpended protuberances. Each medial branch of peritremes with 4–6 chambers, each lateral branch with 7–8 chambers. Idiosoma . Propodonotal shield slightly concave on anterior margin, apunctate. Length ratio of setae vi:ve:si 1:2:3. Setae c2 and se situated at same transverse level. Hysteronotal shield apunctate, bearing bases of setae d1, e2, f2 and h2. Setae d2 slightly longer (1.2 times) than e2 or all hysteronotal setae subequal in length. Setae h2 5.6–6 times longer than f2. Coxal fields I–IV apunctate. Setae 3b and 3c subequal in length. Legs. Fan-like seta p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 6–8 tines. Setae tc’ and tc” of legs III and IV subequal in length. Lengths of setae: ve 120, si 155–165, se 165, c1 180, c2 175, d1 40–50, d2 50–70, e2 50, h2 270–300, f2 45, 1a 135–155, 3a 125–135, l’RI 30– 40, l’RII 65–75, l’RIII 65–80, l’RIV 65–80, tc’III–IV 75–90, tc”III–IV 80–90, 3b 80–90, 3c 90.

Type material examined. Turdus merula Linnaeus ( Passeriformes : Turdidae ): female holotype and paratypes: 15 females, 6 males ( AMU –SYR.28A) (sec.); POLAND, Pomorskie, Kuznica-Hel , 31 March 1998, coll. M. Skoracki.

Type material deposition. Holotype deposited in the AMU, paratypes in the AMU, ZSM, ZISP.

Non-type material examined. Type host species: 6 females, 4 males, 5 nymphs ( AVB 05–0715 – 021 ); RUS- SIA, Novogrod Prov. Oskuy village (59°17’00”N, 32°05’00”E), 9 June 1999, coll. A.V. Bochkov. Material deposited in the ZISP . Same host species: 1 female ( AMU –SYR.28B) (sec.); JORDAN, Al-Dhleil near Amman, 7 March 2002, coll. M. Skoracki. Material deposited in the AMU . Turdus viscivorus Linnaeus (Turdidae) : 3 females, 1 male and 1nymph ( AMU –SYR.78) (sec.); ROMANIA, 19 May 1970, coll. T. Weisz. Material deposited in the ZISP . Turdus philomelos Brehm (Turdidae) : 12 females, 10 males, 11 nymphs, 1 larva ( AMU –SYR.79C) (sec., ter.); POLAND, Pomorskie, Kuznica-Hel , 3 April 1997, coll. M. Skoracki. Material deposited in the AMU and ZSM . Same host species: 2 females ( AMU –SYR.79A); GERMANY, 20 June 2002, coll. R. Schmäschke. Material deposited in the AMU . Same host species: 6 females, 1 male, 15 nymphs, 8 larvae ( AMU –SYR.79B) (sec.); JORDAN, Al-Dhleil near Amman, March 2002; coll. M. Skoracki. Material deposited in the AMU . Turdus torquatus Linnaeus (Turdidae) : 17 females, 7 males, 81 nymphs and 3 larvae ( AMU –SYR.165) (ter.); SLOVAKIA, Kurov , 5 June 1969, coll. T. Weisz. Material deposited in the AMU and ZISP .

Host range and habitat. Oligoxenous species inhabiting quills of secondaries and tertiaries of four host species of the genus Turdus : T. merula , T. philomelos , T. torquatus and T. viscivorus .

Distribution. Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Russia and Jordan.

Figures

FIGURE 166. Torotrogla merulae Skoracki et al., female. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 167. Torotrogla merulae Skoracki et al., male. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view.

FIGURE 168. Torotrogla merulae Skoracki et al., female (A–D). A, hypostomal apex; B, peritreme; C, fan-like setae p’ of leg III; D, solenidia of leg I. Male (E, F). E, hypostomal apex; F, peritreme.