Metapterodectes Mironov, 2008

Mironov, Sergey V., Literak, Ivan & Čapek, Miroslav, 2008, New feather mites of the subfamily Pterodectinae (Acari: Astigmata: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, Zootaxa 1947, pp. 1-38 : 27

Genus Metapterodectes Mironov gen. n.

Type species: Metapterodectes furnarius Mironov sp. n.

Both sexes. Moderately elongated pterodectines. Vertical setae ve absent. All hysterosomal setae present. Prodorsal shield covering most part of prodorsum, with well developed posterior angles. Scapular shields narrow. Humeral shields absent. Setae c2 situated dorso-laterally on striated tegument. Setae wa anterior to setae la and ra on tarsi I, II. Seta gT of tibia I in distal half of segment. Setae cG and mG on genua I, II setiform. Solenidion σ 1 of genu I much shorter than solenidion ω 3 of corresponding tarsus. Femora I, II usually bear ventral crests, other segments of these legs without processes and other modifications. Seta sR of trochanters III absent; solenidion σ 1 of genu III absent. Supranal concavity present.

Male. Epimerites I fused into a narrow U, fused part not connected with epimerites II. Coxal fields II–IV open; epimerites II and IV without extensive sclerotized areas. Opisthosomal lobes moderately elongated, approximately as long as wide, with roughly rounded posterior margin. Terminal cleft as a wide inverted U. Setae h3 short, narrowly lanceolate, situated on lobar apices. Setae h1 situated anterior to bases of opisthosomal lobes. Setae ps1 setiform, minute. Genital arch with well developed branches, situated at level of trochanters IV; aedeagus sword-shaped, much longer than genital arch. Genital papillae anterior to genital arch. Pregenital apodeme, paragenital apodemes, genital shield and other sclerotized structures around genital apparatus absent. Setae 4a situated on soft tegument of coxal fields IV. Opisthoventral shields present, narrow. Corolla of anal suckers without indentation; suckers surrounded by membrane with radial striation. Adanal shields absent. Setae ps3 postero-lateral to anal suckers. Setae g and ps 3 in high trapezoid arrangement. Legs I slightly thicker and longer than legs II. Legs III and IV subequal in size. Solenidia ϕ of legs III, IV subequal. Tarsus IV without apical claw-like process, setae d and e button-like.

Female. Epimerites I fused into a narrow U. Lobar region of opisthosoma clearly separated from remaining part of opisthosoma; opisthosomal lobes well developed, with long terminal appendages. Hysteronotal shield split dorsally into anterior and lobar shields. Macrosetae h2 with spindle-like basal part and filiform apical part. Epigynum horseshoe-shaped, large. Translobar apodemes present. Legs I slightly thicker and longer than legs II. Legs III, IV subequal in size; genu IV dorsally inflated. Solenidia ϕ of tibiae III much longer than on tibiae IV.

Hosts: Birds of the family Furnariidae (Passeriformes) .

The genus is monotypic.

Differential diagnosis. By the general appearance and most diagnostic features the genus Metapterodectes is similar to the genera Pterodectes and Tyrannidectes . It differs from both genera by simultaneous loss of seta sR and solenidion σ 1 on legs III ( Fig. 17 C); in Pterodectes these structures are always present ( Park & Atyeo, 1971), while in Tyrannidectes , seta sR on trochanter III is absent and solenidion σ 1 on genu III is present.

Etymology. Contraction of meta (advanced in Greek) and Pterodectes , masculine.