Neocalcealges davidi, Wang, Zi-Ying & Proctor, Heather, 2015

Wang, Zi-Ying & Proctor, Heather, 2015, Two new feather mites of the genus Neocalcealges Orwig (Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae) from the Sichuan province of China, Zootaxa 3946 (4), pp. 567-576 : 569

Neocalcealges davidi sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 , 2 , 3 A, 4A–D)

Description. MALE (holotype). Body 430 long (400–430 in 6 paratypes) and 210 wide (190–220). Dorsum. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 38 (20–33). Prodorsal shield: 130 long (120–130) and 133 wide (130–140), surface without lacunae, but each posterolateral corner of shield with two ovate lightly sclerotized patches; lateral areas not encompassing bases of setae se, not fused with scapular shields. Setae si short setiform, 12 (16–20) in length, separated by 49 (50–53); setae se long, about 160 long. Humeral shield with setae c2 lanceolate, 41 (36–41) in length. Hysteronotal shield length 240 (230–240), width 140 (130–140), surface with some almost transparent lightly sclerotized patches, number and shape of patches not consistent among individuals. Setae c1 absent. Setae d1 and e2 present. Lateral margin of hysteronotal shield with pair of wide and shallow incisions at level of trochanters IV and pair of small and deep lateral incisions at level of setae e2 extending to bases of these setae. A pair of narrow curved platelets present on lateral parts of hysteronotum at level of trochanters III, possibly analogous to metapodosomal shields of Park and Atyeo (1971). Setae f2 present only in form of indistinct alveoli near base of setae ps2, apparently placed laterally rather than dorsally. Setae h1 situated anterior to setae h2. Terminal lamellae with 6 (4–7) small irregular indentations, creating 7 (5–8) teeth. Venter. Coxal apodemes I fused into a U. Setae c3 short lanceolate, 26 (23–30) in length. Coxal fields of legs III open. Coxal apodeme IIIa+ IV long and continuous. Genital apparatus situated at middle level of coxal apodemes IVa. Adanal apodemes well developed, but apices not contacting coxal apodeme IVa. Distance between setae: g: ps3 12 (11–14); g: g 24 (19–26). Translobar apodeme present. A pair of cupules ih located near posterior ends of opisthosomal lobes. Legs. Ambulacral discs of legs III and IV wider than those of legs I and II and asymmetrical. Setae sR III setiform, about 12 in length. Setae d and e of tarsi IV barrel-shaped, with discoid cap, situated subapically.

FEMALE (7 paratypes). Body 460–510 long and 200–230 wide. Dorsum. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields about 21–32. Prodorsal shield: 120–140 long and 140–160 wide, surface same as in males, each posterolateral corner of shield with two ovate lightly sclerotized patches; lateral areas not encompassing bases of setae se, not fused with scapular shields. Setae si short setiform, 21–27 in length, separated by 51–57; setae se long, about 170 long. Scapular shields very narrow. Humeral shield with setae c2 lanceolate, 34–38 in length. Hysteronotal shield: length 270–300, width 140–160, surface with some almost transparent lightly sclerotized patches, number and shape of patches not consistent among individuals. Setae c1 missing. Setae d1 and e2 present. Lateral margins of hysteronotal shield sinuous. Setae f2 situated on membranous integument adjacent to setae h2. Setae h1 situated anterior to setae h2 and posterior to supranal concavity. Setae ps1 located on dorsal surface, anterior to setae h3. Copulatory aperture dorsal, anterior to setae e2, 42–57 from supranal concavity. Distance from h3 to tips of opisthosomal lobes 39–47. Venter. Coxal apodemes I fused into a U. Setae c3 short lanceolate, 24–32 in length. Coxal fields of legs III open. Epigynum well-developed, enveloping setae 4b, g and genital discs. Distance between setae: 4b: g, 30–37; g: g, 86–98; 4b: 4b, 33–42. Coxal apodemes IVa present as small sclerites. Legs. Ambulacral discs of legs III and IV wider than those of legs I and II and asymmetrical. Setae sR III setiform, about 35 in length.

Type material. Holotype male [IOZ(E) 227734], 6 male and 7 female paratypes ex David’s Fulvetta, Alcippe davidi Styan ( Passeriformes : Leiothrichidae ), CHINA: Sichuan, Dujiangyan, 31°14′07''N, 103°35′16''E, 20 May 2014, coll. H.-Y. Cao.

Etymology. The specific epithet derives from the specific name of the host and is a noun in apposition.

Differential diagnosis. Among known species of the genus Neocalcealges , the new species is closest to N. emarginatus Orwig, 1968 from the Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush Ianthocincla mitrata (Müller) ( Passeriformes : Leiothrichidae ) ( Orwig 1968). In both sexes of the two species, setae d1 and e2 are present. In males of both species, one pair of narrow curved platelets (~metapodonotal platelets) are present at the level of trochanters III, branching from the lateral margins of the hysteronotal shield, and the terminal lamellae have indentations. The new species differs from N. emarginatus in the following characters: in males of N. davidi sp. nov., the lateral margin of hysteronotal shield has a pair of shallow incisions at the level of coxae IV and a pair of narrow and deep lateral incisions at the level of setae e2 extending to bases of these setae; the platelets at the level of trochanters III are long and extend to the lateral margins of the hysterosoma; setae f2 are reduced to alveoli near the base of setae ps2; the terminal lamellae have six (4–7) indentations; in females, setae h1 are posterior to the supranal concavity; the opisthosomal lobes are long, 39–47 in length. In males of N. emarginatus , the lateral incisions of the hysteronotal shield at the level of setae e2 are shallow and not extending to the bases of these setae; the platelets at the level of trochanters III do not extend to the lateral margin of the body; setae f2 are present; the terminal lamellae have only two indentations; in females, setae h1 are anterior to the supranal concavity; the opisthosomal lobes are short, about 25 in length. Orwig (1968) states that males of Neocalcealges have one pair of small pores, cupules ip, located on the margins of opisthosoma at the level of translobar apodeme and a second pair, cupules ih, near the posterior ends of the opisthosomal lobes; however, we were unable to see cupules ip on the margins of opisthosoma in our specimens.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Neocalcealges davidi sp. nov., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 2. Neocalcealges davidi sp. nov., female. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view, C—base of spermatheca; ca – copulatory aperture.

FIGURE 3. Neocalcealges davidi sp. nov., male. A—ventral view of opisthosoma; Neocalcealges chrysotis sp. nov., male. B—ventral view of opisthosoma.