Neocalcealges chrysotis, 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 : 571-573

Neocalcealges chrysotis sp. nov.

( Figs. 3 B, 4E, 5–6)

Description. MALE (holotype). Body 435 long (410–440 in 8 paratypes) and 200 wide (200–210). Dorsum. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 8 (3–18). Prodorsal shield: 140 long (140–150) and 150 wide (150–160), surface uniformly punctate without lacunae or poorly sclerotized patches; lateral areas not encompassing bases of setae se, not fused with scapular shields. Setae si short setiform, 19 (23–27) in length, separated by 59 (55–65); setae se long, 170 (150–170) long. Humeral shield with setae c2 lanceolate 49 (49–57) in length. Hysteronotal shield length 270 (240–270), width 150 (150–160). Surface without lacunae. Setae c1 missing. Setae d1 and e2 present. Lateral margin with pair of wide and shallow incisions at level of trochanters IV and pair of narrow and deep lateral incisions at level of setae e2 extending to bases of these setae. A pair of narrow and bent platelets present at level of trochanters III, not connected to hysteronotal shield, possibly analogous to metapodosomal shields of Park and Atyeo (1971). Setae f2 represented only as very faint alveoli near base of setae ps 2 in some specimens or not visible at all. Setae h1 situated anterior to setae h2. Terminal lamellae each with 3 indentations. Venter. Coxal apodemes I fused into a V. Setae c3 short lanceolate, 25 (22–30) in length. Coxal fields of legs III open. Coxal apodemes IIIa+ IV long, short anterior parts of apodemes IIIa+ IV split from remaining parts of these apodemes. Genital apparatus situated at middle level of coxal apodemes IVa. Adanal apodemes well developed, apices touching coxal apodemes IVa. Distance between setae: g: ps3 10 (9–10); g: g 18 (19–24). Translobar apodeme present. 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, 53 (41–58) in length. Genua IV with paraxial, semicircular membranes. Setae d and e of tarsi IV barrel-shaped, with discoid cap, situated subapically.

FEMALE (6 paratypes). Body 480–530 long and 190–220 wide. Dorsum. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 7–22. Prodorsal shield: 140–150 long and 160–170 wide, surface same as in males, posterolateral surface without lacunae or poorly sclerotized patches; lateral areas not encompassing bases of setae se, not fused with scapular shields. Setae si short setiform, 22–35 in length, separated by 60–70; setae se long, 150– 170 long. Scapular shields very narrow. Humeral shield with setae c2 lanceolate 47–56 in length. Hysteronotal shield length 300–320, width 150–160, surface with a few lightly sclerotized patches near anterior margin. Setae c1 missing. Setae d1 and e2 present. Lateral margin of hysteronotal shield gently undulating. Setae f2 situated on membranous integument adjacent to setae h2. Setae h1 situated anterior to setae h2. Setae ps1 located on dorsal surface, anterior to setae h3. Copulatory aperture dorsal, anterior to setae e2, 62–75 from supranal concavity.

Distance from h3 to tips of opisthosomal lobes 39–41. Venter. Coxal apodemes I fused into a V. Setae c3 short lanceolate, 24–30 in length. Coxal fields of legs III open. Epigynum well developed, enveloping setae 4b, g and genital discs. Distance between setae: 4b: g 38–41; g: g 93–110; 4b: 4b 30–45. Coxal apodeme IVa absent. Legs. Ambulacral discs of legs III and IV wider than those of legs I and II and asymmetrical. Setae sR III setiform, 31–39 in length.

Type material. Holotype male [IOZ(E) 227735], 8 male and 6 female paratypes ex the Golden-breasted Fulvetta Lioparus chrysotis (Blyth) ( Passeriformes : Paradoxornithidae ), CHINA: Sichuan, Dujiangyan, 31°14′21''N, 103°35′14''E, 16 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. The new species N. chrysotis sp. nov. is closest to N. davidi sp. nov. from Alcippe davidi Styan (Leiothrichidae) described above. In both sexes of the two species, setae d1 and e2 are present. In males of both species, the shapes of hysteronotal shield are similar, the lateral margins have 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; setae f2 are absent or reduced to faint alveoli, and the terminal lamellae have indentations. The new species differs from N. davidi in the following characters: in both sexes of N. chrysotis , the distance between the prodorsal and hysteronotal shields is short (usually less than 20 µm); coxal apodemes I are fused into a V; in males of N. chrysotis , a pair of narrow platelets (~metapodonotal platelets) are present at the level of trochanters III but not connected to the hysteronotal shield; the terminal lamellae have 3 indentations; small anterior parts of coxal apodemes IIIa+ IV are split from remaining body of these apodemes; genua IV have paraxial, semicircular membranes; in females, the distance from the copulatory aperture to the supranal concavity is long, 62–75 µm. In both sexes of N. davidi , the distance between the prodorsal and hysteronotal shields is long (usually over 20 µm); coxal apodemes I are fused into a U shape; in males of N. davidi , the narrow platelets situated at the level of trochanters III (~metapodonotal platelets) are connected to the hysteronotal shield; the terminal lamellae have 4–7 indentations; coxal apodemes IIIa+ IV are long and continuous; in females, the distance from the copulatory aperture to the supranal cleft is short, 42–57 µm.

Figures

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