Neodectes hallidayi, Mironov & Proctor, 2023

Mironov, Sergey V. & Proctor, Heather C., 2023, New feather mites of the genus Neodectes (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) from honeyeaters (Passeriformes: Meliphagidae) in Australia, Zootaxa 5330 (3), pp. 349-374 : 357-361

Neodectes hallidayi sp. n.

( Figs. 4–6 )

Type material. Male holotype, 1 male and 4 female paratypes from Anthochaera carunculata (Shaw, 1790) ( Passeriformes : Meliphagidae ), from 5 birds from the following localities: AUSTRALIA, Western Australia — City Beach Perth, 31°56’00”S, 115°45’00”E, 20 July 1983, coll. D. Cross, ( WAM, A18346 ); Karragullen , 32°05’00”S, 116°07’00”E, 29 Aug. 1960, coll. G.F. Mees, ( WAM, A34246 ); Canning River , 32°02’00”S, 115°53’00”E, 1 Dec. 2000, coll. P. Stone, ( WAM, A34866 , A34867 ); Western Australia, no other data ( WAM, A34283 ).

Depository. Holotype ( T161008 ), 2 female paratypes ( T161009 )— WAM, 1 male and 2 female paratypes — ZISP.

Additional material. 1 male and 1 female ( WAM, T161010 ) from Anthochaera lunulata Gould, 1838 ( Passeriformes : Meliphagidae ), ( WAM, A11538 ), AUSTRALIA, Western Australia, 7 km SE of Armadale , 32°13’17”S, 116°5’4”E, 22 June 1971, coll. L.A. Smith and R.E. Johnstone,.

Description. MALE (holotype, measurements for 1 paratype in parentheses) ( Figs. 4 , 6A–E ). Idiosoma, length × width, 425 (415) × 160 (175), length of hysterosoma 275 (270). Prodorsal shield: entire, anterolateral extensions pointed, lateral margins shallowly concave at level of scapular setae, posterior margin slightly convex, posterior corners rounded, entire surface with numerous circular lacunae, length 150 (135), width 125 (120). Setae ve absent. Bases of scapular setae se separated by 57 (60). Scapular shields narrow. Humeral shields represented by narrow longitudinal sclerites situated laterally. Setae c2 at anterior ends of humeral shields and setae cp at ventral margins of these shields. Subhumeral setae c3 lanceolate, 28 (27) long, about 7 wide. Hysteronotal shield: anterior margin shallowly concave, greatest length 270 (265), width at anterior margin 100 (92), surface with numerous circular lacunae as on prodorsal shield. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 12 (15). Opisthosomal lobes roughly rounded, approximately half as long as wide at base, with small convexities at bases of setae h2 and h3. Terminal cleft small triangular with rounded anterior, 21 (25) long. Supranal concavity circular, 18 (16) in diameter. Setae f2 at level of bases of setae ps2. Setae h1 at level of supranal concavity. Setae h3 spiculiform, 48 (46) long; setae ps2 65 (70) long. Setae ps1 short filiform, about 5 long, situated on margin of terminal cleft between levels of setae h3 and h2. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 105 (100), d2:e2 115 (125), e2:h3 50 (42), d1:d2 32 (30), e1:e2 42 (40), h1:ps2 18 (17), h2:h2 50 (53), h3:h3 34 (35), ps2:ps2 75 (73).

Epimerites I fused into a Y with stem about 1/4 the total length of epimerites, posterior end of stem connected to middle parts of epimerites II with narrow transverse bands. Coxal fields I, II without extensively sclerotized areas. Rudimentary sclerites rEpIIa absent. Coxal fields I closed; coxal fields II open; coxal fields III with small gap between tips of epimerites III and IIIa. Coxal fields IV without sclerotized bands at bases of trochanters IV. Epimerites IVa present, poorly sclerotized. Genital arch strongly reduced, represented by small weakly sclerotized plates at bases of aedeagus, width about 22; aedeagus sword-shaped, 110 (105) long, almost reaching anterior end of terminal cleft; basal sclerite of genital apparatus U-shaped ( Fig. 6A ). Genital papillae not connected at bases, situated at level of aedeagus base. Genital shield absent. Adanal shields represented by small plates with uneven border around bases of setae ps3. Adanal suckers 18 (20) in diameter, corolla with 11–12 weakly discernible denticles, surrounding membrane with irregular longitudinal striae. Opisthoventral shields not developed. Setae 4b posterior to level of setae 3a, setae ps3 anteromesal to adanal suckers. Distance between ventral setae: 3a:4b 12 (13), 4b:4a 48 (50), 4a:g 55 (53), g:ps3 37 (35), ps3:ps3 18 (20), ps3:h3 50 (48).

Femora II with narrow ventral crests ( Fig. 6C ), other segments of legs I, II without processes. Solenidion σ of genu I half as long as this segment and situated in its basal part. Genual setae cG I, II and mG I filiform, setae mG II slightly thickened basally. Setae d and f of tarsi II, III subequal in length. Solenidion φ of tibia IV slightly longer than corresponding tarsus. Tarsus IV 30 (29) long, without apical process; setae d, e button-like, seta d situated in basal half of this segment ( Fig. 6E ). Length of solenidia: ω1 I 16 (18), ω1 II 8 (9), σ I 15 (12), σ III 8 (6), φ IV 32 (30).

FEMALE (range for 4 paratypes) ( Figs. 5 , 6F,G ). Idiosoma, length × width, 655–670 × 230–240, length of hysterosoma 475–500. Prodorsal shield: entire, anterolateral extensions pointed with subapical ledge, lateral margins at level of scapular setae shallowly concave, posterior margin with a pair of concavities and short blunt-angular median extension between them, posterior corners pointed, size 165–185 × 165–190, surface with numerous circular lacunae. Setae ve absent. Bases of setae se separated by 65–85. Scapular shields narrow, barely developed dorsally. Humeral shields represented by longitudinal sclerites situated submarginally. Setae c2 near anterior ends of humeral shields and setae cp at ventral margins of these shields. Setae c3 lanceolate, 26–30 long, about 7.5–8 wide. Distance between prodorsal and hysteronotal shields 25–30. Anterior and lobar parts of hysteronotal shield separated dorsally by narrow transverse band of soft tegument, and connected ventrolaterally. Anterior hysteronotal shield nearly rectangular, anterior margin slightly concave, entire surfaces with numerous small circular lacunae and with two pairs of ovate desclerotized areas in posterior corners, length 325–340, and width at anterior margin 150–155. Length of lobar region 145–155, greatest width 110–120. Terminal cleft narrow, almost parallel-sided and slightly narrowed in anterior 1/5, 95–98 long, 18–22 wide at level of apices. Lobar shield entire, anterior margin sinuous with short median convexity, surface with several circular lacunae near anterior margin. Supranal concavity circular, well outlined by dark-sclerotized ring. Setae h1 near anterior margin of lobar shield; setae h1 and f2 arranged in trapezoid. Setae h2 spindle-like, with apical filament, 100–110 × 8–9. Setae ps1 situated on inner margins of opisthosomal lobes, closer to level of setae h2 than h3. Setae h3 17–25 long, about 1/5 the length of terminal appendages. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 130–140, d2:e2 180–185, e2:h2 68–75, h2:h3 63–73, d1:d2 43–48, e1:e2 70–80, h1:h2 55–63, h1:h1 32–40, h2:h2 88–95, h2:ps1 20–25.

Epimerites I fused into a V, fused part with three small acute extensions (one median and a pair of lateral). Lateral parts of coxal fields I, II without extensively sclerotized areas. Epimerites IVa absent. Translobar apodemes of opisthosomal lobes wide, fused to each other anterior to terminal cleft. Epigynum with a pair of small and acute lateral extensions, greatest width 78–93; apodemes of oviporus fused with epimerites IIIa. Pseudanal setae filiform, setae ps2 situated at midlevel of anal opening and widely separated from each other; distance between pseudanal setae: ps2:ps2 53–55, ps3:ps3 25–30, ps2:ps3 13–18. Primary spermaduct without enlargements at head of spermatheca; sclerotized part of secondary spermaducts extremely short, 2–3 long ( Fig. 6G ). Copulatory opening at anterior margin of fused translobar apodemes.

Legs I, II as in male, except ventral crest on femur I absent. Solenidion σ of genu I about 2/3 the length of this segment and situated at its midlevel. Genual setae cG I, II, mG I, II as in male. Seta d and f of tarsi II–IV subequal in length ( Fig. 6F ). Genu III with oblique ventral crest, genu IV dorsally inflated. Lengths of solenidia: ω1 I 20–240, ω1 II 13–15, σ I 23–30, σ III 10–13, φ III 35–40, φ IV 17–22.

Differential diagnosis. Among previously known species and the new species described herein, Neodectes hallidayi sp. n. is most similar to N. walteri sp. n. in having, in males, setae h3 long spiculiform (40–50 long) and the aedeagus not extending into the terminal cleft, and in females, the terminal cleft narrow and almost parallel-sided. Neodectes hallidayi sp. n. is distinguished from N. walteri sp. n. in the following features: in both sexes, the prodorsal and hysteronotal shields are covered with numerous small circular lacunae; in males, epimerites I are fused into a Y with a short but distinct stem, the corolla of adanal suckers has 11–12 weakly discernible denticles; and in females, the prodorsal shield has acute posterior corners and posterior margin with blunt-angular extension. In both sexes of N. walteri sp. n., the prodorsal and hysteronotal shields lack ornamentation or have poorly pronounced circular lacunae in some areas of these shields; in males, epimerites I are fused into a V, and the corolla of adanal suckers has 15–16 denticles; in females, the prodorsal shield has rounded posterior corners and posterior margin convex medially.

Etymology. The specific is named in honor of Dr. R. Bruce Halliday (CSIRO, Canberra), prominent Australian acarologist and curator of arachnids at the Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Neodectes hallidayi sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 5. Neodectes hallidayi sp. n., female. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 6. Neodectes hallidayi sp. n., details. A—opisthosoma of male, ventral view, B, C—legs I, II of male, D, E—tibiae and tarsi III, IV of male, F—tibia and tarsus IV of female, G—spermatheca and spermaducts.