Blankaartia sinnamaryi ( Floch and Fauran, 1956 )

Stekolnikov, Alexandr A., Capek, Miroslav & Literák, Ivan, 2022, New species and records of chiggers (Acariformes: Trombiculidae) from birds of the Neotropics, Zootaxa 5141 (6), pp. 501-552 : 537-539

Blankaartia sinnamaryi ( Floch and Fauran, 1956)

( Fig. 23 )

Trombicula (Trägardula) (sic) sinnamaryi Floch and Fauran, 1956: 3 , figs. 1–5.

Tragardhula sinnamaryi: Brennan 1965: 83 .

Blankaartia sinnamaryi: Brennan & Yunker 1966: 250 ; Stekolnikov et al. 2007: 66; Bassini-Silva et al. 2021: 768 .

Diagnosis. SIF = 7BS-B-3-3111.1000; fsp = 7.7.7; fCx = 1.1.1; fSt = 2.2; fPp = B/B/NNB; fSc: PL> AM> AL; Ip = 1024–1129; fD = 2H-6-6-6(4)-2(4); DS = 20–22; V = 13–16; NDV = 35–36. Gnathobase with transverse striations, leg coxae with longitudinal striations; scutum pentagonal, with dense puncta, with anterolateral shoulders, with greatly projected, angulate posterior margin; AM at level of AL; flagelliform sensilla heavily branched in distal part, situated far anterior to level of PL (PSB—P-PL = 8–15 µm) and closer to lateral scutal margins than to each other; scutal and dorsal idiosomal setae thin, covered with small barbs; mastitarsala nude or having few small cilia in proximal part. Standard measurements of examined specimens given in Table 12 .

Distribution. Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Florida, French Guiana, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, Surinam, Texas, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela ( Stekolnikov et al. 2007; Bassini-Silva et al. 2021), Honduras ( Kalúz et al. 2018), and Paraguay (this study).

Hosts . Various species of birds ( Stekolnikov et al. 2007; Bassini-Silva et al. 2016, 2021), bat Phyllostomus hastatus (Pallas) ( Chiroptera : Phyllostomidae ) ( Brennan & Yunker 1966), and snake Leptophis ahaetulla (L.) ( Squamata : Colubridae ) ( Brennan & Jones 1960). The statement that Homo sapiens L. is the type host of this species ( Jacinavicius et al. 2018; Bassini-Silva et al. 2021) was probably based on a misinterpretation of the original description. Actually, the holotype of this species was an unengorged larva collected without association with any host (probably, from the ground or vegetation); two paratypes were collected from unknown hosts (probably birds), and one specimen was found on a parrot ( Floch & Fauran 1956). We had an opportunity to confirm the collection data of the holotype, which is deposited in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN, Paris, France), using an unpublished electronic catalogue of the acarological collection of MNHN. The reason of the statement on rodents as hosts of B. sinnamaryi ( Bassini-Silva et al. 2016) is also unknown.

Our material was collected on Arremon brunneinucha , Arremon crassirostris , Atlapetes albinucha , Cantorchilus guarayanus , Cantorchilus modestus , Casiornis rufus , Catharus fuscater , Chlorospingus flavopectus , Corapipo altera , Dendrocincla fuliginosa , Euphonia anneae , Glyphorynchus spirurus , Grallaria guatimalensis , Henicorhina leucophrys , Henicorhina leucosticta , Leptotila verreauxi , Lophotriccus pileatus , Myadestes melanops , Myioborus miniatus , Myrmotherula schisticolor , Parkesia motacilla , Paroaria coronata , Philohydor lictor , Premnoplex brunnescens , Ramphocaenus melanurus , Sclerurus mexicanus , Syndactyla subalaris , Thamnophilus doliatus , Thripadectes rufobrunneus , Thryophilus rufalbus , Troglodytes aedon , Turdus amaurochalinus , Turdus assimilis , Turdus grayi , Turdus rufiventris , Vireo olivaceus , Zonotrichia capensis .

Localization on hosts. On flanks ( M. schisticolor No T 316, C. fuscater No T 096 and T314, C. altera No T 353, G. guatimalensis No T 125, L. pileatus No T 095, M. miniatus No T 312, M. schisticolor No T 190, C. modestus No T 229, T. rufalbus No R 003, T. aedon Nos T 128 and T279), around vent ( G. spirurus No T 217 and R. melanurus No T 036), in axilla and surrounding area ( L. pileatus No T 123 and M. schisticolor No T 014), in ear ( L. crassirostris No T 046 and V. olivaceus No T 262), on neck ( A. brunneinucha No T 264), on thigh and rump ( T. rufalbus No R 004), in ear, on flanks and thighs ( C. fuscater No T 258), on leg and flanks ( L. pileatus No T 149), on neck, in axilla and surrounding area, on flanks ( H. leucophrys No T 189).

Material examined. Two larvae ( ZIN 8870, 8871) ex P. lictor No IQ 29 and 1 larva ( ZIN 8872) ex D. fuliginosa No IQ 31, PERU: Iquitos, National Reserve Allpahuayo Mishana, 16 August 2011; 70 larvae (interval of numbers ZIN 9014–9149) ex C. guarayanus Nos PG 369, PG370, PG371 (18 larvae), C. rufus No PG 444 (3 larvae), P. coronata Nos PG 415 and PG461 (2 larvae), T. doliatus Nos PG 394 and PG462 (13 larvae), T. aedon Nos PG 378 and PG442 (13 larvae), T. amaurochalinus Nos PG 326, PG338, PG366, PG447, PG463 (17 larvae), T. rufiventris No PG 368 (3 larvae), Z. capensis No PG 356 (1 larva), PARAGUAY: Tres Gigantes Biological Station, 6–9 September 2012; 11 larvae ( ZIN 9212, 9236–9245) ex T. assimilis Nos LT 006 and LT124, COSTA RICA: Cordillera de Talamanсa, Las Tablas, 18 and 20 August 2010; 1 larva ( ZIN 9223) ex T. grayi No LT 041, Cordillera de Talamanсa, Las Tablas, 19 August 2010; 1 larva ( ZIN 9224) ex P. motacilla No LT 096, Cordillera de Talamanсa, Las Tablas, 20 August 2010; 202 larvae (interval of numbers ZIN 9295–9581) ex A. brunneinucha No T 264 (5 larvae), A. crassirostris Nos T 046 and T 185 (4 larvae), A. albinucha No T 225 (6 larvae), C. fuscater Nos T 060, T 096, T 258, T 314 (40 larvae), C. flavopectus Nos T 241 and T 266 (4 larvae), C. altera No T 353 (4 larvae), E. anneae No T 140 (1 larva), G. spirurus No T 217 (3 larvae), G. guatimalensis No T 125 (10 larvae), H. leucophrys No T 189 (5 larvae), H. leucosticta Nos T 037 and T 063 (16 larvae), L. pileatus Nos T 095, T 123, T 149, T 223 (18 larvae), M. melanops No T 243 (5 larvae), M. miniatus Nos T 175 and T 312 (3 larvae), M. schisticolor Nos T 014, T 097a, T 107, T 190, T 316 (29 larvae), P. brunnescens No T 188 (1 larva), R. melanurus No T 036 (5 larvae), S. mexicanus No T 346 (5 larvae), S. subalaris No T 105b (2 larvae), T. rufobrunneus Nos T 021 and T 184 (5 larvae), C. modestus No T 229 (10 larvae), T. aedon Nos T 128, T 204, T 279 (15 larvae), T. grayi No T 061 (2 larvae), V. olivaceus No T 262 (4 larvae), Tapanti Nat. Park, Sector Tapanti, 31 July–11 August 2009; 9 larvae ( ZIN 9599–9601, 9603–9608) ex L. verreauxi No R 019, Rincón de la Vieja Nat. Park, 16 August 2009; 17 larvae ( ZIN 9582–9598) ex T. rufalbus Nos R 003 and R 004, Rincón de la Vieja Nat. Park, 15 August 2009.

We have also measured three specimens of B. sinnamaryi recorded in our previous study ( Stekolnikov et al. 2007): 1 larva ( ZIN 7067 ) ex Cymbilaimus lineatus (Leach) , COSTA RICA: Barbilla Nat. Park , July 2004 ; 1 larva ( ZIN 7124 ) ex G. spirurus , and 1 larva ( ZIN 7234 ) ex A. spadiceus, Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve , July 2004 .

Variation. Two marginal setae of 3 rd posthumeral row (E) can be attributed to the next row (F) or to ventral setae, depending on a slight variation of the 3 rd row configuration and on the level of engorgement. Consequently, formula of the dorsal idiosomal setae can be written as 2H-6-6-6-2, 2H-6-6-4-4, or 2H-6-6-4-2 (as in the original description).

The sample (10 specimens) collected 10 August 2010 from Catharus fuscater No T 314 in the Tapanti National Park represents a form with a greater scutum, longer setae and legs ( Table 12 ). All other characters of these specimens are identical with those of B. sinnamaryi . This form may be a case of intraspecific size variation or a separate species close to B. sinnamaryi ; based on currently available material, the definite conclusion cannot be drawn out.

Morphometric differences between the samples from Paraguay and Costa Rica (typical form) ( Table 13 ) obviously represent a geographic variation. These differences are definitely lesser than the discrepancy between the typical and large forms of B. sinnamaryi .

Figures

FIGURE 23. Blankaartia sinnamaryi (Floch and Fauran, 1956), specimen ZIN 9014 (one sensillum lost). A—general view, B—dorsal aspect of idiosoma, C—scutum, D—ventral aspect of idiosoma. Scale bars: 100 µm (A), 50 µm (B–D).