Pteroherpus meghalayensis Constantinescu

Constantinescu, Ioana Cristina, Chişamera, Gabriel, Mukhim, Khlur B. & Adam, Costică, 2014, Two new feather mite species of the family Pteronyssidae (Acarina: Analgoidea) from Meghalaya (Northeast India), Zootaxa 3774 (4), pp. 351-366 : 359-364

Pteroherpus meghalayensis Constantinescu sp. nov.

( Figs. 6–10)

Description. MALE (holotype, range measurements for 5 paratypes in parentheses, Figs. 6–7) Idiosoma 385 long (370–390), 190 wide (180–200). Prodorsal shield with posterolateral angles not expressed, lateral margins with incisions around bases of setae se, posterior margin straight, 115 long (105–120) and 100 (95–105) wide, surface with granular ornamentation, distance between setae se–se 85 (80–85). Setae c2 filiform 20 (25–30) long, setae c3 lanceolate 32 (35–40) long. Prodorsal and hysteronotal shields separated by large area with transverse striae, distance between this shields along midline 50 (40–65). Hysteronotal shield entire, not encompassing bases of setae c1, with rounded anterior angles, with slightly convex and rough anterior margin, and with shallow incisions on lateral margins at level of humeral shields, greatest length 210 (195–215), width at anterior margin 110 (110– 125). Opisthosomal lobes short and rounded, terminal cleft U–shaped, 25 (25–40) long. Supranal concavity opened posteriorly, anterior end extending slightly above level of setae f2. Distal, inner and lateral margins of lobes with narrow entire membrane, width of opisthosoma at level of setae f2 85 (80–85). Dorsal setae e1 situated posterior to openings gl. Lengths of dorsal setae: d2 14 (15–20), e2 26 (26–35). Dorsal measurements: c2-d2 70 (62–70), d2- e2 95 (90–100), d2-gl 30 (24–30), e2-h2 50 (45–55), h2-h2 60 (55–70), h3-h3 50 (40–50), ps1-h3 15 (10–15). Transventral sclerite with nearly straight anterior margins in the middle area, and fused with epiandrum, length along midline 10 (9–10). Epiandrum long, completely encompassing genital apparatus, tips of epiandrum thin, extending beyond level of setae 4a. Genital apparatus very long, 68 (68–80) in length, 20 (20–25) in width, aedeagus minute, much shorter than genital apparatus. Seatae 4a and g approximately at same level. Diameter of anal suckers 20 (20–30). Adanal shield having a T or cross-shape, poorly sclerotized. Ventral measurements: 3a-4a 55 (55–65), g-4a 16 (16–25), g-ps3 66 (66–75), ps3-ps3 24 (25–30), ps3-h3 46 (46–55). Tarsus III 56 (65–70) long, with narrow bidentate apex, seta r slightly longer than segment ( Fig. 10 C). Tarsus IV shorter than tibia IV, setae d and e with apical caps, close to each other, situated near apex of segment ( Fig. 10 D).

FEMALE (1 paratype, Figs. 8–9 ). Idiosoma 440 long, 80 wide. Prodorsal shield as in male, 135 long, 105 wide, distance se:se 80. Setae c2 filiform, 20 long; setae c3 lanceolate, 40 long. Arrangement of hysteronotal shields: unpaired anterior hysteronotal sclerite, central sclerite, pair of lateral opisthosomal sclerites and pair of pygidial sclerites. Anterior hysteronotal sclerite represented by transverse plate narrowed in median part, with all margins irregular, with anterior margin strongly concave, encompassing bases of setae c1, c2. Anterior hysteronotal sclerite and central sclerite separated by narrow band of soft tegument with 5 striae. Central sclerite of complicate form: ( Fig. 8 ), attenuated posteriorly, anterior margin straight, posterior end roughly romb-like, length along midline 120 and width at anterior margin 75; setae e1 off this sclerite. Lateral opisthosomal sclerites represented by plates of irregular form, bearing setae e2, openings gl situated in antero-median margin of these shields, surface with 5 oblique striae. Pygidial sclerites small, roughly triagular shape, encompassing bases of setae h2, h3 and ps1; seta f2 inserted laterally, on soft tegument. Subhumeral seta c3 slightly curved, longer than trochanter III, 32 long. Dorsal measurements: c2-d2 115, d2- e2 90, e2-h3 85, d2-gl 75, e1-gl 50, h2-ps1 20, h2-h2 75, h3-h3 60.

Type material: Male holotype (ANA084), 5 male (ANA086–ANA090) and 1 female (ANA085) paratypes, from Hemixos flavala Blyth ( Passeriformes : Pycnonotidae ); INDIA: Meghalaya, East Jaintia Hills District, the region of Khahnar village, 25°21'57.30"N, 92°36'51.72"E, 6 February 2013, coll. C. Adam.

Differential diagnosis. Pteroherpus meghalayensis sp. nov. belongs to the hoplophorus species group ( Mironov & Wauthy 2008). Males of this species-group have a prodorsal shield with a short posterior part, and a bluntly rounded posterior margin, the posterolateral angles are not expressed, and the distance from the anterior margin of this shield to the level of the setae se is equal with the distance between the bases of these setae. The opisthosomal lobes are short and wide, the posterior margin is bluntly rounded, the terminal cleft is U-shaped, and the setae ps2 are filiform. The female has an unpaired anterior hysteronotal sclerite, and the opisthosomal sclerite are whole and separated from the central sclerite. The male of Pteroherpus meghalayensis is distinguished from all other species of the genus due to a very long genital apparatus and the unusual length of the branches of the epiandrum extending beyond the base of the genital apparatus. Among previously described species of the genus, Pteroherpus meghalayensis sp. nov. is closest to P. chlorocichlae Mironov and Wauthy, 2008 because the hysteronotal shield and the opisthosomal lobes in male have a similar shape and there is also a similar arrangement of the hysterosomal shields in females (unpaired anterior hysteronotal sclerite as transverse plate, central sclerite, lateral opisthosomal sclerites and pygidial sclerites). The male of the new species is distinguished from P. chlorocichlae due to the following features: the absence of the dorsal additional small sclerites, the transventral sclerite with a straight anterior margin, the extension of the tips of epiandrum beyond the basis of the genital apparatus, the extreme length of the genital apparatus (68-80), and the T or cross-shape of adanal shield. In males of P. chlorocichlae , a pair of very small additional sclerites is present near the posterior end of the prodorsal shield, the transventral sclerite has concave anterior margins, the branches of epiandrum extend to the midlevel of the genital apparatus, the genital apparatus length is 25, and the adanal shield has a distinctly concave anterior margin. Females of P. meghalayensis differ from those of P. chlorocichlae due to the shape of the anterior hysteronotal and central sclerites; the anterior hysteronotal sclerite has an irregular margin and the central sclerite has a rhomboid shape in the posterior half, while in P. chlorocichlae , the anterior hysteronotal sclerite has a straight margin and the central sclerite is almost parallel-sided and only in the posterior half is rounded.

Etymology. The specific name meghalayensis refers to the state of Meghalaya where the mite was collected.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Pteroherpus meghalayensis sp. nov., female idiosoma, dorsal view.

FIGURE 9. Pteroherpus meghalayensis sp. nov., female idiosoma, ventral view.

FIGURE 10. Pteroherpus meghalayensis sp. nov., male legs. A—tarsus I, dorsal view, B—tarsus I, ventral view, C—tarsus III, dorsal view, D—tarsus IV, dorsal view.