Tyranniphyllodes, Hernandes & Valim & Mironov, 2007

Hernandes, Fábio A., Valim, Michel P. & Mironov, Sergey V., 2007, Two new genera and five new species of the feather mite subfamily Proctophyllodinae (Astigmata: Proctophyllodidae) from suboscine birds in Brazil, Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 41 (41 - 44), pp. 2653-2681 : 2655-2659

Family PROCTOPHYLLODIDAE Trouessart and Mégnin, 1884 Subfamily PROCTOPHYLLODINAE Trouessart and Mégnin, 1884

Genus Tyranniphyllodes gen. n.

Type species: Tyranniphyllodes pitangi gen. n., sp. n.

Differential diagnosis

The new genus, Tyranniphyllodes , is most closely similar to the genus Platyacarus in the following features: in males, opisthosomal lobes short and wide, terminal lamellae relatively small (shorter than distance h3: h3), legs III and IV are subequal in size and not hypertrophied, their segments not modified; in both sexes, the prodorsal shield with bluntangular posterior margin. Tyranniphyllodes gen. n. can be readily separated from Platyacarus by the following combination of features: in both sexes, hysteronotal setae d2, e2 and trochanteral setae sRIII are absent; in males, sheath of aedeagus is bifurcated apically, and opisthogastral shield is H-shaped. In males of Platyacarus , the sheath of the aedeagus is ensiform like the aedeagus proper, opisthogastral shield is absent and area between genital apparatus and anal suckers bears two pairs of small sclerites. It is necessary to stress that the absence of setae sRIII is a unique feature of Tyranniphyllodes gen. n. differentiating it from all other genera of Proctophyllodinae ; it is also interesting to note that the H-shaped opisthogastral shield in this genus resembles that in the genus Joubertophyllodes Atyeo and Gaud, 1971 and the pinnatus species group of the genus Proctophyllodes .

Description

Both sexes. Moderately elongated proctophyllodids. Prodorsal shield developed in median part of prodorsum, strongly narrowed in anterior end, with short and acute posterior angles, with blunt-angular posterior margin. Scapular setae si and se arranged in transverse line. Humeral shields rudimentary, represented only by small plate lateral to epimerites III and dorsally not developed. Setae c2 situated ventrally on striated tegument. Epimerites I connected by posterior ends into narrow U. Epimerites IIa straight, not bent to median line. Vertical setae ve, lateral hysteronotal setae d2 and e2 absent. Solenidion S 1 of genu I slightly longer than v 3 on tarsi I, situated in median part of the segment ( Figure 3 ). Setae w a anterior to setae la and ra on legs I and II ( Figures 3, 4 ). Femora II with blunt-angular outer protrusion, other segments of legs I and II without processes and other modifications. Seta sR absent on trochanters III ( Figure 5 ).

Male. Prodorsal shield completely or partly split into anterior and posterior pieces by transverse band of soft tegument ( Figures 1 , 9 ); scapular setae se and si situated on posterior piece. Opisthosomal lobes scarcely expressed; posterior margin of opisthosoma between setae h3 concave and with pair of relatively small tongue-shaped terminal lamellae; dorsal surface of lamellae ornamented. Supranal concavity well developed. Setae h3 setiform, much shorter than macrosetae h2. Setae h1 posterior to level of setae ps2. Coxal fields I– IV open, without extensive sclerotized areas. Genital organ at level of trochanters IV; genital arch large, with widely divergent branches; sheath of aedeagus longer than arch, and bifurcated apically. Opisthogastral shield H-shaped, its transverse branch with median extension directed anteriorly and fused to base of genital sheath, setae g situated on its transverse branch ( Figure 11 ). Genital acetabula at level of genital arch apex. Anal suckers cylindrical, corolla dentate. Setae ps3 on soft tegument of anal field, situated anterior to anal suckers. Pregenital and paragenital plates absent. Opisthoventral shields not developed. Legs III and IV subequal, not hypertrophied. Tarsi IV with apical claw-like process, modified setae d and e button-like ( Figure 6 ).

Female. Prodorsal shield entire. Lobar region of opisthosoma clearly separated from hysterosoma, opisthosomal lobes well developed, straight, with long terminal appendages. Anterior hysteronotal and lobar shields separated by narrow band of striated tegument. Supranal concavity absent. Macrosetae h2 long and setiform. Epigynium horseshoeshaped, large. Translobar sclerites present. Legs III and IV subequal in size; genua III and IV with dorsal crest; solenidia ϕ of tibiae III and IV subequal in length.

Etymology

Contraction of the host family, Tyrannidae , and Proctophyllodes , the type genus of the mite family Proctophyllodidae .

Figures

Figures 3–6. Tyranniphyllodes pitangi gen. n., sp. n., male legs I–IV, dorsal views.

Figures 1, 2. Tyranniphyllodes pitangi gen. n., sp. n., male: dorsal (1) and ventral (2) views. os, opisthogastral shield.

Figures 9–14. Tyranniphyllodes pitangi gen. n., sp. n. (9–11) Male: (9) variation on shape of prodorsal plate in paratype; (10) lobar region in dorsal view; (11) genital region. (12–14) Female: (12) spermatheca; (13, 14) dorsal crests on genua III and IV, respectively. a, aedeagus; ms, median extension; os, opisthogastral shield; pd, primary duct; s.a., sheath of aedeagus; sd, secondary ducts.