Protolichus placentis, Mironov, Sergey V., Ehrnsberger, Rainer & Dabert, Jacek, 2014

Mironov, Sergey V., Ehrnsberger, Rainer & Dabert, Jacek, 2014, New species of the feather mite genus Protolichus Trouessart, 1884 (Astigmata, Pterolichidae) from lories and lorikeets (Aves: Psittaciformes), Zootaxa 3774 (2), pp. 131-151 : 137-139

Protolichus placentis sp. n.

( Figs. 4 C, D, 5, 6)

Type material. Heteromorph male holotype, 2 heteromorph male and 1 homeomorph male paratypes (AMU 01752) from Charmosyna placentis (Temminck, 1835) , Indonesia, Obi Archipelago, 19 September 1853, no other data ( UMB 257).

Type depository. Holotype and all paratypes—AMU.

Description. Heteromorph male (holotype, range for 2 paratypes in parentheses). Idiosoma, length × width, 568 (570–593) × 283 (282–298). Subcapitulum with posterior margin convex, postero-lateral parts with oblique curved folds, area around bases of setae subc not outlined ( Fig. 6 A). Prodorsal shield with posterior margin slightly convex, length 164 (150–165), surface monotonously punctate except transverse band at level of scapular setae. Setae si spiculiform, 37 (35–40) long. Distance between scapular setae: se:se 67 (62–67), si:si 32 (30–34). Hysterosoma 410 (420–432) long. Length of hysteronotal shield: 405 (410–415), greatest width 250 (220–250), anterior margin straight, surface monotonously punctate. Opisthosomal lobes slightly divergent, acute apically, postero-lateral margin oblique, dorsal surface of lobes with small transverse crests posterior to base h3 ( Figs. 4 C, 5A). Terminal cleft as a inverted rounded V, 70 (68–72) long, 30 (30–34) in width at level of setae e1. Setae c2 spiculiform, 53 (lost in paratypes) long; setae d2 filiform, 28 (26–32) long; setae e2 thick, represented by macrosetae without filiform apices, 145 (145–150) long, extending slightly beyond lobar apices. Setae e1 filiform, situated on median margins of terminal cleft, approximately at level of macrosetae h2. Setae f2 spatuliform, with oblique bidentate apex ( Fig. 4 C). Distance between dorsal setae: c2:d2 144 (135–144), d2:e2 150 (155–162), e2:h3 80 (78–80), e2:e2 120 (118–123), h2:h2 80 (80–86), h3:h3 73 (80–85), ps1:ps1 50 (55–60), e2:h2 57 (54–58), h2:h3 26 (22–26), ps1:h3 15 (14–16). Genital apparatus 28 (28–310) × 19 (15–19), its base at midlevel of trochanters IV. Paragenital apodemes with anterior ends free from inner tips of epimerites IIa, but connected with epimerites IIIa, middle parts of these apodemes connected by wide but poorly sclerotized transverse bridge ( Fig. 5 B). Distance between ventral setae: 3b:3a 10 (9–12), 3a:g 27 (26–28), g:4a 64 (64–70), 4a:ps3 125 (117–125). Diameter of anal suckers 20 (19–20).

Legs II approximately 1.5 times longer than legs I. Tarsus I with crest-like ventral extension stretching along whole segment, proximal end of this extension widely rounded ( Figs. 6 B, C). Tibia and genu I without apophyses but with some ventral verrucae. Femora I with longitudinal ventral crest and with ventral spine in distal part. Tarsus II with large ventral tubercle bearing seta ra and wa ( Figs. 6 D, E). Tibiae II with long and high dorsal crest and with verrucous thumb like ventral process. Solenidia φ of tibiae I, II verrucous. Seta cG of genu II flattened, bladelike, 70 (70–75) long, approximately 1.4–1.5 times longer than segment; anterior part of genu II with short dorsal crest, ventral surface verrucous. Genu II with verrucous ventral side posterior to setae mG. Femur II with small and acute dorsal spine and with longitudinal ventral crest. Setae d, e of tarsus IV spiculiform, with distinct basal ring ( Fig. 6 F).

Homeomorph male (1 paratype). Subcapitulum with posterior margin convex, with short oblique folds in postero-lateral angles ( Fig. 6 G). Terminal cleft between opisthosomal lobes very narrow, margins bearing setae e1 nearly touching; dorsal surface of lobes posterior to base h3 without small transverse crests ( Fig. 4 D). Setae f2 narrowly spatuliform, with bidentate apices. Anterior ends of paragenital apodemes free from epimerites IIa and IIIa; transverse bridge between middle parts of paragenital apodemes not developed.

Legs II about 1.2 times longer than legs I. Tarsi I, II with blunt-angular ventral margin. Tibiae I with small apico-ventral spine in anterior part ( Figs. 6 H, I). Seta cG of genu II thickened, with narrow membranous enlargement in basal part, 50 long, approximately 1.3 times longer than segment. Other segments of legs I, II not modified.

Measurements: Idiosoma, length × width, 440 × 254. Prodorsal shield: length 140. Setae si 30 long. Distance between scapular setae: se:se 66, si:si 35. Hysterosoma 360 long. Hysteronotal shield: greatest length 345, greatest width 222, length of terminal cleft 58, width at level of setae ps1 9. Lateral setae c2 45 long; setae d2 12 long; setae e2 thick, represented by macrosetae 103 long. Distances between dorsal setae: c2:d2 125, d2:e2 130, e2:h3 90, e2: e1 54, e2:e2 110, h2:h2 54, h3:h3 42, ps1:ps1 27, e2:h2 50, h2:h3 21, ps1:h3 14. Genital apparatus 27 × 20. Distance between ventral setae: 3b:3a 7, 3a:g 26, g:4a 58, 4a:ps3 108. Diameter of anal suckers 18.

Female unknown.

Differential diagnosis. The new species belongs to the crassior group and is most similar to P. casuarinus Trouessart, 1884 by having a blade-shaped seta cG II, a dorsal crest on genu II, and a long ventral process on tibia II in heteromorph males. The new species differs from P. casuarinus by the following features. In both male forms of P. placentis , setae e2 are relatively long and definitely extend beyond the lobar apices; in heteromorph males, femur I has an acute ventral spine in the distal part of the segment and a ventral longitudinal crest strongly enlarged proximally, and the ventral extension of tibia II is thumb-like, rounded apically, with a verrucous ventral side; in homeomorph males, the subcapitulum has oblique folds, slightly smaller than in heteromorph males. In both male forms of P. casuarinus , setae e2 are shorter and do not extend to the level of the lobar apices; in heteromorph males, femur I does not have a ventral spine and the ventral longitudinal crest is narrow, and the ventral extension of tibia II is claw-shaped, acute apically and smooth; in homeomorph males, the subcapitulum lacks oblique folds and bears wavy transverse striae on the ventral surface.

Etymology. The specific epithet was taken from the specific name of the type host.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Dorsal view of male opisthosoma of Protolichus ornatus sp. n. (A, B) and Protolichus placentis sp. n. (C, D). A, C—heteromorph males, B, D—homeomorph males.

FIGURE 5. Protolichus placentis sp. n., heteromorph male. A—dorsal view, B— ventral view.

FIGURE 6. Protolichus placentis sp. n., details of male. A—subcapitulum of heteromorph male, ventral view, B—leg I of heteromorph male, dorsal view, C—leg I of heteromorph male, ventral view, D—leg II of heteromorph male, dorsal view, E – leg II of heteromorph male, ventral view, F—tarsus IV of heteromorph male, dorsal view, G—subcapitulum of homeomorph male, ventral view, H—leg I of homeomorph male, dorsal view, I—leg II of homeomorph male, dorsal view.