Protolichus pulchellae, 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 : 141-144

Protolichus pulchellae sp. n.

( Figs. 7 , 8 , 9 A)

Type material. Heteromorph male holotype, 1 heteromorph male and 1 female paratype (AMU 01753) from Charmosyna pulchella (Gray GR, 1859), New Guinea, 9 November 1909, leg. Fritsche ( UMB 10967). Type depository. Holotype and all paratypes—AMU.

Description. Heteromorph male (holotype, measurements for 1 paratype in parentheses). Idiosoma, length × width, 548 (550) × 313 (295). Subcapitulum with posterior margin convex, with extending postero-lateral angles, widest part crossed by strong bow-shaped transverse fold, area bearing setae subc outlined laterally by small bowshaped folds ( Fig. 8 A). Prodorsal shield with posterior margin slightly convex, length 156 (158), surface monotonously punctate except transverse band at level of scapular setae. Setae si spiculiform, 45 (44) long. Distance between scapular setae: se:se 65 (62), si:si 37 (35). Hysterosoma 384 (390) long. Length of hysteronotal shield: 373 (388), greatest width 236 (238), anterior margin straight, surface monotonously punctate. Opisthosomal lobes divergent, terminal margin obliquely cut, dorsal surface of lobes with small transverse crests posterior to setae h3 ( Figs.7 A). Terminal cleft as inverted rounded V, 62 (60) long, 36 (42) in width at level of setae e1. Setae c2 spiculiform, 31 (27) long; setae d2 filiform, 20 (15–19) long; setae e2 thick, represented by macrosetae without filiform terminal part, 97 (88–105) long, extending to lobar apices. Setae e1 filiform, situated on median margins of terminal cleft, approximately at level of macrosetae h2. Setae f2 lanceolate. Distance between dorsal setae: c2:d2 130 (135), d2:e2 142 (136), e2:h3 70 (75), e2:e2 108 (115), h2:h2 75 (73), h3:h3 72 (75), ps1:ps1 48 (53), e2:h2 50 (53), h2:h3 22 (24), h2: e1 8(6), ps1:h3 15 (12). Genital apparatus 28 (27) × 18 (22), its base at midlevel of trochanters IV. Paragenital apodemes with anterior ends free from inner tips of epimerites IIa and IIIa, middle parts of apodemes (between level of setae 4a and anal field) connected by narrow and poorly sclerotized transverse bridge ( Fig. 7 B). Distance between ventral setae: 3b:3a 14 (20), 3a:g 25 (27), g:4a 77 (70), 4a:ps3 91 (96). Diameter of anal suckers 18 (18.5).

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 rounded ( Figs. 8 B, C). Tibia and genu I without apophyses. Femur I with longitudinal ventral crest. Tarsus II with large apico-ventral tubercle bearing setae ra, wa ( Figs. 8 D, E). Tibiae II without apophyses. Solenidia φ of tibia I, II verrucous. Seta cG of genu II in proximal part strongly thickened, approximately 2.5 times longer than segment, smooth basally and sparsely verrucous in distal part. Femur II with small and rounded dorsal spine in distal part ( Fig. 8 E). Setae d, e of tarsus IV spiculiform, with distinct basal ring ( Fig. 8 F).

Homeomorph male unknown.

Female (paratypes). Gnathosoma with strongly convex posterior margin, median part with faint transverse striae. Idiosoma, length × width, 445 × 235. Posterior margin of prodorsal shield straight, length 117, surface monotonously punctate except transverse band at level of scapular setae. Setae si spine-like, 29–30 long. Distance between scapular setae se:se 72, si:si 44. Hysterosoma 323 long. Length of hysteronotal shield 320, width 227, anterior margin slightly concave, surface monotonously punctuate, median area with very faint cell-like pattern; subtegumental sclerotized bars in postero-lateral parts of opisthosoma narrow, extending to midlevel between cupules im and setae e2 ( Fig. 9 A). Sclerotized area surrounding copulatory opening shaped as square inverted U. Setae c2, d2 filiform, short; setae e2 thick, with very narrow membranous extension in basal half; setae f2 and ps2 slightly flattened in medial part, without additional subapical spines; setae e1 situated at levels of cupules im; setae ps1 short, shorter than distance between setae h3. Length of hysteronotal setae: c2 15, d2 8, e2 70, f2 45, ps2 50. Distance between setae: c2:d2 125, d2:e2 138, e2:h3 54, e2:e2 145, h2:h2 70, ps1:ps1 27. Epigynum bow-shaped, short, 17 × 72. Setae mG of genu I, II setiform.

Differential diagnosis. This species belongs to the crassior group and is most similar to P. gratus by having rod-like thickened basally setae cG of genu II and dorsal spine on femur II in heteromorph males. The new species differs from P. gratus by the following features. In heteromorph males of P. pulchellae , the subcapitulum is crossed by an entire bow-shaped fold going from one postero-lateral angle to another, tibia II has no ventral process, and the dorsal spine of femur II is short and rounded; in females, setae ps1 are extremely short, filiform and do not exceed the distance between setae h3, setae f2 have no additional spines on their lateral margin, and setae e2 have a narrow membranous enlargement in their basal half. In heteromorph males of P. gratus , the subcapitulum has oblique bow-shaped folds in its postero-lateral angles, tibia II bears a large verrucous ventral tubercle, and the dorsal spine of femur II is acute; in females, setae ps1 are longer than the distance between setae h2 and have an additional spine in their basal part, setae f2 have an additional spine on their lateral margin, and setae e2 are thick, setiform and have no membranous enlargement.

Etymology. The specific epithet derives from the specific name of the type host and is a noun in the genitive case.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Protolichus pulchellae sp. n., heteromorph male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.

FIGURE 8. Protolichus pulchellae sp. n., details of heteromorph male. A—subcapitulum, ventral view, B—leg I, dorsal view, C—leg I, ventral view, D—leg II, dorsal view, E—leg II, ventral view, F—tarsus IV, dorsal view.

FIGURE 9. Protolichus females, dorsal view. A— Protolichus pulchellae sp. n., B— Protolichus lorinus sp. n.