Protolichus lorinus, 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 : 144-147

Protolichus lorinus sp. n.

( Figs. 9 B, 10, 11)

Type material. Heteromorph male holotype, 1 heteromorph male and 6 female paratypes (AMU 01754) from Lorius lory erythrothorax ( Salvadori, 1877) , New Guinea, 1905, leg. Mayer ( UMB 13187).

Type depository. Holotype and all paratypes—AMU.

Additional material. 1 heteromorph male and 1 female (AMU 01755) from Lorius garrulus flavopalliatus ( Salvadori, 1877) , no other data.

Description. Heteromorph male (holotype, measurements 1 paratype in parentheses). Idiosoma, length × width, 673 (686) × 398 (405). Subcapitulum enlarged posteriorly, with posterior margin convex, postero-lateral angles crossed by oblique folds and median part crossed by short transverse fold, bases of setae subc outlined posteriorly by small bow-shaped folds ( Fig. 11 A). Prodorsal shield with posterior margin straight, length 200 (203), surface monotonously punctate except transverse band at level of scapular setae. Setae si in paratype spiculiform, 57 long in paratype (lost in holotype). Distance between scapular setae: se:se 80 (82), si:si 45 (50). Hysterosoma 470 (480) long. Length of hysteronotal shield: 465 (475), greatest width 295 (305), anterior margin straight, surface monotonously punctate. Opisthosomal lobes slightly divergent, postero-lateral margin oblique, dorsal surface of lobes with well pronounced transverse crests ( Figs. 10 A, B). Terminal cleft as a rounded inverted V, 90 (87) long, 40 (43) wide at level of setae e1. Setae c2 spiculiform, 58 (70) long; setae d2 filiform, 26 (34) long; setae e2 thick represented by macrosetae without filiform terminal part, 120 (135–138) long, extending slightly beyond lobar apices. Setae e1 filiform, situated on median margins of terminal cleft, slightly posterior to level of macrosetae h2. Setae f2 spatuliform, with bidentate apex. Distance between dorsal setae: c2:d2 148 (158), d2:e2 168 (180), e2:h3 90 (93), e2:e2 134 (140), h2:h2 102 (105), h3:h3 98 (103), ps1:ps1 68 (70), e2:h2 67(65), h2:h3 30(30), h2: e1 10(9), ps1:h3 12 (14). Genital apparatus 28 (34) × 18 (19), its base at midlevel of trochanters IV. Paragenital apodemes with anterior ends free from inner tips of epimerites IIa and IIIa, terminal parts of these apodemes connected by very thin transverse bridge ( Fig. 10 C). Distance between ventral setae: 3b:3a 17 (16), 3a:g 30 (35), g:4a 78 (76), 4a:ps3 120 (125). Diameter of anal suckers 24 (23).

Legs II approximately 1.5 times longer and more massive than legs I. Tarsus I with crest-like ventral extension stretching along whole segment, proximal angle of this extension rounded ( Figs. 11 B, C). Tibia I with without apophysis. Setae cG of genu I spiculiform. Femur I, with spine-like extension in distal part and with longitudinal ventral crest strongly enlarged in posterior part. Tarsus II with convex, strongly sclerotized and tuberculated anterodorsal part and with roughly rectangular ventral extension bearing setae ra, wa and s ( Fig. 11 D). Tibiae II with large claw-like ventral extension curved anterior and forming a chela-like structure with corresponding tarsus; dorsal part of this tibia with high longitudinal crest. Solenidia φ of tibiae I, II verrucous. Genu II with high dorsal crest; seta cG II blade-shaped, 95 (103) long, about 1.5 times longer than segment. Femur II with small acute spine on dorso-lateral side. Setae d, e of tarsus IV spiculiform, with poorly sclerotized basal ring ( Fig. 11 E).

Homeomorph male unknown.

Female (6 paratypes). Gnathosoma with strongly convex posterior margin and with extended postero-lateral angles, ventral surface with transverse striae ( Fig. 11 F). Idiosoma, length × width, 490–525 × 290–314. Posterior margin of prodorsal shield straight, length along midline 138–144, surface monotonously punctate except transverse band at level of scapular setae. Setae si spiculiform, 40–44 long. Distance between scapular setae se:se 97–103, si:si 58–63. Hysterosoma 350–378 long. Length of hysteronotal shield 332–375, width 257–280, anterior margin straight, most of surface monotonously punctuate, posterior part of dorsal opisthosoma with several poorly expressed circular or ovate lacunae, subtegumental sclerotized bars in postero-lateral parts of opisthosoma extending to setae e2 ( Fig. 9 B). Sclerotized area surrounding copulatory opening shaped as a thick inverted U. Setae c2, d2 filiform; setae e2 thick setiform, setae ps2 setiform, setae f2 with narrow membranous expansion and with small spine on its outer margin; setae e1 situated between level of cupules im; setae ps1 long, about half the width of the hysterosoma, with membranous enlargement and additional spine in basal part. Length of hysteronotal setae: c 2 27–29, d 2 14–20, e2 115–120, f2 50–60, ps2 60–67. Distance between setae: c2:d2 135–142, d2:e2 136– 152, e2:h3 74–83, e2:e2 170–188, h2:h2 88–98, ps1:ps1 38–45. Epigynum bow-shaped, short, 15–20 × 48–58. Setae mG of genu I, II filiform.

Differential diagnosis. The new species is most similar to P. casuarius by having a large claw-like ventral extension on tibia II, blade-shaped genual setae cG II, and longitudinal dorsal crests on tibia and genu II. The new species differs from that species by the following features. In heteromorph males, the opisthosomal lobes are noticeably divergent and the terminal cleft is wide (40–45 at midlevel), femur I bears an acute ventral spine in its distal part, and setae e2 extend to the level of the lobar apices; in females, the posterior end of the dorsal opisthosoma bears several small ovate lacunae, setae ps1 are distinctly longer than the distance between setae h2 and have a membranous expansion and a thin spine-like extension in their basal part. In heteromorph males of P. casuarius , the opisthosomal lobes are almost parallel-sided and close to each other, and the terminal cleft is narrower (14–25 in wide posterior to setae e1), the distal part of femur I does not bear a ventral spine, and setae e2 do not extend to the level of the lobar apices; in females, the posterior end of the dorsal opisthosoma is without lacunae, and setae ps1 are simple setiform and distinctly shorter than the distance between setae h2.

Etymology. The specific epithet derives from the generic name of the type host and is an adjective (masculine gender).

Figures

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

FIGURE 10. Protolichus lorinus sp. n., heteromorph male. A—dorsal view, B—opisthosoma, dorsal view, C—opisthosoma and genital area, ventral view.

FIGURE 11. Protolichus lorinus sp. n., details. 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—tarsus IV of heteromorph male, dorsal view, F—subcapitulum of female, ventral view.