Crassacarus fritschi Bochkov

Bochkov, Andre V, Oconnor, Barry M. & Klompen, Hans, 2015, A review of the mite subfamily Harpirhynchinae (Acariformes: Harpirhynchidae) — parasites of New World birds (Aves: Neognathae), Zootaxa 4023 (1), pp. 1-130 : 71-72

Crassacarus fritschi Bochkov , OConnor and Klompen sp. nov.

( Figs. 56 , 57 )

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Body, including gnathosoma, 535 long and 415 wide. Gnathosoma about 135 long and 165 wide. Palp 85 long and 47 wide. Lengths of palpalae ( Fig. 57 A): dF 44, dG 27, and l”G 29. Setae vF 100 long, smooth. Subcapitulum with 1 pair of ventro-lateral projections. Peritrematal branch 105 long. Idiosoma 405 long. Smooth cuticle between peritrematal branches and transverse striations apunctate. Setae h2 smooth, other dorsal setae serrate. Dorsal shield unornamented, 165 long and 335 wide, trapezoidal in shape, with rounded angles, widely concave anterior margin and almost straight posterior margin. Idiosoma ventrally without scales or verrucosities, distinctly striated. Coxal fields I and II with weakly developed soft posterior lobe. Lengths of setae: vi, ve, si, se, and c2 135–150, h2 110. Solenidia ω 1 I and ω 1 II 9–10 long, narrow straight and conical, with rounded apex. Legs I and II with 5 articulated segments (femur and genu separated). Femora I and II bearing 2 setae, d and v; genua I and II bearing 1 seta l’. Leg III with 2 articulated segments, basal segment with 1 seta, apical segment with 4/6 setae. Leg IV with 5 setae.

MALE. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype female ( UMMZ BMOC 08-1110-002, #1), 1 female paratype [strongly damaged] ( UMMZ BMOC 08-1110-002, #2) from Bombycilla cedrorum Vieillot ( Passeriformes : Bombycillidae ) ( UMMZ 241853) [on head], USA: Michigan, Muskegon Co., Muskegon State game Area, along US route 31, 43.2961989°N, 86.0668945°W, 11 July 2008, coll. R.A. Wolinski.

Type deposition. Holotype and paratype in UMMZ.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to the late German acarologist, Dr. W. Fritsch author of an important early work on Harpirhynchidae .

Hosts and distribution. Bombycilla cedrorum ( Passeriformes : Bombycillidae ) from USA (Michigan) (present paper).

Differential diagnosis. Females of Crassacarus fritschi sp. nov. (males unknown) are close to those of C. sialia sp. nov. (see below) in having strongly elongated palps, four-segmented legs I and II, and two-segmented legs III. Females of these species differ from each other by the following features. In C. fritschi sp. nov., setae vF are smooth (vs. serrate in C. sialia sp. nov.), setae h2 are 110 long (vs. 60–70), genua I and II bear one seta each (l’) (vs. without setae), leg III is with 4–6 setae (vs. 7 setae), and leg IV is with 5 setae (vs. 7 setae).

Figures

FIGURE 56. Crassacarus fritschi sp. nov., female. A—dorsal view; B—ventral view.

FIGURE 57. Crassacarus fritschi sp. nov., details of female. A—palp in dorsal view; B—leg I in ventral view; C—tarsus I in dorsal view; D—leg II in ventral view; E—tarsus II in dorsal view.