Aulobia dendroicae ( Clark, 1964 )

Skoracki, Maciej, Hendricks, Sarah A. & Spicer, Greg S., 2010, Systematics of the ectoparasitic quill mites of the genus Aulobia Kethley, 1970 (Acari: Syringophilidae) with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 2399, pp. 31-41 : 33-36

Aulobia dendroicae ( Clark, 1964)

Syringophilus dendroicae Clark 1964: 86 , Figs 18 and 21 ; Aulobia dendroicae Kethley 1970: 41 , Figs 23 and 24.

Redescription. Female ( Figs 1–8 ). Total body length 690–750. Gnathosoma. Infracapitulum punctate. Hypostomal apex with two pairs of unequal, finger-like lips ( Fig. 3 ). Each transverse branch of peritremes with 3–4 chambers, each longitudinal branch with 12–13 chambers ( Fig. 6 ). Stylophore constricted posteriorly, apunctate, 170–180 long. Movable cheliceral digit dentate, each with two teeth, 130–135 long ( Fig. 4 ). Idiosoma. Propodonotal shield well sclerotized, sparsely punctate at lateral bands, near bases of setae vi, ve and si. Length ratio of setae vi:ve:si 1:1:1–1.2. Setae se and c1 subequal in length and situated at same transverse level. Hysteronotal shield fused to pygidial shield, apunctate, bearing only terminal setae f1, f2, h1 and h2. Setae f2 2.8–2.9 times longer than f1. Setae h2 3.9 times longer than h1. Length ratio of setae f2:h2 1:1.4. Genital setae (g1 and g2) 1.5 times at most longer than pseudanal setae (ps1 and ps2). Genital plate bearing only bases of genital setae ( Fig. 5 ). Length ratio of setae ag1:ag2:ag3 1.1–1.3:1:1.4–1.7. Cuticular striations as in Figs 1 and 2 . Legs. Apodemes I parallel, not fused to apodemes II. Coxal fields I–IV punctate. Setae 3c 2–2.4 times longer than 3b. Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 7–8 tines ( Fig. 8 ). Setae tc’ and tc” of legs III and IV subequal in length. Solenidia of leg I as in Fig. 7 . Lengths of setae: vi 30–40; ve 35–40; si 30–50; se 195–215; c1 205–225; c2 195–225; d1 190–220; d2 170–205; e 160–180; f1 65–75; f2 195–215; h1 70–75; h2 270; ps1 and ps 2 25–30; g1 and g2 50–55; ag1 75–80; ag2 60–70; ag3 90–105; 3b 30–35; 3c 70–85; sc3 40–45; sc4 30; tc’III– IV 40–50; tc” III–IV 45–60.

Male ( Figs 9–13 ). Total body length 495. Gnathosoma. Infracapitulum sparsely punctate. Hypostomal apex rounded without finger-like lips. Stylophore rounded posteriorly, apunctate, 155 long. Movable cheliceral digit edentate, 120 long. Each transverse branch of peritremes with 3 chambers, each longitudinal branch with 10–11 chambers ( Fig. 9 ). Idiosoma. Propodonotal shield weakly sclerotized, sparsely punctate at bases of setae ve and si, concave on anterior margin. Length ratio of setae vi:ve:si 1:1:1. Setae se situated anterior to level of setae c1, both setae subequal in length. Hysteronotal shield fused to pygidial shield, apunctate, weakly sclerotized in middle part, bases of setae d1 and e set on this shield. Setae d1, d2 and e subequal in length. Setae h 2.8 times longer than f. Genital setae g1 located anterior to level of setae g2 ( Fig. 10 ). Both aggenital setae (ag1 and ag2) subequal in length. Cuticular striations as in Figs 12 and 13 . Legs. Apodemes I divergent, not fused to apodemes II. Coxal fields I–IV sparsely punctate. Setae 3c 1.8 times longer than 3b. Fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III and IV with 8 tines ( Fig. 11 ). Setae tc’ and tc” of legs III and IV subequal in length. Lengths of setae: vi 20; ve 20; si 20; se 95; c1 95; c2 80; d1 20; d2 20; e 20; f 20; h 55; ag1 30; ag3 35; 3b 20; 3c 35; sc3 and sc4 20; tc’III–IV and tc” III–IV 30.

Remarks. This species was described originally from the Yellow Rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata (Linnaeus) ( Passeriformes : Parulidae ) in the U.S. A (Maryland) ( Clark 1964). In 1970, Kethley moved it to Aulobia as type species for this genus. Because Clark’s diagnosis of this taxon is not sufficient, below we give a redescription of A. dendroicae based on the material from the type host species from the USA. Additionally, we give a new host record for this species, the Black-throated Gray Warbler Dendroica nigrescens (Townsend) also from the USA.

Material examined. From quills of secondaries of the Yellow Rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata (Linnaeus) ( Passeriformes : Parulidae ): 7 females, 1 male and 6 nymphs; USA, California, Riverside Co., 6 April 2006, coll. G. Spicer, GSS#2220. From the same host species: 4 females; USA, Texas, Johnson Co., Garen Ranch, 20 March 2004, coll. G. Spicer, GSS#1547 (Ls4). From the same host species: 1 female; USA; Texas, Johnson Co., Garen Ranch, 21 March 2004, coll. G. Spicer, GSS#1379 (Rs5).

From secondary quill of the Black-throated Gray Warbler Dendroica nigrescens (Townsend) (Parulidae) (new host): 3 females and 3 nymphs; USA, California, Riverside Co., 6 April 2006, coll. G. Spicer, GSS#1790.

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 21. Aulobia cardueli sp. nov. Female. 16, hypostomal apex; 17, peritreme; 18, fan-like seta p’ of leg III. Male. 19, fan-like seta p’ of leg III; 20, peritreme; 21, genito-anal region.

FIGURES 22, 23. Aulobia cardueli sp. nov. Male. 22, dorsal view; 23, ventral view.

FIGURES 1, 2. Aulobia dendroicae (Clark, 1964). Female. 1, dorsal view; 2, ventral view.

FIGURES 3 – 11. Aulobia dendroicae (Clark, 1964). Female. 3, hypostomal apex; 4, chelicerae; 5, posterior part of opisthosoma in ventral view; 6, peritreme; 7, solenidia of leg I; 8, fan-like seta p’ of leg III. Male. 9, peritreme; 10, genito-anal region; 11, fan-like seta p’ of leg III. Scale bars 20 μm (Figs 3 - 7 and 9 - 11), 50 μm (Fig. 8).

FIGURES 12, 13. Aulobia dendroicae (Clark, 1964). Male. 12, dorsal view; 13, ventral view.