Crassacarus melanerpes 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 : 75-76

Crassacarus melanerpes Bochkov , OConnor and Klompen sp. nov.

( Figs. 60–62 )

Description. FEMALE (holotype, 3 paratypes, Figs. 60 , 62 A–J). Body, including gnathosoma, 620 long (600–635) and 535 wide (500–545). Gnathosoma about 135 long and 200 wide. Palp 83 long (80–85) and 65 wide (60–65). Lengths of palpalae ( Fig. 62 A): dF 22–25, dG 26–28, and l”G 35–37. Setae vF about 140 long, serrate. Subcapitulum without ventro-lateral projections. Peritrematal branch about 100 long. Idiosoma 500 long (490– 520). Smooth cuticle between peritrematal branches and transverse striations apunctate. All dorsal setae, excluding smooth h2, serrate. Dorsal shield unornamented, 160 long (155–160) and 365 wide (360–375), trapezoidal in shape, with rounded angles and widely concave anterior and posterior margins. Idiosoma ventrally without scales or verrucosities, finely striated. Coxal fields I and II with membranous fold in posterior part. Lengths of setae: vi, ve, si, se, and c2 135–150, h2 about 160. Solenidia ω 1 I and ω1 II 13–14 long, narrow straight and conical, with rounded apex. Legs I and II with 5 articulated segments. Femora I and II bearing 2 setae, d and v. Genua I and II without setae. Leg III with 2 articulated segments. Basal segment bearing 3 spur-like setae. Apical segment bearing 3 long setae and 2–3 spur-like setae. Leg IV with 3–5 spur-like setae, and 2–3 long setae.

MALE (1 paratype, Figs. 61 , 62 K–M). Body, including gnathosoma, 315 long and 250 wide. Gnathosoma 67 long and 100 wide. Palp 50 long and 45 wide. Palpalae strongly different in length ( Fig. 62 K): dF 25, dG 22, and l”G 20. Setae vF 50 long, serrate. Subcapitulum ventrally as in female. Idiosoma 250 long. Smooth cuticle between peritrematal branches and transverse striations apunctate. Dorsal shield 215 long and 250 wide, with convex anterior and posterior margins. Aedeagus 115 long, straight, situated posterior to genital opening. Genital opening situated in anterior third of dorsal shield. Genital arch 33 long. Genital setae 5–7 long; setae g2 situated almost at same level with setal bases g1. Distance g1–g1 37, g2–g2 50, and g3–g3 42. Setae vi 5–6 long, ve, si, se, and c2 serrate, 83–100 long. Idiosoma ventrally without scales or verrucosities, fully striated. Coxal fields I and II smooth. Leg I and II setation as in female, except genua I and II with 3 setae (d, l’, v’). Solenidia ω 1 I and ω1 II 11–12 long, narrow straight and conical, with rounded apex. Apical segment of leg III with 6 setae; preapical segment with 1 setae. Leg IV with 5 setae.

Type material. Holotype female ( OSAL 0077574), 3 female and 1 male paratypes ( OSAL 0 0 77575, 0 0 77576, 0 0 77581, 0077587) from Melanerpes formicivorus (Swainson) ( Piciformes : Picidae ) [scaly area in ear], USA: Kansas, Johnson Co., Craig, 38.97°N 94.82°W (GNIS-USGS), 10 December 1962, coll. W.W. Moss.

Type deposition. Holotype and most of paratypes in OSAL, 1 female paratype in ZISP.

Additional material. Two males ( OSAL 0 0 77583, 0083603) from Melanerpes formicivorus, USA: Kansas, Douglas Co., Lawrence, 38.97°N 95.24°W (GNIS-USGS), 16 December 1962, coll. W.W. Moss.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the generic name of the host and is a noun in apposition.

Hosts and distribution. Melanerpes formicivorus ( Piciformes : Picidae ) from USA (Kansas) (present paper).

Differential diagnosis. Females of Crassacarus melanerpes sp. nov. differ from all other species of this genus by the short palps being only 1.3 times longer than wide (vs. palps 1.5–1.8 longer than wide), and some setae of legs III and leg IV being short and spur-like (vs. all setae long, filiform).

Figures

FIGURE 60. Crassacarus melanerpes sp. nov., female. A—dorsal view; B—ventral view.

FIGURE 61. Crassacarus melanerpes sp. nov., male. A—dorsal view; B—ventral view.

FIGURE 62. Crassacarus melanerpes sp. nov., details. Female (A – J): A—palpalae; B—palpal tibio-tarsus in ventral view; C—leg I in ventral view; D—tarsus I in dorsal view; E—leg II in ventral view; F—tarsus II in dorsal view; G—solenidion ω 1 I, H—solenidion ω 1 II; I—leg III in ventral view; J—leg IV in ventral view. Male (K – M): K—palpalae; L—solenidion ω 1 I, Msolenidion ω 1 II. Scale bars: A, B, G – J = 50 Μm; C – F = 100 Μm.