Abstract
A new quill mite species Torotrogla paenae n. sp. (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) parasitising the Kalahari scrub-robin Cercotrichas paena (Smith) (Passeriformes: Muscicapidae) in Namibia is described based on the external morphology and DNA barcode data (the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 sequences, cox1). Females of T. paenae n. sp. morphologically differ from the most similar species T. lusciniae Skoracki, 2004 by the total body length (780–830 vs 645–715 µm in T. lusciniae) and the presence of hysteronotal shields (vs absence), apunctate propodonotal and pygidial shields (vs punctate), apunctate coxal fields (vs punctate), the fan-like setae p’ and p” of legs III–IV provided with c.10 tines (vs 14–15) and the length of setae si (140–180 vs 190–210 µm) and se (160–185 vs 210–225 µm). The male of T. paenae n. sp. morphologically differs from T. lusciniae by the lateral branch of peritremes composed of 4 chambers (vs 7–8 chambers) and lengths of setae ve (45 vs 70–75 µm) and se (120 vs 165 µm).
Highlights
Quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) are tiny, permanent bird ectoparasites inhabiting quills of feathers
Torotrogla has been represented by 18 species associated with several groups of passeriform hosts (35 species and 14 families) (Glowska et al, 2015a, b; Skoracki et al, 2016; Zmudzinski & Skoracki, 2017). This genus is in the field of molecular research interests, because of the phenotypic plasticity observed in T. merulae and T. rubeculi and due to its species being hosts for endosymbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia Hertig & Burt 1924
All this indicates that basic systematic studies on quill mites, whenever possible, should be extended with DNA data
Summary
Quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) are tiny, permanent bird ectoparasites inhabiting quills of feathers. Torotrogla has been represented by 18 species associated with several groups of passeriform hosts (35 species and 14 families) (Glowska et al, 2015a, b; Skoracki et al, 2016; Zmudzinski & Skoracki, 2017) This genus is in the field of molecular research interests, because of the phenotypic plasticity observed in T. merulae and T. rubeculi (see Glowska et al, 2013) and due to its species being hosts for endosymbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia Hertig & Burt 1924 (see Glowska et al, 2015b). Cercotrichas paena is a new host species for the family Syringophilidae and the first record of the genus Torotrogla in the Afrotropical realm
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