New records of feather mites of the genus Proctophyllodes (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) in China

Abstract

A new feather mite species Proctophyllodes gracilitus sp. nov. is described from the mountain bulbul Ixos mcclellandii (Horsfield) (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae) in China. The new species belongs to the mecistocaulus species-group and differs from the most similar species, P. stenophyllus Gaud & Mouchet, 1957, by having the following characters: in males of P. gracilitus, the terminal lamellae are thinner and longer (45–49×4–5) and the posterior part of the hysteronotal shield has circular lacunae; and in females setae h1 are situated at the level of posterior margin of supranal concavity, setae h2 are longer than terminal appendages, do not have enlargement in base, and setae h3 are about 2/3rds the length of terminal appendages. In addition, Proctophyllodes weigoldi Vitzthum, 1922 has been collected from the willow tit Poecile montanus (Baldenstein) (Passeriformes: Paridae) that is a new host record for this species. This species is redescribed, because it was found that specimens from Po. montanus have some minor morphological differences from specimens of the common blackbird Turdus merula Linnaeus (Passeriformes: Turdidae) (a type host) and eyebrowed thrush Turdus obscurus Gmelin (Passeriformes: Turdidae).