New Species and Records of Scale Mites (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) from Geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae and Caprodactylidae).

Monika Fajfer

doi:10.1155/2018/9290308

Abstract

Two new species of pterygosomatid mites parasitizing geckos of the families Gekkonidae and Caprodactylidae are described: Geckobia africana n. sp. from Cnemaspis africana (Werner) from Tanzania and Geckobia milii n. sp. from Underwoodisaurus milii (Bory De Saint-Vincent) from Australia. The former species is the most similar to Geckobia loricata Berlese, 1892, but differs by the presence of the propodonotal shield reduced to small platelets, slender and blunt-pointed setae in the posterolateral part of the idiosomal venter and the absence of thick serrate ventral setae in posterior part of the idiosoma. For the latter species and Geckobia simplex Hirst, 1926, a new species group is established based on the analysis of chaetotaxy of legs I–IV. Mites of this new species group differ from the indica group by the presence of five setae on tibiae I–III and setae l'GI, l”GIV, dFI, dFII, and lFIII. Species of the genus Geckobia are recorded from hosts of the genera Cnemaspis Strauch and Underwoodisaurus Wermuth for the first time.

Highlights

Mites of the family Pterygosomatidae Oudemans, 1910 (Acariformes: Prostigmata), are one of the most diverse group of permanent parasites of reptiles
The family Pterygosomatidae includes 182 species grouped into nine genera recorded from all zoogeographical regions, except for the Antarctica [3, 4]
About two-thirds of the species are arranged into four species groups based on a trochanter-tibia chaetotaxy of legs I–IV [4, 5], i.e., latasti, haplodactyli, ovambica, and indica, and into groups 0, j based on differences in a tarsal chaetotaxy of legs I [4,5,6]

Summary

Introduction

Mites of the family Pterygosomatidae Oudemans, 1910 (Acariformes: Prostigmata), are one of the most diverse group of permanent parasites of reptiles. Palpal femora with thick plumose setae dF, 15 (15) long; palpal genua with filiform slightly serrate setae dG, 30 (25) long. On each platelet eyes and two thick, plumose, and slightly apically expanded setae about 25 long, present.

Results

Conclusion