Stibarokris mariasi sp. nov. - a new quill mite species (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) parasitizing Puffinus pacificus (Gmelin) (Procellariidae) on Johnston Atoll.

Abstract

A new quill mite species Stibarokris mariasi sp. nov. (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) is described from the Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus (Gmelin) (Procellariiformes: Procellariidae) from Johnston Atoll. Females of S. mariasi sp. nov. differ from most similar species S. phoeniconaias Skoracki and OConnor, 2010 by the longitudinal branch of the peritremes consisting of 11-14 chambers (vs 15-17 chambers in S. phoeniconaias), the movable cheliceral digit 145 long (vs 170), setal bases c1 situated distinctly anterior to the level of setae se (vs setal bases c1 and se situated at the same transverse level), the propodonotal shield punctate on the whole surface (vs propodonotal shield punctate at the lateral margins), the small, balloonlike hysteronotal shield, bearing bases of setae d1 and densely punctate on the whole surface (vs hysteronotal shield bearing setal bases d1 and e2 and punctate at the anterior part), the pseudanal setae ps1 1.8 times longer than setae ps2 (vs setae ps1 and ps2 subequal in length), subequal lengths of setae h1 and f1 (vs setae h1 twice longer than f1) and the lengths of setae ag1, ag2, and ag3 145-170, 105-125, 120-165, respectively (vs ag1, ag2 and ag3 245-285, 245-270, 330-340, respectively). A key to all known species of the genus Stibarokris Kethley, 1970 is proposed.