Setae H1 Research Articles

A New Species of the Feather Mite Genus Grallolichus Gaud, 1960 (Acariformes: Pterolichidae): First Report of a Commensal Mite Specific to the Sungrebe (Heliornis fulica).

Feather mites of finfoots (Heliornithidae), a small gruiform family, are poorly and partly erroneously recognized. Grallolichus heliornisi sp. n. (Astigmata: Pterolichidae) is here described from the sungrebe Heliornis fulica as the first representative of the genus commonly found on close relatives of finfoots, Rallidae and Sarothuridae. This species belongs to the species group having ornamented dorsal shields and is morphologically most close to G. proctogamus inhabiting Eurasian coot (Fulica atra). Males of the new species differ from G. proctogamus mainly by the shape of opisthosomal lobes (triangular vs. rounded) and the aedeagus form (parallel sided vs. tapering distally). Females differ mainly by the shape of supranal concavity (open anteriorly vs. closed) and location of setae h1 in relation to supranal concavity (lateral vs. anterior). A key to known species of the genus Grallolichus is provided. The morphological analysis and descriptive characterization of this species, like much of the approximately 2500 feather mite species described to date, were based on mummified mite material preserved in 19th-century old museum bird specimens. These often-forgotten collections are the only source for the analysis of the acarofauna of many rare, unavailable wild or even extinct bird taxa.

Atypically Shaped Setae in Gall Mites (Acariformes, Eriophyoidea) and Mitogenomics of the Genus Leipothrix Keifer (Eriophyidae).

The setae in Eriophyoidea are filiform, slightly bent and thickened near the base. Confocal microscopy indicates that their proximal and distal parts differ in light reflection and autofluorescence. Approximately 50 genera have atypically shaped setae: bifurcated, angled or swollen. These modifications are known in the basal part of prosomal setae u', ft', ft″, d, v, bv, ve, sc and caudal setae h2. We assessed the distribution of atypically shaped setae in Eriophyoidea and showed that they are scattered in different phylogenetic lineages. We hypothesized that the ancestral setae of eriophyoid mites were bifurcated before later simplifying into filiform setae. We also proposed that hypo-furcating setae are a synapomorphy that unites Eriophyoidea with Nematalycidae. We analyzed four new mitochondrial genomes of Leipothrix, the largest genus with bifurcated d, and showed that it is monophyletic and has a unique mitochondrial gene order with translocated trnK. We exclude Cereusacarus juniperensisn. comb. Xue and Yin, 2020 from Leipothrix and transfer five Epitrimerus spp. to Leipothrix: L. aegopodii (Liro 1941) n. comb., L. femoralis (Liro 1941) n. comb., L. geranii (Liro 1941) n. comb., L. ranunculi (Liro 1941) n. comb., and L. triquetra (Meyer 1990) n. comb.

A NEW SPECIES OF THE FEATHER MITE GENUS DOLICHODECTES (ACARIFORMES: PROCTOPHYLLODIDAE) FROM THE DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER MUSCICAPA SIBIRICA (PASSERIFORMES: MUSCICAPIDAE) FROM BURYATIA

A new feather mite species, Dolichodectes sibiricus sp. n. (Pterodectinae), is described from the Dark-sided Flycatcher, Muscicapa sibirica Gmelin, JF, captured on the southern coast of Lake Baikal, Buryatia, Russia. The new species is closest to D. allocaulus (Gaud and Mouchet 1957) and D. platynocercus (Gaud and Mouchet, 1957) from Africa and is distinguished from them in the following features. In males of D. sibiricus, the lateral enlargements of opisthosomal lobes are of a complicated form and consist of distinct angular projections bearing setae f2 and rounded ledges at level of setae h2, and the aedeagus extends to the level of setae ps3; in females, the prodorsal and hysteronotal shields lack ornamentation, the terminal appendages at their bases are 2–2.5 times thicker that setae h2, and setae e2 are situated closer to the level of setae e1 than to the posterior margin of the hysteronotal shield. Brief comments on the systematics of the genus Dolichodectes, a key to the known species, an updated checklist of the world fauna, as well as host associations are provided.

Two new species of the feather mite genus Trouessartia (Acariformes: Trouessartiidae) from passerines (Passeriformes) from Asian Russia

Two new species of the feather mite genus Trouessartia (Astigmata: Trouessartiiidae) are described from passerine hosts from Northern Asia: Trouessartia aureolae sp. n. from the Yellow-breasted Bunting, Emberiza aureola Pallas (Emberizidae) and T. cyanoptilae sp. n. from the Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Cyanoptila cyanomelana (Temminck) (Muscicapidae). Trouessartia aureolae is very close to T. emberizae Mironov, 2021. The new species most clearly differs from T. emberizae in the following features: in males, the membranous apophyses of adanal apodemes are triangular, and the anterior ends of epimerites IVa are roughly rounded; in females, setae h1 extend to the free margin of the interlobar membrane, and the primary spermaduct guide extends to the level of setae h2. Trouessartia cyanoptilae is most similar to T. microfolia Gaud, 1952 and T. saularis Constantinescu, 2018. The new species differs from T. microfolia and T. saularis in the following features: in both sexes, setae d1 are absent; in males, the terminal lamellae are triangular with oblique posterior margin, thus, the whole posterior end of the opisthosoma resembles a fsh tail; in females, the collar of the spermathecal head is short and smooth.

A NEW SPECIES OF THE FEATHER MITE GENUS TROUESSARTIA (ACARIFORMES: TROUESSARTIIDAE) FROM ROBINS OF THE GENUS LARVIVORA (PASSERIFORMES: MUSCICAPIDAE) FROM ASIAN RUSSIA, WITH BARCODE DATA

The paper describes a new species, Trouessartia cyane sp. n., collected from the Siberian Blue Robin Larvivora cyane (Pallas) (type host) and the Rufous-tailed Robin L. sibilans Swinhoe in Primorsky Krai (the Russian Far East). The description is supplemented with barcoding data (mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene). Trouessartia cyane is closest to T. larvivorae Mironov, 2021 and T. rubecula Jablonska, 1968, differing mainly in measurable characteristics. In particular, in males of T. cyane, the length of terminal lamellae is 20–23 (vs. 25–30 in T. larvivorae and 30–35 in T. rubecula); in females, the length of idiosoma is 515–545 (vs. 555–590 in T. larvivorae and 570–625 in T. rubecula), the distance between setae se is 85–90 (vs. 100–120), the width of opisthosoma at the level of setae h2 is 87–97 (vs. 105–115), setae h1 are thin spiculiform (vs. lanceolate). Genetic distances within T. cyane, as well as between the new species and four closely related Trouessartia species from four muscicapids distributed in northern Eurasia, have been analyzed using Kimura’s two-parameter (K2P) model. Intraspecific genetic distances within T. cyane varied between 0.006 and 0.01; interspecific distances between the new species and morphologically close species ranged from 0.154 (T. rubecula) to 0.185 (T. calliope).

Two new species of the genus Dactyloscirus (Acari: Prostigmata: Bdelloidea: Cunaxidae) from Sumatra, Indonesia, with a key to known species.

Two new species of predatory cunaxid mites belonging to the genus Dactyloscirus are described: Dactyloscirus sumatranus Corpuz-Raros and Naredo sp. n. and D. ladangjagung Corpuz-Raros and Lit sp. n. Both inhabit soil in corn fields in Sumatra Island, Indonesia. Dactyloscirus. sumatranus closely resembles D. dolichosetosus Den Heyer, 1979, but differs in having the basal half of chelicera strongly inflated, about four times thicker than in the distal half (vs. slender and gradually tapered), hysterosomal setae f1 and h1 at least twice as long as the anterior pairs c1-e1 (vs. only slightly longer), and famulus of tarsus I only ¾ the length of the closely associated asl (vs. longer). Dactyloscirus ladangjagung resembles D. hoffmannae Swift, 1996, but differs by the number of setae on some leg segments, namely, basifemora (5-5-3-2 vs. 5-5-3-1 sts) and tibiae (5-5-5-4 vs. 4-5-4-2 sts), and in having setae g4 the longest of genital setae (vs. setae g3). An updated key to 30 known Dactyloscirus species is provided.

Morphological ontogeny of Phauloppia nemoralis (Acari, Oribatida, Oribatulidae), with comments on Phauloppia Berlese

The morphological ontogeny of Phauloppia nemoralis (Berlese, 1916) is described and illustrated. The adult of this species is most similar to Ph. incomperta (Pérez-Íñigo et Peña, 1996), but differs from it mainly by the shape of bothridial seta, porose areas Aa and A1, and location of porose area A1 and seta ad3. In the juveniles of Ph. nemoralis, the prodorsal setae ro, le and in are of medium size or long, ex is short, and the bothridial seta is of medium size and clavate, with barbed head. The larva has 12 pairs of gastronotal setae, the nymphs have 14 pairs; all are of medium size and barbed. In this species, the basal excentrosclerites occur, at setae c2, h1 and l-series in the larva, and c2, p1 and l- and h-series in the nymphs. In all nymphs, solenidion ω2 on tarsus I is longer and thinner than ω1, and seta ft'' is relatively long and located posterior to solenidion ω2.

Two new species of oribatid mites of Leptotocepheus (Acari, Oribatida, Otocepheidae) from Malawi

Two new species of oribatid mites of the genus Leptotocepheus (Oribatida, Otocepheidae) are described from Malawi. Leptotocepheus malawiensis sp. nov. differs from the related species L. macromucronatus by the well developed, spindle-form bothridial seta with distinctly elongate, pointed tip distally (versus slightly developed, fusiform, without elongate, pointed tip distally). Leptotocepheus zombaensis sp. nov. differs from the related species L. trimucronatus by the comparatively short notogastral setae la, h3, p1 and p3, longest notogastral setae h1 and h2 (versus all notogastral setae slightly differs in length) and long interlamellar seta (versus medium-sized).

The genus Oligonychus Berlese (Acari, Prostigmata, Tetranychidae): taxonomic assessment and a key to subgenera, species groups, and subgroups.

A comprehensive taxonomic assessment of the most agriculturally important and highly diverse spider mite genus, Oligonychus Berlese (Acari: Tetranychidae) was performed. The sub-generic division, species groups, doubtful species, species complexes and the interpretation of a key generic character are discussed. Based on the orientation of the male aedeagus, only two subgenera, namely Oligonychus Berlese (aedeagus downturned) and Reckiella Tuttle & Baker (aedeagus upturned), are valid in the genus Oligonychus. The subgenera Homonychus Wainstein, Metatetranychoides Wainstein, and Wainsteiniella Tuttle & Baker are considered to be synonyms of the subgenus Oligonychus, whereas the subgenus Pritchardinychus Wainstein is proposed as a synonym of the subgenus Reckiella. Moreover, based on female morphological characters, four species groups (coffeae, exsiccator, iseilemae, and peruvianus) and 11 species subgroups (aceris, biharensis, coffeae, comptus, exsiccator, gossypii, iseilemae, peruvianus, pritchardi, smithi, and subnudus) are suggested in the subgenera Oligonychus and Reckiella. Fourteen Oligonychus species are proposed as species inquirendae, and potential cryptic species complexes in the genus Oligonychus are briefly highlighted. It is agreed that the clunal seta h1 is always absent, while the para-anal setae h2 and h3 are always present in the genus Oligonychus. A key to subgenera, species groups, and species subgroups of the genus Oligonychus is provided.

A new genus and species of Digamasellidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) displaying some extraordinary gnathosomal structures

A new genus and species of digamasellid mites is described based on adult females and males. Bulbolaelaps bossei n. gen., n. sp. was collected from the fruiting bodies of gilled fungi on a tree trunk in Zanjan province, Iran. The new genus can be distinguished from the other genera of Digamasellidae by having a bulbous swollen protuberance on the venter of the palptrochanter; corniculi weakly formed and epistome weakly sclerotised; hypostomal setae h1 and h2 positioned more or less transversely; deutosternal groove narrow with limited number of denticles; ventral base of female cheliceral digit with a spine-like projection; and setae ad1 and pd1 tarsi II–IV narrowly lanceolate apically.

A remarkable new genus (Mengzongella tertia gen. nov., sp. nov.) from a bamboo thicket from China (Acari: Uropodina: Urodinychidae)

A new genus Mengzongella gen. nov. is described to accommodate a new species M. tertia sp. nov. based on two males collected in Guangxi, China, from the leaf litter of a giant bamboo thicket (Bambusa chungii syn. Lingnania chungii). The new genus belongs to the family Urodinychidae based on the shape of the gnathosomal setae h1, shape of the chelicerae and the presence of the cheliceral node. The new genus differs from the previously described ones by deep transversal dorsal furrows, the shape of the dorsal and ventral setae and the undulate inner margins of the marginal shield. Two previously described Japanese species [Urodiaspis sandankyoensis (Hiramatsu, 1979) and Urodiaspis yonakuniensis (Hiramatsu, 1979)] are transferred to the new genus as Mengzongella sandankyoensis (Hiramatsu, 1979) comb. nov. and Mengzongella yonakuniensis (Hiramatsu, 1979) comb. nov.

Two new feather mites of the genus Proctophyllodes (Acari: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines of China (Aves: Passeriformes)

Two new species of the feather mite genus Proctophyllodes (Analgoidea: Proctophyllodidae) are described from two passerine birds (Passeriformes) in China: Proctophyllodes scleroticus sp. nov. from the Brandt's Mountain Finch Leucosticte brandti pallidior (Fringillidae) and P. micrurus sp. nov. from the White-rumped Snow Finch Onychostruthus taczanowskii (Passeridae). Proctophyllodes scleroticus sp. nov. belongs to the tricetratus species-group, and differs from the most similar species P. petroniae Atyeo & Braasch, 1966 by the following characters: in male, the genital sheath is heavily sclerotized, peach shaped, and extending to the level of setae g, anal suckers are surrounded with a pair of membranes, and terminal lamella is relatively greater, and in female, lobar shield is divided into two independent shields by the anal opening and anal opening extends beyond the level of setae ps1, terminal appendage is long. Proctophyllodes micrurus sp. nov. belongs to the musicus species-group, and differs from the most similar species P. saltatoris Atyeo & Braasch, 1966 by the following characters: in male, genital arch and the anterior part of opisthogastric shield are about the same width, anal suckers are surrounded with a pair of membranes, genital organ extends to the anterior 1/3 of the level of setae g and setae ps3, terminal lamella are located closely to each other and slightly greater, and in female, lobar shields are medially divided into two halves, terminal appendages are small, about 1/10 of setae h3, edge of the cleft is almost horizontal.

Contribution to the knowledge of Geminoppia (Acari, Oribatida, Oppiidae), with description of a new species from South Africa

A new species of the genus Geminoppia (Oribatida, Oppiidae) is described from moss of Hogsback State Forest, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Geminoppia amatholensis sp. n. differs from its related species Geminoppia maior comb. n. by the absence of discidium and the presence of very long notogastral seta h1. Summarized generic traits, an identification key, distribution and habitats of all known species of Geminoppia are presented.

New faunistical and taxonomic data on oribatid mites of the superfamily Plateremaeoidea (Acari, Oribatida) of Bolivia

Two new species of the superfamily Plateremaeoidea (Acari, Oribatida) belonging to the genera Pheroliodes (Licnodamaeidae) and Plateremaeus (Plateremaeidae) are described from Bolivia. Both families as well as one known species (Plateremaeus ornatissimus) are recorded in the Bolivian fauna for the first time. Adult of Ph. bolivianus sp. nov. is similar to Ph. barringtonensis in main traits (e.g., notogaster with small, widely spaced foveolae; some notogastral setae phylliform; bothridial seta comparatively long, clavate), but differs from the latter by the smaller body length, the presence of broadly phylliform setae lp, h1 and p1 and setiform setae p2 and p3, and by a large number of transverse ridges and furrows in dorsomedial part on the prodorsum. Adult of Pl. yurtaevi sp. nov. differs from all other species of the genus by the presence of clavate bothridial seta and distantly inserted adanal seta ad3 from anal aperture. The tritonymphal instar of Ph. bolivianus sp. nov. is compared to those of the other species.

Pseudoscirus gen. nov. of Coleoscirinae (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae) from the Amazon rainforest, Brazil, with a key to the genera of adult female Coleoscirinae

ABSTRACT The genus Coleoscirus Berlese, 1916, is revised and divided into two genera. Coleoscirus intermedius Corpuz-Raros, 1996 is designated the type species for Pseudoscirus Wurlitzer and Rocha gen. nov. This new genus is peculiar in having characteristics of both Coleoscirus Berlese, 1916 and Pseudobonzia Smiley, 1975. The general characters of Pseudoscirus Wurlitzer and Rocha gen. nov. within the subfamily Coleoscirinae Den Heyer, 1978 include the presence of a small dorsal shield that covers only the propodosoma, and having swollen apices of solenidia on tarsus I. The new genus resembles Coleoscirus species due to coxal plates I and II fused medially, forming the sternal shield, and idiosomal plates poorly developed. A new species from the Amazonic biome in Brazil, Pseudoscirus amazonae Wurlitzer and Rocha sp. nov., is also described and illustrated. The new species differs from the known species Pseudoscirus intermedius Corpuz-Raros, 1996 by basifemora II with 6 sts; propodosomal shield with a notch, and simple tactile setae c1, c2, d1, e1, f1, f2, h1 and h2 on minute sclerotised plates. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C45C0CF6-CEAB-4AF1-995F-FDCDB2062C3F

Malgacheliodes martensi spec. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Licnodamaeidae) from South Africa.

The genus Malgacheliodes is recorded in South Africa for the first time. Malgacheliodes martensi spec. nov. is described from soil of Hogsback State Forest, Eastern Cape Province. Adults of the new species differ from those of Malgacheliodes guillaumeti by the presence of ribs and furrows in the aggenital region, bacilliform leg tracheae, rounded ventral keel on leg I femur and four pairs of notogastral setae (h1 absent); while its tritonymph differs from that of M. guillaumeti by the presence of five pairs of gastronotic setae (c1 absent). The generic diagnosis of Malgacheliodes is updated. The differences in morphology of the tritonymphal instar in Malgacheliodes and other genera of Licnodamaeidae are presented.

A new genus and two new species of melicharid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) associated with wood-decaying fungi and mycophagous erotylid beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) in Europe.

We describe a new genus in the mite family Melicharidae, Mycomelichares Mašán Joharchi gen. nov., to accommodate two new species, Mycomelichares polypori Mašán Joharchi sp. nov. and Mycomelichares reductus Mašán Joharchi sp. nov. on the basis of specimens collected on wood-decaying fungi and/or mycophagous beetles of the genera Triplax Herbst and Tritoma Fabricius (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) in Slovakia and European part of Russia, respectively. Moreover, two previously described Proctolaelaps species-P. cyllodi Samšiňák, 1960 and P. slovacus Mašán, 1998 are transferred to the newly established genus. The new genus is characterized by specific characters in tritosternum (enlarged and brush-shaped, having their laciniae thickened, basaly fused and distally densely pilose), chelicerae (slightly dish-shaped digits with long, narrow and sharp denticles), ventral hypostome (setae h1 enlarged, thickened and distally flattened), setation (tendency towards placement of R series setae on soft integument, and reduction of some setae on idiosoma and legs), and unusual ecological specialisation on fungal substrates. Mycomelichares polypori sp. nov. is adapted to the life in sporophores of the basidiomycete bracket fungus, Polyporus squamosus (Polyporaceae). Mites of this species can be abundantly found on the lower fertile surface of the fungus, including large spore-bearing pores. Furthermore, keys to the melicharid genera reported from Palaearct, and the species of the genus are provided.

New faunistical and taxonomic data on oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) of Taiwan

The present study is based on oribatid mite material collected in Taiwan in 2017–2019. A list of identified taxa, including 141 species/subspecies from 88 genera and 47 families is provided; of these, 36 species/subspecies, 13 genera and five families are recorded for the first time in the Taiwan fauna, and eight species and one genus are recorded for the first time in the Oriental region. Two new species are described. Tyrphonothrus nivnu n. sp. (description based on adult) is similar to Tyrphonothrus altissimus (Piffl, 1971), T. cajamarcensis (Hammer, 1961) and T. wallworki (Starý and Block, 1995) in general morphological traits (notogastral ridges developed; tridactylous legs; notogastral setae e2, h1, h2, and p2 long, setiform, with attenuate tip, other setae of medium length, setiform; high number of genital setae; absence of notogastral ornamentation; and comparatively large body size), but differs from these listed species by the barbed notogastral setae and comparatively long notogastral setae c1, c2, c3, and e1. Jacotella puyuma n. sp. (description based on adult and tritonymph) is similar to Jacotella neonominata Subías, 2004 in general morphological traits (centrodorsal notogastral part with two longitudinal ridges, posteriorly fused, each ridge with two lateral transverse branches; absence of notogastral ornamentation; notogastral seta h1 distinctly longer than other notogastral setae), but differs from the latter by the narrowly elongate bothridial head, flagellate notogastral setae h1 and p1, the length of notogastral setae, and the absence of additional longitudinal ridges connected lateral branches of median ridges (in adult); and by the long gastronotic seta h1 similar in length to bothridial seta, seta h2 similar to h3 and lp and seta dm clearly longer than da on larval exuvium (in tritonymph).

TWO NEW SPECIES OF THE FEATHER MITE GENUS TROUESSARTIA (ACARIFORMES: TROUESSARTIIDAE) FROM ROBINS AND CHATS (PASSERIFORMES: MUSCICAPIDAE) IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST

Two new species of the feather mite genus Trouessartia (Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae) are described from passerine birds in Primorsky Krai (Russian Far East): Trouessartia calliope sp. n. from the Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope (Linnaeus) and T. larvivorae sp. n. from the Rufous-tailed Robin Larvivora sibilans (Swinhoe) (Passeriformes: Muscicapidae: Saxicolinae). Both new species are close to T. swidwiensis Jablonska, 1968 associated with nightingales of the genus Luscinia (Linnaeus) (Muscicapidae) in having the prohysteronotal and lobar parts of the hysteronotal shield not separated in males and in having setae h1 situated on large ovate non-sclerotized areas and in the absence of the external copulatory tube in females.

A NEW SPECIES OF THE FEATHER MITE GENUS TROUESSARTIA (ACARIFORMES: TROUESSARTIIDAE) FROM THE TRISTRAM’S BUNTING EMBERIZA TRISTRAMI (PASSERIFORMES: EMBERIZIDAE) IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST

A new feather mite species, Trouessartia emberizae sp. n., is described from the Tristram’s Bunting, Emberiza tristrami Swinhoe (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in the Primorye Territory (Russian Far East). The new species is close to T. jedliczkai (Zimmermann) and T. motacillae Dubinin, associated with wagtails (Motacillidae: Motacilla) and most clearly differs from them in the following features: in males, the hysteronotal shield is entire and the genital apparatus is narrow, parallel-sided and strongly convex dorsally; in females, the external copulatory tube is stylet-like and extends beyond the level of setae h3, and the head of the spermatheca has a short smooth collar. This is the first description of a Trouessartia species from a host of the family of buntings (Emberizidae).