International Journal of Acarology Vol. 36, No. 1, February 2010, 83–87
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Internat. J. Acarol.
HARPIRHYNCHUS QUASIMODO N. SP. (ACARIFORMES: HARPIRHYNCHIDAE), A NEW SPECIES PARASITIZING MOLOTHRUS ATER (PASSERIFORMES: ICTERIDAE) IN FLORIDA, USA
Andre V. Bochkov1,2 and James W. Mertins3 1. Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya Embankment 1, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia (e-mail:
[email protected]); 2. Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Geddes Avenue, 1109, MI 48109, USA; 3. National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture, 1800 Dayton Avenue, Ames, IA 50010, USA (e-mail:
[email protected]). (Received 6 May 2009; accepted 26 November 2009) ABSTRACT – A new species, Harpirhynchus quasimodo n. sp., is described from Molothrus ater (Boddeart) (Passeriformes: Icteridae) in Florida, USA. The new species differs from the three other species known in this genus by the presence of a hump-like process at the anterior part of the propodonotum in males. The new species is close to Harpirhynchus dusbabeki Bochkov and Literak, 2006, from Panurus biarmicus (L.) (Passeriformes: Timaliidae) captured in Slovakia. It differs from this species by the following characters: in females and males of H. quasimodo, the body lengths, including gnathosoma, are 500–510 and 390–410 μm, respectively (vs. 410–470 and 285–310 μm in H. dusbabeki); subcapitular setae m are always absent (vs. present or absent in H. dusbabeki); apical segments of legs III and IV bear five or six setae (vs. five setae in H. dusbabeki); and in males, setae vi are 33–35 μm long, or about three times shorter than ve (vs. 4–6 μm long, 9–10 times shorter than ve in H. dusbabeki). Key words – Mites, bird parasites, Harpirhynchus quasimodo n. sp., Molothrus ater, systematics, North America.
INTRODUCTION The family Harpirhynchidae (Acari: Prostigmata) is represented by fewer than 100 described species arranged into 14 genera. Most representatives of the family are permanent mono- or oligoxenous parasites of neognathous birds belonging to 16 orders, but mites of the subfamily Ophioptinae (17 species) switched to parasitism on snakes of the superfamily Colubroidea (Bochkov et al., 1999). Moreover, according to the assessment of Moss and Wojcik (1978), the actual number of harpirhynchid mites parasitizing birds could exceed 2500 species. The number of recognized harpirhynchid species is therefore only a small fraction of the actual biodiversity of this group.
The North American fauna of harpirhynchids is poorly studied. The few published works concerning this region collectively report on fewer than ten species (Banks, 1905a, b; Ewing, 1911; Morley and Shillinger, 1937; Chaddock, 1941; Oliver and Nelson, 1967; Boyd, 1968; Moss et al., 1968; Moss, 1979; Bochkov and Galloway, 2001, 2004). Some of these species are poorly described (Fain, 1994), and several records should be confirmed or redetermined. Fortunately, the large Moss Collection of harpirhynchid mites from North American birds is presently housed in the Museum of Biological Diversity of the Ohio State University (Columbus, OH, USA) and is available for future studies (Klompen, personal communication). This collection contains many undescribed
ISSN 0164-7954 print/ISSN 1945-3892 online This work was authored as part of Contributor’s official duties as an employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105 no copyright protection is available for such works under US law. DOI: 10.1080/01647950903520693 http://www.informaworld.com
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species, and its study promises to at least partially fill the yawning gap in our knowledge about North American harpirhynchids. In the present paper, we describe one additional North American harpirhynchid species, Harpirhynchus quasimodo n. sp., collected on the brown-headed cowbird from Florida (USA). MATERIALS AND METHODS The birds in this study were trapped and held under U.S. Federal scientific collecting permit USFWS MB019065 and a Florida state special purpose permit FFWCC WX03189. Mites were cleared in lactophenol and mounted in Hoyer’s medium. Specimens were studied using a Leica microscope under phase contrast. Drawings were made with a camera lucida, and measurements were taken using a calibrated ocular micrometer. In the species description, names of the leg and idiosomal setae follow Grandjean (1939, 1944) as adapted by Kethley (1990). Names of the palpal setae follow Grandjean (1946) as adapted by Bochkov (2008). All measurements are given in micrometers (μm) and were made according to the standard method (Bochkov et al., 2007). The scientific names of birds follow the checklist of Dickinson (2003). RESULTS Family HARPIRHYNCHIDAE Dubinin, 1957 Genus Harpirhynchus Mégnin, 1878 Harpirhynchus quasimodo n. sp. (Figs. 1 and 2) Description – MALE (holotype, Figs. 1A, B and 2A–G) – Body, including gnathosoma, 400 long (range 390–410 in 10 paratypes) and 275 wide (235– 260). Gnathosoma 90 long (85–100), about 100 wide. Palps 55 long (50–60) and 37 wide (35–40). Palpal setae dF, dG, and l²G pectinate, subequal in length, 20–25 long (Fig. 2A). Setae vF about 60 long. Subcapitulum ventrally with setae n, but setae m absent. Idiosoma saccate, dorsally striate as illustrated, 320 long (315–330) (Fig. 1A, B). Propodonotal shield 190 long (185–200) in midline, 230 (220–240) at maximal width. Anterior part of propodonotal shield bearing hump-like projection with three apical lobes, pair of wide lateral lobes, and an unpaired narrow median lobe. Genital aperture situated at apex of median lobe, lateral lobes each with three pairs of genital microsetae, g1–g3 (Fig. 2D). Filiform setae vi 30–35 long, situated on propodonotal shield near anterior margin. Aedeagus straight, 140–150 long. Ventral surface of
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idiosoma without scales or verrucosities (Fig. 1B). Setal lengths: barbed setae ve 95 (90–110), si 97 (88– 115), se 110 (105–120), and c2 120 (100–120); smooth setae are 1a, 1b, and 3a 50–70. Setation of legs I, II (respectively, including solenidia): coxal field 1 (1a, 1b), trochanter 1 (v)-1 (v), femur 2 (d, v)-2 (d, v), genu 2 (d, l¢)-2 (d, l¢), tibia 5 (d, l¢, l², v¢, v²)-5 (d, l¢, l², v¢, v²), tarsus 9 (tc¢, tc², p¢, p², a¢, a², u¢, u², w1)-8 (tc¢, tc², p², a¢, a², u¢, u², w1). Solenidia w1 I and II slightly curved, about 18 long. Legs III with two segments. Coxal fields III bearing setae 3a. Preapical segment of legs III with two setae, dorsal seta about 140 long and ventral setae about 90 long. Apical segment of legs III bearing five or six long setae. Legs IV with one segment bearing five or six long setae, among them three ventral setae distinctly shorter than other two or three setae situated dorsally or dorsolaterally. FEMALE (10 paratypes, Figs. 1C, D and 2H) – Body, including gnathosoma, 500–510 long, 350– 365 wide (Fig. 1C, D). Gnathosoma 100–115 long, 115–125 wide. Palps about 65 long and 45 wide. Palpal setae dF, dG, and l²G pectinate, subequal in length, 25–33 long (Fig. 2H). Setae vF about 55 long. Subcapitulum ventrally with setae n, but setae m absent. Idiosoma saccate, dorsally striate and verrucose as illustrated, 420–440 long. Propodonotal shield 180–190 long in midline, 300–315 at maximum width (Fig. 1C). Ventral surface of idiosoma with few transverse striations, without scales or verrucosities (Fig. 1D). Posterior end of opisthogaster ventrally punctate in medial part. Setal lengths: barbed setae vi 120–130, ve 130–140, si 130–145, se 125–140, and c2 110–130; smooth setae h1 195–220, 1a, 1b, and 3a 54– 60. Setae pg absent. Leg structure and setation as in male. Solenidia w1 I and II about 18 long. Abnormalities – In some individuals setae 3a unpaired. Type material – Male holotype, 20 female and 20 male paratypes from a single female specimen of Molothrus ater (Boddaert, 1783) (Passeriformes: Icteridae) [epithelial cysts located dorsally in scapular and shoulder area], USA: Gainesville, Alachua County, FL, 29°65′26′′ S, 82°28′77′′ W, 15 April 2004, coll. E. Greiner. The male holotype, two female and two male paratypes are deposited in the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. Other paratypes are deposited in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia. Etymology – The species epithet is derived from the fictional character name “Quasimodo,” the deformed hunchback from the novel Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo, and is a noun in apposition. Differential diagnosis – The new species differs from the other three species known in this genus,
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Fig. 1. Harpirhynchus quasimodo n. sp. – A. male in dorsal view; B. same in ventral view; C. female in dorsal view; D. same in ventral view.
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Fig. 2. Harpirhynchus quasimodo n. sp., Male – A. palp in dorsal view; B. tarsus and tibia of palp in ventral view; C. hypostome; D. prodorsal hump; E. tarsus I in dorsal view; F. same in ventral view; G. tarsus II in ventral view, Female – H. palp in dorsal view.
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H. nidulans Nitzsch, 1818, H. galeridae Fain et al. 1999, and H. dusbabeki Bochkov and Literak, 2006 by the presence in males of the tripartite, hump-like projection surrounding the genital opening at the anterior part of the propodonotum. The new species is closest to H. dusbabeki from Panurus biarmicus (L.) (Passeriformes: Timaliidae) captured in Slovakia (Bochkov and Literak, 2006). In both species, setae 3a and two setae on genua I and II are present. Harpirhynchus quasimodo n. sp. differs from H. dusbabeki by the following characters: in females and males of H. quasimodo n. sp., the body lengths, including gnathosoma, are 500–510 and 390–410, respectively (vs. 410–470 and 285–310 long in H. dusbabeki); subcapitular setae m are always absent (vs. absent or present in H. dusbabeki); apical segments of legs III and IV bear five or six setae (vs. five setae in H. dusbabeki); in males, setae vi are 33–38 long, or about three times shorter than ve (vs. 4–6 long, 9–10 times shorter than ve in H. dusbabeki). Remarks – This species was probably reported from Molothrus ater as Harpirhynchus sp. (Moss et al., 1968; Karstad, 1970), Harpirhynchus nidulans Nitzsch, 1818 (specific to another host species), and H. brevis Ewing, 1911 (Moss, 1979) [species inquirenda by Fain (1994)]. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (08-04-90412-Ukr_a) to A.V.B. REFERENCES Banks, N. 1905a. A treatise of the Acarina, or mites. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 28(1382): 1–109. Banks, N. 1905b. Descriptions of some new mites. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 7: 133–142. Bochkov, A. V. 2008. New observations on phylogeny of cheyletoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea). Proc. Zool. Inst. Russ. Acad. Sci. 312: 54–73. Bochkov, A. V. and T. D. Galloway. 2001. Parasitic cheyletoid mites (Acari: Cheyletoidea) associated with passeriform birds (Aves: Passeriformes) in Canada. Can. J. Zool. 79: 2014–2028. Bochkov, A. V. and T. D. Galloway. 2004. New species and records of cheyletoid mites (Acari: Cheyletoidea) from birds in Canada. J. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 77: 26–44. Bochkov, A. V. and I. Literák. 2006. A review of the European Harpirhynchidae (Acari, Prostigmata) with the description of a new species. Acta Parasitol. 51: 136–142. Bochkov, A. V., I. Literák and M. Capek. 2007. Neharpyrhynchus baile n. sp. (Prostigmata: Harpirhynchidae) parasitizing Turdus leucomelas
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Viellot (Aves: Turdidae) from Brazil. Int. J. Acarol. 33: 35–39. Bochkov, A. V., S. V. Mironov and A. Fain. 1999. Phylogeny and host–parasite relationships of the mite family Harpirhynchidae (Acari: Prostigmata). Acarina 7: 69–87. Boyd, E. M. 1968. Two new species of Harpyrhynchus from Herons in North America (Acarina, Trombidiformes, Harpyrhynchidae). Proc. Helminthol. Soc. Wash. 35: 18–24. Chaddock, T. T. 1941. Rare mites found on Wisconsin blackbird. Wisconsin Cons. Bull. 6: 33–34. Dickinson, E. C. 2003. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. 1039 pp. Ewing, H. E. 1911. New predaceous and parasitic Acarina. Psyche 18: 37–43. Fain, A. 1994. New observations on the Harpirhynchidae Dubinin, 1957 (Acari: Prostigmata). I. The subgenus Harpirhynchus (Harpyrhnchoides) Fain, 1972. Bull. Inst. R. Sci. Nat. Belg. Entomol. 64: 109–144. Grandjean, F. 1939. Les segments post-larvaires de l’hysterosoma chez les Oribates (Acariens). Bull. Soc. Zool. Fr. 64: 273–284. Grandjean, F. 1944. Observations sur les Acariens de la famille des Stigmaeidae. Arch. Sci. Phys. Nat. 26: 103–131. Grandjean, F. 1946. Au sujet de l’organe de Claparède, des eupathidies multiples et des taenidies mandibubulaires chez les Acariens actinochitineux. Arch. Sci. Phys. Nat. 28: 63–87. Karstad, L. 1970. Diseases diagnosed in free-living birds. Ont. Bird Band 6: 6–17. Kethley, J. B. 1990. Acarina: Prostigmata (Actinedida). pp. 667–756. In: Dindal, D. L. (Ed.). Soil Biology Guide. John Wiley and Sons, New York. Morley, L. C. and J. E. Shillinger. 1937. Parasitic tumors in wild birds. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 91: 94–97. Moss, W. W. 1979. Patterns of host-specificity and coevolution in the Harpyrhynchidae. pp. 379–384. In: Rodriguez, J. G. (Ed.). Recent Advances in Acarology. Vol. II. Academic Press, New York. Moss, W. W., J. H. Oliver, Jr. and B. C. Nelson. 1968. Karyotypes and developmental stages of Harpyrhynchus novoplumaris sp. n. (Cheyletoidea: Harpyrhynchidae), a parasite of North American birds. J. Parasitol. 54: 377–392. Moss, W. W. and J. F. Wojcik. 1978. Numerical taxonomic studies of the mite family Harpyrhynchidae (Acari: Cheyletoidea): the higher taxa. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 71: 247–252. Oliver, J. H., Jr. and B. C. Nelson. 1967. Mite chromosomes: an exceptionally small number. Nature 214: 809.
