This article describes a new species of quill mite, Torotrogla merulae sp. n., of the family Syringophilidae Lavoipierre, 1953, that lives on the Blackbird Turdus merula (Turdidae: Passeriformes) from Poland.Es wird die neue Vogelfedermilbe Torotrogla merulae sp. n. aus der Familie Syringophilidae Lavoipierre, 1953 aus Polen beschrieben, die auf der Amsel Turdus merula (Turdiidae: Passeriformes) lebt. Für die bisher beschriebenen Milben der Gattung Torotrogla wird ein Bestimmungsschlüssel aufgestellt

Dabert, Jacek

Ehrnsberger, Rainer

Skoracki, Maciej

English

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Osnabrücker Naturwissenschaftliche MitteilungenBand 26, S. 191–198, 2000191A new quill mite (Acari: Syringophilidae) from the BlackbirdMaciej Skoracki, Jacek Dabert and Rainer EhrnsbergerAbstract: This article describes a new species of quill mite, Torotrogla merulae sp. n., of the familySyringophilidae Lavoipierre, 1953, that lives on the Blackbird Turdus merula (Turdidae: Passeri-formes) from Poland.Kurzfassung: Es wird die neue Vogelfedermilbe Torotrogla merulae sp. n. aus der FamilieSyringo-philidae Lavoipierre, 1953 aus Polen beschrieben, die auf der Amsel Turdus merula (Turdiidae:Passeriformes) lebt. Für die bisher beschriebenen Milben der Gattung Torotrogla wird ein Bestim-mungsschlüssel aufgestellt.Key words: Syringophilidae, Turdus merula, ectoparasites, Torotrogla, quill mites.Authors:MSc Maciej Skoracki, Dr. Jacek Dabert Department of Animal Morphology,A. Mickiewicz University, Szamarzewskiego 91 A, 60-569 Pozna´ n, PolandProf. Dr. Rainer Ehrnsberger Institute of Nature Conservation and Environmental Education,University of Vechta, Driverstrasse 22, D-49377 Vechta, Germany1 IntroductionSyringophilid mites live and reproduce withinthe quills of the remiges, restrices, covertsand body feathers ofbirds. They feed on softtissue fluids of birds by piercing the quill wallwith their styletiform chelicerae (Kethley1971; Casto 1974).The genus Torotrogla has hitherto includ-ed four described species: T. villosa (Han-cock, 1895) from Phainopepla nitens (Bom-bycillidae), T. mima Kethley, 1970 fromMimus polyglottos (Sturnidae), T. gaudi Bo-chkov et Mironov, 1998 from Fringilla coelebs(Fringillidae) and T. cardueli Bochkov et Mi-ronov, 1999 from Carduelis spinus (Fringilli-dae). All known species are parasites of pas-serine birds.2 Methods and nomenclatureMite specimens were collected from quills ofsecondaries of the Blackbird Turdus merulaand stored in vials with 70% ethanol. Subse-quently, they were mounted in a polyvinilol-actophenol medium in microslides and stud-ied under microscope Olympus BH 2 withthe Nomarsky interference-contrast-phase.The morphological terminology and setaldesignations used in descriptions follow thatof Kethley (1970, 1973). All measurementsare given in micrometers.Maciej Skoracki, Jacek Dabert & Rainer Ehrnsberger Osnabrücker Naturwiss. Mitt. 26 20001923 Description of new speciesTorotrogla merulae sp. n.Female (Figs. 1, 2). Total length of holotype764 (paratypes 729-893), propodosomawidth 236 (229-286). Hypostomal apex withone pair oflarge protuberances (Fig. 5). Chel-icerae dentate, each with three teeth. Peri-treme M-shaped; each lateral branch with4-5 chambers, each longitudinal branch with6-8 chambers (Fig. 6). Stylophore (length221-243), not extending posterior beyondpropodosomal plate. Propodosomal platewith deeply concave anterior margin. Propo-dosomal region with six pairs ofsetae. Setaevi, ve, sci and d1 on the plate. Pygidial plateand a pair of small plates near bases of setaed3 present.Setae d3 equidistant between l3 and l2.Paragenital series variable (Tab. 1and Fig. 8).MCA1 divergent, fused to MCA2. Cuticularstriation as in fig. 1, 2.Length of setae and distances betweensetal bases:vi: (70-89); ve:175(157); sci:214(180-218);sce: 198 (193-198); l1: 202 (195-201); l2:(155-180); l3: 209 (205-221); l4: (553); l5: 57(59-71); d1: 218 (214-223); d3:195(182-205);d4: (460-550); d5: 63 (63-73); a1 and a2: 37(32-39); g1: 37 (47-66); g2: 36 (36-64); ao1:(21); ao2: 29 (29-32); pmc: (60-71); 1a: (184);3a: (166); 2b: (157-186); 3b: 116 (121-134);4b: 107 (102-109); 1c: (104); 3c: (120-161);4c: (102-109); sc1: 30 (36-43); sc2: 55(61-75); sc3: (71-102); sc4: (63-73); vi-vi: 107(107-118); ve-ve: 118 (111-125); sci-sci: 121(107-129); sce-sce: 214 (214-236); l1-l1: 164(157-179); d1-d1: 53 (46-64); l2-l2: 153(143-157); d3-d3: 78 (86-89); l3-l3: 146(157-171); d4-d4: (96-107); d5-d5: (46-54);vi-ve: 18 (14-18); ve-sci: 21 (18-28); sci-sce:57 (61-71); sci-d1: 89 (86-96); sce-l1: 36(25-39); l1-d1: 71 (61-75); d1-l2: 136 (100-161); l2-d3: 82 (61-75); d3-l3: 68 (71-82); l3-d4: (132-154); d4-d5: (25); pmc-pmc: 36 (36-39); 1b-1b: 54 (50-64); 1c-1c: 129 (121-143);2b-2b: 178 (171-193); 1a-1a: 36 (32-43);3a-3a: 50 (50-68); 3b-3b: 143 (143-175);3c-3c: 121 (111-143); 4b-4b: 146 (136-193);4c-4c: 114 (89-143); pmc-1b: 68 (64-75);pmc-1a: 146 (150-160); 1a-3a: 114 (86-157);3b-4b: 96 (90-110); 3c-4c: 96 (89-111);3b-3c: 36 (36); 4b-4c: 32 (32-39).Male (Figs.3, 4). Totallength643-710, pro-podosoma width243-257. Hypostomal apexwith one pair of small protuberances (Fig. 9).Chelicerae edentate. Peritreme M-shaped;each lateral branch with 4-6 chambers, eachlongitudinal branch with 7 chambers (Fig.10). Stylophore (length 200-207), does notextend posteriorly beyond the propodosom-al plate. Propodosomal plate with deeplyconcave anterior margin. Margins are weaklysclerotized. Propodosomal region with sixpairs of setae. Setae vi, ve, sci and d1 on theplate. Hysterosomal plate present. Setae d3closer to l3 than to l2. Paragenital series vari-able (Tab. 1), one pair of paragenital setae –dorsal. MCA1 divergent, fused to MCA2.Cuticular striation as in fig. 3, 4.Length of setae and distances betweensetal bases:vi: ? (broken), ve: 118; sci: 157-166; sce:175; l1: 164; l2: 52-68; l3: 50; l4: 270-300; d1:179; d3: 41-45; d4: 45-46; dorsal pg: 121-138; a1 and a2: 7-9; g1 and g2: 11-14; ao1:16-20; ao2: 21-25; pmc: 50-61; 1a: 132-154;3a: 125-134; 1b: 68-75; 2b: 105-130; 3b:80-98; 4b: 89-96; 1c: 90-109; 3c: 96-121; 4c:125; vi-vi: 93-100; ve-ve: 93-100; sci-sci:89-100; sce-sce: 193-196; l1-l1: 130-153;d1-d1: 40-57; l2-l2: 121-132; d3-d3: 39;l3-l3: 89; d4-d4: 90-100; l4-l4: 95-107; vi-ve:14;ve-sci: 18-21; sci-sce:61; d1-l2: 132-150;l2-d3: 71-79; d3-l3: 54-57; l3-d4: 71-86;pmc-pmc: 39; 1b-1b: 64; 1c-1c: 129; 2b-2b:186-196; 1a-1a: 36-39; 3a-3a: 82-89; 3b-3b:A new quill mite from the Blackbird193Fig. 1, 2: Torotrogla merulae sp. n. Female. 1- dorsal view; 2- ventral view.Maciej Skoracki, Jacek Dabert & Rainer Ehrnsberger Osnabrücker Naturwiss. Mitt. 26 2000194Fig. 3, 4: Torotrogla merulae sp. n. Male. 3- dorsal view; 4- ventral view.A new quill mite from the Blackbird195Fig. 5-10: Torotrogla merulae sp. n. Female: 5- gnathosoma,ventralview; 6-peritreme; 7: a–fansetaIV,b –so-lenidion wontarsusI,c –solenidionj ontibiaI, d – solenidions ongenuI; 8– variationofthe setalbases posi-tion of the paragenital series in females. Male: 9 – gnathosoma, ventral view; 10 – peritreme.Maciej Skoracki, Jacek Dabert & Rainer Ehrnsberger Osnabrücker Naturwiss. Mitt. 26 2000196Tab. 1: Variation in the number of setae of paragenital series in Torotrogla merulae sp. n.Female:number of specimens6 pairs of paragenital setae on both sides 346 pairs on the one side, 7 pairs on the second one 317 pairs on both sides 75 pairs on the one side, 6 pairs on the second one 76 pairs on the one side, 8 pairs on the second one 37 on the one side, 8 pairs on the second one 38 pairs on both sides 1Total 86Male:5 pairs of paragenital setae on both sides 34 pairs on both sides. 35 pairs on the one side, 6 pairs on the second 1Total 7193-200; 3c-3c: 168-171; 4b-4b: 225-232;4c-4c: 160-178; pmc-1a: 132-146; 1a-3a:114-121; 3b-4b: 118-125; 3b-3c: 36-39;4b-4c: 39; sc1: 32-39; sc2: 66-75; sc3:66-80; sc4: 57-80.4 DiagnosisThis species appears to be most similar to T.mima by having the following characters infemales: the hypostomal apex with one pairof protuberances; setae d5 and l5 are sub-equal in length; setae vi, ve, sci and d1 aresituated on the propodosomal plate.The new species may be distinguished fromthe latter species by characters as follows.Infemale: the smallsclerotized plates nearbases of setae d3 are present; ratio vi: sce 1:2.8-3.0. In male: the hypostomal apex hasone pair of small protuberances; ratio g:d41.0: 4.0.5 EtymologyThe name merulae derives from the specifichost name – Turdus merula.6 Type materialFemale holotype, 15 female paratypes, 6male paratypes; 31 March 1998; Ku´ znica-Hel (54° 21' N, 16° 17' E); leg. M. Skoracki.Additional material: 41females, 1 male; 27October 1997, Mierzeja Wi´ slana (54° 21' N,19° 21' E); leg. M. Skoracki; 18 females; 27October 1997, Mierzeja Wislana (54° 21' N,19° 21' E) leg. M. Skoracki; 22 females, 1male; 05 April 1997; Ku´ znica-Hel (54° 21' N,16° 17' E); leg. M. Skoracki; 7 females, 5males; 29 March 1998; Ku´ znica-Hel (54° 21'N, 16° 17' E); leg. M. Skoracki. Holotype, 10female paratypes and 6 male paratypes aredeposited in the Department of Animal Mor-phology, A. Mickiewicz University, Pozna´ n,Poland; 3 female paratypes deposited inZoologische Staatssammlung München,Germany; 2 female paratypes deposited inZoological Institute of the Russian Academyof Sciences, Saint-Petersburg, Russia.A new quill mite from the Blackbird197Fig. 11: Torotrogla merulae sp. n. Distalpartoffemale(A)and male(B)gnathosoma;peritremeoffemale(C) andmale (D); propodosomal plate of male (E); opisthosoma of female, dorsal view (F).Maciej Skoracki, Jacek Dabert & Rainer Ehrnsberger Osnabrücker Naturwiss. Mitt. 26 20001987 Key to species of Torotrogla females.1. Setae d5 and l5 subequal in length ............................................................................. 2–. Setae d5 shorther than l5 ............................................................................................. 42. Setae ve longer than distance between setal bases ve-d1 .............. T. merulae sp. n.–. Setae ve shorter than distance between setal bases ve-d1 ....................................... 33. Setae sc3 and sc4 extending beyond genu ............................. T. mima Kethley, 1970–. Setae sc3 and sc4 not extending beyond genu ........................................................................................................................................ T. cardueli Bochkov et Mironov, 19994. Ratio d5: l5 = 2.0: 1.0, chelicerae with two teeth each ................................................................................................................................ T. gaudi Bochkov et Mironov, 1998–. Ratio d5: l5 = 4.6: 1.0, chelicerae with three teeth each ... T. villosa (Hancock, 1895)8 RemarksThe intraspecific variation has been exam-ined in all collected specimens of T. merulae;results are listed in Table 1. Besides, the vari-ation of the paragenital series position wasalso observed (Fig. 8).Chaetotactic variation was previously ex-amined in Bubophilus ascalaphus by Philipsand Norton (1978)and inPeristerophila long-isoma by Casto (1979). The latter author sug-gested that the high frequency of anomaliesindicated that this species was geneticallyheterozygous at several loci concerned withthe setal formation.9 AcknowledgementWe are grateful to Magda Remisiewicz andWojciech Busse for help during the collectionof materials.Literature citedCasto, S. D. (1974): Quill Wall Thickness andFeeding of Syringophiloidus minor (Berlese)(Acarina: Syringophilidae). – Ann. Entomol.Soc. Amer. Vol. 67, no. 5: 824.Casto, S. D. (1979): A new syringophilid mitefrom thewhite-winged dove. – Tex. Jour. Sci.Vol. 31, no. 3: 225-229.Kethley, J. B. (1970): A revision of the family Sy-ringophilidae (Prostigmata: Acarina). – Con-trib. Amer. Entomol. Inst. Vol. 5, no. 6: 1-76.Kethley, J. B. (1971): Population regulation inquill mites (Acarina: Syringophilidae). – Ecol-ogy 52: 1113-1118.Kethley, J. B. (1973): A new genus and speciesof quill mites (Acarina: Syringophilidae) fromColinus virginianus (Galliformes: Phasiani-dae) with notes on developmental chaeto-taxy. – Fieldiana Zool. Vol. 65, no. 1: 1-8.Philips, J. R. & Norton R. A. (1978): Bubophilusascalaphus gen. et sp. n. (Acarina: Syrin-gophilidae) from the Quills of a GreateHorned Owl (Bubo virginianus). –J.Parasitol.Vol. 64, no. 5: 900-904.

A new quill mite (Acari: Syringophilidae) from the Blackbird

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