| abstract | In 1978 a kind of avian chigger mite was collected from Cinclus pallasi, and was diagnosed as a new genus and species.
Striatiscuta, gen. nov.
Diagnosis: This new genus is close to the genus Toritrombicula Sasa et al., 1953, but is distinctly different from the latter in the following taxonomic characteristics: the scutum is provided from its posterior lateral corners to the middle line with striated chitinous surface, and the posterior scutal surface in between two sensillae is provided with 4-5 scaly chitinous wrinkles. Other differences are: two pairs of large eyes, sensillae filamentous and with 3 or 4 fine branches at its distal end, sternal setae 4 pairs (2-6), legs long, basal ventral portion of gnathosoma also with striated surface.
Type-species: Striatiscuta cincli, sp. nov.
Striatiscuta cincli, sp. nov. (figs. 1-6)
Larvae orange red when alive. Idiosoma of half engorged larvae 293µ in length and 253µ in width.
Gnathosoma: cheliceral claw with an inverted tricuspid cap and a small knob-like tooth near ventral tip. Cheliceral seta nude. Palpal setae: B-B-NNb+7BS, claw 3-forked. Posterior ventral surface of gnathosomal base striated.
Scutum: Transverse, wide, rectangular, posterior lateral corners to the middie line provided with striated chitinous surface, posterior surface in between two sensillae provided with 4-5 scaly chitinous wrinkles. Sensillae filamentous, with 3 or 4 fine branches at distal end.
Standard measurement (average): AW 83, PW 98, SB 44, ASB 36, PSB 25, AP 39, AM 54, AL 46, PL 92, Sn 92.
Eyes: 2 pairs, very large, anterior eye 21µ in diameter, posterior eye 15µ.
Dorsal setae: long, slender, with branches, irregularly arranged, 2-13-11...= 54, 2-12-8-12...=68, anterior dorsal setae 73µ in length, posterior dorsal setae 60µ.
Ventral setae: sternal setae 4 pairs (2-6), ventral setae 46 in number (30 in front and 16 behind anus), anterior ventral setae 44µ in length, with slender long branches, posterior ventral setae 56µ in length, with short coarse branches.
Legs: long and slender, I 414µ, II 353µ, III 426µ. Leg I with 3 genual setae, parasubterminala apart from subterminala, with 5-6 branches. Leg III tarsus with 2 long mastitarsala, 65-67µ in length, with 3-4 short branches.
Holotype and paratypes, 5 larvae, collected off Cinclus pallasi on November 16, 1978, from Tiantai County, Zhejiang Province, deposited in the Department of Parasitology, Shanghai First Medical College. |