| abstract | The female, male, and protonymph of Synasponyssus wenuli, n. gen. and n. sp. of Macronyssidae, are described and illustrated. The closest affinities are with primitive bat-infesting Macronyssinae, and certain retained laelapine characteristics indicate divergence from other lines in an early radiation of Macronyssidae. This apparently is a relict parasite on a relict host (Thyroptera, Thyropteridae).
Unusual features of the mite include emarginations and grooves in adult dorsal plates; female dorsal plate with indication of 33 primary setal pr, and discal setae represented only by trichopores; female sternal and median plates fused and bearing metasternal setae; sensory field of tarsus I with extra solenidion not found in other Macronyssidae; in female and protonymph, movable chela forked distally and chelicera with fixed ventral process paralleling chelae; male highly heteromorphic, with 2 dorsal plates; protonymph with only 5 setal pr on podosomal plate but 8 pr on pygidial plate.
The protonymph develops in utero, and many of the idiosomal peculiarities of the strongly flattened, well-armored female appear to be related to requirements of development and birth of a relatively large nymph; for example, emarginations and grooves in the dorsal plate permit flexibility to accomodate the nymph. |