Acarina 27 (2): 145–150 © Acarina 2019 BOCHKOVOCOPTIDAE, AN UNUSUAL NEW FAMILY OF PSOROPTIDIAN MITES (ACARI: ASTIGMATA) ASSOCIATED WITH OTOMYS DENTI (RODENTIA: MURIDAE) FROM UGANDA Barry M. OConnor Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT: A new family, Bochkovocoptidae, is proposed for a new genus and species of psoroptidian mite (Astigmata), Boch- kovocoptes otomys sp. n., collected from the follicles of the facial vibrissae of Otomys denti (Rodentia: Muridae) from Uganda. The new taxon is characterized by retrorse processes and striated apical membranes on the subcapitular rutella, strong retrorse processes on the segments of the anterior legs, well developed pretarsi on legs I–III and a reduced pretarsus on leg IV. The new taxon is hypothesized to be related to the families Sarcoptidae and Rhyncoptidae. KEY WORDS: Follicle parasite, taxonomy, Africa. DOI: 10.21684/0132-8077-2019-27-2-145-150 INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS During the examination of a collection of Host specimens were collected individually in small mammals collected in Uganda by Dr. Julian the field, wrapped in cheesecloth to retain ecto- Kerbis Peterhans of the Field Museum of Natural parasites and minimize contamination, and fixed History, Chicago, USA (FMNH), I collected a in formalin. In the museum, specimens were rinsed small series of mites from the follicles of the in water and then permanently stored in 70% etha- facial vibrissae of a fluid-preserved specimen of nol. In the author’s laboratory, host specimens were Dent’s Vlei Rat, Otomys denti Thomas, 1906. examined under a dissecting microscope and mites This host and the related Otomys lacustris G.M. were individually collected into 70% ethanol. Mite Allen and Loveridge, 1933, occupy montane specimens were cleared in lactophenol and mount- habitats in the so-called east African ‘montane ed in Hoyer’s medium. Specimens were examined circle’ (the chain of mountain ranges associated with a Leica DMLB compound microscope with with the African Rift et Eastern Arc archipelago) phase and differential interference contrast optics. (Taylor et al. 2009). Illustrations were made using a camera lucida. In The mites belong to the largely parasitic lineage the following descriptions, chaetotaxy for the body of Astigmata named Psoroptidia (OConnor 2009). and legs follows OConnor (2009). All measure- The only existing psoroptidian family that includes ments are given in micrometers (μm). mites which inhabit the follicles of the vibrissae of mammalian hosts is Rhyncoptidae (Klompen SYSTEMATICS 1993). However, the new species lacks retrorse Superfamily Sarcoptoidea Murray, 1877 (sensu processes on the palps and retains a pretarsus on Bochkov et Mironov 2011) leg IV (rhyncoptid mites bear palpal processes and Family Bochkovocoptidae fam. n. lack pretarsus IV), so Bochkovocoptes cannot be Type genus: Bochkovocoptes gen. n. easily accommodated in this family. The combina- tion of morphological characters exhibited by the Diagnosis. Female. Cheliceral hood and ven- new species precludes the inclusion in any other tral apophysis of movable digit not observed. existing mammal-associated psoroptidian families Subcapitular rutella with striated apical mem- as diagnosed by OConnor (2009), Bochkov (2010) branes. Apices of palps without retrorse processes. and Bochkov and Mironov (2011). The purpose of Palps with both dorsal setae present, ventral seta this paper is to describe this new mite and con- absent. Idiosoma cylindrical. Supracoxal sclerite sider its morphology and systematic placement. present, setae scx and supracoxal gland opening Because only female specimens were collected, not observed. Ovipore in shape of an inverted Y. morphological characters of males or immature Epigynal apodeme well developed, fused with stages could not be considered, nor could patterns coxal apodemes II. Two pairs of genital papillae of ontogenetic transformations (Klompen and present, vestigial. Copulatory opening posterior OConnor 1989). dorsal, spermathecal duct thin. Anus terminal. 145 B.M. OConnor Coxal field II with a strong retrorse process. Prodor- Ovipore in the form of an inverted Y. Genital valves sal sclerite large, remaining idiosoma unsclero- striated; genital papillae vestigial, positioned under tized, cuticle with coarse striations. All idiosomal genital valves between setae g and 4b. Ventral setae filiform. Opisthosomal setaeh3 and p2 absent. opisthosoma with pattern of coarse ridges becom- Pretarsi I–IV present, ambulacral disc absent on ing scale-like medially. Anus terminal. All ventral pretarsus IV; ambulacral sclerites present in disc. coxal and genital setae filiform. All leg segments free. Legs I–II with ventral pro- Legs I–II strongly developed, all segments free, cesses on all segments except tarsi. Legs III–IV with ventral retrorse processes on trochanters, fem- cylindrical, without processes. Setae ft” of tarsi ora, genua and tibiae. Tarsi I and II very short and III–IV greatly elongated. All leg setae filiform without apical or ventral processes. Legs III and IV except tc” a short spine. Solenidia absent from legs cylindrical, without ventral processes on segments. III–IV. Seta v’ present on trochanter IV. Pretarsi I and II with well-developed ambulacral Differential diagnosis. Bochkovocoptidae may stalks and ambulacral discs. Ambulacral discs with be differentiated from the related family Rhynco- small central hooked empodial remnant and paired ptidae by the possession of striated membranes on lateral sclerites. Pretarsus III similar to pretarsi I and the subcapitular rutella, absence of retrorse pro- II but smaller; lateral sclerites of ambulacral disc not cesses on the palps, and presence of a pretarsus on observed. Pretarsus IV consisting of only short am- leg IV. It may be differentiated from the family bulacral stalk, disc absent. All leg setae filiform ex- Sarcoptidae by the anterior-posterior elongation of cept tc” of tarsi I and II short strong spines. Trochan- the body, retention of paraproctal setae p3 and the ters I–IV with one filiform seta each. Femora I and ovipore in the form of an inverted V. II each with a filiform seta, seta of femur IV absent. Genua I and II with two filiform setae each, genu III Genus Bochkovocoptes gen. n. without seta. Tibiae I–IV with one filiform seta each. Type species: Bochkovocoptes otomys sp. n. Tarsi I and II with seven filiform setae and a short spine (tc”), tarsus III with four filiform setae, tarsus Diagnosis. Female. Chelicerae robust, chelate- IV with five filiform setaepv” ( absent on tarsus III, dentate. Cheliceral hood and ventral apophysis of present on tarsus IV). Setae ft” of tarsi III–IV ex- movable digit not observed. Palps two-segmented, tremely long, longer than the corresponding leg. with two dorsal setae and ventro-apical solenidion, Solenidia ω1 and ω3 apical on tarsus I. Solenidion setae l” absent, without retrorse processes apically. ω1 apical on tarsus II, longer than corresponding Rutella with lateral teeth and finely ridged apicov- structure on tarsus I. Solenidion φ present on tibiae entral membranes. Subcapitulum with a pair of I and II, absent on tibiae III and IV. One solenidion broad, ventral, retrorse processes. Ventral subca- σ on genua I–II, none on genu III. pitular setae and palpal supracoxal setae present. Etymology. The new taxon is named in honor Idiosoma somewhat elongated, cylindrical. of the late Andrei V. Bochkov in recognition of his Propodosomal sclerite well developed, bearing extensive body of work on the systematics and setae ro, scapular setae (in, ex) on each side posi- phylogenetics of mites parasitic on vertebrates. The tioned together on a small sclerite. Supracoxal generic name is masculine. sclerites thin, supracoxal gland openings and su- pracoxal setae not observed. Remainder of body Bochkovocoptes otomys sp. n. unsclerotized. Dorsum with pattern of coarse (Figs. 1–2) striations and ridges. Idiosomal setal complement complete except lamellar (or external vertical) Type material. Holotype and three paratype setae (le) and h3 and p2 absent. All body setae fi- females from follicles of facial vibrissae of Otomys liform. Opisthonotal gland openings (gla) antero- denti kempi Dollman, 1915 (Rodentia: Muridae) medial to setae e2. Copulatory opening (co) dorsal, (FMNH 157811), Uganda: Kigezi Province, Kisoro slightly anterior to level of setae p1. District, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, edge of Venter with coxal apodemes I fused to form encroached area and park, along pipeline, lat/long: sternum. Epigynal apodeme arched, fused later- -1.3653, 29.65736, 13 March 1996, J.C. Kerbis- ally with anterior and posterior apodemes II. Peterhans (JCK 3280). Mites removed by B.M. OCon- Apodemes III small, apodemes IV large, all ending nor (BMOC 96-1020-060). freely. Coxal fields I, III and IV partially sclero- Type depositories. Holotype and one paratype tized. Coxal fields II with large, sclerotized spurs. deposited in the Field Museum of Natural History, 146 Bochkovocoptidae a new family Fig. 1. Bochkovocoptes otomys, female. A—ventral view, B—dorsal view. Abbreviations: gla—opisthonotal gland opening, co—copulatory opening. Chicago, Illinois, USA. One paratype each in the ites. All idiosomal setae filiform, lengths:ro 32–44, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann in 22–29, ex 92–124, c1 17–19, c2 41–45, c3 41–44, Arbor, Michigan, USA, and the Zoological Institute, cp 104–120, d1 15–18, d2:19–25, e1 15–16, e2 Russian Academy of Science, St. Petersburg, Russia. 13–16, f2 8–11, h1 10–12, h2 59–64, p1 10–11, p3 Description. Female (N=4). Body (Fig. 1A, 25–28. Copulatory opening medial, slightly ante- B), including gnathosoma, length 300–326, width rior to level of setae p1. Spermathecal duct thin 132–151. Gnathosoma broadly trapezoidal, length along length, spermathecal opening and ducts to including palps 45–53, width 55–68. Chelicerae ovaries not observed. Coxisternal apodemes as in robust, chelate, length 55–60, fixed digit with two family description. Setal lengths: 1a 34–36, 3a large teeth, movable digit with four smaller teeth. 50–53, 4a 30–37, 4b 48–58, g 44–48.