New taxa of the parasitic quill mites associated with accipitrid birds indicating close relationship of falconid birds to Psittaci-Columbi clade Author details, Publication Author authors, including instructions for Author information, subscription Author http Author www. tandfonline. com Author loi Author tnah 20 text Journal of Natural History 2010 2010-04-23 44 19 - 20 1203 1214 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222931003632757 journal article 10.1080/00222931003632757 1464-5262 5209224 Megasyringophilopsis aquilus sp. nov. ( Figures 1–5 ) Description Female ( holotype ). Total body length 1155 ( 1130–1170 in seven paratypes ). Gnathosoma. Surface of infracapitulum smooth, not punctated. Hypostomal apex ornamented by one pair of small protuberances. Stylophore not punctated, rounded posteriorly, 315 (315–325) long. Cheliceral moveable digit, 220 (215–220) long. Each transverse branch of peritremes with two to three chambers, each longitudinal branch with six to eight chambers. Idiosoma. Propodonotal shield well sclerotized, with sculptured ornament, bearing bases of setae vi , ve , si and c1 . Length ratio of setae vi : ve : si 1:2:3.5–4. Bases of setae si and c2 situated at same transverse level, bases of setae se situated posteriorly to them. Hysteronotal shield fused to pygidial shield, not punctated. Setae f2 situated distinctly anterior to level of setae f1 . Terminal setae f1 , f2 , h1 and h2 , long. Genital setae g1 and g2 twice longer than pseudanal setae ps1 and ps2 . Legs. Apodemes I divergent and fused to apodemes II. Apodemes III and IV visible. All coxal fields not punctated. Claws of legs I–IV with basal angle. Setae 3c slightly longer than 3b . Tectals setae tc ² of legs III and IV twice longer than tc ¢ III–IV. Fan-like setae multiserrate, with about 35 short tines. Length ratio of setae sc1 : sc2 : sc3 : sc4 1:3:5:3. Length of setae: vi 130 (135–145); ve 260 (250– 285); si 520 (460–500); se (390–485); c1 (400–450); c2 (410–475); d1 435 (440–510); d2 420 (460); e 435 (400–450); f1 (485); f2 (485); h1 (460); g1 and g2 130 (130–135); ps1 and ps2 65 (65–70); ag1 (340–420); ag2 (145–165); ag3 (385); tc ¢ III–IV 70 (60–70); tc ² III–IV 145 (145); 3b 200 (195–220); 3c (225–250); sc1 35 (30–35); sc2 (90–105); sc3 145 (145–155); sc4 (90). Figures 1–2. Megasyringophilus aquilus sp. n. female. (1) Dorsal view; (2) ventral view. Note: Explanation of labels in text. Figures 3–5. Megasyringophilus aquilus sp. n. female. (3) Gnathosoma in ventral view; (4) tarsus of leg III in ventro-lateral view; (5) claw with basal angle. Male. Unknown. Type material Female holotype and 10 female paratypes (AMU–SYR.265) from quill of body feathers of Aquila rapax (Temminck, 1828) ( Falconiformes : Accipitridae ); South Africa , 24 June 1940 , no other data. Type material is deposited at AMU, except two females at ZISP. Host specimen is deposited at MNHW. Additional material Seven females, eight tritonymphs, two protonymphs and one egg ( AMU –SYR.266) from quill of body feathers of Aquila pomarina Brehm, 1831 ; Poland , Silesia , Tulowice , Niemodlin , 21 July 1902 . Whole material is deposited at AMU except two females at ZISP . Host specimen is deposited at MNHW. Etymology The name aquilus refers to the generic name of the host. Differential diagnosis Megasyringophilopsis aquilus sp. nov. is morphologically similar to M. geoffroyus Skoracki, 2005 described from Geoffroyus geoffroyi (Bechstein, 1811) ( Psittacidae ) from New Guinea ( Skoracki 2005a ). In females of both species, each claw of legs I–IV has basal angle, setae f2 are situated anteriorly to the level of setae f1 , the hysteronotal shield is fused to the pygidial shield. This new species differs from M. geoffroyus by the following characters: in females of M. aquilus sp. nov. , the length ratio of setae vi and ve is 1:2, the lengths of stylophore and chelicerae are 315–325 and 215–220, respectively, genital setae are thin and hair-like. In females of M. geoffroyus , the length ratio of setae vi and ve is 1:4, the lengths of stylophore and chelicerae are 395–400 and 305, respectively, genital setae are thick and stout.