A new species of Androlaelaps Berlese, 1903 (Acari: Parasitiformes) parasitising an akodontine rodent (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) in northeastern Argentina

Abstract

Androlaelaps misionalis, a new species of laelapine mite, is described based on specimens collected from the pelage of the akodontine rodent Akodon montensis Thomas from Salto El Paraíso, Misiones Province, in Northeastern Argentina. The formal taxonomic description, illustrations and SEM photographs are derived from female specimens; male and nymph unknown. Androlaelaps misionalis n. sp resembles Androlaelaps maurii Lareschi & Gettinger, 2009 in general appearance, and both species are close to Androlaelaps rotundus Fonseca, 1936. Both differ from A. rotundus by their smaller size, by having the distance between the j6 setae similar to the distance between the z5 setae, and by their opisthogaster with a pair of setae closer to the epigynal shield. Androlaelaps misionalis n. sp differs from A. maurii mainly by its larger dorsal shield (length >500 µm); sternal setae S1, S2 and S3 with tips not extending beyond the following setal base; sternal shield width >1.5 times the length; and by shorter epigynal seta S5. This mite appears to be host specific to A. montensis.