# Two new feather mite species (Acarina: Psoroptidia) from the Chestnut Bulbul, Hemixos castanonotus (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae), in China

Ioana Cristina Constantinescu, Gabriel Bogdan Chișamera, Rozalia Motoc, Daniel R Gustafsson, Fasheng Zou, Xingzhi Chu, Adam Costică

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Ioana Cristina Constantinescu, Gabriel Bogdan Chișamera, Rozalia Motoc, Daniel R Gustafsson, Fasheng Zou, et al.. Two new feather mite species (Acarina: Psoroptidia) from the Chestnut Bulbul, Hemixos castanonotus (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae), in China. Acarologia, 2023, 63 (3), pp.637-657. 10.24349/8srk-wv1j. hal-04114797

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# Two new feather mite species (Acarina: Psoroptidia) from the Chestnut Bulbul, *Hemixos castanonotus* (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae), in China

Ioana Cristina Constantinescu IDª, Gabriel Bogdan Chișamera IDª,.ro, Rozalia Motoc IDª, Daniel R. Gustafsson IDª, Fasheng Zou IDª, Xingzhi Chu IDª, Adam Costică IDª

## Original research

### ABSTRACT

Two new species of feather mites from the bird host *Hemixos castanonotus* Swinhoe, 1870 (Pycnonotidae) collected in China are described: *Trouessartia bulbuli* sp. nov. (Trouessartiidae) and *Pteroherpus guangdongensis* sp. nov. (Pteronyssidae). *Trouessartia bulbuli* sp. nov. is close to *T. latisetata* Gaud, 1952 and differs in having the following features: in males of *T. bulbuli* tibia IV has apical thorn-like process at base of solenidia φ, epimerites IVa are wide and with a small extension of irregular form on the anterior end; in females, the copulatory opening is on the small wide-angular projection (external copulatory tube) on the margin of interlobar membrane and *h1* setae are filiform. *Pteroherpus guangdongensis* sp. nov. belongs to the *hoplophorus* species group and is most close to *P. meghalayensis* Constantinescu, 2014. The new species has the following distinctive characters: in males, a very long genital apparatus and the epiandrum with long branches, extending beyond the base of setae 4a, a pair of small additional sclerites posterior to prodorsal shield is present, and adanal shield is shaped as a small longitudinal sclerite of irregular form; in females, the hysterosomal shield is split into unpaired anterior hysteronotal sclerite shaped as shaped as dumb-bell, central sclerite of triangular form, paired lateral opisthosomal sclerites and pygidial sclerites (similar to those in other species of *hoplophorus* group), and the hysteronotal gland openings gl are situated on the striated tegument.

**Keywords** feather mites; systematics; morphology

**Zoobank** http://zoobank.org/BAA63CD8-60B5-4342-9200-A0FBF20BAA37

### Introduction

Feather mites are commensals or ectoparasites of birds. So far, over 2500 species of feather mites have been described, but the currently known species may represent less than 20% of the extant species (Mironov 2003). According to the current phylogenetic concept, the cohort Psoroptidia is subdivided into three superfamilies: Analgoidea and Pterolichoidea representing bird-associated mites, and Sarcoptoidea, the mammal-associated mites (OConnor 2009). Wang and Fan (2010) and Constantinescu *et al*. (2019) summarized the data on the diversity of feather mites in China poorly studied to date, which includes only about 100 known species.

Received 06 February 2023
Accepted 12 May 2023
Published 31 May 2023

Corresponding author
Ioana Cristina Constantinescu ID:
cristinactinescu@yahoo.com

Academic editor
Akashi Hernandes, Fabio

https://doi.org/10.24349/8srk-wv1j

ISSN 0044-586X (print)
ISSN 2107-7207 (electronic)

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /></figure>

Constantinescu I. C. et al.

Licensed under
Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0

OPEN ACCESS

<footnote>ªGrigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History, Sos. Kiseleff no.1, 011341 Bucharest, Romania.</footnote>

<footnote>ᵇInstitute of Biology – Bucharest, Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independenței, 060031, Bucharest, P.O. Box 56-53, Romania.</footnote>

<footnote>ᶜGuangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Library of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 105 Xingang West Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, 510260, Guangdong Province, China.</footnote>
In the present paper, we describe two new species of feather mites belonging to two genera widely spread in Asia: *Trouessartia* Canestrini, 1899 (Fam. Trouessartiidae) and *Pteroherpus* Gaud, 1981 (Fam. Pteronyssidae).

The feather mite genus *Trouessartia* comprises about 147 described species associated predominantly with birds of the order Passeriformes (Mironov 2022); however, recent estimates suggest that the actual number of species in the genus may be around 500–700 species (Hernandes 2014).

The only revision of this genus was performed by Santana (1976), encompassing the 71 species known at the time; other presently known species were described in the subsequent 40 years by various authors (Mauri and De Alzuet 1968; Černý 1979; Černý and Lukoschus 1975; Gaud 1977; Gaud and Atyeo 1986, 1987; Mironov 1983, 2021a, 2021b; Mironov and Kopij 1996, 2000a; Mironov and Galloway 2002, 2019; Mironov and González-Acuña 2013; Mironov and Overstreet 2016; Mironov and Palma 2016; Mironov and Bermúdez 2017; Mironov and Chandler 2020; Mironov and Zabashta 2022; Mironov et al. 2021; O'Connor et al. 2005; Carleton and Proctor 2010; Constantinescu et al. 2013, 2016a, 2016b, 2017, 2018a, 2018b, 2021; Hernandes 2014, 2017, 2022, 2023; Hernandes and Valim 2015; Hernandes and O'Connor 2017; Hernandes et al. 2022).

A detailed generic revision of the family Pteronyssidae (considered as a subfamily of Avenzoariidae) was published by Faccini and Atyeo (1981), and the genus *Pteroherpus* included at that time 12 described species. Subsequent taxonomic papers (Mironov 1992; Mironov and Kopij 2000b; Mironov and Wauthy 2006) and a recent revision of *Pteroherpus* (Mironov and Wauthy 2008) have raised the number of known species to 18, which were arranged in four species-groups: *hoplophorus* (10 species), *diploplax* (6 species), *josephi* (1 species) and *nicator* (1 species). In the past decade, five more species of the genus have been described: *P. garrulacis* Mironov & Proctor, 2011 and *P. pomatorhinae* Constantinescu, et al., 2019 (*diploplax* group), *P. meghalayensis* Constantinescu, 2014 and *P. chinensis* Constantinescu et al., 2019 (*hoplophorus* group), and *P. surmachi* Mironov, 2011 not referred to any of recognized species groups, because of having a distinct combination of characters both in females and males (Mironov 2011; Mironov and Proctor 2011; Constantinescu et al. 2014, 2019).

## Material and methods

The material used in the present paper was collected from the Chestnut Bulbul, *Hemixos castanonotus* Swinhoe, 1870, in Guangdong Province in China. The bird was captured, identified and visually checked for the presence of mites; after mites were collected, it was released back into the wild. Mite specimens were placed in tubes with 95% ethanol, and later, in the laboratory, were cleared in lactic acid and mounted on microscope slides in Hoyer's medium. Drawings were made using an Olympus CX21 microscope equipped with a camera lucida drawing device.

For scanning electron microscope study (SEM), feather mites were cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner (Evo Sonic) for 10–30 seconds to remove debris and then fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in sodium cacodylate buffer (0.1M, pH 7.4) in a refrigerator at 4° for 4h. The specimens were dehydrated in an ascending alcohol series (30%, 50%, 70%, 80%, 95%, and 100% ethanol; 10 min. each) and then in hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) for 1h (Han *et al.* 2019a; Han and Min 2019b). After being air-dried, samples were mounted on aluminum stubs covered with conductive double-sided adhesive carbon tabs. The samples were sputter-coated with gold for 30 seconds. The feather mites were analysed and photographed using a Phenom Pro scanning electron microscope (Phenom-World, Thermo Fisher Scientific, The Netherlands), at 10kV acceleration voltage.

The nomenclature of body setation follows that of Griffiths *et al.* (1990) with the coxal setae modifications made by Norton (1998), and that of the legs follows Gaud and Atyeo (1996).
The measuring techniques of particular structures in *Trouessartia* description were detailed by Mironov and Chandler (2020), with the changes introduced by Mironov regarding the term DHA (dorsal hysterosomal apertures) (Mironov 2022). Description of new *Pteroherpus* species is given according to the current format used for mites of the family Pteronyssidae (Mironov 1992; Mironov and Wauthy 2006, 2008).

The bird specimens were identified according to Arlott (2017), but the taxonomy of the birds follows Clements *et al.* (2022), which differs in species limits used. We give the full set of measurements for a holotype (male) and range of measurements for all corresponding paratypes. All measurements are in micrometers (µm).

The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, China (IZGAS, previously the Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, GIABR) and in the Acarological Collection of the “Grigore Antipa» National Museum of Natural History, Bucharest, Romania (MGAB). Specimens with the collection number GD-ACARI are in the IZGAS, and those with the collection number ANA are in MGAB.

## Results

**Family Trouessartiidae Gaud, 1957**

**Genus *Trouessartia* Canestrini, 1899**

*Trouessartia bulbuli* Constantinescu, sp. nov.

Zoobank: C60F27E8-EAA0-4CE5-AB99-79FBA67163E7

(Figures 1–7)

### Type material

From *Hemixos castanonotus* Swinhoe (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae): male holotype (ANA1845), 4 male (ANA1842–1844, ANA1846) and 5 female (ANA1847–1851) paratypes, in MGAB; 5 male (GD-ACARI-39–43) and 5 female (GD-ACARI-44–48) paratypes, in IZGAS, **CHINA**, Guangdong Province, Dinghu District, Dinghushan National Nature Reserve, 22°09'34"N, 112°32'17"E, 14 March 2019; coll. C. Adam.

### Description

**Male** — (holotype, range for 5 paratypes in parentheses) (Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6). Length of idiosoma from anterior end to bases of setae h3 415 (400–430), greatest width at level of humeral shields 185 (180–200). Length of hysterosoma from sejugal furrow to bases of setae h3 260 (262–280). Prodorsal shield length along midline 145 (140–148), greatest width in posterior part 150 (140–150), lateral margins not fused with scapular shields, with anterolateral extensions produced laterally between bases of legs I, II, surface without ornamentation (Figure 1A). Internal scapular setae *si* filiform, 23 (17–27) long, separated by 75 (73–80); external scapular setae *se* situated near lateral margins of prodorsal shield, separated by 100 (89–106). External vertical setae *ve* minute. Humeral shield with setae *c2* lanceolate, 39 (33–43) long. Setae *c3* narrowly lanceolate, with acute apex, 23 (22–25) long. Dorsal hysterosoma with prohysteronotal and lobar shields completely separated. Prohysteronotal shield length 195 (183–200), width at anterior margin 133 (130–138), lateral margins with shallow incisions at level of trochanters III, margins of these incisions without sclerotized patch. Length of lobar shield excluding lamellae 78 (75–84). Apical parts of opisthosomal lobes separated by narrow terminal cleft, length of this cleft from anterior end to apices of lamellae 30 (30–33), width in anterior part 8 (8–12). Lamellae ovate in general shape, their margins with 11–12 rounded festoons, length from bases of setae h3 to lamellar apices 15 (17–18). Setae *h1* anterior to setae *h2*. Distance between dorsal setae: *c2-e1* 90 (93–99), *d2-e2* 90 (90–92), *e2-h2* 63 (67–77), *h2-h3* 17 (15–18), *h2-h2* 37 (38–43), *h3-h3* 32 (30–32).
<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 1** *Touessartia bulbuli* sp. nov., Male: A – dorsal view, B – ventral view.</figcaption></figure>

Epimerites I free. Rudimentary sclerites rEpIIa present, with irregular form. Genital apparatus situated between levels of trochanters III and IV, length including epiandrum and
<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 2** *Touessartia bulbuli* sp. nov., Male details: A – D details of legs, dorsal view, A – leg I, B – leg II, C – leg III, D – leg IV; E – ventral view of male genital apparatus; Abbreviations: ea – epiandrum, gp – genital papillae.</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 3** *Touessartia bulbuli* sp. nov., Female: A – dorsal view, B – ventral view.</figcaption></figure>

basal sclerite 42 (42–47), greatest width 20 (20–25) (Figure 1B). Epiandrum small ovate. Setae g filiform and relatively short, not touching at bases, distant from base of genital apparatus;
<figure><img src="image_10.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 4** *Touessartia bulbuli sp. nov.*, Female: A – D details of legs, dorsal view, A – leg I, B – leg II, C – leg III, D – leg IV; E – spermatheca and spermataduct; Abbreviations: hs – head of spermatheca; pd – primary spermataduct; sd – secondary spermataduct.</figcaption></figure>

genital shield and postgenital plaque absent. A pair of minutes paragenital sclerites (derivatives of epimerites IVa) at level of basal sclerite. Aedeagus long, extending to ends of parameres,
parameres without denticles and other processes on distal ends (Figure 2E). Anterior and posterior genital papillae similar in size and at the same distance from midline. Adanal apodemes heavily sclerotized, with wide lateral membrane, without apophyses. Translobar apodeme present. Adanal shields absent, setae *ps3* inserted on soft tegument anterior to adanal suckers. Adanal suckers 12 (12–13) in diameter. Anterior ends of epimerites IIIa reaching level of setae *4b*. Epimerites IVa present, wide, anterior ends slightly exceeding level of setae *4a*, with narrow extension of irregular form on anterior end. Setae *4b* situated slightly anterior to level of setae *3a*, setae *g* and *4a* situated approximately at same transverse level. Distance between ventral setae: *4b-3a* 35 (33–37), *4b-g* 78 (77–80), *g-ps3* 73 (68–72), *ps3-h3* 73 (70–75).

Setae *sR* of trochanters III long filiform, 28 (22–25), setae *cG* of genua I, II long filiform. Tibia IV with apical thorn-like process at base of solenidia φ, tarsus IV 40 (40–43) long, modified setae *d* and *e* barrel-shaped, both with discoid cap, situated subapically (Figures 2D and 6C, D). Legs IV with ambulacral disc extending to level of posterior margin of terminal lamellae.

**Female** — (range for 5 paratypes). (Figures 3, 4 and 7). Length of idiosoma from anterior end to apices of lamellar lobar processes 490–510, greatest width 190–205. Length of hysterosoma from sejugal furrow to apices of lamellar lobar processes 340–355. Prodorsal shield shaped as in male, 143–150 in length, 150–163 in width, surface without ornamentation. Setae *si* filiform, 20–25 long, separated by 84–87, setae *se* situated near lateral margins of prodorsal shield, separated by 107–110. Humeral shields with setae *c2* spiculiform, 37–42 long. Setae *c3* narrowly lanceolate, 23–28 in length. Hysteronotal shield: length from anterior margin to bases of setae *h3* 300–310, width at anterior margin 140–150; lateral margins with shallow incisions at level of trochanters III, margins of these incisions without sclerotized patch; surface between levels of setae *e1* and *d1* with small ovate lacunae in median part levels, and between levels of setae *e1* and *e2* with big ovate lacunae in median part and with a few small ovate lacunae in lateral parts (Figures 3A and 7A, B). Setae *h1* filiform, 7–8 long, situated anteromesal to bases of setae *h2*, 17–20 from each lateral margin of hysteronotal shield. Setae *ps1*, equidistant from outer and inner margins of opisthosomal lobes, closer to bases of setae *h3* than to bases of setae *h2*. Width of opisthosoma at level of the setae *h2* 84–87. Distance from bases of setae *h3* to membranous apices of lobes 33–42. Setae *f2* present. Supranal concavity open. Terminal cleft as an inverted U, length 125–134, width of cleft at level of setae *h3* 17–22. Interlobar membrane occupying anterior 1/5 of terminal cleft, distance from free margin of membrane to membranous lobar apices 80–84. External copulatory tube represented by small conical extension on free margin of interlobar membrane, 2–3 long, primary spermatduct guide and basal guide of external copulatory tube absent. Spermatheca with secondary spermatducts 28–32 long (Figure 4E). Distance between dorsal setae: *c2-d2* 85–97, *d2-e2* 122–150, *d1-d2* 43–50, *e2-h2* 33–38, *h2-h3* 53–58, *h2-h2* 67–72, *h3-h3* 35–42, *e1-e2* 84–87, *h1-h2* 15–22, *h1-h1* 38–47, *ps1-h3* 8–10.

Epimerites I free. Epigynum 33–37 in length, 85–97 in width (Figure 3B). Epimerites IVa present, short. Setae *sR* of trochanters III filiform, 22–35 long. Legs IV with ambulacral discs extending to level of setae *h3*.

## Etymology

The name of the species is derived from the common English name of the host family (Pycnonotidae).

## Differential diagnosis

The new species described herein cannot be referred to any of 11 species groups previously established in the genus *Trouessartia* (Mironov 2023), because of having a unique combination of characters. The new species of *Trouessartia* is closest to *Trouessartia latisetata* Gaud, 1952 from host *Ixocincla madagascariensis* (Pycnonotidae). Both species of these species have
<figure><img src="image_11.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 5** *Touessartia bulbuli* sp. nov., SEM images of male: A – idiosoma, dorsal view, B – details of lobar region, dorsal view, C – idiosoma, ventral view, D – details of lobar region, ventral view.</figcaption></figure>

dorsal shields with similar ornamentation; males have the terminal lamellae denticulate, and tibia IV with apical thorn-like process at base of solenidion φ; and females have setae *h1* filiform. *Touessartia bulbuli* differ from *T. latisetata* in having the following characters: in males, the hysteronotal shield is completely separated into the prohysteronotal and lobar shields,
<figure><img src="image_12.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 6** *Touessartia bulbuli* sp. nov., SEM images of male: A – lateralo-ventral view, B – hypostome, ventral view, C – leg IV, dorsal view, D – details of tibia and tarsus IV, dorsal view.</figcaption></figure>

anterior ends of epimerites IVa are separated in small sclerites at base of basal sclerite of genital apparatus; in females, the external copulatory tube shaped as a short projection extending into terminal cleft. In males of *T. latisetata*, the hysteronotal shield is entire and its prohysteronotal and lobar parts are delimited from each other by small lateral incisions posterior to setae *e2*,
<figure><img src="image_13.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 7** *Touessartia bulbuli* sp. nov., SEM images of female: A – idiosoma, dorsal view, B – details of hysteronotal shield ornamentation and lobar region, dorsal view, C – details of lobar region, ventral view, D – prodorsal shield, dorsal view.</figcaption></figure>

epimerites IVa are entire and extended to the level of basal sclerite, and in females, the external copulatory tube is absent.
**Family Pteronyssidae Oudemans, 1941**

**Genus Pteroherpus Gaud, 1981**

**Pteroherpus guangdongensis Constantinescu, sp. nov.**

Zoobank: 99E03741-C90F-4B8C-A42A-D6F02170A484

(Figures 8–13)

**Type material**

From *Hemixos castanonotus* Swinhoe (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae): male holotype (ANA1877), 4 male (ANA1874–ANA1876, ANA1878) and 5 female (ANA1879–ANA1883) paratypes, in MGAB collection; 5 male (GD-ACARI-49–53) and 5 female (GD-ACARI-54–58) paratypes, in IZGAS collection; **CHINA**, Guangdong Province, Dinghu District, Dinghushan National Nature Reserve, 22°09′34″N, 112°32′17″E, 17 March 2019; coll. C. Adam.

**Description**

**Male** — (holotype, range measurements for 4 paratypes in parentheses) (Figures 8, 9, 11 and 12). Idiosoma 390 long (375–405), 195 wide (185–205). Prodorsal shield with posterolateral angles not expressed, lateral margins with small incisions posterior to bases of setae *se*, posterior margin almost straight, except central part with two small convexities, 100 long (112–125) and 92 (95–105) wide, surface with granular ornamentation, distance between setae *se–se* 84 (80–88). Setae *c2* filiform 30 (23–30) long, setae *c3* lanceolate 37 (37–47) long. Prodorsal and hysteronotal shields separated by large area with transverse striae, distance between this shields along midline 44 (38–50). A pair of small additional sclerites posterior to prodorsal shield present. Hysteronotal shield entire, with convex anterior margin, not encompassing bases of setae *c1*, with blunt-angular angles, sharp anterior angles, greatest length 208 (215–225), width at anterior margin 120 (113–125). Opisthosomal lobes short and rounded, terminal cleft small U-shaped, 25 (20–23) long. Supranal concavity opened posteriorly, anterior end extending beyond level of setae *e2*. Posterior and inner margins of lobes with narrow entire membrane, width of opisthosoma at level of setae *f2* 88 (79–85). Dorsal setae *e1* situated posterior to openings gl. Lengths of dorsal setae: *d2* 18 (22–27), *e2* 17 (22–25). Dorsal measurements: *c2–d2* 80 (75–84), *d2–e2* 100 (100–104), *d2–gl* 28 (30–32), *gl–e1* 18 (18–25), *e2–h3* 52 (48–57), *e2–e2* 68 (65–75), *h2–h2* 65 (60–68), *h3–h3* 49 (42–50), *ps2–ps2* 82 (73–85). Transventral sclerite with anterior margins slightly convex in median part, and fused with epiandrum, length along midline 20 (21–23). Branches of epiandrum long, completely encompassing genital apparatus laterally; tips of branches thin, extending beyond level of setae *4a*. Genital apparatus very long, 77 (75–87) in length, 28 (20–25) in width, aedeagus 19 (17–23) in length. Setae *4a* and *g* approximately at same level. Diameter of anal suckers 25 (20–22). Adanal shield as longitudinal plate of irregular shape. Adanal membranes well developed. Ventral measurements: *4b–4a* 63 (62–72), *4b–g* 70 (72–80), *g–ps3* 77 (72–78), *ps3–ps3* 48 (32–47), *ps3–h3* 55 (55–62). Tarsus III 68 (70–78) long, with bidentate apex, seta *r* slightly longer than segment (Figures 9E and 12C). Tarsus IV shorter than tibia IV, setae *d* and *e* with apical caps, close to each other, situated near apex of segment (Figures 9F and 12D).

**Female** — (range measurements for 5 paratypes) (Figures 10 and 13). Idiosoma 420–440 long, 183–210 wide. Prodorsal shield as in male, except posterior margin being strongly convex, 125–138 long, 103–113 wide, distance *se:se* 80–90. Setae *c2* filiform, 23–32 long; subhumeral seta *c3* lanceolate, slightly curved, longer than trochanter III. Arrangement of hysteronotal shields: unpaired anterior hysteronotal sclerite, central sclerite, a pair of lateral opisthosomal sclerites and a pair of pygidial sclerites. Anterior hysteronotal sclerite represented by transverse plate narrowed in median part, with all margins irregular, with anterior margin strongly concave, encompassing bases of setae *c1, c2*. Anterior hysteronotal sclerite and central sclerite separated by relatively narrow band of soft tegument with five striae. Central sclerite of roughly triangular form (Figures 10A and 13C), anterior margin straight, lateral unevenly
<figure><img src="image_14.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 8** *Pteroherpus guangdongensis* sp. nov., Male: A – dorsal view, B – ventral view.</figcaption></figure>

sinuous, length along midline 120–133 and width at anterior margin 70–83; setae *d1* on anterior part of this sclerite; setae *d2* and *e1* off this sclerite, at level of its midlength and at posterior
<figure><img src="image_15.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 9** *Pteroherpus guangdongensis* sp. nov., Male details: A – genital apparatus and transventral sclerite, B – ventral view of opisthosoma, C – tarsus I, dorsal view, D – tarsus I, ventral view, E – tarsus III, dorsal view, F – tarsus IV, dorsal view; Abbreviations: ads – adanal shield, am – adanal membrane, ea – tips of epiandrum, im – interlobar membrane, tv – transventral sclerite, vm – ventral membrane of tarsus I.</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_16.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 10** *Pteroherpus guangdongensis* sp. nov., Female: A – dorsal view, B – ventral view.</figcaption></figure>

tip, respectively. Lateral opisthosomal sclerites represented by plates of irregular form, bearing setae *e2*, their surface with 5 oblique striae. Hysteronotal gland openings *gl* situated on striated tegument near anterolateral margins of opisthosomal sclerites. Pygidial sclerites small, roughly triangular in shape, encompassing bases of setae *h2*, *h3* and *ps1*; seta *f2* inserted laterally, on soft tegument. Dorsal measurements: *c2-d2* 113–125, *d2-e2* 100–110, *e2-h3* 65–78, *d2-gl* 78–90, *e1-gl* 45–53, *h2-ps1* 20–22, *h2-h2* 75–80, *h3-h3* 53–67.

## Etymology

The specific name *guangdongensis* refers to the Guangdong Province, where the mite was collected.
<figure><img src="image_17.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 11** *Pteroherpus guangdongensis sp. nov.*, SEM images of male, dorsal view: A – idiosoma, B – details of prodorsal shield, C – details of hysteronotal shield, D – details of leg I.</figcaption></figure>

Differential diagnosis

The new species, *Pteroherpus guangdongensis sp. nov.*, belongs to the *hoplophorus* species group (Mironov and Wauthy 2008) and is closest to *P. meghalayensis* Constantinescu, 2014
<figure><img src="image_18.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 12** *Pteroherpus guangdongensis* sp. nov., SEM images of male, ventral view: A – details of leg I and leg II and hypostome, B – details of genital apparatus, C – tibia and tarsus of leg III, D – leg IV.</figcaption></figure>

described from the ashy bulbul, *Hemixos flavala* Blyth (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae), in India. Males of both species have a strongly elongated genital apparatus (3-4 times longer than wide) and the epiandrum with long branches, and in females obtain the same arrangement of the hysterosomal shield sclerites (unpaired anterior hysteronotal sclerite as transverse plate,
<figure><img src="image_19.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 13** *Pteroherpus guangdongensis* sp. nov., SEM images of female: A – idiosoma, dorsal view, B – details of prodorsal shield and anterior hysteronotal sclerite, dorsal view, C – details of central sclerite and lateral opisthosomal sclerites, dorsal view, C – hypostome and leg I, ventral view.</figcaption></figure>

central sclerite, lateral opisthosomal sclerites and pygidial sclerites). The male of *Pteroherpus guangdongensis* is distinguished from *P. meghalayensis* in the following features: small additional dorsal sclerites in the sejugal area are present and the adanal shield is represented by
a longitudinal plate of irregular shape. In the male of *P. meghalayensis* dorsal additional sclerites are absent and the adanal shield is T-shaped. In females of *Pteroherpus guangdongensis*, the opening gl are off the lateral opisthosomal sclerites, setae ps3 extending to posterior margin of opisthosoma, and setae 4a very short, shorter than trochanters III or IV. In female of *P. meghalayensis* opening gl are on margins of opisthosomal sclerites, setae ps3 extending far beyond the posterior margin of opisthosoma, setae 4a are long, longer than trochanters III or IV.

## Acknowledgements

The present study was carried out in strict accordance with the Regulation for the Administration of Laboratory Animals (Decree No. 2, State Science and Technology Commission of the People's Republic of China, 14 November 1988). We obtained approval for the study from the Guangdong Institute of Zoology's (formerly Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources) Administrative panel on Laboratory Animal Care. Moreover, we obtained permission from the Forestry Bureau of the Dinghu District, Guangdong Province, and the administrative staff of the Nature Reserve for catching birds within Dinghu National Nature Reserve. This study was supported by grant GIABR-GJRC201701 from the Introduction of Full-Time High-Level Talent Fund of the Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, grant 2019QN01N968 from the Pearl River Talent Recruitment Program of Guangdong Province, grant QN20200130012 from the Foreign Young Talent Plan, and grant 31961123003 from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Gabriel Bogdan Chişamera was supported by project no. RO1567-IBB04/2023 from the Institute of Biology Bucharest of Romanian Academy. We thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on this manuscript.

## ORCID

Ioana Cristina Constantinescu https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4671-8379

Gabriel Bogdan Chişamera https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8859-0559

Rozalia Motoc https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2724-8458

Daniel R. Gustafsson https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4927-3088

Fasheng Zou https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5591-4019

Xingzhi Chu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6659-6279

Adam Costică https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6060-4602

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