Three new feather mite genera of the Protolichus generic group (Astigmata, Pterolichidae) from parrots (Aves, Psittaciformes) of the Old World

Abstract

Three new genera of feather mites of the Protolichus generic group (Pterolichidae, Pterolichinae), restricted to parrots, are established based on re-examination of type series and some previously unidentified mite specimens deposited in the collection of E. Trouessart (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France): Loriprotolichus gen. nov. with the type species Loriprotolichus charmosynae sp. nov. from Charmosyna papou (Scopoli, 1786) and Loriprotolichus falculiger (Trouessart, 1884) comb. nov. from Glossopsitta concinna (Shaw, 1791); Calyptolichus gen. nov. with type species Calyptolichus favettei (Trouessart, 1899) comb. nov.; Nestorilichus gen. nov. with the type species Nestorilichus atyeoi sp. nov. from Nestor meridionalis (Gmelin, 1788). Several taxonomic changes were implemented in the course of re-examination of the type series. The holotype of Pterolichus (Protolichus) falculiger Trouessart, 1884 is designated. Re-examination of the full syntype series of P. (Protolichus) favettei Trouessart, 1899 representing samples from different hosts, recovered two distinct pterolichid species of the Protolichus generic group. The sample clearly corresponding to the original description (Trouessart, 1899) is fixed as the lectotype and nomenclatural type of P. (Protolichus) favettei; the second species is described as a new species Nestorilichus atyeoi. Protolichus (Mesolichus) favettei cordifora Favette et Trouessart, 1904 is synonymized with P. (Protolichus) favettei. © 2007 W. Stefański Institute of Parasitology, PAS.