Aulobia cisticolae Skoracki & Sikora, 2003, sp. n.

Aulobia cisticolae sp. n. (Figs 1­4)

Type material.

Female holotype, 19 female paratypes, 2 male paratypes and 6 nymph paratypes from the Red­faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops (Passeriformes: Sylviidae); Togo, Kodegbe, 15 November 1968, leg. C. Veronese (139.769). Holotype and paratypes are deposited in the MRAC except 2 female paratypes and 1 male paratype are deposited in the UAM.

Additional material

4 females and 1 male from the Red­faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops; Togo, Kodegbe, 22 November 1968, leg. C. Veronese (139.770). All material are deposited in the MRAC.

5 females, 2 males and 6 nymphs from the Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans; Congo, Kivu Butembo, November 1971, leg. R. P. Lejeune (141.461). 3 females and 6 nymphs are deposited in the MRAC, 2 females and 2 males are deposited in the UAM.

1 female from Cisticola sp. Rwanda, Rubona, 16 July 1971, leg. R. Kiss (141. 459). Material is deposited in the MRAC.

1 female and 1 nymph from Whistling Cisticola Cisticola lateralis; Togo, Kamina, 30 September 1968, leg. C. Veronese (139.771). Material is deposited in the MRAC.

Description

Female (Figs 1, 2). Total body length 910 in holotype (940­1020 in paratypes).

Gnathosoma: Hypostomal apex tongue­like with a pair of big and two pairs of small median protuberances. Peritremes M­ shaped, each with 10­14 chambers. Stylophore 200 (205­215) long, rounded posteriorly.

Idiosoma: Cuticular striations as in figs 1, 2. Propodosomal plate weakly sclerotized, anterior margin indistinct, punctuated near setal bases ve and sci. Setae vi, ve, sci, sce and d1 on the plate. Length of setae: vi (65­80); ve (120­150); sci (155­230); h 295 (275­340); sce 325 (320­345); d1 370 (295­395). Hysterosomal plate present, placed next to bases of setae d2, posterior band reaching setal bases l2. Setae d2 equidistant to l1 and l2. Length of setae: l1 270 (285­325); d2 275 (300); l2 (230­270). Pygidial plate present and punctuated, anterior margin indistinct; setae l4, l5, d4 and d5 situated on this plate. Length of setae: l5 430 (440­465); d5 50 (40­45); l4 230 (220­270); d4 40 (40­50); ic1 140 (145­155), ic3 80 (80­85); g1 45 (45); g2 35 (30­35); pg1 170 (160­185); pg2 130 (150­190); pg3 205 (215­ 255).

Legs: Epimeres I parallel and adjoining to epimeres II. All coxae punctuated. Coxae III and IV weakly sclerotized. Setae a’ and a’’ of legs III and IV with 6­9 tines.

Male (Figs 3, 4). Total body length 600­640.

Gnathosoma: Peritremes M­shaped, each lateral branch with 7­8 chambers and each transverse branch with 3­4 chambers. Stylophore 170­180 long, constricted posteriorly.

Idiosoma and legs: Cuticular striations as in figs 3, 4. Propodosomal plate weakly sclerotized, anterior margin indistinct; punctuated near seatal bases ve and sci; setae vi, ve, sci, sce and d1 on this plate. Hysterosomal and pygidial plates weakly sclerotized. Setae d2 close to l2 than to l1 or equidistant to l1 and l2. All coxae punctuated; coxae III and IV weakly sclerotized. Setae a’ and a’’ of legs III and IV with 7­8 tines.

Lengths of setae: vi 40; ve 70­80; sci 100­120; h 120; sce 155­165; d1 175­190; l1 75­ 85; d 2 25­30; l 2 25­30; d 4 25­30; l4 185­195; pg1 80­90.

Etymology

The name cisticolae refers to the generic name of the host – Cisticola

Differential diagnosis

Aulobia cisticolae sp. n. is closely related to A. sylviae Bochkov et Mironov, 1998 ex Sylvia atricapilla and S. curruca from Russia (Bochkov & Mironov, 1998). In both species setae vi are shorter than ve; setae d4 and pg3 are subequal; all coxae are punctated. The new species is distinguishable from A. sylviae by several characters. In the female of A. cisticolae sp. n. the lengths of setae vi and sci are 65­80 and 155­230, respectively and in the male the length ratio of setae vi:ve:sci is 1:2:2,5­3, whereas in the female of A. sylviae the lengths of setae vi and sci are 45 and 112 and in the males the lengths of setae vi; ve and sci are subequal.