Rafapicobia Skoracki 2011, gen. nov.

Genus Rafapicobia gen. nov.

Type species: R. zirnitra sp. nov. designated here.

Diagnosis. NON-PHYSOGASTRIC FEMALE, Small to medium-sized syringophilids (total body length 420– 435). Gnathosoma. Hypostomal apex truncate. Lateral hypostomal teeth absent. Peritremes wide U-shaped, with well or weakly discernible chambers of lateral branches. Movable cheliceral digits edentate. Stylophore rounded posteriorly. Idiosoma. Dorsal propodonotal setae lightly beaded. Six pairs of propodonotal setae present, arranged 2–1–1–2, setae vi situated anteriorly to level of setae ve. Propodonotal shield entire and shirt-like bearing all propodonotal setae except c2, or divided into 3 sclerites, 2 lateral shields bearing bases of setae si and se and large unpaired median shield bearing bases of setae vi, ve and c1. Hysteronotal shield absent. Hysteronotal setae long. Setae d1 situated closer to e2 than to d2 or located equidistant between d2 and e2. Pygidial shield present. Terminal setae f1, f2 and h1 short, setae h2 long. Bases of setae 1a–1a and 3a–3a not coalesced. Pseudanal series represented by 2 pairs of setae. Genital series with 1 pair of setae. Aggenital series with 3 pairs of setae. Aggenital plate absent. Genital plate absent. Genital lobes absent. Legs. Legs I and II thicker than II and IV. Apodemes divergent without thorn-like protuberances in middle part. Solenidia phi on tibiae I absent. Antaxial and paraxial members of claw pairs subequal or unequal in size and shape.

PHYSOGASTRIC FEMALE. Medium-sized mites (total body length 500). Body bulb-shaped outline.

MALE. Features as in females except: small sized mites (total body length 395); hysteronotal shield present, not fused to pygidial shield, divided longitudinally or entire; hysteronotal setae d2 long, setae d1 and e2 short; terminal setae f2 short, h2 long; pseudanal series represented by 2 pairs of setae; genital series with 2 pair of setae; aggenital series with 2 pairs of setae; aggenital plate absent.

Etymology. The name Rafapicobia is named in the memory of Prof. Jan Rafalski (1900-1995), the great Polish zoologist, the father of the Polish acarology and the long standing head of the Department of Animal Morphology (AMU).

Differential diagnosis. See differential diagnosis for Neopicobia.

Host range. In the Palaearctic region, species of this genus are associated with passerines of the family Muscicapidae.

Habitat. Quills of body feathers.

Species included. Monotypic genus.