A new species of the feather mite genus Allodectes (Acariformes: Proctophyllodidae) from the ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (Apodiformes: Trochilidae), in Canada

Abstract

A new feather mite species, Allodectes archilochus sp. n. (Pterodectinae: Rhamphocaulini) is described from the ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (Apodiformes: Trochilidae), in Manitoba, Canada. This is the first record of the genus Allodectes on hummingbirds in the northern part of North America. The new species is close to A. thaluraniae Hernandes, 2017, and distinguished from the latter in the following features: in both sexes, the anterior margin of the hysteronotal shield is deeply concave; in males, setae d2 are situated at the midlevel of metapodosomal sclerites, and tarsus IV is without extension on the inner margin; in females, the anterolateral extensions of the prodorsal shield do not extend to the lateral margins of propodosoma, and the anteromedian area of the hysteronotal shield is covered with dense striation. A checklist of the 15 currently known Allodectes species is provided.