Passeroptes hippolais Bochkov & Mironov, 2012, sp. nov.

Passeroptes hippolais sp. nov.

(Figs. 1–5)

Description. MALE (holotype). Body 170 long (170–180 in 5 paratypes) and 105 wide (105–110). Idiosomal shields without ornamentation, soft idiosomal cuticle striated, without scales or tubercules. Distance between propodonotal and hysteronotal shields about 25. Propodonotal shield: 40 long (40–45) and about 40 wide, posterolateral extensions encompassing bases of setae se and si. Setae se at least 5 times longer than si. Hysteronotal shield 95 (95–100) long, its length along midline 60 (55–60); with pair of deep lateral incisions at level of femora IV; narrow transverse unsclerotized area about 4 long and 11 wide situated in median part of this shield at same level with lateral incisions. In 3 specimens, including holotype, hysteronotal shield bearing pair of small rounded unsclerotized patches (probable remnants of setal alveoli) located at level of leg IV insertions. Setae d2 absent. Humeral shields without dorsal valves. Opisthosomal lobes about 35 long, widely separated from each other, lateral margins poorly sclerotized. Terminal cleft slightly longer than its greatest width, anterior end of cleft narrowly angular [=forms acute angle]. Lateral membranes narrow, entire. Interlobar membrane wide, entire; incision in interlobar membrane longitudinally ovate; terminal margin of these membranes near bases of setae h3 slightly concave. Coxal fields III opened only in anterior third. Genital arch as an inverted V with tips strongly curved laterally (Fig. 2). Aedeagus short, 7–8 long. Pair of adanal shields present, separated from each other. Diameter of adanal suckers 5–7. Cupules ih situated at same level with adanal suckers. Legs III and IV subequal, 75–85 long. Femora III and IV each with 1 dorsal and 1 ventral moderately developed retrorse projections. Other projections on legs III and IV absent. Solenidion ω 1 absent on tarsi I. Tarsi IV straight. Lengths of setae: se 60 (55–63), cp 105 (105–115), c3 30 (30–35), h2 200 (190–210), h3 40 (39–45), ps1 19 (19–20), ps2 30 (29–32), d II 70 (70–75), d III 110 (100–110), ω 3 and ω 1 I about 18, φI and II about 20, φIII about 5, φIV about 18, σ 1 I about 10, and σII about 5.

FEMALE (10 paratypes). Body 170–200 long and 112–125 wide. Idiosomal shields without ornamentation, soft idiosomal cuticle striated, without scales or tubercules. Distance between propodonotal and hysteronotal shields about 30. Propodonotal shield 40–47 long and 50–55 wide, posterolateral extensions encompassing or touching bases of setae se and si. Setae se at least 5 times longer than si. Hysteronotal shield 75–80 long and 50–57 wide, bearing pair of rounded unsclerotized patches at level of femora IV (probable remnants of setal alveoli). Setae d2 absent. Humeral shields without dorsal valves. Coxal fields III opened only in anterior third. Adanal shields widely separated from each other, weakly sclerotized. Legs III and IV subequal, 85–90 long. Femora III and IV each with 1 dorsal and 1 ventral moderately developed retrorse projections. Other projections on legs absent. Solenidion ω 1 absent on tarsi I. Lengths of setae: se 50–55, cp 100–115, c3 40–45, h2 170–190, h 3 25–30, ps 2 25–27, d II 65 –75, d III–IV 70 –80, ω 3 and ω 1 I about 10, φI about 18, φII 22–24, φIII and φIV about 3, σ 1 I about 14, and σII about 3.

Type material. Holotype male (ZISP 4843), 5 male and 10 female paratypes ex Hippolais icterina (Vieillot) (Passeriformes: Acrocephalidae) [body skin], RUSSIA: Kaliningrad Province, Curonian spit, Rybachy village, 55°09'15" N, 20°51'14" E, 2 June 1982, coll. S.V. Mironov (field number 248).

Type depositions. Holotype and most part of paratypes – in ZISP, 1 female paratype – in UMMZ.

Etymology. The specific epithet derives from the generic name of the host and is a noun in apposition.

Differential diagnosis. Among species devoid of setae d2 the new species is closest to Passeroptes dermicola (Trouessart, 1886) known from passerine birds of various families and geographical regions (Fain 1965). Females of the latter species are represented by two forms, with and without setae d2 (Fain & Bochkov 2003). In both sexes of these species, the soft idiosomal cuticle is devoid of scales or tubercules, the idiosomal shields are devoid of ornamentation, setae se are whip-like, at least 5 times as long as si, coxal fields III are almost closed and opened only in the anterior third, solenidion ω 1 I is absent, and only the femora of legs III, IV bear projections. In males of both species, the aedeagus is short, not more than 8 long, the genital arch is an inverted V with strongly curved tips, cupules ih are situated at the same level with the adanal suckers, and the hysteronotal shield is not transversely separated; in females, the hysteronotal shield bears a pair of rounded unsclerotized patches, the adanal shields are not fused to each other. The new species differs from P. dermicola by the following characters. In males of P. hippolais sp. nov., one dorsal and one ventral retrorse projections on femur IV are present (this feature is unique among species of the genus Passeroptes), and the anterior end of the terminal cleft is acute-angular; in females, setae d2 are constantly absent. In males of P. dermicola, the retrorse projections on femur IV are absent, and the posterior margin of the anterior end of the terminal cleft is rounded; in females, setae d2 are present or absent.