Paragoniocotes enicognathidis, Cicchino and González-Acuña, 2009

Cicchino, Armando & González-Acuña, Daniel, 2009, Chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from parrots and parakeets of the genera Cyanoliseus and Enicognathus in Chile and Argentina, with descriptions of a new species, Zootaxa 2117, pp. 37-42 : 39-40

Paragoniocotes enicognathidis, Cicchino and González-Acuña , new species

( Figs. 1–7 )

Type-host. Enicognathus leptorhynchus (King, 1831) , the Slender-billed Parakeet.

Other host. Enicognathus ferrugineus Müller, 1776 , the Austral Parakeet.

Etymology: the specific epithet refers to the pertainance to the host’s genus, Enicognathus .

Diagnosis. A member of the Group "C" of Guimarães (1947) (= group "B" of Carriker, 1950), differing in both sexes by the broadly rounded anterior aspect of the head. Very close to P. aratingae Guimarães, 1947 in general habitus and body measurements, although it is easily distinguishable by the shape of the head in both sexes.

Male. ( Fig. 1 ): Head wider than long; preantennal region much shorter than the postantennal, with the anterior margin flatly and uniformly round. Coni reduced to a small triangular process projecting on the anterior margin of the first antennal segment. First antennal segment well developed, a little longer than the next two together; segments III and V with lappet-like projection on distal posterior margin, where the latter is much less apparent except for when the antenna is at rest ( Fig. 4 , arrows), and is much less apparent when it is slightly bent upwards ( Fig. 3 , arrows). Pterothorax with 7 setae of different lengths on each side of posterior margin. Abdomen ovate, noticeably longer than the head and thorax together; with complete tergites and thinner medially, tergite II deeply and largely indented medially. Tergocentral setae distributed on each side of the abdomen as follows: segment II–V with 1 tergocentral seta each side, VI–VIII with 2–3. Sternal plate with indistinct outline at least on segments II to V. Five rows of setae on sternal face probably corresponding to segments II–VI, II with 4 setae, III–IV with 8, and V–VI with 10. Paratergal chaetotaxy: II 0, III–VI 1, VII–VIII 2. Genitalia keeping the same general shape of the other species of the group C, differs in minor details and proportions as can seen in Fig. 5 . Caudal portion of endomeral complex folded in resting position ( Fig. 5 , arrow), which spreads considerably when in activity ( Fig. 6 , arrow). Measurements: HL 0.298–0.310, POW 0.310–0.333, OW 0.333–0.357, PL 0.131–0.155, PW 0.190–0.214, PTL 0.095–0.124, PTW 0.298–0.321, AL 0.583–0.655, AW 0.405–0.464, TL 1.112–1.190.

Female. ( Fig. 2 ). Preantennal region longer than in the male and outlined in a perfect arch of circle ( Figs. 2 ). Coni as usual for typical species of group C of Guimaraes (1947) (= group B of Carriker, 1950), large, spur-like and directed backwards. Antennae filiform ( Figs. 2 ). Pterothorax chaetotaxy as in the male. Abdomen broadly ellipsoidal and, as in other species of the same species-group, with tergites II–VIII interrupted on the midline, with one tergocentral seta on each side. Tergite IX+X notched in the middle of its anterior border ( Figs 2 ). Ventral terminalia of abdomen ( Fig. 7 ) much like P. aratingae (see Guimarães, 1947: 291 Fig. 22). Genital plate cuneiform, elongated, with the anterior margin semicircular. Vulva tapering towards the back and having, on each side, 8–10 short setae and 7–9 spine-like setae. The 3 subapical spinelike setae, found on either side of the vulva, are robust and sub-equal in shape and length ( Fig. 7 ). Measurements: HL 0.357–0.381, POW 0.345–0.357, OW 0.381–0.393, PL 0.138–0.160, PW 0.207–0.231, PTL 0.131–0.143, PTW 0.333–0.357, AL 0.810–0.857, AW 0.512–0.538, TL 1.405–1.464.

Type material. Holotype male, ex E. leptorhynchus , CHILE: Nahueltoro, Ñuble Province, Bío-Bío Region, 22-X-2002, D. González-Acuña coll. Paratypes: 5 males, 5 females same data as holotype.

Other material. one male, three females, ex E. ferrugineus , ARGENTINA: El Bolsón, Río Negro Province, 26-III-1964, A. C. Cicchino coll. Holotype and a part of the paratypes in the Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán collection.

Remarks. This new species is readily distinguished in both sexes from its allied P. aratingae Guimarães, 1947 , P. pyrrhurae Guimarães, 1947 and P. venezolanus Stafford, 1943 by the peculiar inflated and rounded shape of the head, both in the pre-antennal and temporal margins. Additionally, proportions of endomeral complex and shortened head in the male add features to separate from males of the cited species.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Paragoniocotes enicognathidis sp. nov. 1 male, 2 female, dorsal and ventral views.

FIGURES 3 – 7. Paragoniocotes enicognathidis sp. nov. 3 and 4 male left antenna, dorsal and frontal views (arrows indicate lappet-like projection on distal posterior margin of segments III and V), 5 and 6 male external genitalia (5 whole view, dorsal and ventral, arrow shows caudal portion of endomeral complex folded in resting position; 6 photograph of the endomeral complex, arrow shows caudal portion of endomeral complex spread in activity), 7 female vulva and spinelike adjacent setae.