Myrsidea bidentata Kounek and Sychra

Kounek, Filip, Sychra, Oldrich, Capek, Miroslav, Lipkova, Alexandra & Literak, Ivan, 2011, Chewing lice of the genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from the Cardinalidae, Emberizidae, Fringillidae and Thraupidae (Aves: Passeriformes) from Costa Rica, with descriptions of four new species, Zootaxa 3032, pp. 1-16 : 4-5

Myrsidea bidentata Kounek and Sychra sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–3 )

Type host. Piranga bidentata (Swainson) —Flame-colored Tanager

Female (n = 5). This species belongs to the fusca species group (sensu Price and Dalgleish 2006). Length of head seta 10, 0.070–0.075; seta 11, 0.100–0.105; ratio10/11, 0.67–0.75. Gula with 5 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 6 setae, Metanotum not enlarged, with 13–14 marginal setae.

Abdomen with tergites I–II strongly enlarged ( Fig. 1 ); tergite I with pronounced tapered medioposterior convexity, II with pronounced medioposterior enlargement, but with almost straight central part of posterior margin, tergites III–V compressed by enlarged tergites I–II with gently curved posterior margin. Tergal setae, with median gap in each row: I, 14–16; II, 10–12; III, 12–14; IV, 11–13; V, 13–15; VI, 14–18; VII, 10–12; VIII, 7–8. Postspiracular setae extremely long (0.48–0.51) on II, IV and VIII; long (0.30–0.38) on I and VII and short (0.15–0.20) on III, V and VI. Sternal setae: II, 4 in each aster, 14–16 marginal between asters, 4–5 anterior; III, 21–23; IV, 29–33; V, 34; VI, 31–34; VII, 12–15; VIII–IX, 17; without medioanterior setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.45–0.49; HL, 0.31–0.33; PW, 0.28; MW, 0.43–0.46; AW, 0.57–0.62; TL, 1.44–1.56; ANW, 0.20–0.22.

Male (n = 2). Length of head seta 10, 0.060–0.075; seta 11, 0.095–0.100; ratio10/11, 0.60–0.79. Gula with 4–5 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 5–6 setae. Metanotum with 6 marginal setae.

Tergal setae: I, 8–10; II, 10–11; III, 10–12; IV, 12; V, 12; VI, 12; VII, 10; VIII, 8. Postspiracular setae as for female. Sternal setae: II, 4 in each aster, 10–16 marginal between asters, 4–6 anterior ( Fig. 2 ); III, 19; IV, 25–27; V, 28–29; VI, 25–27; VII, 13–14; VIII, 12; without medioanterior setae. Genital sac sclerite with subapical projection on each side ( Fig. 3 ). Dimensions: TW, 0.43; HL, 0.29–0.31; PW, 0.26–0.27; MW, 0.33–0.37; AW, 0.46–0.48; TL, 1.26–1.27; GW, 0.10–0.11; GL, 0.40–0.42; GSL, 0.10.

Type material. Female holotype (O.Sychra CR105), ex Piranga bidentata (Cardinalidae) , COSTA RICA: Zona Protectora Las Tablas, La Amistad Lodge (8°54’N, 82°47’W; 1300m), 19 August 2010, Sychra and Literak leg. Paratypes: 2 females and 2 males with the same data as holotype (O.Sychra CR105–106). Deposited in INBio. Other specimens deposited in MZM.

Remarks. The female of M. bidentata sp. nov. is easily separated from other cardinalid, thraupid, or fringillid Myrsidea by following characteristics: (1) tergite I much enlarged with pronounced tapered medioposterior convexity and with>13 setae; (2) tergites with median gap in each row of setae and with small number of setae (especially tergites II–VI with not>16 setae) and (3) metanotum not enlarged with almost straight posterior margin with not>15 setae. The male of M. bidentata sp. nov. is characterized by: (1) Genital sac sclerite with subapical projection on each side ( Fig. 3 ); (2) small number of setae on tergites (especially tergites I–VI each with not>13 setae and VIII with not>8 setae); (3) sternite VIII with>10 setae.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the specific name of the type host.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. 1 – 3. Myrsidea bidentata sp. nov. 1, Female (dorsal side on the left, ventral side on the right). 2, Male sternite II. 3, Male genital sac sclerite. 4 – 6. Myrsidea dolejskae sp. nov. 4, Female (dorsal side on the left, ventral side on the right). 5, Male sternite II. 6, Male genital sac sclerite. Scales 0.50 mm (Figs. 1, 4), 0.10 mm (Figs. 2, 5), 0.05 mm (Figs. 3, 6).