Myrsidea abbreviata Eichler

Price, Roger D., Hellenthal, Ronald A. & Weckstein, Jason D., 2004, The genus Myrsidea Waterston (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from the toucans (Piciformes: Ramphastidae), with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 613, pp. 1-18 : 11

Myrsidea abbreviata Eichler ( Fig. 15 )

Myrsidea abbreviata Eichler 1951: 50 . Type host: “ Ramphastos discolorus ” = R. dicolorus L.

Female. As in Fig. 15 . Metanotal margin with 10 setae. Tergites I–III with slight medioposterior convexity intruding to following tergite. Tergal setae: I, 7–10; II, 14–15; III, 16– 19; IV–VI, 15–22; VII, 14–21; VIII, 8. Postspiracular setae on V much shorter than others. Very long inner posterior marginal setae on IX. Sternal setae: II, 25–29; III, 34–42; IV, 46–57; V–VI, 52–66; VII, 30–35; subgenital plate, 28–33. Anus with 57–62 ventral fringe setae, 46–52 dorsal. Dimensions: TW, 0.65–0.68; HL, 0.41–0.44; PW, 0.43–0.44; MW, 0.66–0.70; AWIV, 0.94–1.02; ANW, 0.42–0.44; TL, 2.33–2.39.

Male. As for female, except as follows. Metanotal margin with 6–9 setae. Tergites I– III unmodified. Tergal setae: I, 9–13; II, 15–20; III, 16–22; IV, 19–21; V, 18–25; VI, 20– 22; VII, 15–20; VIII, 8–12. Sternal setae: II, 25–27; III, 31–38; IV, 41–49; V, 51–58; VI, 47–57; VII, 0.27–0.34; VIII, 12–15. Genital sac sclerites much as in Fig. 4 . Dimensions: TW, 0.59–0.60; HL, 0.38–0.41; PW, 0.37–0.40; MW, 0.49–0.56; AWIV, 0.70–0.73; GL, 0.63–0.69; TL, 1.74–1.90.

Material. Ex R. dicolorus , 9 females, 5 males, BRAZIL: Nuevo Teutonia (MAC; 1938); 7 females, BRAZIL: Catel (MAC; 1938); 1 female, 1 male, Joinville, Humboldt, S. America (WE; 1913).

Remarks. The description by Eichler (1951) provides a few generally valueless details, unaccompanied by illustrations. Carriker [and Diaz­Ungria] (1961) stated that M. abbreviata is “…certainly conspecific with M. victrix Waterston ” and placed it as a subspecies of M. victrix . He noted, however, that the female has all transverse tergites, none highly modified as for M. victrix . That Carrkier placed no importance on this tergal state is counter to his usual practice of employing minor features to justify recognition of new taxa.

The lengths of the postspiracular setae for both sexes, along with the configuration of the male genital sac sclerites and slight enlargement of female tergites I–III, separate M. abbreviata from the others of this group. The male genital sac sclerites are essentially identical to those of M. victrix , and are quite different from those of other males in the abbreviata species group.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 18. 9 – 12, Myrsidea extranea. 9, Female dorsal thorax, metasternum, and dorsoventral abdomen. 10, Male genitalia. 11, Male genital sac sclerites. 12, Male metanotum and dorsoventral abdomen. 13 – 14, M. peruviana. 13, Female dorsal thorax and abdomen. 14, Male genital sac sclerites. 15, M. abbreviata female metanotum and dorsoventral abdomen. 16, M. dorotheae male genital sac sclerites. 17 – 18, M. lanei. 17,

FIGURES 1 – 8. 1 – 4, Myrsidea victrix. 1, Dorsoventral male. 2, Male genitalia. 3, Female metanotum and dorsoventral abdomen. 4, Male genital sac sclerites, M. victrix and M. abbreviata. 5 – 6, M. ceciliae. 5, Female metanotal margin and dorsoventral abdomen. 6, Male genital sac sclerites. 7 – 8, M. witti. 7, Male genital sac sclerites. 8, Female dorsal thorax and dorsoventral abdomen.