Myrsidea pycnonoti Eichler

Hellenthal, Ronald A. & Price, Roger D., 2003, The genus Myrsidea Waterston (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from bulbuls (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae), with descriptions of 16 new species, Zootaxa 354, pp. 1-20 : 3-5

Myrsidea pycnonoti Eichler ( Figs. 1–5 )

Myrsidea pycnonoti Eichler 1947: 18 . Type host: “ Pycnonotus analis Horsf. ” = Pycnonotus goiavier analis Horsfield.

Male (53). As in Fig. 1 . Tergal setae: II, 8–12; III–V, 1 0 –16; VI, 8–15; VII, 8–12; VIII, 8– 10. Sternal setae: III, 6–13; IV–V, 2 4 –39; VI, 20–34; VII, 11–20; VIII, 3–5 ( Fig. 2 : arrow). Genitalia as in Fig. 4 , with genital sac sclerite as in Fig. 5 . Dimensions: TW, 0.37–0.42; HL, 0.27–0.31; PW, 0.24–0.28; MW, 0.33–0.39; AWIV, 0.43–0.50; LSVII, 0.09–0.128 (mean = 0.106); TL, 1.07–1.27; GL, 0.32–0.40; GSW, 0.020–0.036.

Female (46). Abdomen as in Fig. 3 . Tergal setae: II, 10–16; III–V, 1 2 –18; VI, 11–16; VII, 9–14; VIII, 9–12. Sternal setae: III, 10–19; IV–V, 2 9 –47; VI, 25–46; VII, 11–20; VIII, 14–24. Anal fringe with 33–46 ventral, 28–40 dorsal setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.42–0.46; HL, 0.29–0.34; PW, 0.27–0.30; MW, 0.40–0.48; AWIV, 0.56–0.66; LSVII, 0.12–0.22; ANW, 0.21–0.25; TL, 1.38–1.57.

Material. Ex P. g. analis and P. g. j a m b u Deignan, subspecies of the Yellow­vented Bulbul, 156 males, 147 females, MALAYA (100 collections), W. J AVA (10 collections), THAILAND (8 collections), SARAWAK (17 collections). Ex P. b l a n f o rd i Jerdon, the Streak­eared Bulbul, 15 males, 6 females, THAILAND (11 collections). Ex P. j o c o s u s (L.), the Red­whiskered Bulbul, 22 males, 15 females, THAILAND (14 collections), HONG KONG (1 collection), INDIA (1 collection). Ex Tricholestes criniger (Blyth) , the Hairy­backed Bulbul, 5 males, 1 female, MALAYA (5 collections). Ex Cerasophila thompsoni Bingham , the White­headed Bulbul, 1 male, THAILAND.

Remarks. The over 350 specimens of M. pycnonoti represent a far larger series than for any other species in this study. This species is recognized by its male genital sac sclerite structure and the dimensions and features of chaetotaxy of both sexes. The homogeneity of the lice off the subspecies of P. goiavier from Malaya, Java, Thailand, and Sarawak has convinced us of their conspecificity with what Eichler (1947) described as M. pycnonoti . Unfortunately, Eichler’s description is brief, without illustrations, and of little value in characterizing species. However, a number of slides bear “det. T. Clay” on the label, reinforcing the fact that Clay had satisfied herself of the correctness of the identification. We see no reason to believe otherwise.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. 1 – 5, Myrsidea pycnonoti. 1, Dorsoventral male. 2, Ventral male terminalia. 3, Female metanotal margin and dorsoventral abdomen. 4, Male genitalia. 5, Male genital sac sclerite. 6, M. phillipsi male genital sac sclerite. 7, M. gieferi male ventral terminalia.