Lemurpediculus tsimanampesotsae, Springer & Durden & Kiene & Klein & Rakotondravony & Ehlers & Greiman & Blanco & Zohdy & Kessler & Strube & Radespiel, 2023

Springer, Andrea, Durden, Lance A., Kiene, Frederik, Klein, Annette, Rakotondravony, Romule, Ehlers, Julian, Greiman, Stephen E., Blanco, Marina B., Zohdy, Sarah, Kessler, Sharon E., Strube, Christina & Radespiel, Ute, 2023, Molecular phylogenetics of the sucking louse genus Lemurpediculus (Insecta: Phthiraptera), ectoparasites of lemurs, with descriptions of three new species, International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife (Biol. J. Linn. Soc.) 20, pp. 138-152 : 146-148

3.2.5. Lemurpediculus tsimanampesotsae n. sp. Durden, Springer, Kiene, Klein, Rakotondravony, Ehlers, Greiman, Blanco, Zohdy, Kessler, Strube & Radespiel

Adult male and female ( Figs. 10 and 11 ).

Material studied. 1 adult male, 1 adult female.

Description:

Note: This species was listed as Lemurpediculus verruculosus by Ehlers et al. (2019).

MALE ( Fig. 10A and B , 11A,B,C ) (n = 1): Total body length of Holotype, 1.051 mm. Morphology as in L. zimmermanni sp. nov. unless stated otherwise.

Head ( Figs. 10A and 11A ): Rounded, sclerotized, anterior margin; lateral margins indented immediately posterior to antennae, then bulging as small protrusion on each side, followed by almost straight and parallel margins and tapering slightly to straight posterior margin. Massive protuberance on ventral head bearing 2 large spikes (but shorter than in L. zimmermanni sp. nov. and L. gerpi sp. nov.); margin between spikes semicircular. Remaining head morphology and setation as for L. zimmermanni sp. nov. Maximum head width of Holotype, 0.185 mm.

Thorax ( Figs. 10A and 11B ): Thoracic sternal plate similar to that of L. zimmermanni sp. nov. but posterior margin slightly rounded and pair of posterior setae shorter. Maximum width of thorax in Holotype, 0.250 mm. DPTS length of Holotype, 0.106 mm. Mesothoracic spiracle diameter of Holotype, 0.023 mm.

Abdomen ( Fig. 10A ): Eight rows of long DCAS; row 1 with 2 setae, rows 2–8 each with 4 setae. One long DLAS on each side on segments 2–6. Six rows of long VCAS; rows 1–5 each with 4 setae; row 6 with 2 setae. One long VLAS on each of segments 3–6. Anterior spiracle with small subtriangular paratergal plate with 1 long and 1 short PrS. Two long lateral setae on each side on segment 8. Abdominal apex with 1 long apical seta and 5–6 small setae on each side.

Genitalia ( Figs. 10B and 11C ): Basal apodeme longer than parameres and differentially sclerotized in posterior half. Parameres broad anteriorly and tapering posteriorly to acuminate apex, with smoothly curved lateral margins and complex medial margins that are straight along most of their length but with small, curved notch at anteromedial margin and becoming bifid near posterior margin; parameres with distinctly sclerotized regions including large, comma-shaped area in posterior half. Anterior semicircular endomere extending posteriorly to anterior third of parameres with rounded apices and small medial protrusion on each side posteriorly. V-shaped small posterior endomere immediately posterior to, and between, posterior arms of anterior endomere. Small, pinshaped medial aedeagal endomere situated at junction of basal apodeme and parameres, with larger lateral, vertically-oriented, sinuous sclerite on each side. Pseudopenis narrow and just extending to posterior apices of parameres. Subgenital plate with broadly rounded posterior and posterolateral margins, narrowing just anterior to posterior arms of basal apodeme, and widening again anteriorly; anterior margin rounded; two small lacunae near anterior margin, each with 1 long seta.

FEMALE ( Figs. 10C and 11D ) (n = 1): Head, thorax and abdomen as in male unless stated otherwise. Total body length of Allotype, 1.330 mm.

Head ( Fig. 10C ): Anterior apex slightly more curved than in male. Maximum head width of Allotype, 0.184 mm.

Thorax ( Fig. 10C ): Maximum width of thorax in Allotype, 0.275 mm. DPTS length of Allotype, 0.124 mm. Mesothoracic spiracle diameter, 0.025 mm.

Abdomen ( Fig. 10C ): Eight rows of long DCAS; row 1 with 2 setae, row 2 with 3 setae, rows 3–8 each with 4 setae; posterior curved plate with 4 shorter setae. One long DLAS on each side on segments 2, 3, 4 and 8. Six rows of long VCAS each with 4 setae. One long VLAS on each of segments 3–8. Anterior spiracle with small subtriangular paratergal plate with 1 long and 1 short PrS. Two long lateral setae on each side on segment 8.

Genitalia ( Figs. 10C and 11D ): Subgenital plate with broadly rounded border in anterior two-thirds, then tapering abruptly to rounded posterior apex; margins uneven, especially posteriorly. Large horizontal median lacuna on subgenital plate with rounded lateral borders and bearing 4 small setae on each side. Extensive vulvar fimbriae. Gonopods indistinct; gonopods VIII with 1 small and 2 tiny setae. Patch of ~12 curved apicolateral setae on each side, with most anterior and most posterior setae in patch distinctly thicker than others in patch. Twothree small setae on each side at abdominal apex.

3.2.6. Taxonomic summary

Type host: Microcebus griseorufus (Kollman, 1910) (Reddish-Grey Mouse Lemur) .

Type locality: Madagascar (southwest), Atsimo-Andrefana Region , Betioky District , south of Tulear at the western edge of the northern part of Tsimanampetsotsa National Park in spiny forest habitat (‒ 24.022 S, 43.736 E, collectors: Atrefony Florent, Odilon Nicolas Germany and Julian Ehlers, collection date: October 8, 2016).

Site of infestation: External body surface and fur.

Type specimens: 1 male Holotype ( USNMENT00981954 ), 1 female Allotype ( USNMENT00981955 ); U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA.

Etymology: This new species is named for Tsimanampetsotsa National Park where the Types were collected. Zoobank registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org.act:FA4F1061–19C1-4395-8D51-388A5823296C .

Figures

Fig. 10. Lemurpediculus tsinamanpesotsae, stacked photoimages: A, male Holotype, USNMENT00981954, whole body. B, male, Holotype, USN- MENT00981954, genitalia. C, female Allotype, USNMENT00981955, whole body.

Fig. 11. Lemurpediculus tsinamanpesotsae, A: Ventral head of male Holotype, B: Thoracic sternal plate of Holotype male, C: Genitalia of male Holotype, D: Subgenital plate of female Allotype. Abbreviations: ae, anterior endomere; aen, aedeagal endomere; ba, basal apodeme; p, paramere; pe, posterior endomere; ps, pseudopenis.