Brueelia sueta Valim & Weckstein

Valim, Michel P. & Weckstein, Jason D., 2011, Two new species of Brueelia Keler, 1936 (Ischnocera, Philopteridae) parasitic on Neotropical trogons (Aves, Trogoniformes), ZooKeys 128, pp. 1-13 : 2-3

Brueelia sueta Valim & Weckstein sp. n. Figs 1 –613– 14

Type host:

Pharomachrus pavoninus (Spix, 1824) - Pavonine Quetzal

Diagnosis.

This species is unique in the thickness of the temporal carina (Fig. 3) and by the shape of the anterior ventral plate (Figs 13-14) in both sexes. It is morphologically close to Brueelia insolita due the absence of postspiracular setae on segment IV in females, but they differ significantly in characters such as shape of the vulvar margin (with a notch in Brueelia insolita ); number of setae on gonapophysis (six in Brueelia insolita ), and more spiniform setae on vulvar margin. The males of both species can be distinguished by the shape of genitalia and the tendency to have two setae postspiracular accessories on tergites V–VIII (whilst Brueelia insolita has only one).

Male.

Habitus as in fig. 1. Body pigmentation uniform, all plates barely yellowish slightly more pigmented on some details of the pleural areas. Head oval shaped, as long as wide. Small hyaline margin distinguishable; anterior dorsal head plate not completely surrounded by the dorsal preantennal suture. Preantennal margin slightly convex; marginal carina thickened with its inner margin sinuate, and completely pigmented (Figs 13-14). Tracks of cybarial muscles practically indistinct. Frontoclypeal suture with its nodal area well defined. Tracks of insertion of the mandibular adductor muscles well marked. Gular plate well pigmented with a broad rhombic silhouette. Temples forming an acute angle at level of the marginal temporal setae 3; temporal carina pigmented and thick, with its inner margin deeply sinuate (Fig. 3); eye imbedded within thickened carina making its distinction on margin of the head difficult (Fig. 3). Pterothorax with 5-7 marginal setae on each side; pterothoracic apodeme well developed, not reaching the lateral margin of the pterothorax. Mesosternal and metasternal plates not fused, both slightly longer than wide, only the metasternal plate bearing two long setae. Abdomen with tergites II–VIII lightly and uniformly pigmented. Tergal chaetotaxy: postspiracular long on IV–VIII; two small accessory setae on V–VIII (atypical specimens with only one seta in one side); and one sutural seta on II–VIII. Tergite IX+X (from the lateral to meson) with one short, one long and six (rarely seven) short setae. Paratergal chaetotaxy: II–III 0; IV–V 1; VI–VII 2; VIII 4. Sternal plates II–VI yellowish, typically with one pair of setae on each, subgenital plate uniformly pigmented. Genitalia (Fig. 4): basal plate wide, with sub-parallel lateral borders; straight and broad subtriangular paramera, with rhombic tips (Fig. 4); lateral sclerites of the endomeral complex long (2/3 of the paramera length) subtriangular with their posterior edge smooth, bearing 2 sensillae each.

Body measurements (n = 4): HL, 0.33-0.35; PAW, 0.27-0.28; TW, 0.35-0.36; PL, 0.13-0.14; PW, 0.24-0.25; PTL, 0.15-0.16; PTW, 0.34-0.35; AL, 0.71-0.80; AW 0.48-0.52; GL, 0.23; and TL, 1.25-1.35.

Female.

Habitus as in figure 2. Pigmentation of the head, thorax and abdomen much as for male, differing in body size, terminalia and tergal chaetotaxy (one long postspiracular seta on V–VIII). Pterothorax with 4-6 marginal setae on each side. Tergites II–VIII divided medially, IX+X entire and uniformly pigmented. Subgenital plate uniformly pigmented, lacking posterior notch, with 3-5 small setae each side (Fig. 5). Gonapophysis commonly with 4 setae (Figs 6). Vulva with 4-5 short and spiniform setae, and 3-6 (rarely 2) long and thin setae on each side (Fig. 5).

Body measurements (n = 4): HL, 0.37-0.38; PAW, 0.30-0.31; TW, 0.38-0.39; PL, 0.13-0.16; PW, 0.26-0.27; PTL, 0.14-0.16; PTW, 0.37-0.38; AL, 0.94-1.10; AW 0.50-0.59; and TL, 1.52-1.67.

Type material.

Male holotype, ex Pharomachrus pavoninus , JAP766 MPEG 62493; BRAZIL: Amazonas, Maraã, Lago Cumapi (01°43'48.6"S; 65°52'45.5"W), 31.VII.2007, J.D. Weckstein col., at MZUSP. Paratypes: 3 males and 4 females (one female DNA voucher Brsp.Phpa.1.4.2011.19), same data as holotype. 1 male and 1 female (DNA voucher) paratypes at FMNH.

Etymology.

The epithet derives from suetus (L.), which means: wont; accustomed; usual. It makes reference to the fact of the genus Brueelia is a common parasite on trogons, rather than insolitus (L., unusual) as believed by Cicchino (1983) who described one species of this louse genus from this host group.