Lentistivalius philippinensis Hastriter & Bush

Hastriter, Michael W. & Bush, Sarah E., 2013, Description of Lentistivalius philippinensis, a new species of flea (Siphonaptera, Pygiosyllomorpha, Stivaliidae), and new records of Ascodipterinae (Streblidae) on bats and other small mammals from Luzon, The Philippines, ZooKeys 260, pp. 17-30 : 21-26

Lentistivalius philippinensis Hastriter & Bush sp. n. Figs 4-15

Type material.

Holotype male (P2316), Philippines, Luzon Island, Aurora Province: Camp 1, Municipality Maria Aurora (15.685°N, 121.343°E), elev. 507m, Crocidura grayi Dobson (JAE2825), 25 V 2009, K. Dittmar and V. Tkach; 1♂ paratype (P2211), same data except Crocidura grayi (JAE2785), 22 V 2009. Holotype deposited in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA and male paratype in the Brigham Young University flea collection, Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Provo, UT.

Diagnosis.

Female unknown. Male easily distinguished from all species except Lentistivalius aestivalis by the presence of a prominent spur along dorsal margin at base of sclerotized inner tube (Fig. 8). Further distinguished from Lentistivalius aestivalis by the narrow width of the distal half of the crochet (Fig. 8); width does not exceed width of sclerotized inner tube in the new species whereas it does in Lentistivalius aestivalis . Other distinguishing features include the shapes of the distal arm of S-IX, crochet, and Ford’s sclerite (Figs 8-9).

Description.

Numbers of setae described indicate only one side unless otherwise stated. Head (Figs 4, 6). Frons smoothly rounded; punctate area extensive anterior to frontal row of six moderately heavy setae. Ocular and genal rows: three setae each. Seven supernumerary setae between frontal row and ocular row. Two labral setae. Four minute setae line ventral rim of antennal fossa anterior to eye. Maxillary palpus extends to mid coxa; labial palpus of five segments (excluding basal segment); apical segment longest. Labial palpus extending ¾ length of forecoxa. Darkly pigmented eye contiguous with genal margin; with ventral sinus. Post-antennal area with four rows setae (3, 4, 1, 5 + intercalaries). Numerous setulae along antennal fossa. Four lateral setae on scape; four short apical setae on pedicel. Clavus not extending beyond caudal margin of head. Thorax (Figs 4, 5). Pronotum with 18 ctenidia (both sides); each outside tooth much smaller than others. Longest ctenidia twice length pronotum, about equal vertical length pronotum; each tooth divergent, curved dorsally. Two rows setae; anterior row with two setae. Meso- and metanota each with three rows setae. Metanotum with single sharp hyaline spine at ventrocaudal margin. Prosternosome without notch for 1st link-plate; not extended ventrally on ventral margin. Mesosternum reduced; extending ventrally between coxae as triangular projection. Mesepisternum with three setae; mesepimeron with six setae, single posterior seta largest. Pleural rod, bifurcate dorsally. Metasternum rounded; metepisternum with single large seta and single minute seta. Squamulum long, narrow. Pleural arch well developed; pleural ridge more robust dorsally. Well defined suture between lateral metanotal area and metepisternum. Metepimeron with three vertical rows setae (3, 4, 3), all below level pointed spiracular atrium; posterior setae longest. Legs (Figs 12-15). Forecoxa heavily adorned with setae. Anterior margins meso- and metacoxae with numerous setae along lower two thirds. Oblique lateral sulcus of mesocoxa complete. Two setae each guarding femorotibial joints of all three tibiae; outer short, spiniform, inner seta many times longer. Lateral surface of hind femur with coarse horizontal parallel sculpturing; mesal surface with broader vertical parallel sculpturing (perpendicular to longitudinal axis of femur). First tarsal segment of foreleg with unique set of three long setae along posterior margin. Tarsal segments 1-4 each leg progressively shorter (proximal to distal) than preceding segment. First tarsal segment hind leg nearly as long as segments 2-4. Dorsal margins all tibia with seven notches; setae per notch metatibia (2, 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 3). Lateral surface metatibia covered with usual setae; none enlarged or shifted towards dorsal notches. Six lateral plantar bristles each distitarsus. Fifth segment of fore and mid distitarsi with four spiniform preapical plantar bristles; hind distitarsus with two small preapical plantar bristles. Three proximal lateral plantar bristles more robust than distal three pairs; third and fourth at same level, third inside and fourth outside. Unmodified Abdominal Segments (Figs 4, 7). Tergites I-VII with three rows setae; anterior row one to two setae. Terga II-V with single apical pigmented spinelet. Two antesensilial bristles; lateral twice length of mesal. Sternum II, three ventral setae; single small seta near rod-like fourth link-plate. Dorsocephalic margin S-II heavily sclerotized; incrassation at fourth link-plate. Sterna III-VII with four setae main row; 5-12 scattered setae preceding main rows. Modified Abdominal Segments (Figs 4, 8-10). Tergum VIII reduced, with two small dorsal setae; spiracle VIII large, equal to convex sensilium. Subsensilial sclerite present; bearing two setae. Sternum VIII largely covering T-IX, S-IX, and aedeagus; numerous setae on apical two thirds. Proximal arm of S-IX apically broad and blunt, fused with manubrium. Distal arm of S-IX strongly sclerotized along ventral margin; apex expanded, club-like. Club with small lateral patch of setulae; oblique line of eight setae (distal six fine, proximal two long, pigmented), ventroapical margin with six setae (distal four short, spiniform, proximal two long, all darkly pigmented). Lacking apical lobe; subapical lobe present on anterior margin. Terminal portion of basimere of T-IX bilobed; L1 modified long extension of apodeme of T-IX paralleling telomere and L2 large rounded lobe bearing two acetabular bristles (ventral short and dorsal long). Telomere narrows from proximal to stiva; stiva expanded dorsoapical angle forming a near right angle. Four long setae on ventral margin of stiva. Fulcral sclerite truncate; very developed. Aedeagus (Fig. 8). Aedeagal apodeme broad, upturned apically. Dorsal margin with thick sclerotization preceding arched median dorsal lobe. Crescent sclerite small, capsule small, satellite sclerite thin, short. Y sclerite reduced. Penis rods thick, short; not reaching end of aedeagal apodeme. Virga ventralis short, thick; half length of aedeagal apodeme. Sclerotized inner tube undulate; prominent dorsal spur at base. Ventral armature absent. Crochet broad at base, abruptly narrowing, scythe-like. Phylax thick, sclerotized. Alpha portion of Ford’s sclerite massive; securifer sharp, hook-like. Tendon of phylax and Ford’s sclerite visible.

Etymology.

The new species bears the name of the country from which it was collected.

Remarks.

Seven species of Lentistivalius are currently recognized (including this new species). Lentistivalius is primarily a parasite of Southeast Asian murids and soricids, although one species ( Lentistivalius insolli ) is definitively a bird parasite documented from 18 different species of birds ( Hastriter and Bush 2010). A total of 59 Crocidura grayi was examined and only two harbored this new species (one flea on each). This flea may occur in greater numbers in months other than May. Additional collecting from Crocidura grayi (and other members of Soricidae ) at other times of the year (April through August) is needed to discover the undescribed female sex of Lentistivalius philippinensis and better define the host and seasonal preferences of this new species.