Myrsidea novaeseelandiae Sychra, Kolencik & Palma

Sychra, Oldrich, Kolencik, Stanislav & Palma, Ricardo L., 2016, Three new species of Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from New Zealand passerines (Aves: Passeriformes), Zootaxa 4126 (3), pp. 397-410 : 401-404

Myrsidea novaeseelandiae Sychra, Kolencik & Palma new species

Figs 9–11 , 19–21 , 27–28 .

Myrsidea sp.; Pilgrim & Palma 1982: 27. Myrsidea sp.; Murray et al. 2001: 1263. Myrsidea sp.; Palma 2010: 408.

Type host. Anthornis melanura oneho Bartle & Sagar, 1987 —Poor Knights bellbird ( Meliphagidae ). Type locality. Poor Knights Islands, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand.

Other hosts. Anthornis melanura melanura (Sparrman, 1786) —bellbird ( Meliphagidae ).

Anthornis melanura obscura Falla, 1948 —Three Kings bellbird ( Meliphagidae ).

Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae (J.F. Gmelin, 1788) —tui ( Meliphagidae ).

Diagnosis. Myrsidea novaeseelandiae is morphologically close to Myrsidea hihi by having the following features in common: (1) metasternal plate with a long, pigmented distal prolongation; (2) sternite I with setae on each latero-posterior angle; (3) female sternite II subdivided in 3 plates; (4) first tibia with 3 ventral and 3 dorsal setae; (5) postspiracular seta I extremely short; and (6) shape of male genital sac sclerite. However, females of these two species can be clearly distinguished by several characters, as shown in Table 1 . Conversely, as is the norm in this louse genus, males of M. novaeseelandiae and M. hihi are very similar and can only be distinguished by few details of their chaetotaxy (see key, below).

Description. Female (n = 38). As in Figs 9 and 27 . Hypopharyngeal sclerites weakly developed. Length of dorsal head seta (DHS) 10, 0.100–0.130; DHS 11, 0.083–0.110; ratio DHS 10/11, 1.08–1.34. Labial setae 5 (ls5) 0.06–0.09 long, latero-ventral fringe with 6–10 setae. Gula with 3–5 setae on each side. Pronotum with 6 setae on posterior margin and 3 (rarely 2) short spiniform setae at each lateral corner. Prosternal plate as in Fig. 11 . First tibia with 3 outer ventro-lateral and 3 dorso-lateral setae. Metanotum enlarged, with 5–8 marginal setae; metasternal plate with 6–8 setae, and a long, pigmented distal prolongation ( Fig. 27 ); metapleurites with 2–5 short strong spiniform setae and 0–1 long seta. Femur III with 9–18 setae in ventral setal brush. Tergites not enlarged with medioposterior margins modified as in Fig. 9 . Abdominal segments with a continuous row of tergal setae at least across segments II–V. Tergal setae: I, 4; II, 9–16; III, 10–18; IV, 9–14; V, 7–14; VI, 6–11; VII, 4–7; VIII, 4. Longest tergocentral seta on segment II is quite short (0.13–0.25). Postspiracular setae: extremely short on I, long on II, IV and VIII (0.31–0.42), shorter on VII (0.18–0.33), and shortest on III, V and VI (0.06–0.16). There is a small sensillum on each lateral corner of tergite I. Inner posterior seta of last tergite not longer than anal fringe setae with length 0.04–0.06; length of short lateral marginal seta of last segment, 0.02–0.04. Pleural setae: I, 2–3; II, 5–10; III, 6–11; IV, 6–10; V, 6–12; VI, 4–9; VII, 3–6; VIII, 3–4. Pleurite I with only short spine-like setae; pleurites II–VII with slender and longer setae: II, 1–6; III, 1–5; IV, 1–4; V, 0–2; VI, 0–1; VII, 0–1; pleurites III–VII with anterior setae: III, 0–2; IV, 0–3; V, 0–5; VI, 0–3; VII, 0–1. Pleurite VIII with inner setae (0.03–0.05) as long as outer (0.03–0.04). Sternal plate II divided in three sections by two unpigmented oblique “sutures” ( Fig. 27 ). Sternal setae: I, 1–4 setae on each latero-posterior angle; II, 4–6 in each aster, length of aster setae: s1, 0.08–0.14; s2, 0.04– 0.11; s3, 0.03–0.09; s4, 0.03–0.06; s5, 0.02–0.04; s6, 0.03; with 14–22 marginal setae between asters, and 6–12 medioanterior setae; III, 3 4–69 marginal setae (0–11 medioanterior setae); IV, 46–72 (4–12); V, 50–71 (5–12); VI, 46–66 (4–10); VII, 30–53 (5–13); VIII–IX, 1 7–37; and 11–17 setae on lightly spiculose vulvar margin. The outer latero-marginal setae on sternite III short, just reaching the anterior margin of sternite IV ( Fig. 9 ). Subvulval sclerite (sternite IX) clearly visible ( Figs 9 , 27 ). Anal fringe formed by 31–46 dorsal and 30–45 ventral setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.43–0.55; POW, 0.34–0.41; HL, 0.27–0.32; PW, 0.30–0.39; MW, 0.52–0.70; AW, 0.60–0.76; ANW, 0.20–0.27; TL, 1.45–1.80.

Male (n = 33). As in Fig. 28 . Hypopharyngeal sclerites weakly developed. Length of dorsal head seta (DHS) 10, 0.088–0.130; DHS 11, 0.078–0.110; ratio DHS 10/11, 1.00–1.33. Labial setae 5 (ls5) 0.06–0.09 long, lateroventral fringe with 8–10 setae. Gula with 3–5 setae on each side. Pronotum with 6 setae on posterior margin and 3 short spiniform setae at each lateral corner. First tibia with 3 outer ventro-lateral and 3 dorso-lateral setae. Metanotum not enlarged with 4–6 marginal setae; metasternal plate with 6–7 setae; metapleurites with 2–3 short spiniform strong setae. Femur III with 9–17 setae in ventral setal brush. Abdominal segments with well-defined median gap in each row of tergal setae. Tergal setae: I, 4; II, 6–10; III, 6–10; IV, 6–11; V, 6–9; VI, 5–9; VII, 4–6; VIII, 4–5. Longest tergocentral seta on segment II is short (0.08–0.13). Postspiracular setae: extremely short on I, long on II, IV and VIII (0.33–0.46), shorter on VII (0.21–0.32), and shortest on III, V and VI (0.08–0.19). Inner posterior seta of last tergite 0.02–0.04 long; short lateral marginal seta of last segment, 0.02–0.03. Pleurites with only short spine-like setae; pleural setae: I, 2; II, 4–6; III, 5–7; IV, 5–7; V, 5–6; VI, 4–6; VII, 3–4; VIII, 3. Pleurite VIII with inner setae (0.03–0.05) as long as outer (0.03–0.05). Anterior margin of sternal plate II with a medial notch ( Fig. 10 ). Sternal setae: I, 1–4; II, 4–5 in each aster—aster setae length: s1, 0.08–0.12; s2, 0.04–0.09; s3, 0.03–0.06; s4, 0.02–0.05; s5, 0.02–0.03—with 11–18 marginal setae between asters, and 4–9 medioanterior setae; III, 16–25 marginal setae; IV, 22–39 marginal setae (1–4 medioanterior setae); V, 29–48 (0–7); VI, 30–46 (2–7); VII, 21–32 (2–6); VIII, 21–45 (1–8) and with 4–5 thick posterior setae ( Fig. 19 ). With 8 ventral and 4–5 dorsal anal setae; the two outer ventral setae on each side are long, reaching beyond the distal edge of the abdomen ( Fig. 19 ). Genitalia and genital sac sclerite as in Figs 20–21 , respectively; inner posterior arms of basal plate rounded (see Clay 1968: 207). Dimensions: TW, 0.37–0.47; POW, 0.30–0.36; HL, 0.25–0.30; PW, 0.24–0.35; MW, 0.36–0.45; AW, 0.42–0.52; GW, 0.09–0.11; GL, 0.38–0.48; ParL, 0.06–0.07; GSL, 0.08–0.11; TL, 1.18–1.42.

Etymology. This species epithet is a noun in apposition referring to New Zealand, the country where the hosts of this louse live.

Type material. Ex Anthornis melanura oneho : Holotype ♀, Aorangi Island, Poor Knights Islands, N.Z., 4 Jan. 1978, P.M. Sagar ( MONZ AI.017059). Paratypes: 9♂, 10♀, same data as for the holotype ( MONZ AI.017051); 2♂, Aorangi Island, Poor Knights Islands, N.Z., 24 Feb. 1980, P.M. Sagar ( MONZ AI.017053); 12♂, 12♀, same locality, Mar. 1980, J.A. Bartle ( MONZ AI.017054); 7♂, 10♀, Tawhiti Rahi, Poor Knights Islands, N.Z., 5–10 Dec. 1980, R.H. Kleinpaste ( NZAC); 6♂, 6♀, Aorangi Island, Poor Knights Islands, N.Z., 1981, New Zealand Wildlife Service ( MONZ AI.017056; MMBC).

Additional material examined (non-types). Ex Anthornis melanura melanura : 2♂, 3♀, Turewhati, Westland, N.Z., 13 Nov. 1970, J.R. Jackson ( MONZ AI.017046); 1♂, Ranui Cove, Auckland Islands, N.Z., 30 Jan. 1973, D.S. Horning ( MONZ AI.017047); 1♀, Orongorongo Valley, N.Z., 4 Dec. 1973, A. Whitaker ( MONZ AI. 020584); 2♀, Whataroa River, Westland, N.Z., 14 Jan. 1975, D. Greenwood ( MONZ AI.017048); 4♀, Orongorongo Valley, N.Z., 18 May 1976, B.M. Fitzgerald ( MONZ AI.017049); 2♀, Dunedin, N.Z., 14 May 1977, L.C. Esler ( MONZ AI.017050); 2♂, 2♀, Little River, Canterbury, N.Z., 13 Mar. 1978, P.R. Kearton ( MONZ AI.017052); 7♂, 9♀, Hunter Mountains, Tahakopa, Otago, N.Z., 11 Feb. 1983, F. Sibley ( MONZ AI.017057); 2♂, Christchurch, Canterbury, N.Z., 7 Jul. 2005, T.D. Galloway ( MONZ AI. 033014); 3♂, 3♀, Auckland Islands, N.Z., no date, E. Jennings ( MONZ AI.017045); 3♂, 2♀, New Zealand, no date, M. Marples ( MONZ AI.017042-4).

Ex Anthornis melanura obscura : 9♂, 7♀, Great Island, Three King Islands, N.Z., Nov. 1970, J.C. Watt ( MONZ AI.017058; NZAC).

Ex Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae : 1♂, Nelson, N.Z., 11 Nov. 1951, L. Gurr ( MONZ AI.017030); 4♀, Ngongotaha, Rotorua, N.Z., 14 Aug. 1972, H.H. Clifford ( MONZ AI.017039); 6♂, 5♀, Trentham, Hutt Valley, Wellington, N.Z., 21 Dec. 1972, L. Moran ( MONZ AI.017040); 2♂, 2♀, Ranui Cove, Auckland Islands, N.Z., 5 Feb. 1973, D.S. Horning ( MONZ AI.017031); 1♂, Orongorongo Valley, N.Z., 27 Sep. 1973, A. Whitaker ( MONZ AI. 020585); 4♂, 4♀, Wanganui River, Westland, N.Z., 17 Jan. 1975, D. Greenwood ( MONZ AI.017032); 1♂, 3♀, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua, N.Z., 30 Jul. 1975, ( MONZ AI.017041); 12♂, 12♀, Orongorongo Valley, N.Z., 18 Feb. 1976, B.M. Fitzgerald ( MONZ AI.017033); 28♂, 25♀, Lower Hutt, Wellington, N.Z., 10 Jul. 1977, M. Bar-Brown ( MONZ AI.017035; MMBC); 1♂, Western Springs, Auckland, N.Z., 23 Oct. 1977, A. Noordhof ( NZAC); 10♂, 10♀, Little Barrier Island, N.Z., 1 Feb. 1979, C.R. Veitch ( MONZ AI.017036; NZAC); 10♂, 10♀, Titirangi, Auckland, N.Z., 22 Jul. 1980, W. Kemp ( MONZ AI.017037; NZAC); 8♂, 17♀, Karamea, Westland, N.Z., no date, T.P. Fisher ( MONZ AI.017038); 2♂, 2♀, South Island, N.Z., no date, T.D. Galloway ( MONZ AI. 033020).

Remarks. We found no significant differences among the Myrsidea populations from the four hosts listed above. Myrsidea novaeseelandiae is the first species of Myrsidea described from the family Meliphagidae . Although it is morphologically closest to M. hihi , the latter species parasitises a host belonging to another family, Notiomystidae , of uncertain relationships, but possibly closer to the Callaeidae (Checklist Committee 2010: 283) .

Considering other members of the superfamily Meliphagoidea—comprising the families Meliphagidae (honeyeaters), Maluridae (fairy-wrens), Pardalotidae (pardalotes), Acanthizidae (scrub-birds & thornbills) and the genus Dasyornis (bristleheads) ( Barker et al. 2002, 2004)—there are only two species of Myrsidea described from fairy wrens: Myrsidea pectinata Clay, 1965 from Malurus alboscapulatus Meyer, 1874 , and Myrsidea strangeri Clay, 1970 from Malurus cyaneus Latham, 1783 and Malurus splendens (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830) . However, these two Myrsidea species clearly differ from Myrsidea novaeseelandiae by having (1) males with antero-central setae on tergites I–VII; (2) prosternal plates with convex anterior margins; (3) asters with only a single spine-like seta on each side; (4) pleurites I–IV with short spine-like setae only; and (5) different male genital sac sclerites.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 13. Myrsidea novaeseelandiae n. sp.: 9, female. 10, male metasternal plate and sternites I – II. 11, female prosternal plate. Myrsidea hihi n. sp.: 12, female dorso-ventral view of mesothorax, metathorax and abdomen. 13, female prosternal plate. Scale bars = 0.5 mm (Figs 9, 12); 0.1 mm (Fig. 10); 0.05 mm (Figs 11, 13).

FIGURES 14 – 22. Myrsidea ivanliteraki n. sp.: 14, male ventral terminalia. 15, male genitalia. 16, male genital sac sclerites (two morphs). Myrsidea vincula: 17, male genitalia. 18, male genital sac sclerite. Myrsidea novaeseelandiae n. sp.: 19, male ventral terminalia. 20, male genitalia. 21, male genital sac sclerite (two views). Myrsidea hihi n. sp.: 22, male genitalia. Scale bars = 0.10 mm (Figs 14, 19, 20, 22), 0.05 mm (Figs 15 – 18, 21).

FIGURES 27 – 30. Habitus. Myrsidea novaeseelandiae n. sp.: 27, holotype female. 28, paratype male. Myrsidea hihi n. sp.: 29, holotype female. 30, paratype male. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Tables

TABLE 1. Differences between females of Myrsidea novaeseelandiae and M. hihi.

	Myrsidea novaeseelandiae	Myrsidea hihi
Number of long & slender setae on pleurites III–IV	1–5	6–11
Number of long & slender setae on pleurite V	0–2	5–9
Length of tergocentral setae on segments II–VI	0.13–0.25 mm	0.25–0.33 mm
Outer latero-marginal setae on sternite III	Short, only reaching the anterior margin of sternite IV	Long, reaching beyond the posterior margin of sternite IV
Number of setae on sternites III–VI
III	34–69 (mode = 42)	50–73 (mode = 65)
IV	46–72 (mode = 54)	64–79 (mode = 70)
V	50–71 (mode = 60)	65–80 (mode = 71)
VI	46–66 (mode = 51)	58–74 (mode = 71)
Shapes of metanota, tergites and pleurites	See Figs 9 and 27	See Figs 12 and 29