Rhinolophopsylla traubi Hastriter, 2009

Hastriter, Michael, 2009, A description of four new species of fleas (Insecta, Siphonaptera) from Angola, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, and Peru, ZooKeys 8 (8), pp. 39-61 : 48-51

Rhinolophopsylla traubi Hastriter , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CAF9F887-9E01-41F0-A261-7C74640BD48A

( Fig. 19-25 )

Type Material. Holotype, ♁ and 4♁, 5♀ paratypes, Angola: Huila Province, Fãn and Huila [15°13’59.988”S, 13°31’0.0114”E], ex. Rhinolophus eloquens K. Andersen , 4 XII 1954, Gerd Heinrich (6 slides B-46465, B-46468, B-46469); allotype ♀ and 3 ♁, 3♀ paratypes, same data as holotype except XI-XII 1954 (4 slides B-46466); and 1 ♁ paratype, same data as holotype except ex. Miniopterus sp. (slide B-46472) . Holotype, allotype and all paratypes deposited in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA ( CMNH) except for three paratypes (2 slides, B-46465, B-46472) in the author’s collection.

Diagnosis. Males and females differ from R. ashworthi (Waterston) by the absence of combs on the metanotum and first two abdominal segments. Most closely allied to the R. unipectinata ssp. complex but can be distinguished from those in the male by details of the aedeagus (lacking expanded median dorsal lobe), S-VIII, and the marginal position of the acetabulum with telomere extended beyond posterior margin

of caudal portion of basimere. Females of all species are similar, but R. traubi females may be separated from R. ectopa ( Jordan) and R. capensis Jordan & Rothschild by the presence of a group of 4-5 setae anterior to the usual marginal group of setae on T-VIII and from R. unipectinata ssp. by group of 3-4 spiniform setae at upper posterior mesal margin of T-VIII. Both males and females key out as R. capensis in key of Hopkins and Rothschild (1956:347).

Description. Head ( Fig. 19 ). Preoral genal spines spatulate, darkly pigmented; posterior spine expanded towards apex. Pale band along smooth margin of frons with one slender seta at oral angle, 14 minute setae separating pale band from preantennal area, and seven slender setae continuing dorsad. Preantennal area adorned with numerous minute scattered setae; ten to twelve setae along ventral margin of antennal fossa, large ocular setae anterior to vestigial, ventrally notched eye, extended beyond genal process. Gena heavily sclerotized, dark at apex; latter sinuate and truncate. Apical half of scape with 7-8 scattered thin setae. Pedicel with 4-5 slender setae extended one third length of clavus. Clavus extended to no further than apex of gena. Three long setulae along dorsal margin of antennal fossa. Postantennal area with numerous scattered setae. Maxilla truncate; labial palpus with six segments. Well developed preoral tuber present. Thorax ( Figs. 19, 20 ). Pronotal ctenidia of 20 spines; three rows of setae (1-3, 4, 5). Prosternosome expanded dorsad; large notch with first link plate. Meso- and metanota with numerous setae; main row on metanotum exceptionally long. Metanotum with two marginal spinelets. Mesepisternum with two setae; mesepimeron with two dorsal and three ventral setae. Pleural rod slender; upper portion entirely spread cephalad. Mesosternum heavily sclerotized on ventral half. Lateral metanotal area with one large seta. Metepisternum with one equally large seta. Pleural ridge without pleural arch. Metepimeron with two vertical rows, each with two setae, all below round spiracle. Legs ( Fig. 24 ). Fore coxa with 30 lateral setae excluding marginal setae. Meso- and metacoxae with setae along anterior margins. Large seta at apex of metacoxa set in extra large alveolus; apicocaudal notch shallow. Profemur with 6-7 lateral setae; meso- and metafemora each with 4-5 lateral apical setae. Coarse oblique, parallel reticulations on lateral aspect of femora; mesal surface reticulated sculpturing perpendicular to femora. Femorotibial joints with two guard setae each; lateral smaller of pairs. Sparse false comb on dorsal margin protibia and mesotibia; metatibia slender with single long seta in poorly defined dorsotibial notches, most with small basal seta. First and second mesotarsal segments subequal in length. First metatarsal segment long, but less than segments 2-4 combined. Five lateral plantar bristles; first pair shifted onto plantar surface between second pair. Two preapical plantar bristles; two preapical plantar hairs. Dorsal surface of distotarsomere III with longitudinal row of five fine setae; two apical fine setae resembling preapical lateral hairs. Unmodified Abdominal Segments, Male ( Fig. 21 ). Apical spinelets on T-I-III (3, 1, 1). Tergites heavily sclerotized dorsally. Five to six setae in each row; lowest seta at or just below level of round spiracles. Tergum VIII dorsoapically expanded; enveloping T-IX with 7-8 lateral setae dorsally. Apical margin T-VIII minutely serrate. Sternites II-IV with single seta; S-V-VII each with two setae. Small setae lateral and mesal to long antesen- silial bristle. Sensilial plate expanded caudally; 20 pits in sensilium. Female similar to male except dorsal margins of tergites less sclerotized; single spinelet on T-4. Female S-II-III with single seta, S-IV-VI with three setae. Modified Abdominal Segments, Male ( Figs. 21, 22 ). Basomere caudally rounded; acetabular bristles three [two on one side in holotype, three on other side (three the norm)]; acetabulum nearly marginal with telomere extending well beyond caudal margin of basimere. Basimere with long apical seta; two lateral setae. Manubrium with hook-like sclerotization in middle of plate. Sternum VIII with teat-like apex adorned with two long setae, 3-4 smaller basal setae. Proximal arm of S-IX lacking; distal arm with quadrate apical lobe adorned with four small marginal setae, one long curved seta. Apodemal rod long, extending well beyond apex of penis plate. Aedeagus ( Fig. 22 ). Aedeagal apodeme with parallel margins. Penis rods forming 3/4 revolution. Ventral lateral lobes divided by shallow sinus. Median dorsal lobe inconspicuous and rounded apically. Crochet dominant feature of aedeagus; hyaline proximal lobe reduced. Paxillus long, peg-like, associated with subtending sinus of apical lobe of distal arm S-IX. Sclerotized inner tube with thumb-like sclerotization on dorsal aspect. Modified Abdominal Segments, Female ( Fig. 25 ). Caudal margin T-VIII sinuate; with three long dorsal setae, group of four slender setae anterior to marginal setae. Marginal setae include 4-5 long setae; group of 3-4 mesal spiniform setae. Sternum VII with row of five lateral setae; small broad dorsal lobe subtended by shallow sinus extended to ventral margin. Sternum VIII boat-shaped, without setae; ventral margin moderately sclerotized. Dorsal anal lobe with setae on dorsoapical half; anal stylet twice length of maximum width with long apical seta, two basal setae. Ventral anal lobe acutely pointed; setae on ventroapical half. Bulga spherical; hilla twice length of bulga; subapical entrance of duct of spermatheca. Bursa copulatrix sclerotized to perula; perula with distal sclerotization.

Length (slide mounted specimens): Holotype 2.1mm, male average: 2.2mm (n = 9; range: 1885-2371 µm); allotype 2.4mm, female average: 2.3mm (n = 9; range: 2130-2558 µm).

Etymology. To Robert Traub, this flea is named Rhinolophopsylla traubi in his hon- or and his memory. Even after his death, Robert Traub’s genius in work on ectoparasites (especially fleas and mites) continues to inspire those who marvel at his keen insights on zoogeography and evolution of these groups.

Figures

Figure 19-25. Rhinolophopsylla traubi n. sp. 19. Head and pronotum, paratype ♀ (B-46466). 20. Th orax, holotype ♁. 21. Abdomen and terminal segments, holotype ♁. 22. Eight and ninth tergites, aedeagus, and ninth sternite, holotype ♁. 23. Distotarsome 3, paratype ♁ (B-46466). 24. Hind tibia and tarsi, paratype ♁ (B-46466). 25. Spermatheca, bursa copulatrix, and terminal segments, paratype ♀ (B-46466). Scale 19-22 and 24 = 200 µm, 23 and 25 = 100 µm