Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus), 2023

Gustafsson, Daniel R. & Zou, Fasheng, 2023, Species of Reticulipeurus Kéler, 1958 (Phthiraptera, Ischnocera, Oxylipeurus- complex) parasitic on species of Arborophila, with description of a new subgenus and three new species, Zootaxa 5284 (3), pp. 496-520 : 518-519

Key to the species of the subgenus Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus)

Females are difficult to separate, as genital chaetotaxy overlaps broadly among species. Some general guidelines are given below, which may not work for all specimens. A large sample is preferred to achieve a species identification of females using this key, because comparisons of head shapes, morphology of the vulval margin, and shape of the claspers are necessary.

1. Males............................................................................................. 2.

- Females.............................................................................................6.

2. Flagellomere I expanded distally ( Fig. 3 ); temples flat, with margins more or less parallel ( Fig. 3 ).....................3.

- Flagellomere I not expanded distally ( Fig. 19 ); temples bulging ( Fig. 19 )........................................ 5.

3. Stylus short, with dorsally visible section no more than 1.5 times as long as wide ( Fig. 42 ); proximal margin of ventral sclerite of mesosome concave ( Fig. 6 ).......................................................................... 4.

- Stylus long, with dorsally visible section at least 2.5 times as long as wide, in some specimens tapering slightly distally ( Fig. 43 ); proximal margin of ventral sclerite of mesosome convex ( Fig. 37 )......... Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) longistylus

4. Rugosity of distal mesosome coarse ( Fig. 6 ); lateral extensions of ventral sclerite of mesosome narrowed medianly ( Fig. 6 ); scape not wider than pedicel, not modified basally ( Fig. 3 ).................... Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) formosanus

- Rugosity of mesosome fine ( Fig. 14 ); lateral extensions of ventral sclerite of mesosome not narrowed medianly ( Fig. 14 ); scape much wider than pedicel, and with anterior bulge near base ( Fig. 11 )............... Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) nitzschi

5. Frons somewhat narrowly pointed ( Fig. 26 ); proximal margin of ventral sclerite of mesosome convex ( Fig. 29 )................................................................................... Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) diki

- Frons broadly rounded ( Fig. 19 ); proximal margin of ventral sclerite of mesosome flat ( Fig. 22 )........................................................................................... Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) bracatus

6. Median bulge of vulval margin slightly convex ( Fig. 16 )..................................................... 7.

- Median bulge of vulval margin markedly convex ( Fig. 8 )..................................................... 9.

7. Preantennal head somewhat pointed ( Fig. 25 ).................................... Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) diki

- Preantennal head broadly rounded ( Fig. 2 )................................................................ 8.

8. Lateral lobes of vulval margin usually with less than 20 vulval marginal setae on each side.............................................................................................. Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) formosanus

- Lateral lobes of vulval margin usually with more than 20 vulval marginal setae on each side.............................................................................................. Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) longistylus

9. Claspers slender, subparallel ( Fig. 23 )...................................... Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) bracatus

- Claspers wide, curved medianly ( Fig. 16 ).................................... Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) nitzschi

Figures

FIGURES 3–8. Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) formosanus (Uchida, 1917). 3, male head, dorsal and ventral view. 4, female antenna, ventral view. 5, male genitalia, dorsal view. 6, male genitalia, ventral view. 7, male paramere, dorsal view. 8, female subgenital plate, vulval margin, and terminalia, ventral view.

FIGURES 19–23. Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) bracatus new species. 19, male head, dorsal and ventral view. 20, female antenna, ventral view. 21, male genitalia, dorsal view. 22, male genitalia, ventral view. 23, female subgenital plate, vulval margin, and terminalia, ventral view.

FIGURES 40–44. Distal ends of male abdomens, dorsal and ventral views. 40, Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) bracatus new species. 41, Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) diki new species. 42, Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) formosanus (Uchida, 1917). 43, Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) longistylus new species. 44, Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) nitzschi Kéler, 1958. All drawings are to the same scale.

FIGURES 34–39. Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) longistylus new species. 34, male head, dorsal and ventral view. 35, female antenna, ventral view. 36, male genitalia, dorsal view. 37, male genitalia, ventral view. 38, male paramere, dorsal view. 39, female subgenital plate, vulval margin, and terminalia, ventral view.

FIGURES 11–16. Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) nitzschi Kéler, 1958. 11, male head, dorsal and ventral view. 12, female antenna, ventral view. 13, male genitalia, dorsal view. 14, male genitalia, ventral view. 15, male paramere, dorsal view. 16, female subgenital plate, vulval margin, and terminalia, ventral view.

FIGURES 26–31. Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) diki new species. 26, male head, dorsal and ventral view. 27, female antenna, ventral view. 28, male genitalia, dorsal view. 29, male genitalia, ventral view. 30, male paramere, dorsal view. 31, female subgenital plate, vulval margin, and terminalia, ventral view.

FIGURES 24–25. Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) diki new species. 24, male habitus, dorsal and ventral views. 25, female habitus, dorsal and ventral views.

FIGURES 1–2. Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) formosanus (Uchida, 1917). 1, male habitus, dorsal and ventral views. 2, female habitus, dorsal and ventral views.