Myrsidea hrabaki Sychra and Kounek

Kounek, Filip, Sychra, Oldrich, Capek, Miroslav & Literak, Ivan, 2013, Chewing lice of genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from Turdidae (Passeriformes) of Costa Rica, with descriptions of seven new species, Zootaxa 3620 (2), pp. 201-222 : 207-212

Myrsidea hrabaki Sychra and Kounek sp. nov.

( Figs 7–8 , 13 , 17 )

Type host: Myadestes melanops (Salvin, 1865) – Black-faced Solitaire

Female (n = 5). As in Fig. 13 . This species belongs to the thoracica species group sensu Clay (1966), except for the male genitalia sac sclerite, see below. Length of DHS 10, 0.040–0.045; DHS 11, 0.105–0.115; ratio DHS 10/11, 0.35–0.43. Gula 4–5 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 7 setae; metanotum not enlarged, with 6 marginal setae. Femur III with 19–21 setae in ventral setal brush.

Abdomen with tergites not enlarged. Tergite I with straight posterior margin, II–III with slight medioposterior convexity ( Fig. 7 ). Tergal setae, with median gap in each row: I, 13–15; II, 15–17; III, 15–17; IV, 14–17; V, 17; VI, 16–18; VII, 10–14; VIII, 8–10. Postspiracular setae extremely long (0.51–0.53) on II, IV and VIII; very long (0.35–0.38) on I and VII; long (0.28) on III; and somewhat shorter (0.18–0.21) on V, VI. Sternal setae: II, 4 in each aster, 12–14 marginal setae between asters, 4–6 anterior; III, 23–27; IV, 36– 39; V, 40–44; VI, 33–35; VII, 13–18; VIII–IX, 21 including 9–11 setae on deeply serrated vulval margin; without medioanterior setae on sternites III–VII. Sternites not arched ( Fig. 7 ). Anal fringe formed by 26–32 dorsal and 31–33 ventral setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.48–0.49; HL, 0.30–0.31; PW, 0.29–0.30; MW, 0.40–0.45; AW, 0.56–0.59; ANW, 0.20–0.22; TL, 1.42–1.49.

Male (n = 5). As in Fig. 17 . Length of DHS 10, 0.035–0.040; DHS 11, 0.090–0.105; ratio DHS 10/11, 0.38–0.39. Gula 4 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 6 setae; metanotal marginal setae 6.

Tergal setae with median gap in each row: I, 14–15; II, 15; III, 14–16; IV, 16; V, 16; VI, 13–14; VII, 10–11; VIII, 8–9. Postspiracular setae extremely long (0.45–0.50) on II, IV and VIII; long (0.30) on I and VII; and short (0.13–0.18) on III, V, VI. Sternal setae: II, 12–14 marginal setae between asters, 4–5 anterior; III, 23–24; IV, 36–37; V, 39–42; VI, 31–32; VII, 16–18; VIII, 5–6. Genital sac sclerite as in Fig. 8 . Dimensions: TW, 0.43–0.44; HL, 0.27; PW, 0.26–0.27; MW, 0.36–0.37; AW, 0.47; TL, 1.26; GW, 0.11–0.13; GSL, 0.08–0.09.

Type material. Holotype female and 2 paratype males (O.Sychra CR196), ex Myadestes melanops , COSTA RICA: Tapanti National Park, Sector Tapanti (09°46’N, 83°47’W; 1200 m), 7 August 2009, Literak and Sychra leg. Paratypes: 3 females and 1 male (O.Sychra CR197–198) with the same data as holotype; 3 females and 2 male (O.Sychra CR199–200), ex Myadestes melanops , COSTA RICA: Braulio Carrillo National Park, Sector Barva (10˚07’N, 84˚07’W; 2600 m), 2–8 August 2010, Sychra and Literak leg. Deposited in INBio.

Remarks. This is the first record of a chewing louse from Myadestes melanops . The female of M. hrabaki sp. nov. is characterized by the following: (1) Tergite I with straight posterior margin, (2) tergites II–III with slight medioposterior convexity ( Fig. 7 ), (3) metanotum with only 6 setae, and (4) sternites III–VII not arched and without anterior setae ( Fig. 7 ).

Although the male features of M. hrabaki sp. nov. agreee with the thoracica species group sensu Clay (1966), it differs by its genital sac sclerite ( Fig. 8 ), which is of the same type as that of M. ishizawai Uchida, 1926 from Zoothera dauma (Latham, 1790) from Japan. Nevertheless, characters of M. hrabaki agreeing with the thoracica species group—i.e. (1) number of outer dorsolateral setae of first tibia under 10, and (2) post-spiracular seta III markedly shorter than II—distinguish the male of M. hrabaki sp. nov. from that of M. ishizawai .

Etymology. This species is named in memoriam of Professor Rudolf Hrabak, our colleague and friend, in recognition of his friendship and unmatched enthusiasm in the study of biology and entomology.

Myrsidea obsoleti Sychra and Kounek sp. nov. ( Figs 9–10 , 14 , 18 )

Type host: Turdus obsoletus (Lawrence, 1862) —Pale-vented Thrush

Female (n = 3). As in Fig. 14 . This species belongs to the carrikeri species group sensu Clay (1966). Very pale species, almost without pigmentation ( Fig. 14 ). Length of DHS 10, 0.060–0.065; DHS 11, 0.105–0.125; ratio DHS 10/11, 0.48–0.62. Gula 5–7 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 10–12 setae; metanotum not enlarged, with 13–15 marginal setae. Femur III with 26–32 setae in ventral setal brush.

Tergite I enlarged with conspicuously convex posterior margin. Tergites II–III compressed by enlarged tergite I, and with convex posterior margin as in Fig. 9 . Tergal setae with median gap in each row: I, 10–13; II, 12–15; III, 15; IV, 15–17; V, 18–21; VI, 18–21; VII, 16; VIII 12. Postspiracular setae extremely long (0.45–0.55) on II, IV, VII and VIII; long (0.23–0.25) on I and III; and short (0.11–0.14) on V and VI. Sternal setae: II, 4 in each aster, 13–18 marginal setae between asters, 19–22 anterior; III, 25–35; IV, 37–45; V, 37–45; VI, 32–37; VII, 16–18; VIII–IX, 29–32 including 15–17 setae on deeply serrated vulval margin; without medioanterior setae on sternites III–VII. Sternite VI slightly arched ( Fig. 9 ). Genital chamber without conspicuous comb-like projections of the inner surface ( Fig. 23 vs. fig. 24 in Clay 1966). Anal fringe formed by 30–34 dorsal and 38–42 ventral setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.55–0.56; HL, 0.34; PW, 0.34–0.35; MW, 0.52–0.55; AW, 0.67–0.69; ANW, 0.25–0.26; TL, 1.68–1.74.

Male (n = 2). As in Fig. 18 . Length of DHS 10, 0.060; DHS 11, 0.110; ratio DHS 10/11, 0.55. Gula with 5–6 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 8–9 setae, metanotum with 13 marginal setae.

Tergal setae: I, 13–14; II, 16; III, 17–19; IV, 19–21; V, 17–19; VI, 18; VII, 15–17; VIII, 10–11. Postspiracular setae extremely long (0.55) on IV; very long (0.32) on I; and short (0.11–0.17) on III, V and VI (none on II, VII and VIII). Sternal setae: II, 4 in each aster, 14–16 marginal setae between asters, 14 anterior; III, 34; IV, 43; V, 42–44; VI, 40–41; VII, 23–25; VIII, 8–17; without medioanterior setae on sternites III–VII. Genital sac sclerite long and narrow with small subapical projection on each side and with long darker medioposterior line ( Fig. 10 ). Dimensions: TW, 0.49; HL, 0.36; PW, 0.30–0.31; MW, 0.41–0.43; AW, 0.51–0.53; TL, 1.45–1.47; GW, 0.12–0.13; GSL, 0.10.

Type material. Holotype female and paratype male (O.Sychra CR202), ex Turdus obsoletus , COSTA RICA: Hitoy Cerere BR, Provincia Limón (9˚40’N, 85˚05’W), 22 August 2004, Literak leg. Paratypes: 2 females and 1 male (O.Sychra CR203) with the same data as holotype. Deposited in INBio.

Remarks. Myrsidea obsoleti sp. nov is the second species of Myrsidea from Turdus obsoletus . Nevertheless, characters of M. obsoleti agreeing with the carrikeri species group sensu Clay (1966) — i.e. (1) pronotum with 8 posterior setae, and (2) tergite I of female with median anterior emargination — distinguish M. obsoleti sp. nov. from M. regius described by Ansari (1956) from the same host at a different location in Costa Rica and belonged to the thoracica species group, i.e. it has (1) pronotum with 6 posterior setae, and (2) tergite I of female without median anterior emargination.

The female of M. obsoleti sp. nov. is characterized by the following: (1) genital chamber without conspicuous comb-like projections of the inner surface (see fig. 24 in Clay 1966), (2) tergites II–III compressed by enlarged tergite I with convex posterior margins, (3) smaller number of tergal setae, and (4) sternite VI slightly arched. These characters place M. obsoleti sp. nov. very close to M. aitkeni Clay, 1966 from Turdus nudigenis nudigenis (Lafresnaye, 1848) from Trinidad. However, the female of M. obsoleti sp. nov. can be distinguished from that of M. aitkeni by having median gaps in the rows of tergal setae, larger number of anterior setae on sternite II (19–22 vs. 9–12) and on sternite VII (16–18 vs. 10–13). Except for presence of median gaps in the rows of tergal setae, the male of M. obsoleti sp. nov. appears to be indistinguishable from that of M. aitkeni .

Etymology. The species name is a noun in apposition derived from the specific name of the type host.

Myrsidea quinchoi Kounek and Sychra sp. nov. ( Figs 19–20 , 27 , 31 )

Type host: Catharus frantzii (Cabanis, 1861) —Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush

Female (n = 1). As in Fig. 27 . This species belongs to the thoracica species group sensu Clay (1966). Length of DHS 10, 0.050; DHS 11, 0.100; ratio DHS 10/11, 0.50. Gula 5 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 6 setae; metanotum not enlarged, with 11 marginal setae. Femur III with 15 setae in ventral setal brush.

Tergites not enlarged. Tergites I–IV with medioposterior convexity as in Fig. 19 . Tergal setae, with median gap in each row: I, 14; II, 19; III, 17; IV, 16; V, 16; VI, 12; VII, 12; VIII, 8. Postspiracular setae extremely long (0.45–0.48) on II, IV and VIII; long (0.25–0.30) on I and VII, and short (0.14–0.16) on III, V and VI. Sternal setae: II, 4 in each aster, 16 marginal setae between asters, 8 anterior; III, 29; IV, 35; V, 36; VI, 31; VII, 18; VIII–IX, 26 including 14 setae on serrated vulval margin (the number of setae on sternites VIII–IX is approximate, because they are clearly seen on one side only); without medioanterior setae on sternites III–VII. Sternite VI slightly arched ( Fig. 19 ). Anal fringe formed by 30 dorsal as well as 30 ventral setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.45; HL, 0.30; PW, 0.28; MW, 0.45; AW, 0.57; ANW, 0.22; TL, 1.50.

Male (n = 1). As in Fig. 31 . Length of DHS 10, 0.045; DHS 11, 0.090; ratio DHS 10/11, 0.50. Gula with 5 setae on each side. Metasternal plate with 6 setae, metanotum with 10 marginal setae.

Tergal setae, with median gap in each row: I, 11; II, 13; III, 14; IV, 16; V, 14; VI, 14; VII, 12; VIII, 8. Postspiracular setae extremely long (0.45–0.47) on II, IV and VIII; long (0.23–0.30) on I, III and VII; and short (0.14–0.16) on V and VI. Sternal setae: II, 3–4 in each aster, 14 marginal setae between asters, 7 anterior; III, 24; IV, 30; V, 28; VI, 26; VII, 16; VIII, 8; without medioanterior setae. Genital sac sclerite distorted with narrow lateral arms on each side and rounded posteriorly with darker medioposterior line ( Fig. 20 ). Dimensions: TW, 0.40; HL, 0.29; PW, 0.26; MW, 0.37; AW, 0.45; TL, 1.27; GW, 0.11; GSL, at least 0.07 (distorted).

Type material: Holotype female and paratype male (O.Sychra CR201) ex Catharus frantzii , COSTA RICA: Tapanti National Park, Sector Tapanti (09°46’N, 83°47’W; 1200 m), 11 August 2009, Literak and Sychra leg. Deposited in INBio.

Remarks. This is the first record of chewing lice from Catharus frantzii . The female of M. quinchoi sp. nov. is easily distinguished from those of other Myrsidea from the Turdidae by the unique shape of tergites I–IV ( Fig. 19 ) in combination with the following characters: (1) absence of anterior setae on sternites III–VII, (2) smaller number of tergal setae, and (3) smaller dimensions.

The male of M. quinchoi sp. nov. is well characterized by the following features: (1) genital sac sclerite, (2) tergal chaetotaxy (especially on tergite VII with more than 10 setae), and (3) sternites III–VII without anterior setae. These characters place M. quinchoi sp. nov. close to six species from thrushes of the genus Turdus ( M. abidae Ansari, 1956 , M. assimilis sp. nov., M. indigenella Ansari, 1956 , M. keniensis Clay, 1966 , M. tapetapersi sp. nov. and M. regius Ansari, 1956 ). However, the male of M. quinchoi sp. nov. can be distinguished from those of the aforementioned species by its smaller number of setae on tergites V+VI (28 vs. more than 31) and sternites V+VI (54 vs. more than 59), and smaller dimensions, especially TW (0.40 vs. more than 0.43).

Etymology. In recognition of his friendship, this species is named in honor of Joaquin Cortes Carrera („Ingeniero en sistemas informatices“ from Jimenez de Pococi, Costa Rica), who is also known by his nickname Quincho.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 10. 7 – 8, Myrsidea hrabaki: 7, female dorsoventral mesothorax, methathorax and abdomen. 8, male genital sac sclerite. 9 – 10, Myrsidea obsoleti: 9, female dorsoventral mesothorax, methathorax and abdomen. 10, male genital sac sclerite. Scale bars = 0.5 mm for all figures.

FIGURES 11 – 14. Holotype females: 11, Myrsidea assimilis. 12, Myrsidea cerrodelamuertensis. 13, Myrsidea hrabaki. 14, Myrsidea obsoleti.

FIGURES 15 – 18. Paratype males: 15, Myrsidea assimilis. 16, Myrsidea cerrodelamuertensis. 17, Myrsidea hrabaki. 18, Myrsidea obsoleti.

FIGURES 23 – 26. 23 – 24, Myrsidea tapanti: 23, female dorsoventral mesothorax, methathorax and abdomen. 24, male genital sac sclerite. 25 – 26, Myrsidea tapetapersi: 25, female dorsoventral mesothorax, methathorax and abdomen. 26, male genital sac sclerite. Scale bars = 0.5 mm for all figures.

FIGURES 19 – 22. 19 – 20, Myrsidea quinchoi: 19, female dorsoventral mesothorax, methathorax and abdomen. 20, male genital sac sclerite. 21 – 22, Myrsidea rohi from Cerro de la Muerte (Tapanti NP): 21, female dorsoventral mesothorax, methathorax and abdomen. 22, male genital sac sclerite. Scale bars = 0.5 mm for all figures.

FIGURES 27 – 30. 27 – 29, holotype females: 27, Myrsidea quinchoi. 28, Myrsidea tapanti. 29, Myrsidea tapetapersi. 30, female of Myrsidea simplex ex Catharus fuscater.

FIGURES 31 – 34. 31 – 33, paratype males: 31, Myrsidea quinchoi. 32, Myrsidea tapanti. 33, Myrsidea tapetapersi. 34, male of Myrsidea simplex ex Catharus fuscater.