Nosopsyllus (Nosopsyllus) spiniformis Keskin, 2024

Keskin, Adem, 2024, Nosopsyllus (Nosopsyllus) spiniformis n. sp., a new ceratophyllid flea (Siphonaptera, Ceratophyllidae, Ceratophyllinae) from Türkiye, Zootaxa 5424 (3), pp. 389-395 : 390-393

Nosopsyllus (Nosopsyllus) spiniformis Keskin n. sp.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C72ADC7C-49F9-4C7F-920F-2E3A9598EC65

Figs. 1‒10

Material examined. Holotype. ♂, on Microtus guentheri , 20.XI.2021, coll. Ahmet Yesari Selçuk, Adana Province, ( Tufanbeyli District , agricultural land), Türkiye . Allotype. ♀, same host and locality as the holotype . Paratypes. 8 ♂ and 8 ♀, same host and locality as the holotype ; 2 ♂ and 3 ♀, on Microtus schidlovskii , 20.XI.2021, coll. Ahmet Yesari Selçuk, Adana Province, ( Tufanbeyli District , agricultural land), Türkiye ; 5 ♂ and 8 ♀, on M. guentheri , 18.XI.2021, coll. Ahmet Yesari Selçuk, Adana province, ( Tufanbeyli District , agricultural land), Türkiye ; 1 ♂, on Martes foina , 26 VII.2021, coll. Adem Keskin, Tokat Province ( Kızılköy Village ), Türkiye .

Deposition of types. Holotype, allotype and paratypes are deposited in the flea collection of the Parasitology Laboratory , Department of Biology, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Türkiye .

Etymology. The specific epithet “ spiniformis ” refers to the spiniform setae on the postero-apical margin of apical lobe of the distal arm of sternum IX.

Diagnosis. Nosopsyllus spiniformis n. sp. belongs to the subgenus Nosopsyllus and is closely related to N. sarinus ( Jordan & Rothschild). The males of N. spiniformis can be separated from N. sarinus by the presence of five spiniform setae on the postero-apical margin of apical lobe of distal arm of sternum IX (one spiniform seta on the postero-apical margin of apical lobe of the distal arm of sternum IX in N. sarinus ) and the apodeme of tergum IX is triangular and elongated anteriorly (apodeme of tergum IX rectangular in N. sarinus ). The females of N. spiniformis can be separated from N. sarinus by the hilla of the spermatheca recurved over the bulbous bulga and the terminal portion of bursa copulatrix “C” shaped (hilla of spermatheca not curved over bulbous bulga and the terminal portion of bursa copulatrix coiled in N. sarinus ).

The males of N. spiniformis are similar to N. fasciatus and N. mokrzeckyi , but can be separated by the following characters: 1) The telomere is about 2.5 times longer than wide (broadest portion) in N. spiniformis , but about 2 times longer than wide in N. fasciatus and N. mokrzeckyi . 2) The basimere is prominently convex on the ventral margin in N. spiniformis , but just slightly convex on the ventral margin in N. fasciatus and N. mokrzeckyi . 3) The apodeme of tergum IX (T.AP.9) is triangular and elongated anteriorly in N. spiniformis , but rectangular in N. fasciatus (there are no drawings of the clasper of N. mokrzeckyi ). 4) Tergum VIII bears five long dorso-marginal setae in N. spiniformis , but only four long dorso-marginal setae are present in N. fasciatus and N. mokrzeckyi . 5) The apex of the apical lobe (A.L.) of the distal arm of sternum IX is elongated posteriorly and the posterior margin of the apical lobe is slightly concave in N. spiniformis , whereas the apex of the apical lobe is truncated or sub-truncated in N. fasciatus and N. mokrzeckyi , respectively, with parallel margins. Females of N. spiniformis can be separated from N. fasciatus and N. mokrzeckyi by the shape of the posterior margin of sternum VII. Nosopsyllus spiniformis has a large, sloping lobe subtended by a deep sinus in the posterior margin of sternum VII; the posterior margin of sternum VII is practically straight in N. fasciatus , while in N. mokrzeckyi the posterior margin of sternum VII has a blunt lateral lobe.

Head ( Figs. 1 , 6 ). Frontal tubercle conspicuous in both sexes. Sclerotization of frons below tubercle thin throughout. Preantennal area with two rows of large setae: first row (ocular row) of three setae (of which the middle one is the shortest) in both sexes; in male second row with five or six setae, ranging from level of upper seta of ocular row to base of antennal groove; in female second row of two setae, located around trabecula centralis; many minute setae located between first and second rows in both sexes. Genal ctenidium absent. Eye distinct, subovate and well sclerotized and pigmented. Post-antennal area with two setae. Occipital row consisting of five setae with intercalary setae in both sexes. Labial palpus six-segmented and extending slightly beyond apex of forecoxa.

Thorax. Pronotum bearing a single row of five long setae with intercalary setae. Pronotum with 20 ctenidial spines (both sides) in both sexes; first (ventral) spine much shorter than others. Mesonotum with two rows of setae; main rows of five and six large setae with intercalary setae in male and female, respectively; second rows of five setae in male and eight setae in female, second rows preceded by many irregular rows of setae, the majority of which are located at anterior part of mesonotum; mesonotal collar with five pseudosetae, without apical spinelets. Metanotum with two rows of setae in males, the main row of six setae with intercalary setae, second row with seven setae and preceded by two setae; metanotal collar without setae and pseudosetae, bearing one spinelet on one side (two spinelets other side). Metanotum with three rows of setae in females, main row of five setae with intercalary setae; second and third rows with eight and three setae, respectively; metanotal collar without setae or pseudosetae, bearing one spinelet per side. Pleural rod and pleural ridge prominent. In males, mesepisternum, mesepimeron, metepisternum, metasternum and metepimeron with 6 (three of them very fine), 5, 2, 1 and 6 setae, respectively. In females, these sclerites with 7 (two of them very fine), 6, 2, 1 and 6 setae, respectively.

Legs. Outer surface of forecoxa with 38 setae, anterior and caudal margin with three (one of them stout and large) and five setae, respectively. Trochanter with two setae. The longest apical seta of hind tarsomere II reaching to the apex of tarsomere III. Fifth tarsomeres with five pairs of lateral plantar bristles with one pair pre-apical plantar bristles; first pairs of lateral plantar bristles not placed between the members of the second pair.

Unmodified abdominal segments. In male, terga I‒VI each with three rows of setae in male, main rows consisting of 6, 8, 8, 7, 7 and 6 setae with intercalary setae; second rows consisting of 6, 7, 5, 2, 4 and 2 setae; second rows preceded by third rows of 2, 1, 5, 1, 1 and 1 setae, respectively. Terga I‒IV with 1 (or 2), 2, 1 and 1 marginal spinelets, respectively. In female, tergum I with three rows of setae, main rows consisting of 5 setae with intercalary setae; second and third rows consisting of 7 and 4 setae, respectively; terga II‒VI with two rows of setae; main rows consisting of 7, 7, 7, 7 and 6 setae with intercalary setae; second rows consisting of 7, 6, 7, 7 and 5 setae, respectively. Terga I and II with 1 and 1 (or 2) marginal spinelets, respectively. The lowermost setae of the main rows of terga II‒VI located below the spiracular fossa in both sexes. Sterna II‒VII with single row of setae consisting of 1, 2, 2, 3, 2 and 3 in males, sterna II‒VI with single row of setae consisting of 1, 5, 5,4 and 6 (two of them very fine) in females.

Modified abdominal segments of male. Tergum VII with two rows of setae, main row with seven setae and intercalary setae, lowermost seta located below the spiracular fossa; second row with one seta. Three antesensilial bristles, the middle bristle about 5 times longer than the uppermost bristle; lowermost bristle very small (reduced or absent in some male paratypes). Tergum VIII ( Fig. 3 ) small, posterodorsal margin slightly elongated and convex, anterodorsal margin slightly extended upward; bearing five long dorsomarginal setae and three large and two fine lateral setae, four small, fine setae located in front of spiracular fossa. Apodeme of tergum IX (T.AP.9) antero-dorsal angle triangular. Manubrium (MB.) relatively longer that T.AP.9, sclerotization in the dorsal and ventral margins of manubrium moderate, apex of manubrium rounded. Basimere (BS., Fig. 2 ) ventrally convex, processus basimeris dorsalis (or L1) triangular and bearing one moderate long seta and two minute apical setae. Acetabular bristles long and of equal size. Telomere (TL) about three times as long as broad, widest at about the upper 1/3, anterior margin nearly straight, posterior margin convex (especially upper half), bearing two large, stout and two fine submedian setae at posterior margin; fovea and denticulus present but inconspicuous. Proximal arm of sternum IX long, slender, gently arched, its apex slightly broadened and triangular; distal arm of sternum IX with two-lobes; basal lobe (B.L.) small and bearing two stout setae and four fine setae at the posterior margin; apical lobe (A.L.) almost twice as long as broad at midpoint, apex of apical lobe elongated posteriorly, postero-apical margin bearing five spiniform setae, posterior margin slightly concave, lateral surface of apical lobe scattered with numerous fine setae. Phallosome as illustrated ( Figs. 4 , 9 ), apex of sclerotized inner tube truncate and elongated anteriorly, dorsal armature conspicuous, ventral armature long, fistula semi-circular and moderately parallel to ventral armature. Aedeagal apodeme long and broad, dorsal and ventral margin well sclerotized. Crochet of aedeagus (CR., Fig. 2 ) long with parallel edges and narrowing to apical part, its apex truncate; paxillus of crochet peg-like ( Fig. 10 ) and located on the level of the sinus of apical lobe of distal arm sternum IX.

Modified abdominal segments of female. Tergum VII with two rows of setae, main row of six setae with intercalary setae; the main row preceded by two setae; lowermost seta of main row located below the spiracular fossa. Three antesensilial bristles with middle seta longest; lowermost bristle 2 times longer than uppermost bristle. Sternum VII ( Fig. 8 ) with six large and four medium-sized setae; posterior margin of sternum VII with a large lobe subtended by a broad sinus. Tergum VIII bearing totally 16 setae and five additional fine setae located at anterior part of spiracular fossa. Spermatheca ( Fig. 6 ) and bursa copulatrix ( Fig. 7 ) as illustrated, bulga large, hilla of spermatheca recurved over bulbous bulga; ductus bursae heavily sclerotized.

Dimensions (slide-mounted specimens). Males, average 1.95 mm (holotype 1.94, range 1.81‒2.13); females, average 2.76 mm (allotype 2.5, range 2.2‒3).

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Nosopsyllus (N.) spiniformis Keskin n. sp. holotype (male). 1. Head, 2. Clasper, sternum IX and crochet (CR) of aedeagus, 3. Tergum VIII, 4. Phallosome (scale bar = 100 µm).

FIGURES 5–8. Nosopsyllus (N.) spiniformis Keskin n. sp. allotype (female). 5. Head, 6. Spermatheca, 7. Bursa copulatrix 8. Sternum VII (scale bar = 100 µm).

FIGURES 9–10. Nosopsyllus (N.) spiniformis (male). 9. Terminal portion of phallosome (holotype). 10. Paxillus of crochet (paratype).