Myrsidea cruickshanki Price and Johnson

Price, Roger D. & Johnson, Kevin P., 2009, Five new species of Myrsidea Waterston (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from tanagers (Passeriformes: Thraupidae) in Panama, Zootaxa 2200, pp. 61-68 : 63-64

Myrsidea cruickshanki Price and Johnson , new species

(Figs. 1, 2)

Type host. Chlorothraupis carmioli (Lawrence) , the Carmiol's Tanager.

Female (7). Gula usually with 5 setae on each side, sometimes only 4. Metanotum and dorsal abdomen as in Fig. 1. Metanotum not enlarged, posterior margin with 10–12 setae; metasternal plate with 6–7 setae. Tergite I much enlarged, remainder smaller, with II–III curved due to compression by I, and remainder normal. Tergal setae: I, 6; II, 14–16; III–V, 16–19; VI, 14–16; VII, 11–14; VIII, 8. Postspiracular setae extremely long on II, IV, and VIII (>0.40 long), considerably shorter on III, V, VI, and VII (<0.20 long), and intermediate to these in length on I. Sternal setae: II, 4 in each aster, 15–18 marginal between asters, 8–10 anterior; III, 23–27; IV, 29–34; V, 32–36; VI, 24–32; VII, 17–20; VIII–IX, 19–23. Anus with 32–39 setae in each ventral and dorsal fringe. Dimensions: TW, 0.48–0.50; HL, 0.32–0.33; PW, 0.30–0.33; MW, 0.46–0.48; AWIV, 0.59–0.66; ANW, 0.24–0.25; TL, 1.66–1.72.

Male (4). Gula with 5, sometimes 6, setae on each side. Metanotal posterior margin with 11–12 setae; metasternal plate with 6 setae. Tergal setae: I, 11–13; II, 18–21; III–V, 17–22; VI, 16–18; VII, 14–15; VIII, 10–12. Postspiracular setae as for female. Sternal setae: II, 4 in each aster, 16–19 marginal between asters, 8– 12 anterior; III, 20–25; IV, 26–29; V, 28–31; VI, 26–31; VII, 19–20; VIII, 11–12. Genital sac sclerite as in Fig. 2, with elongate slender apical portion. Dimensions: TW, 0.42–0.44; HL & PW, 0.29–0.31; MW, 0.38–0.39; AWIV, 0.48–0.49; GL, 0.41–0.45; TL, 1.32–1.38.

Type material. Holotype female, ex C. carmioli , PANAMA: Serrania del Maje, 15 Feb 2006, JMD 581, K Johnson. Paratypes: 2 females, 1 male, same data as holotype; 2 females, 1 male, same except JMD 608; 1 male, same except JMD 610; 2 females, 1 male, same except Palo Seco, 24 Feb 2006, JK06-244.

Remarks. Even though the female of M. cruickshanki keys to M. fusca (Carriker) in couplet 14 and the male cannot be successfully identified through couplets 12 and 13, both are readily distinguished from those of the other members of the fusca species group by having their postspiracular setae on tergite VII as short as those on V and VI and much shorter than the extremely long setae on VIII. Both sexes of M. cruickshanki additionally usually have five gular setae on each side. The female has fewer setae on most abdominal tergites, especially on VIII, and a tendency for larger dimensions, while the male has fewer setae on sternite VII and more setae on sternite VIII.

Etymology. This species is named for Robert Cruickshank, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand, in recognition of his contributions to the systematics of lice.