Formicaphagus thamnophili Cicchino and Valim, 2008

Cicchino, Armando C. & Valim, Michel P., 2008, Three new species of Formicaphagus Carriker, 1957 (Phthiraptera, Ischnocera, Philopteridae), parasitic on Thamnophilidae and Conopophagidae (Aves, Passeriformes), Zootaxa 1949 (1), pp. 37-50 : 41-42

Formicaphagus thamnophili Cicchino and Valim , n. sp.

( Figs. 6 , 16–20 , 23–24 , 31–32 )

Formicaphagus n. sp. Cicchino & Castro 1998:121–122.

Diagnosis: Body silhouette more elongated, dorsal anterior plate slightly wider than long, ANW narrower and tendency to be shorter than F. severus n.sp. in both sexes. Male differing in shape of parameres, shape, structure and number of marginal sensilla (three) of endomeral complex, shape and proportions of the penial sclerite, and lesser in most of the body measurements. Female usually lacking posterior tergal setae on VI–VII, lesser number setae on gonapophysis (5–6 vs 6–10 on each side), and noticeably lesser in most of body measurements.

Male ( Figs. 6 , 16 , 23 ): general habitus as in Fig. 16 . Head slightly wider than long ( Fig. 6 ), narrow than abdominal width. Lateral preantennal margins straight, convergent in a medium width and shallowly emarginated apex. Dorsal anterior plate slightly wider than long. Temples moderately expanded. Tergoposterior setae present on each abdominal hemitergites V 0–1 (1); VI, 2–3 (3); VII 2–5 (2); VIII, 0–2 (0). Sutural accessory seta present in tergites VI (a pair in only 1 specimen), VII (right side of 2 specimens), and VIII (left side of 2 specimens). Genitalia: mesosomal complex with margin slightly sinuated at sides, bearing three marginal sensilla on each side; penial sclerite with slender lateral arms, and parameres somewhat slender and angulated medially ( Fig. 23 ). Measurements (n=4): HL 0.420 –0.443 (0.432 ± 0.010) , ANW 0.064 –0.078 (0.069 ± 0.005), POW 0.303 –0.420 (0.344 ± 0.043), OW 0.443 –0.467 (0.461 ± 0.009), ADPL 0.111 –0.118 (0.114 ± 0.002) , ADPW 0.134 –0.141 (0.138 ± 0.003) , PL 0.163 –0.210 (0.187 ± 0.015) , PW 0.233 –0.257 (0.245 ± 0.010) , PTL 0.163 –0.373 (0.315 ± 0.079), PTW 0.163 –0.373 (0.228 ± 0.077), AL 0.817 –0.910 (0.875 ± 0.031), AW 0.513 –0.537 (0.525 ± 0.010), GLT 0.172 –0.179 (0.175 ± 0.003), GLM 0.158 –0.165 (0.161 ± 0.003), GW 0.082 –0.087 (0.085 ± 0.001), TL 1.447 –1.633 (1.552 ± 0.060).

Female ( Figs. 17 , 24 , 32 ): as in Fig. 17 . Head and thoracic features much as for male, being somewhat larger. Hemitergites VI –VII without tergoposterior setae (with one in VI in a signle specimens and in one side only). Vulvar margin with 16–25 (20) spinose and 4–9 (7) slender setae ( Fig. 24 ), subgenital plate with 11–16 (13) setae, and gonapophysis with 5–6 (6) setae on each side. Measurements (n=20): HL 0.438 –0.476 (0.464 ± 0.012) , ANW 0.059 –0.075 (0.069 ± 0.005), POW 0.327 –0.400 (0.368 ± 0.020), OW 0.467 –0.514 (0.496 ± 0.011), ADPL 0.111 –0.134 (0.122 ± 0.005) , ADPW 0.141 –0.153 (0.147 ± 0.003) , PL 0.181 –0.219 (0.195 ± 0.010) , PW 0.257 –0.286 (0.278 ± 0.009) , PTL 0.162 –0.219 (0.191 ± 0.017), PTW 0.280 –0.420 (0.400 ± 0.031), AL 0.895 –1.162 (1.040 ± 0.072), AW 0.513 –0.629 (0.570 ± 0.029), TL 1.587 –1.933 (1.765 ± 0.088).

Nymph I ( Figs. 18 , 31 ): head longer than wide, temples not expanded, and anterior dorsal plate wider than long. Measurements (n=5): HL 0.295 –0.314, ANW 0.045 –0.056, POW 0.171 –0.248, OW 0.267 –0.286, ADPL 0.066 –0.078, ADPW 0.078 –0.094, PL 0.095 –0.114, PW 0.171 –0.181 , PTL 0.086 –0.105, PTW 0.229 – 0.257, AL 0.362 –0.448, AW 0.267 –0.305, TL 0.790 –0.867.

Nymph II ( Fig. 19 ): head slightly longer than wide, temples more expanded, and anterior dorsal plate wider than long. Measurements (n=2): HL 0.343 –0.352, ANW 0.049 –0.052, POW 0.248 –0.286, OW 0.333 – 0.343, ADPL 0.089 –0.092, ADPW 0.106 –0.111, PL 0.124 –0.143, PW 0.200, PTL 0.105, PTW 0.286 –0.295, AL 0.552 –0.619, AW 0.381 –0.448, TL 1.086 –1.114.

Sites of oviposition (n=2): eggs are glued to the basal half of the barbs of the feather vanes by means of a moderate amount of spumaline. In moderate infestations eggs are laid on feathers of pteryla of the crown, throat, neck, chest and lateral edges of the abdomen. In heavier infestation, most of the pteryla of the crown, upper portion of the face, chin, throat, chest and lateral edges of the abdomen are used ( Fig. 20 ).

Prevalence: two individuals examined, both infested with this species. One of them with light infestation (one male, 2 females and 4 nymphs recovered), other heavily infested (3 males, 18 females and 3 nymphs recovered) by fluffing plumage.

Specimens examined: male holotype, 1 male and 18 female paratypes deposited at MLP ; 1 male and 2 female paratypes at ECIOC ; from the type host, ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires Province; Partido Punta Indio, Punta Piedras , 6-X-1984, A. C. Cicchino col. Other specimens: 5 N I and 2 N II, same data and collector as holotype. All these specimens were recovered from two individual hosts collected at the same time .

Type host: Rufous-capped Antshrike , Thamnophilus r. ruficapillus . Found in forest edges from east slope of the Andes in Peru, Bolivia , and northwest Argentina to southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina.

Figures

FIGURES 1–13. Male heads of: (1) F. arnoldi (holotype); (2) F. donpetersi (paratype); (3) F. mariae n.sp.; (4) F. tyrannina (holotype); (5) F. picturatus; (6) F. thamnophili n.sp.; (7) F. severus n.sp. Pleural plates in females of: (8) F. picturatus; (9) F. tyrannina (holotype); (10) F. arnoldi (paratype). Dorsal view of female tergite IX+X of: (11) F. picturatus; (12) F. tyrannina (holotype); (13) F. arnoldi (paratype). Photos 1–2, 4–5, 8–13 by Oldřich Sychra in 2006.

FIGURES 16–17. Formicaphagus thamnophili n. sp.: (16) male; (17) female. SS - sutural seta.

FIGURES 18–20. Formicaphagus thamnophili n. sp.: (18) first nymphal stage; (19) second nymphal stage; (20) sites of oviposition in a heavily infested individual of Thamnophilus r. ruficapillus collected at Buenos Aires Province.

FIGURES 23–29. Formicaphagus thamnophili n. sp.: (23) male genitalia, (24) vulvae of female. F. severus n. sp.: (25) male genitalia, (26) vulvae of female. F.mariae n. sp.: (27) anterior portion of the female forehead, (28) male genitalia, (29) vulvae of female.

FIGURES 30–32. Feather mites legs (Astigmata: Analgoidea) in the digestive tract: (30) female of F.mariaen. sp.; (31) N II of F. thamnophili n. sp.; (32) female of Formicaphagus thamnophili n. sp. Fe—femur, Ge— genua, Ti —tibia, Ta— tarsus.