Philopterus stansburyensis, Gustafsson & Najer & Zou & Bush, 2022

Gustafsson, Daniel R., Najer, Tomas, Zou, Fasheng & Bush, Sarah E., 2022, New species of Philopterus Nitzsch, 1818 (Ischnocera: Philopteridae), with notes on Cypseloecus Conci, 1941, European Journal of Taxonomy 790 (1), pp. 1-52 : 28-33

Philopterus stansburyensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DB198892-3BCC-4D00-988C-EAFE8E446B7A

Figs 31–36 ; Tables 2–4 , 6

Diagnosis

The only previously known species of Philopterus from a cardinalid host is P. cardinalis Piaget, 1880 (ex Paroaria coronata (Miller, 1776)); this species is poorly described and illustrated, and has never been redescribed. We have examined 3 specimens (1 ♂, 2 ♀♀) collected by Piaget and labeled as P. cardinalis (NHMUK 010712725–27); however, none of them is in good enough condition to allow proper morphological redescription. An adequate comparison between P. cardinalis and P. stansburyensis sp. nov. must await the redescription of new specimens of P. cardinalis .

The male genitalia of P. stansburyensis sp. nov. and the absence of sternal plates in the Colorado specimens resemble conditions in P. confusio Ansari, 1955 (ex Turdus fulviventris Sclater, 1857). These two species can be separated by the following characters: the posterior projection of dorsal anterior plate short and narrow (shorter than the plate itself) in male of P. stansburyensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 33 ), but long and wide (longer than the plate itself) in male of P. confusio ( Ansari 1955: fig. 7a); lateral slits separating sternites VII and VIII of male subgenital plate long, reaching almost to setal apertures in P. stansburyensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 31 ), but short, just slightly cut out from lateral margin of plate in P. confusio ( Ansari 1955: fig. 7c); female subgenital accessory plates oval or pear-shaped, pointed anteriorly in P. stansburyensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 36 ), but horizontally elongated, pointed medioposteriorly in P. confusio ( Ansari 1955: fig. 7f); vulval setae become shorter medianly and are placed in one row in P. stansburyensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 36 ), but all are short and placed in two rows in P. confusio ( Ansari 1955: fig. 7g). Note that all these comparisons are based on illustrations given by Ansari (1955), which may be of limited reliability.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the type locality.

Material examined

Holotype USA • ♂; Utah, Tooele County, Stansbury Mountains, Hickman Canyon ; alt. 7000 ft [2134 m]; 24 Jun. 1969; ex Pheucticus melanocephala melanocephala; “ 09084 ”; NHMUK.

Paratypes USA • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; Colorado; 1967; J.A.Allen leg.; same host as for holotype; mounted by R.C. Dalgleish; “ 1367 ”; USNM .

Type host

Pheucticus melanocephalus melanocephalus (Swainson, 1827) – black-headed grosbeak (Cardinalidae).

Description

Head shape and chaetotaxy as in Fig. 33 , preantennal area broad. Hyaline margin wide, extending laterally beyond marginal carina. Dorsal anterior plate as in Fig. 33 . Ventral anterior plate semi-circular, with slightly concave anterior margin. Coni large, blunt, with round posterior margins, pointing posterolaterally. Gular plate small and narrowly pointed, displaced anteriorly. Thoracic and abdominal segments and chaetotaxy as in Figs 31–32 and Tables 2–4 . Measurements as in Table 6 .

Male

Thoracic and abdominal chaetotaxy as in Fig. 31 and Tables 2–4 . Tergite IX+X medianly continuous. Central sternal plates absent on segments II–VI. Holotype with lateral accessory sternal plates on each side of segments III–VI, but in specimens from Colorado these lateral accessory sternal plates not visible. Subgenital plate with deep lateral notches and elongated lateral accessory plate on segment IX+X. Basal apodeme long, slender ( Figs 34–35 ). Mesosomal thickening diffuse, with wide extensions distally; 3 microsetae on each side of mesosome. Gonopore elongate, rounded ( Fig. 35 ), with 2 sensilla on lateral margins near distal ends. Parameres completely fused to basal apodeme, slender, with pst1–2 as in Figs 34–35 .

Female

Thoracic and abdominal chaetotaxy as in Fig. 32 and Tables 2–4 . Gular plate trilobal, with blunt anterior margin. Central sternal plates absent on segments II–VI. Lateral accessory sternal plates not visible. Subgenital plate and vulval margin as in Fig. 36 , lateral accessory plates on segment IX+X small and oval. Vulval chaetotaxy as in Fig. 36 and Table 3 ; vulval setae longest laterally, gradually shortening medianly, with minute median pair. Subvulval plates broadly triangular, with rounded anterior margin.

Figures

Fig. 31. Philopterus stansburyensis sp. nov. ex Pheucticus melanocephalus melanocephalus (Swainson, 1827), male habitus, dorsal and ventral views.

Fig. 32. Philopterus stansburyensis sp. nov. ex Pheucticus melanocephalus melanocephalus (Swainson, 1827), female habitus, dorsal and ventral views.

Figs 33–36. Philopterus stansburyensis sp. nov. ex Pheucticus melanocephalus melanocephalus (Swainson, 1827). 33. Male head, dorsal and ventral views. 34. Male genitalia, dorsal view. 35. Male genitalia, ventral view. 36. Female subgenital plate, vulval margin, and subvulval plates, ventral view.