Corvonirmus wakuiacus Mey, 2017

Gustafsson, Daniel R., Bush, Sarah E. & Palma, Ricardo L., 2019, The genera and species of the Brueelia - complex (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) described by Mey (2017), Zootaxa 4615 (2), pp. 252-284 : 260

Corvonirmus wakuiacus Mey, 2017

Corvonirmus wakuiacus Mey, 2017: 120 , figs 39, 43–44, pl. V: figs 4–5. Species inquirenda.

Type host: Corvus bennetti North, 1901 —little crow.

Type locality: Yeelirrie , Western Australia, Australia .

Remarks. This species is separated from other congeners by a single character: the reduction of the distal female subgenital plate. However, as shown by Mey (2017: 119, fig. 44a–f), this is a highly variable character, which is not clearly illustrated for any of the other three Australian species described by Mey (2017). Futhermore, comparing the photographs of Co. pleuropelios ( Mey 2017: pl. VI: fig. 1) and that of Co. wakuiacus ( Mey 2017: pl. V: fig. 5), it is impossible to ascertain whether the shape of the female subgenital plates of these species are significantly different. Mey (2017: 118) mentioned that one female Co. orruaticus has the subgenital plate reduced as in Co. wakuiacus , but this is not illustrated. Although we examined additional specimens from the type host, which appear to be conspecific with Co. wakuiacus , we consider Co. wakuiacus insufficiently diagnosed and regard it as species inquirenda.