Columbicola davisae, Adams & Price & Clayton, 2005

Adams, Richard J., Price, Roger D. & Clayton, Dale H., 2005, Taxonomic revision of Old World members of the feather louse genus Columbicola (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera), including descriptions of eight new species, Journal of Natural History 39 (41), pp. 3545-3618 : 3597-3600

Columbicola davisae n. sp.

( Figures 162–165 )

Type host

Treron curvirostra nipalensis (Hodgson) .

Description

Male head as in Figure 162 ; APW, 0.127 –0.147 (0.138); HW, 0.27–0.30 (0.291); HL, 0.52–0.58 (0.547); HL/HW, 1.80–2.00 (1.89). Thorax with PW, 0.21–0.25 (0.222); MW, 0.27–0.33 (0.300). Genitalia as in Figure 164 ; parameres smoothly rounded most of their length, posterior end distinctly curving medially; mesosome rounded to broadly triangular; GW, 0.098 –0.123 (0.111). TL, 2.01–2.30 (2.12). Female head as in Figure 163 ; APW, 0.132 –0.152 (0.142); HW, 0.29–0.31 (0.298); HL, 0.55–0.61 (0.577); HL/HW, 1.87– 2.03 (1.94). Thorax with PW, 0.21–0.25 (0.228); MW, 0.29–0.32 (0.308). Ventral terminalia as in Figure 165 ; subgenital plate groove broad, pointed anteriorly. TL, 2.25– 2.45 (2.37).

Type material

Holotype male at NMNH, ex T. curvirostra nipalensis , Thailand: Kiri Kahn , 18-Dec-1952, R. E. Elbel and H. G. Deignan, RE 2046, B17669 . Paratypes ex T. curvirostris nipalensis , Thailand, at UM, NMNH, OSU, BMNH : 1 female, same data as holotype ; 5 males, 1 female, same except 16-Dec-1952, RE 2039, B17662 ; 1 male, 1 female, Loei, 20-Mar- 1954, R. E. Elbel and B. Lekagul, RE 3509, RTB 22717 ; 1 male, 1 female, same except 26- Mar-1954, RE 4383, RTB 822712; 1 male, 1 female, same except 23-Nov-1953, RE 3142, RTB 22594 ; 1 male, 1 female, same except 22-Nov-1953, RE 3141, RTB 22543 ; 1 male, same except 17-Oct-1954, R. E. Elbel, RE 4173, RTB 30992 ; 3 males, 1 female, same except 18-Oct-1954, RE 4178, RTB 30997 .

Remarks

All of the paratypes of C. davisae were originally part of the paratype series for C. elbeli Tendeiro. Both sexes of C. davisae can be distinguished from C. elbeli by details of the genitalia. The abrupt curvature of the posterior portion of the parameres, broadly rounded triangular mesosome, and lack of a ventral mesosomal protuberance are distinctive. The ventral terminalia of the female is most similar to that of C. clayae . However, the posterior edges of the subgenital plate groove are nearly parallel, in contrast to the angled edges of C. clayae .

Etymology

This species is named for Monika Davis, Monterey, California, in great appreciation for her continuous support and assistance with this project.

Columbicola insularis Tendeiro

( Figure 166 )

Columbicola clayae insularis Tendeiro 1965: 308 . Type host: Columba malherbii J. and E. Verreaux.

Description

Female head broadly triangular ( Figure 166 ); HW, 0.36; HL, 0.58; HL/HW, 1.61. Thorax with PW, 0.26; MW, 0.35–0.37. Ventral terminalia similar to C. clayae ( Figure 161 ); subgenital plate groove narrow, rounded anteriorly, median portion laterally expanded, contracted posteriorly. TL, 2.24–2.51. Male unknown.

Remarks

Columbicola insularis is known only from a pair of females and a single nymph collected in 1954. Although Tendeiro recorded the institutions in which these specimens were to be deposited, their current location is unknown. For this reason, all measurements and re-drawings were taken from Tendeiro (1965). Normally, splitting a species based on such a small number of specimens, especially specimens unseen, would be unwise. However, the differences between C. insularis and C. clayae are clear enough that the former can be recognized as distinct from the latter. Nonetheless, without additional specimens to examine, the position of C. insularis in relation to other species of Columbicola is uncertain.

Figures

Figures 147–164. Columbicola harrisoni: (147) female ventral terminalia. C. reedi: (148) male dorsal head; (149) female dorsal head; (150) male genitalia; (151) female ventral terminalia. C. gourae: (152) male dorsal head; (153) male genitalia; (154) female dorsal head; (155) female ventral terminalia. C. paradoxus: (156) male dorsal head; (157) male genitalia. C. clayae: (158) male dorsal head; (159) female dorsal head; (160) male genitalia; (161) female ventral terminalia. C. davisae: (162) male dorsal head; (163) female dorsal head; (164) male genitalia.

Figures 165–189. Columbicola davisae: (165) female ventral terminalia. C. insularis: (166) female dorsal head. C. elbeli: (167) male genitalia; (168) female ventral terminalia. C. phoenicopterae: (169) male genitalia; (170) female ventral terminalia. C. sphenurus: (171) male genitalia. C. wardi: (172) male genitalia; (173) female ventral terminalia. C. emersoni: (174) male dorsal head; (175) female dorsal head; (176) male genitalia; (177) female ventral terminalia. C. wecksteini: (178) male dorsal head; (179) female dorsal head; (180) male genitalia; (181) female ventral terminalia. C. curtus: (182) male dorsal head; (183) female dorsal head (missing antennae); (184) male genitalia. C. brygooi: (185) male genitalia; (186) female ventral terminalia. C. juliusriemeri: (187) male dorsal head; (188) male genitalia. C. obliteratus: (189) male dorsal head.