Myrsidea cicchinoi Valim, Price & Johnson

Valim, Michel P., Price, Roger D. & Johnson, Kevin P., 2011, New host records and descriptions of five new species of Myrsidea Waterston, 1915 (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from passerine birds (Aves: Passeriformes), Zootaxa 3097, pp. 1-19 : 13

Myrsidea cicchinoi Valim, Price & Johnson n. sp.

( Figs. 36–37 , 42–44 )

Type host. Rhynchocyclus olivaceus (Temminck, 1820) —the Olivaceous Flatbill ( Tyrannidae ).

Female (n = 4). Habitus as in Fig. 36 . Hypopharynx fully developed, DHS10, 0.02 long; DHS11, 0.08 long. Gula with 4 setae on each side (rarely 3 or 5 on one side). Metanotum with 8–9 setae on posterior margin. Setae of femoral brush, 12–16. Metanotum and abdomen as in Fig. 42 . Tergites unmodified, of similar size. With conspicuous median gap in each tergal setal row. Tergal setae: I, 12–15; II, 13–17; III, 16–18; IV, 14–18; V, 16; VI, 12–15; VII, 8–9; VIII, 8. Postspiracular setae shortest (0.30–0.37) on I, III, V, and VI, and longer (0.40–0.50) on II, IV, VII and VIII. Sternal setae: II, each aster of 4 setae (rarely 3 on one side), posterior margin with 15–16 and anteriorly with 9; III, 24–30; IV, 28–32; V, 32–40; VI, 26–35; VII, 10–15; VIII–IX with 10–12 marginal and 9–10 anterior setae. Each pleurite III–VII with about 6–7 short marginal setae. Anus with 36–42 ventral fringe setae, 36–44 dorsal. Dimensions: TW, 0.48–0.49; HL, 0.32–0.34; PW, 0.31–0.32; PSPL, 0.11–0.12; MW, 0.45–0.46; MSPL, 0.15; AWIV, 0.59–0.65; ANW, 0.24–0.25; TL, 1.62–1.68.

Male (n = 2). Habitus as in Fig. 37 . Gula with 4 setae on each side. Metanotum with 9 setae on posterior margin, metasternal plate with 6 setae. Metanotum and abdomen as in Fig. 43 . Setae of femoral brush, 12–14. Tergal setae: I, 11; II, 15; III, 16; IV, 15; V, 11; VI, 13; VII–VIII, 8. Conspicuous median gap in each tergal setal row. Postspiracular setae as for female. Sternal setae: II, each aster of 4 setae, posterior margin with 13 and anteriorly with 9; III, 22; IV–V, 29; VI, 25; VII, 12; VIII, 7. Genital sac sclerite as in Fig. 44 , rounded apically and with thin subapical lateral projections. Dimensions: TW, 0.46; HL, 0.32; PW, 0.32; PSPL, 0.11; MW, 0.39; MSPL, 0.14; AWIV, 0.49; GL, 0.46; GSL, 0.10; TL, 1.35.

Type material. Holotype female, ex Rhynchocyclus olivaceus , GMS 1838, Panama: Lago Bayano, 13 February 2006, K.P. Johnson coll. Paratypes: 1 male ( DNA voucher Mysp.Rholi.6.6.2007.7), same data as holotype; 2 females (one female DNA voucher Mysp.Rholi.6.6.2007.6), same data as holotype, except GMS 1776, 12 February 2006; 1 male and 1 female (male DNA voucher Mysp.Rholi.4.24.2006.3), same data as holotype, except GMS 1809, 12 February 2006. One pair of paratypes ( GMS 1809) at MZUSP.

Remarks. This species belongs to the “ pitangi species group” (sensu Price et al. 2005), being easily distinguished from others of the group by the presence of an extra spiniform seta on the lateral margin of tergites II–VIII, as well as the lateral seta associated with the post-spiracular seta, sensu Clay (1970) in both sexes ( Figs. 42, 43 ). In females, tergites I–II are practically unmodified, and in males the genital sac sclerite ( Fig. 44 ) is slightly different from that of M. flaviventris Price, Hellenthal & Dalgleish, 2005 (see their fig. 12).

Etymology. This species is named after Armando C. Cicchino (Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina) in recognition of his many contributions to louse taxonomy, especially taxa from South America.

Figures

FIGURES 36 – 39. Myrsidea cicchinoi: (36) female holotype; (37) male paratype. Myrsidea cinnamomei: (38) female; (39) male.

FIGURES 42 – 48. Myrsidea cicchinoi: (42) metathorax and dorsoventral abdomen of female; (43) metathorax and dorsoventral abdomen of male; (44) male genital sac sclerite. Myrsidea cinnamomei: (45) male genital sac sclerite. Myrsidea castroae n. sp.: (46) metathorax and dorsoventral abdomen of female; (47) metathorax and dorsoventral abdomen of male; (48) male genital sac sclerite.