Cuculicola calyptocamptus, Gustafsson & Tian & Zou, 2021

Gustafsson, Daniel R., Tian, Chunpo & Zou, Fasheng, 2021, New species of ischnoceran chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) from Chinese birds, Zootaxa 4990 (2), pp. 305-328 : 306-309

Cuculicola calyptocamptus new species

( Figs 1–6 )

Type host: Hierococcyx sparverioides (Vigors, 1832) —large hawk-cuckoo ( Cuculidae ).

Type locality: “White Pheasant Formation”, Basa Village , Hekou Township , Hekou County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China .

Diagnosis. Cuculicola calyptocamptus is close to Cuculicola erythrophthalmus Emerson, 1964 and Cuculicola kui Kettle, 1980 in lacking ventral extensions in the distal endomere and having a small overlap between the endomere and the penile arms. However, Cuculicola calyptocamptus can be separated from those species by having the median section of the ventral carina diffuse and displaced anteriorly to form a rudimentary clypeo-labral suture ( Fig. 3 ); the dorsal endomeral arms are stouter in C. calyptocamptus ( Fig. 4 ) than in C. erythrophthalmus .

In addition, Cuculicola calyptocamptus can be separated from C. erythrophthalmus by the following characters: sternites III–VI of both sexes with only 1–2 sts on each side in C. calyptocamptus ( Figs 1–2 ), but with 3 sts on each side in C. erythrophthalmus ; male tergopleurites VI–VII with 2 tergocentral setae on each side in C. calyptocamptus ( Fig. 1 ), but with 3 tergocentral setae on each side in C. erythrophthalmus ; parameres with distinct “elbow” in C. calyptocamptus ( Figs 4–5 ), but gently rounded in C. erythrophthalmus ; female vulval margin more concave and with setae more evenly distributed along margin in C. erythrophthalmus than in C. calyptocamptus ( Fig. 6 ).

Moreover, Cuculicola calyptocamptus can be separated from C. kui by the following characters: marginal carina broader in C. calyptocamptus ( Fig. 3 ) than in C. kui ; female sternites IV–V with 3 sts on each side in C. kui , but with 2 sts on each side in C. calyptocamptus ( Fig. 2 ); frons more evenly rounded in C. calyptocamptus ( Fig. 3 ) than in C. kui ; endomere with somewhat elongated distal end in C. calyptocamptus ( Fig. 5 ), but with flattened distal end in C. kui . In the original illustrations of C. kui , the parameres appear to have a distinct bend at about midway, similar to those of C. calyptocamptus ( Fig. 4 ), but the parameres are more slender in C. kui than in C. calyptocamptus ( Fig. 4 ), and the bend in the parameres is more abrupt, and with a more angular outer margin, in C. calyptocamptus than in C. kui .

Description. Both sexes. Head about equally wide in pre- and postantennal sections, frons rounded ( Fig. 3 ). Marginal carina broad throughout, with distinct canals to apertures of most preantennal setae. Dorsal preantennal suture present, curved. Ventral carina interrupted near midline, and appears to curve anteriorly, but this section diffuse, and exact shape unclear. Head chaetotaxy as in Fig. 3 . Thoracic and abdominal segments and chaetotaxy as in Figs 1–2 . Measurements as in Table 1 .

Male. Basal apodeme relatively short for genus, tongue-like ( Figs 4–5 ); in distal section with ventral folds that appear to connect to penile sclerites. Endomere without distal extensions, and with proximal extensions rather stout. Penile sclerites barely overlapping with endomere. No setae or sensilla visible on endomere or near base of penis in examined specimens. Parameres with characteristic bend at about midway, overlapping distally; pst1–2 sensilla.

Female. Subgenital plate short, distal margin rounded and bulging slightly ( Fig. 6 ). Vulval margin with poorly sclerotized plates along most of margin, but interrupted medianly; margin with shallow concavity medianly. Vulval chaetotaxy as in Fig. 6 , with 4–6 long, slender vms and 2–3 long, slender vss on each side; 1–2 minute setae proximal to vss, often visible only as apertures; vos variable among specimens, generally with 2–3 medium-sized, slender setae on each side situated between subgenital plate and vss.

Etymology: The species epithet is formed by “ kalupto ”, Greek for “to cover”, and “ kampto ”, Greek for “I bend”. This refers to the pronounced bending of the parameres, which are normally hidden inside the body.

Type material. Ex Hierococcyx sparverioides : Holotype ♂, “White Pheasant Formation”, Basa Village , Hekou Township , Hekou County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, 6 Jun. 2016, Wu Yuchun & Chu Xingzhi, GD-PHTH-00565 ( IZGAS). Paratypes: 12♂, 51♀, same data as holotype, GD-PHTH00566–00627 ( IZGAS) .

Figures

FIGURES 1–2. Cuculicola calyptocamptus new species. 1, male habitus, dorsal and ventral views. 2, female habitus, dorsal and ventral views. Abbreviation: sts = sternal seta.

FIGURES 3–6. Cuculicola calyptocamptus new species. 3, male head, dorsal and ventral views. 4, male genitalia, dorsal view. 5, male genitalia, ventral view. 6, female subgenital plate, ventral view. Figures 4–5 to same scale. Abbreviations: pst1–2 = parameral setae 1–2; vms = vulval marginal seta; vos = vulval oblique seta; vss = vulval submarginal seta.