Forficuloecus cameroni Price, Johnson

Price, Roger D., Johnson, Kevin P. & Palma, Ricardo L., 2008, A review of the genus Forficuloecus Conci (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) from parrots (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), with descriptions of four new species, Zootaxa 1859, pp. 49-62 : 51

Forficuloecus cameroni Price, Johnson , and Palma, new species

( Figs. 1–4)

Type host. Aprosmictus erythropterus (J.F. Gmelin, 1788) , the Red-winged Parrot.

Male. As in Fig. 1. Tergal setae: II–III, usually 8–9, less often 10; IV–VII, 10–11, less often 12; VIII, 6–8. Tergite IX with well developed lateral plates, distinct median gap between them. Sternal setae: II, 4–8; III–VI, 8–13; VII, 5–8. Genitalia with parameres and penis shaped as shown ( Fig. 2).

Female. Head as in Fig. 3, shaped as for male; metanotum and abdomen as in Fig. 4. Tergal setae: II–III, 8–11; IV–VII, 9–11; VIII, 7–8. Sternal setae: II, 5–8; III, 9–12; IV–VI, 10–14; VII, 6–7.

Type material. Holotype male ( ANIC), ex A. erythropterus , AUSTRALIA: 45 km E Darwin, 22 Oct. 2002, D.H. Clayton, ANWC 50026. Paratypes all ex A. erythropterus ( UMSP, UU, FMNH, ANIC): 1 male, same data as holotype except ANWC 50044; 1 female same except Queensland, Weipa, 25 Oct. 2001, T. Chesser, ANWC 29802. SE NEW GUINEA: 2 males, 3 females, Papua, Weam, 1 June 1964, H. Clissold, BBM-NG 50872; 3 males, 4 females, same except 29 May 1964, BBM-NG 50765; 2 females, same except 9 June 1964, BBM-NG 50817.

Remarks. This new species is recognized by the combination of the large dimensions of both sexes, the male with tergites on IX having a distinct median gap between them and with a unique shape of the genitalic parameres and penis, and the female with more numerous setae on sterna II–VII. While in a number of features it is close to F. emersoni Guimarães , the differences of the male in the structure of tergite IX ( Fig. 1 vs Fig. 7) and the shape of the parameres and penis ( Fig. 2 vs Fig. 5) afford good separation. The female is tenuously recognized from F. emersoni by having a total of 35–37 setae on sterna IV–VI.

Etymology. This species is named for Stephen Cameron, Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia, in recognition of his work on the systematics and genomics of lice.