Hoplopleura abstrusus, Musser, Guy G., Durden, Lance A., Holden, Mary Ellen & Light, Jessica E., 2010

Musser, Guy G., Durden, Lance A., Holden, Mary Ellen & Light, Jessica E., 2010, Systematic Review of Endemic Sulawesi Squirrels (Rodentia, Sciuridae), with Descriptions of New Species of Associated Sucking Lice (Insecta, Anoplura), and Phylogenetic and Zoogeographic Assessments of Sciurid Lice, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2010 (339), pp. 1-260 : 1-260

Hoplopleura abstrusus , new species

HOLOTYPE: Male ex male Prosciurillus abstrusus (AMNH 101359; Rodentia : Sciuridae : Nannosciurinae , Nannosciurini , Hyosciurina ) collected by G. Heinrich at 2000 m at Tanke Salokko (3 ° 409S, 121 ° 139E; see gazetteer and fig. 30), Pegunungan Mekongga on the southeastern peninsula of Sulawesi (Propinsi Sulawesi Tenggara), Indonesia on 18 December, 1931. The holotype is deposited in USNM.

REFERRED SPECIMENS: The following additional specimens, all collected by G. Heinrich on various dates during December 1931 from the same host species at the same location as the holotype: an additional male, four females, one nymph from the same host individual as the holotype ; one nymph ex male P. abstrusus (AMNH 101349) at 2000 m; three females ex male P. abstrusus (AMNH 101350) at 1500 m; two females, three nymphs ex male P. abstrusus (AMNH 101352) at 2000 m; two females ex female P. abstrusus (AMNH 101353) at 2000 m; one male, two females (including allotype), one nymph ex female P. abstrusus (AMNH 101354) at 2000 m; four females ex male P. abstrusus (AMNH 101355) at 2000 m; one male ex male P. abstrusus (AMNH 101358) at 2000 m; two males, five females, three nymphs ex male P. abstrusus (AMNH 101360) at 2000 m; two females, one nymph ex male P. abstrusus (AMNH 101361) at 2000 m; one male, three females, one nymph ex sex unknown P. abstrusus (AMNH 101362) collected at 2000 m. Paratypes are deposited in AMNH, BMNH, LAD, and USNM.

DISTRIBUTION: All collections of Hoplopleura abstrusus are from Prosciurillus abstrusus collected from Tanke Salokko, Pegunungan Mekongga, on the southeastern peninsula of Sulawesi at 1500 m or 2000 m. The tree squirrel is endemic to this mountain range (see fig. 11 and table 4).

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet of the host has been used to name this louse.

DIAGNOSIS: Hoplopleura abstrusus can be distinguished from all other species of Hoplopleura using a combination of the following characters: (1) four rows of dorsal abdominal setae followed by five dorsal abdominal plates in the male; (2) characteristically shorter, stout setae in some rows of dorsal abdominal setae; (3) morphology of the male genitalia, especially the pseudopenis which has lateral projections, and also extends well beyond the apices of the parameres; (4) four rows of DCAS followed by 13 dorsal abdominal plates in the female; (5) setal lengths on gonopod VIII in the female; (6) shape of the subgenital plates in both sexes; (7) shape and setation of the paratergal plates in both sexes.

DESCRIPTION: Male (fig. 54A–D). Length of holotype 0.93 mm (mean for series 0.91, range 0.87–0.94, N 5 7). Head and thorax well sclerotized.

Head. Longer than wide with broadly rounded, anterior apex; 2 SuHS, 4 DMHS, 1 DAnCHS, 1 DPoCHS, 3 SpAtHS, 2–3 DAnMHS, and 1 OrS on each side. DPHS short, barely extending beyond posterior margin of head with 1 DAcHS medial to DPHS. Antenna 5-segmented with basal segment wider than second segment, much wider than long; second segment elongate.

Thorax. Broader than long; thoracic sternal plate (fig. 54B) blunt anteriorly and tapering to rounded posterior apex; mesothoracic spiracle small (0.015 mm in diameter) with one long DMsS and one DPTS of moderate length (0.11 mm) medial to spiracle. Legs. Forelegs and midlegs small each with narrow, acuminate claw; hindlegs and hind claws robust.

Abdomen. Wider than thorax; five rows of DLAS/DCAS anteriorly: rows 1 and 2 each with two setae, rows 3 and 4 each with four setae, row 5 with 8–10 setae; five dorsal plates posterior to DLAS/DCAS rows: plates 1–4 each with 7–12 TeAS, plate 5 without setae; 1–2 DLAS on segments 4–6; some dorsal abdominal setae characteristically peg-like or dagger-like; 11 ventral abdominal plates: plate 1 small and lacking setae, plates 2–11 each with 6–8 StAS, plates 2 and 3 each extending laterally to articulate with corresponding paratergal plate as characteristic of genus, plate 3 with 2 elongate lateral StAS on each side; 1 VLAS on each of segments 3–7 or 3–8. Paratergal plates (fig. 54C) present on segments 1–8: plate I lacking setae; plates II and III each with 2 apical PrS of intermediate length; plates IV–VI each with 1 short apical PrS and 1 PrS of intermediate length; plates VII and VIII each with 2 long apical PrS; plates II–VI subtriangular and with both apices developed into points; plates III–VII each with moderate-size spiracle.

Genitalia (fig. 54D). Subgenital plate with small lateral ridge and four long anterior setae on each side (as shown in fig. 54A); aedeagal basal apodeme almost twice as long as parameres; parameres curved and with sinuous medial margins; pseudopenis very long, extending well beyond apices of parameres, with small protuberance on each lateral margin proximal to apices of parameres.

Female (fig. 55A–D). Length of allotype 1.14 mm (mean for series 1.16, range 0.95– 1.40, N 5 27).

Head, thorax, and legs. As in male.

Abdomen. Wider than thorax; four rows of setae dorsally with 2, 4, 4, and 8 setae, respectively, followed by 13 dorsal plates each with 5–10 TeAS; plate 13 broad; 1–2 DLAS on each of segments 3–7, 4–7, or 3–8; 17 plates (excluding subgenital plate) ventrally: plate 1 small and lacking setae, plates 2–17 each with 5–8 StAS, plates 2 and 3 each articulating laterally with corresponding paratergal plate as characteristic of genus, plate 3 with two enlarged lateral StAS on each side; 1–2 VLAS present on each of segments 3–7, or 4–7; some TeAS, DLAS, StAS, and VLAS dagger shaped. Paratergal plates (fig. 55C) with apical PrS as in male except for one elongate apical PrS on plate II; plates II–VIII subtriangular; plates II–VII each with both apices developed into points; plates III–VII each with moderate-size spiracle.

Genitalia (fig. 55D). Subgenital plate with distal ends curved posteriorly, and with central posterior projection; one small seta on each side of midline on plate and immediately posterior to plate; gonopod VIII with three apical, posterior setae of short to intermediate length each borne on small lobe; gonopod IX with one robust seta of intermediate length; vulvar fimbriae indistinct.

REMARKS: The very long pseudopenis of the male of Hoplopleura abstrusus clearly distinguishes this species from all other species of Hoplopleura that parasitize Indomalayan squirrels.