Hoplopleura murinus, 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 murinus , new species

HOLOTYPE: Male and allotype female ex female Prosciurillus murinus (AMNH 226073; Rodentia , Sciuridae , Nannosciurinae, Nannosciurini, Hyosciurina) collected by G.G. Musser at 450 ft at Malakosa, Kuala Navusu (0 ° 589S, 120 ° 279E; see gazetteer and fig. 30), Propinsi Sulawesi Tengah, Indonesia on 5 October, 1975. The holotype is deposited in USNM.

REFERRED SPECIMENS: An additional seven males and 21 females from the same host individual as the holotype and allotype; one female ex female P. murinus (USNM 216794) collected by H.C. Raven at 0–100 m at Teteamoet (1 ° 409N, 125 ° 059E), North Sulawesi on 28 January 1916 ; three males, six females ex female P. murinus (AMNH 224596) collected by G.G. Musser at 2700 ft at Sungai Sadaunta (1 ° 239S, 119 ° 589E), central Sulawesi on 26 September , 1974 .

DISTRIBUTION: Hoplopleura murinus has been collected from voucher hosts of Prosciurillus murinus from both the northern peninsula and central core of Sulawesi. The squirrel host is found in lowland and montane forest habitats throughout Sulawesi (see fig. 11 and table 4).

ETYMOLOGY: This species is named for the specific epithet of its host.

DIAGNOSIS: Hoplopleura murinus can be distinguished from all other species of Hoplopleura using a combination of the following characters: (1) the presence of five dorsal abdominal plates situated posteriorly in the male; (2) the shape of the thoracic sternal plate in both sexes; (3) the shape of the paratergal plates and the lengths of the apical paratergal setae in both sexes; (4) the shape, setation, and proportions of the male and female genitalia. Hoplopleura murinus appears to be most similar to Hoplopleura topapuensis ; key differences between these two new anopluran taxa are discussed in the descriptive section on H. topapuensis .

DESCRIPTION: Male (fig. 52A–D). Length of holotype 0.74 mm (mean for series 0.69; range 0.62–0.76; N 5 11). Head, thorax, and abdomen well sclerotized.

Head. Longer than wide with broadly rounded anterior apex; 2 SuHS, 4 DMHS, 1 DAnCHS, 1 DPoCHS, 1 SpAtHS, 2 DPaHS, 1 VPHS, and 3–4 AnMHS on each side; DPHS fairly long with 1 DAcHS medial to DPHS. Antennae. 5-segmented with basal segment wider than second segment, wider than long.

Thorax. Broader than long; thoracic sternal plate (fig. 52B) tapering to blunt anterior apex and to more acute posterior apex; mesothoracic spiracle fairly small (0.014 mm in diameter); DPTS moderate in length (0.105 mm) extending to anterior region of third paratergal plate; one small DMsS medial to spiracle. Legs. Hind coxae with spurlike posterior projection; fore and mid coxae subtriangular, each with three small setae; forelegs fairly small each with narrow acuminate claw; hindlegs robust, each with large acuminate claw; midlegs intermediate in size between fore and hindlegs.

Abdomen. Wider than thorax; one broad plate per segment dorsally on segments 5–8; one broad plate per segment ventrally on plates 1–3; two narrow plates per segment ventrally on segments 4–7; five rows of DCAS dorsally—row 1 with 2 DCAS, rows 2 and 3 each with 4–5 DCAS, and rows 4 and 5 each with 6–8 DCAS, followed by four rows of TeAS with 5, 5, 5, and 1 setae, respectively; first ventral plate lacking setae; second ventral plate with 8 StAS; third ventral plate with 6 StAS including two large lateral setae on each side (three on one side in holotype); ventral plates 2 and 3 each articulating with corresponding paratergal plate; ventral plates 4–11 each with 5–10 StAS; some dorsal and ventral abdominal setae dagger-shaped. Paratergal plates (fig. 52C) present on segments 1–8: plate I without setae; plate II with one fairly long apical seta and one seta of intermediate length; plates III–V each with one short apical seta and one seta of intermediate length; plate VI with two apical setae of intermediate length; plates VII and VIII each with two long apical setae; plates II–VII subtriangular; plates II–VI each with both apical angles produced into points; plates III–VII each with moderate size spiracle.

Genitalia (fig. 52D). Aedeagal basal apodeme about same length as parameres; parameres curved with differential sclerotization; pseudopenis barely extending beyond apices of parameres, with small lateral protuberance on each side.

Female (fig. 53A–D). Length of allotype 0.94 mm (mean for series 0.94; range 0.85– 1.03; N 5 27).

Head, thorax, and legs. As in male unless indicated otherwise. DPTS length 0.113 mm. Thoracic sternal plate (fig. 53B) similar in both sexes but anterior apex more acute in most female specimens.

Abdomen. Wider than thorax; three narrow plates per segment dorsally on segments IV–VIII; 1 broad plate ventrally on each of segments 1–3; three narrow plates per segment ventrally on segments IV–VII; first row of dorsal setae with 2 DCAS, second and third dorsal rows each with 4 DCAS, followed by 15 rows of 5–9 TeAS; few DLAS present; first ventral plate lacking setae, second ventral plate with 8 StAS, third ventral plate with 9 StAS (including two longer, robust setae on each side), and following ventral plates each with 7–10 StAS; ventral plates 2 and 3 each articulating with corresponding paratergal plate; some dorsal and ventral abdominal setae dagger-shaped. Paratergal plates (fig. 53C) present on segments 1–8: plate I lacking setae; plates II and IV–VI each with one short apical seta and one seta of intermediate length; plate III with two apical setae of intermediate length; plates VII and VIII each with two long apical setae; plates II–VIII subtriangular; plates III–VII each with moderate size spiracle.

Genitalia (fig. 53D). Subgenital plate with deep lateral indentation on each side; two long setae on each anterior arm of subgenital plate, and four short central setae between these; gonopod VIII with three short apical setae and one subapical seta of intermediate length; gonopod IX with one stout seta; vulvar fimbriae distinct.

REMARKS: Like its squirrel host, Prosciurillus murinus , this louse is smaller in body size than its Sulawesian congeners that parasitize other species of Sulawesian squirrels.