Lemurpediculus gerpi, Springer & Durden & Kiene & Klein & Rakotondravony & Ehlers & Greiman & Blanco & Zohdy & Kessler & Strube & Radespiel, 2023

Springer, Andrea, Durden, Lance A., Kiene, Frederik, Klein, Annette, Rakotondravony, Romule, Ehlers, Julian, Greiman, Stephen E., Blanco, Marina B., Zohdy, Sarah, Kessler, Sharon E., Strube, Christina & Radespiel, Ute, 2023, Molecular phylogenetics of the sucking louse genus Lemurpediculus (Insecta: Phthiraptera), ectoparasites of lemurs, with descriptions of three new species, International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife (Biol. J. Linn. Soc.) 20, pp. 138-152 : 144-146

3.2.3. Lemurpediculus gerpi n. sp. Durden, Springer, Kiene, Klein, Rakotondravony, Ehlers, Greiman, Blanco, Zohdy, Kessler, Strube & Radespiel

Adult male ( Figs. 8 and 9 ).

Material studied. 2 adult males.

Description:

MALE ( Fig. 8A and B , 9A,B,C ) (n = 2): Total body length of Holotype, 1.002 mm (mean, 1.028 mm; range, 1.002 –1.053 mm). Morphology as for L. zimmermanni sp. nov. unless stated otherwise.

Head ( Figs. 8A and 9A ): Longer than wide; anterior margin almost straight and heavily sclerotized. Lateral margins of head indented immediately posterior to antennae, then bulging laterally to small protuberance on each side, and then slightly tapering to straight posterior margin. Ventral surface of head with two massive narrow acuminate spikes; spikes distinctly longer and narrower than spikes on ventral head in L. zimmermanni sp. nov. or L. tsimanampesotsae sp. nov. Antennal morphology and head setae as in L. zimmermanni sp. nov. except antennal segment 5 slightly broader than long. Maximum head width of Holotype, 0.181 mm (mean, 0.175 mm; range, 0.168 –0.181 mm).

Thorax ( Figs. 8A and 9B ): Thorax slightly wider than head. Maximum thorax width, 0.255 mm (mean, 0.245 mm; range 0.234 –0.255 mm). Thoracic sternal plate ( Fig. 9B ) similar to that of L. zimmermanni sp. nov. but posterior margin straight and 2 long setae inserted just posterior to posterior margin of plate. DPTS length of Holotype, 0.135 mm (mean, 0.130 mm: range, 0.125 –0.135 mm). Mesothoracic spiracle diameter of Holotype, 0.025 mm (mean, 0.026 mm; range, 0.025 –0.026 mm).

Abdomen ( Fig. 8A ): Broader than thorax with mammillated integument except on subgenital plate. Two long DCAS on each of abdominal segments 1 and 2; 4 long DCAS on each of segments 3–9; 2 long DCAS on segment 10. One long DLAS on each side on segments 3–7; 1 short medial seta and 1 long lateral seta on each side of subgenital plate. Two long setae and 2 shorter setae at posterior margin of abdomen. Four long VCAS on each of abdominal segments 2–8, and 4 shorter VCAS on segment 9. One long VLAS present on each side on segments 2–7. Pair of lateral spiracles present on abdominal segments 3–8. Pair of long marginal setae posterior to last spiracle on each side. Small subtriangular paratergal plate present on each side of abdominal segment 4, and surrounding spiracle on that segment; with 1 long PrS and 1 short PrS on paratergal plate.

Genitalia ( Figs. 8B and 9C ): Basal apodeme slightly longer than parameres and with arms distinctly tapering and converging anteriorly. Parameres very broad anteriorly, tapering posteriorly to acuminate apex, and with straight medial margins and smoothly curved lateral margins; distinct posterior sclerotized areas on each paramere (different in shape to sclerotized areas in L. zimmermanni sp. nov. and L. tsimanampesotsae sp. nov.). Anterior subcircular endomere curving posteriorly to converging arms each with rounded apex and with small medial protrusion on each side near anterior margin of parameres. Yshaped posterior endomere situated between posterior arms of subcircular endomere and smaller Y-shaped aedeagal endomere situated between junction of parameres and basal apodeme; aedeagal endomere with 1 vertically elongate postero-lateral sclerite on each side. Pseudopenis narrow and extending slightly beyond posterior apices of parameres. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 8B ) with curved posterior margin medially and straight posterior margins laterally, progressing to slightly concave lateral margins leading to small apex on each side, and converging concave lateral margins extending to anterolateral extension on each side.

3.2.4. Taxonomic summary

Type host: Microcebus gerpi Radespiel, Ratsimbazafy, Rasoloharijaona, Raveloson, Andriaholinirina, Rakotondravony, Randrianarison and Randrianambinina, 2011 (Gerp’ s mouse lemur)

Type locality: Madagascar (east-central): Tamatave Province , Mandrizavona Sahafina (‒ 18.810 S, 48.976 E) (Holotype male and Paratype male), collector: Romule Rakotondravony, collection date: September 11, 2018.

Site of infestation: External body surface and fur.

Type specimens: 1 male Holotype ( USNMENT00981952 ), 1 male Paratype, U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA.

Etymology: This new species is named for its host, Microcebus gerpi .

Zoobank accession number: LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org.act:99D06D25-6DE4-4FBC-93F1-D59F13750602 .

Other material examined: We have also examined 1 male Lemurpediculus louse collected from M. gerpi at Andobo (18.904 S, 49.126 E) (collector: Romule Rakotondravony, Aug. 26, 2018) that morphologically matches the holotype male of L. gerpi from Sahafina but we do not include it in the species description because of the ambiguous molecular results documented in this paper. Further, we have examined 2 accompanying female Lemurpediculus lice from M. gerpi at Andobo (collector: Romule Rakotondravony, Aug. 18, 2018) that do not match females of any previously described lice in this genus, and another 3 morphologically identical females from M. gerpi from Sahamamy (18.564 S, 48.979 E) (collector: Romule Rakotondravony, Oct. 12, 2018). For the same reason cited above, we do not include any of these females in the description of L. gerpi .

Figures

Fig. 8. Lemurpediculus gerpi, stacked photoimages: A, male Holotype, USN- MENT00981952, whole body. B, male, Holotype, USN- MENT00981952, genitalia.

Fig. 9. Lemurpediculus gerpi, A: Ventral head of male Holotype, B: Thoracic sternal plate of Holotype male, C: Genitalia of male Holotype. Abbreviations: ae, anterior endomere; aen, aedeagal endomere; ba, basal apodeme; p, paramere; pe, posterior endomere; ps, pseudopenis.