Lemurpediculus zimmermanni, 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 : 141-144

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

Adult male and female ( Figs. 4–7 ).

Material studied. 3 adult males, 6 adult females.

Description:

MALE ( Fig. 4A and B , 5A,B , 6A,B,C ) (n = 3): Total body length of Holotype, 1.070 mm (mean, 1.028 mm; range, 0.992 –1.070 mm). Head and thorax moderately sclerotized; abdomen weakly sclerotized.

Head ( Fig. 4A and B , 5A , 6A ): Longer than wide with smoothly rounded, sclerotized anterior margin, indented anterio-lateral dorsal margins, broadening posteriorly, and then indented and narrowing to rounded posterior margin dorsally. Massive and distinctive protuberance on ventral head bearing two large posterolaterally-directed acuminate (pointed) spikes. Head with smooth integument. Maximum head width of Holotype, 0.162 mm (mean, 0.160 mm, range, 0.148 –0.170 mm). One central Principal Head Seta, 1 small Ventral Preantennal Seta, and 3 Oral Setae on each side. Two Sutural Head Setae, 3 Dorsal Marginal Head Setae, 3–4 Anterior Marginal Head Setae, 1 Dorsal Anterior Head Seta, 1 Dorsal Anterior Central Head Seta, 1 stout, medially-directed Dorsal Posterior Central Head Seta, 1 long Dorsal Principal Head Seta, and 1 stout Dorsal Accessory Head Seta (borne on small protuberance) on each side. Antennae 5-segmented; segment 1 much broader than long, segment 2 much longer than broad, segments 3 and 4 about as broad as long and broadening apically, segment 5 about as broad as long and not broadening apically; patches of sensilla present postero-apically on segments 4 and 5 in addition to terminal sensilla on segment 5. No distinct sexual dimorphism in antennal segments.

Thorax ( Fig. 4A and B , 6B ): Slightly broader than head; maximum thorax width of Holotype, 0.235 mm (mean, 0.225 mm; range, 0.215 –0.235 mm). Thoracic sternal plate ( Figs. 4B and 6B ) with elongate narrow anterior process and small anterolateral and posterolateral rounded protuberances on main body of plate which narrows posteriorly to indented posterior margin; 2 long posteriorly-directed setae inserted on posterior margin of plate. Dorsal thorax with distinctive large squarish sclerotized plate with anteromedial indentation, anterolateral indentation, median depression with notal pit, and small posterior rounded extension. Thorax with smooth integument. Mesothoracic spiracle diameter of Holotype, 0.023 mm (mean, 0.023 mm; all specimens, 0.023 mm). One Dorsal Principal Thoracic Seta (DPTS) on each side but no accessory setae present. DPTS length in Holotype, 0.117 mm (mean, 0.109 mm, 0.105 –0.117 mm). Legs each terminating in broad tibio-tarsal claw; claws slightly increasing in size from forelegs to midlegs and hindlegs; coxae variously shaped ( Fig. 4B ).

Abdomen ( Fig. 4A and B , 5A ): Broader than thorax with mammillated integument except on subgenital plate ( Figs. 4B and 5A ). Tergites and Sternites absent (as for genus). Two long Dorsal Central Abdominal Setae (DCAS) on abdominal segment 1, 4 DCAS on segments 2–8, 1 long Dorsal Lateral Abdominal Seta (DLAS) on each side on segments 4–6 and 8; 1 short medial seta and 1 long lateral seta on each side of subgenital plate. Two long setae and 4–5 shorter setae at posterior margin of abdomen. Four long Ventral Central Abdominal Setae (VCAS) on each of abdominal segments 2–7, 2 long DCAS on segment 9 and 2 shorter DCAS on segment 10. All DCAS, DLAS, VCAS and VLAS borne on small sclerites. Pair of lateral spiracles present on abdominal segments 3–8. Small seta posterior to penultimate spiracle and 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 internal Paratergal Seta (PrS) and 1 short internal PrS on paratergal plate.

Genitalia ( Figs. 5B and 6C ): Basal apodeme distinctly longer than parameres and differentially sclerotized, posteriorly. Parameres very broad with truncate anterior margin and tapering posteriorly to acuminate apex; smoothly curved lateral margins and straight medial margins except for antero-medial notch on each paramere; distinct posterior bifidly sclerotized areas on each paramere. Anterior subcircular endomere curving posteriorly to converging arms each with rounded apex; medial rounded lobe on each converging arm of anterior endomere just posterior to medial notch on each paramere. V-shaped posterior endomere, with small anterior indentation, situated between posteriorly extending arms of anterior endomere. Broad aedeagal sclerite with elongate posterior extension, situated between anterior and posterior endomeres, at junction of basal apodeme and parameres; elongate, sinuous sclerite present on both sides of aedeagal sclerite. Pseudopenis narrow, smoothly rounded apically, and just extending to apices of parameres. Subgenital plate ( Figs. 4B and 5B ) distinctly smooth in contrast to surrounding mammillate abdominal integument, extending anteriorly to abdominal segment 6, with 2 broad posterior lobes, slightly tapering anteriorly to 2 anterolateral extensions. Dorsal outline of subgenital plate also smooth and with 20–22 small setae.

FEMALE ( Figs. 5C , 6D and 7A,B ) (n = 6): Total body length of Allotype, 1.425 mm (mean, 1.343 mm; range, 1.153 –1.425 mm). Head, thorax and abdomen as in male unless indicated otherwise.

Head ( Figs. 5C and 7A,B ): Maximum head width of Allotype, 0.180 mm (mean, 0.172 mm; range, 0.164 –0.180 mm).

Thorax ( Figs. 5C and 7A,B ): Maximum thorax width of Allotype, 0.245 mm (mean, 0.234 mm; range, 0.223 –0.251 mm). Mesothoracic spiracle diameter of Allotype, 0.024 mm (mean, 0.024 mm; range, 0.023 –0.024 mm). DPTS length of Allotype, 0.122 mm (mean, 0.114 mm; range, 0.111 –0.122 mm). Two long posterior setae present on thoracic sternal plate on 1 side in 1 specimen.

Abdomen ( Figs. 5C and 7A,B ): Broader than thorax. Nine rows of long DCAS; row 1 with 2 DCAS, rows 2–9 each with 4 DCAS. Smoothly curved plate posterior to last row of DCAS with 7–8 slightly shorter setae. One long DMAS on each side of abdominal segments 3–8. Eight rows of VCAS; row 1 with 2 VCAS, rows 2–8 each with 4 VCAS. One long VMAS on each side of abdominal segments 3–7.1 small seta posterior to each spiracle.

Genitalia ( Figs. 5C , 6D and 7B ): Subgenital plate surface smooth, broadly curved anteriorly, then indented in posterior portion and tapering posteriorly to acuminate apex. Two horizontally elongate lacunae in plate, one on each side of midline; each lacuna with 3 short setae. Vulvar fimbriae extensive. Gonopods indistinct; gonopods VIII each with 3 small setae; gonopods IX lacking setae. Patch of ~20 long, curved setae posterolateral to gonopods on each side. Small terminal setae (4–6) present on each side of genital aperture.

3.2.2. Taxonomic summary Type host: Microcebus ravelobensis Zimmermann et al. (1998)

(Golden-Brown Mouse Lemur).

Type locality: Madagascar (northwestern): Boeny Region , Ankarafantsika National Park, Ambanjabe landscape (coordinates: ‒ 16.32 S, 46.72 E), collector: Frederik Kiene, August 2017.

Site of infestation: External body surface and fur.

Type specimens: Holotype male (USNMENT00981950), Allotype female (USNMENT00981951), 1 Paratype male, 4 Paratype females; U. S. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA .

Etymology: This species is named for the late Prof. Dr. Elke Zimmermann in recognition of her long-term engagement for the Ankarafantsika National Park and its lemur fauna, her major scientific achievements, and her never-ending interest in mouse lemur biology, socio-ecology, communication, evolution and health. In describing the host species ( M. ravelobensis ) of L. zimmermanni in 1998 ( Zimmermann et al., 1998), she also facilitated a better understanding of the native parasite diversity in Madagascar. Zoobank accession number: LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org.act:4FEC9CCA-C72D-4BF3–8C02-D0388003E820 .

Figures

Fig. 4. Lemurpediculus zimmermanni, male, scanning electron micrographs: A, dorsal whole body. B, ventral whole body. Abbreviations sgp, subgenital plate; sp, spiracle; tc, tibiotarsal claw; tsp, thoracic sternal plate; vs, ventral head spike.

Fig. 5. Lemurpediculus zimmermanni, stacked photoimages: A, male Holotype, USNMENT00981950, whole body. B, male, Holotype, USN- MENT00981950, genitalia. C, female Allotype, USNMENT00981951, whole body.

Fig. 6. Lemurpediculus zimmermanni, A: Ventral head of male Holotype, B: Thoracic sternal plate of Holotype male, C: Genitalia of male Holotype, D: Subgenital plate of female allotype. Abbreviations: ae, anterior endomere; aen, aedeagal endomere; ba, basal apodeme; p, paramere; pe, posterior endomere; ps, pseudopenis.

Fig. 7. Lemurpediculus zimmermanni, female, scanning electron micrographs: A, dorsal whole body. B, ventral whole body. Abbreviations: sgp, subgenital plate; sp, spiracle; tc, tibiotarsal claw; tsp, thoracic sternal plate; vs, ventral head spike.