Myrsidea spellmani Price, Johnson

Price, Roger D., Johnson, Kevin P. & Dalgleish, Robert C., 2008, Five new species of Myrsidea Waterston (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from antshrikes and antbirds (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae), Zootaxa 1819, pp. 55-62 : 58-59

Myrsidea spellmani Price, Johnson , and Dalgleish, new species

Type host. Hylophylax naevioides (Lafresnaye, 1847) , the Spotted Antbird.

Female (3). Metanotum with 6–8 marginal setae; metasternal plate with 6 setae. Tergal setae: I, 12–14; II, 14–16; III, 15–17; IV–V, 16–17; VI, 14–17; VII, 11–14; VIII, 8–10. Postspiracular setae on VII only 0.25 long, shorter than on VIII. Sternal setae: II, 12–16 marginal between asters, 11–12 anterior; III, 21–24; IV, 30– 31; V, 29–32; VI, 26–27; VII, 9–13; VIII–IX, 19–22. Anus with 30–36 ventral, 25–33 dorsal fringe setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.45–0.47; HL, 0.29–0.32; PW, 0.28–0.29; MW, 0.42–0.44; AWIV, 0.56–0.59; ANW, 0.20– 0.21; TL, 1.41–1.42.

Male (2). Metanotum with 6–7 marginal setae; metasternal plate with 6 setae. Tergal setae: I, 9–10; II, 11– 14; III, 15–16; IV, 16; V, 14; VI, 13–14; VII, 10–11; VIII, 8. Sternal setae: II, 11 marginal between asters, 9– 10 anterior; III, 17–20; IV, 23–27; V, 24–26; VI, 23–24; VII, 12–14; VIII, 6–8. Postspiracular setae on VII <0.20 long, much shorter than on VIII. Dimensions: TW, 0.42; HL, 0.28–0.29; PW, 0.27–0.28; MW, 0.37; AWIV, 0.46–0.47; GL, 0.40–0.41; TL, 1.23–1.24.

Type material. Holotype male ( INHS), ex H. naevioides , PANAMA: Rio Mono, 20 Feb. 2006, JKO6- 112, K. Johnson. Paratypes: ( INHS) 2 females, same data as holotype; ( USNM) 1 female, 1 male, same data as holotype.

Remarks. This species is the smallest of the three species in this group, with both sexes having shorter postspiracular setae on VII and dimensions smaller than those of M. dacostai . This separation is further supported by the male having more tergal setae on III–IV than M. klickai and the female having fewer anal fringe setae and a larger number of anterior setae on sternite II.

Etymology. This species is named for Garth Spellman, Black Hills State University, Spearfish, South Dakota, in recognition of his assistance in collecting the lice used in this study and for his work on bird systematics.