Hoplopleura setosa Weaver

Weaver, Haylee J., 2017, Three new species of the sucking louse genus Hoplopleura (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Hoplopleuridae) from rodents (Mammalia: Rodentia: Muridae) in northern Australia, Zootaxa 4247 (1), pp. 31-44 : 39-43

Hoplopleura setosa Weaver new species

Figs 17–24

Type host. Notomys alexis Thomas, 1922 —spinifex hopping mouse ( Muridae ).

Type locality. Yulara , Northern Territory, Australia.

Diagnosis. The bristly appearance of Hoplopleura setosa is unlike that of any other Australian species of Hoplopleura . While it lacks the characteristic large setae on the sternite of segment 2, the sternite itself does articulate with the corresponding paratergal plate, and the hind legs are larger than the other legs, thus placing H. setosa in the Hoplopleuridae , and in the genus Hoplopleura . The combination of the small seta on paratergal plate 2, one large seta on paratergal plates IV–VI, the sexual dimorphism of the posterior lobe on paratergal plate VII, and the shape of sternite 2 in not having a pair of extremely large stout setae at each end of the plate differentiates this species from other species of Hoplopleura in Australia. Further differentiating features of H. setosa are the overall chatotaxy of sternites and tergites with up to 12 setae per plate, extra small plates with VLAS on the ventral surface, and the splitting of tergites to form small lateral plates with paired setae on the dorsal surface. Hoplopleura setosa can be further differentiated from H. zyzomydis , H. bidentata , H. cornata and H. notomydis in having a small seta on paratergal plate II. It can be further differentiated from H. gyomydis , H. uromydis , H. mastacomydis , H. irritans , H. calabyi and H. melomydis by having only one large seta on each of paratergal plates IV–VI.

Description. Male (n=1). Figs 17–20 . Body length 799. Head about as long as wide, with 4 ApHS and 6 AnMHS. Dorsally with 8 DPaLHS, 2 DPaHS, 4 SuHS, 6 DMHS, 2 DAcHS and 2 large DPHS. Ventrally with 2 VPaHS, 8 oral setae (OrS) and 2 VPHS. Thorax wider than long, with 1 pair of dorsal prothoracic setae (DPtS), 1 pair of small dorsal mesothoracic setae (DmsS) and 1 pair of large DPTS, 82 long. Mesothoracic spiracle diameter 16 wide, sternal plate rounded with anterior and posterior processes. Abdomen wider than thorax. Dorsally, with 1 tergite per segment except for segment 2 with 2 tergites. All TeAS long, overlapping following tergites. Tergite of segment 1 with 1 pair of TeAS laterally. Anterior tergite of segment 2 narrow with 2 pairs of TeAS, posterior tergite wider than anterior tergite, with 4 pairs of TeAS. Tergite of segment 3 with 6 pairs of TeAS. Tergite of segments 4 and 5 with 5 pairs of TeAS, tergite of segment 6 with 4 pairs of TeAs plus 1. Tergite of segment 7 with 3 pairs of TeAS, no TeAS on tergite of segment 8. Ventrally, no sternite on segment 1. Sternite of segment 2 with 5 pairs of StAS. Segment 3 with 2 sternites. Anterior sternite of segment 3 with 3 pairs of StAS, posterior sternite of segment 4 with 4 pairs StAS, with additional VLAS on small plate positioned laterally to sternite. Segment 4 with 2 sternites, each sternite with 4 pairs of StAS, and with additional VLAS on small plate positioned laterally to sternite. Segment 5 with 2 sternites, each sternite with 3 pairs of StAS plus 1, and with additional VLAS on small plate positioned laterally to sternite. Segment 6 with 2 sternites, anterior sternite with 3 pairs of StAS plus 1, posterior sternite with 4 pairs of StAS. Sternite of segment 7 with 3 pairs of StAS plus 1. Sternite of segment 8 with 2 pairs of StAS. Genital basal apodeme approximately the same length as parameres. Parameres broadly curved and lightly sclerotized. Pseudopenis narrow and extends beyond apices of parameres. Paratergal plates lightly sclerotized. Paratergal plate I offset mediodorsally. Paratergal plate II with 2 long posterior setae and one small medial seta. Paratergal plate III with dorsal and ventral posterior lobes and 1 pair setae. Paratergal plates IV–VI all with dorsal and ventral pointed posterior lobes and one fairly long seta. Paratergal plate VII with a pointed dorsal posterior lobe and 1 pair of long setae. Paratergal plate VIII without lobes and with a pair of setae. Spiracles present on paratergal plates III–VII with smaller spiracle on paratergal plate VIII.

Female (n=4) Figs 21–24 . Body length 1069–1142 (1110). Head slightly longer than wide, with 2 ApHS and 4 AnMHS. Dorsally with 8 DPaLHS, 2 DPaHS, 4 SuHS, 6 DMHS, 2 DAcHS and 2 large DPHS. Ventrally with 2 VPaHS, 8 OrS and 2 VPHS. Thorax wider than long, with 1 pair dorsal prothoracic setae (DPtS), 1 pair of DmsS and 1 pair of large DPTS, 68–95 (84) long. Mesothoracic spiracle diameter 13–18 (16) wide, sternal plate rounded with anterior and posterior processes. Abdomen wider than thorax. Dorsally, with 3 tergites per segment except for segment 1 with 1 tergite and segments 2, 3 and 4 with 2 tergites each. Tergite of segment 1 with 1 pair of long TeAS. Anterior tergite of segment 2 small with 2 pairs of TeAS, and posterior tergite more elongate with 4 pairs of TeAS. Anterior tergite of segment 3 with 6 pairs of TeAS, posterior tergite with 4 pairs of TeAS. Segment 4 with anterior tergite split laterally to form one central plate flanked by smaller plate on each side (here called ‘auxiliary tergites’). Main tergite with 3 pairs of TeAS, auxiliary tergites with 1 pair of TeAS each. Posterior tergite of segment 4 with 3 pairs of TeAS. Segments 5, 6 and 7 each with 3 tergites arranged with a middle tergite split laterally to form small plates. Anterior tergites with 5 pairs TeAS, middle tergite medial plate with 3 pairs of TeAS, middle tergite auxiliary plates with 1 pair of TeAS, posterior plate with 6 pairs of TeAS on segments 5 and 6, with 5 pairs of TeAS on segment 7. Segment 8 with 3 tergites, anterior tergite with 4 pairs of TeAS, middle tergite with 3 pairs of TeAS and posterior tergite with notch on lateral edge, with 2 pairs of small setae anteriorly and 3 pairs posteriorly. Ventrally, no sternite on segment 1. Segment 2 with 1 sternite with 4 pairs of StAS. Segments 3–7 with 3 sternites. Anterior sternite of segment 3 large and articulating with paratergite, with 5 pairs of StAS, lateral pair of setae larger than medial ones. Middle and posterior sternites narrower than anterior one, with 6 and 5 pairs of StAS respectively. Each sternite of segment 4 with 5 pairs of StAS and 1 additional VLAS on small plate lateral to sternites. Each middle sternite of segments 5 and 6 with 6 pairs of StAS, each anterior and posterior sternite of segments 5 and 6 with 5 pairs of StAS, and each sternite of both segments with 1 additional VLAS on small plate lateral to sternites. Segment 7 with 3 sternites, anterior and posterior sternites with 5 pairs of StAS and 1 additional VLAS on small plate lateral to sternites, and middle sternite with 4 pairs of StAS. Segment 8 with 1 sternite with 2 pairs of StAS. Subgenital plate broadly triangular constricted laterally and 2 pairs small setae set irregularly. Gonopods VII and IX very large. Gonopod VIII with 3 stout setae and gonopod IX with 3 small setae and 1 large genital seta. Paratergal plates lightly sclerotized. Paratergal plate I offset mediodorsally. Paratergal plate II with 2 setae posteriorly and one small medial seta. Paratergal plate III with dorsal and ventral posterior lobes and 1 pair setae. Paratergal plates IV–VI all with dorsal and ventral pointed posterior lobes and one seta. Paratergal plates VII and VIII without lobes and with pair of setae. Spiracles present on paratergal plates III–VII with smaller spiracle on paratergal plate VIII.

Etymology. The species epithet (from Latin, setosus = hairy, bristly) is an adjective in the nominative singular referring to the abundance of setae on the specimens.

Type material. Ex Notomys alexis : Holotype ♂, AWC 101/96, Yulara , Northern Territory, Australia, 24 Aug. 1996, K. Masters & P. Haycock ( ANIC 19 000067) . Paratypes: 2♀, same data as for the holotype ( ANIC 19 000068–69).

Additional material examined (non-types). 2♀, AWC AR424, same location and collector as for the holotype, 1 Jul. 1996 ( ANIC 19 000070–71).

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 20. Hoplopleura setosa n. sp. male: 17, habitus (dorsal / ventral). 18, paratergal plates. 19, Sternal plate. 20, genitalia. Scale bars = 100 µm.

FIGURES 21 – 24. Hoplopleura setosa n. sp. female: 21, habitus (dorsal / ventral). 22, paratergal plates. 23, sternal plate; 24, postero-ventral view. Scale bars = 200 µm (Figs 21 – 22); 100 µm (Figs 23 – 24).