Hoplopleura notomydis 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 : 36-39

Hoplopleura notomydis Weaver new species

Figs 9–16

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

Type locality. Yulara , Northern Territory, Australia.

Diagnosis. The chaetotaxy of the paratergal plates with only 1 seta on paratergal plate IV, and 1 large and 1 tiny seta on each of plates V and VI differentiates Hoplopleura notomydis from all other Australian species. Paratergal plate II of H. notomydis lacks a small central seta, in addition to the two large setae posteriorly, differentiating it from H. uromydis , H. gyomydis , H. mastacomydis , H. irritans , H. calabyi , H. melomydis and H. setosa new species (described below). Hoplopleura notomydis can be further differentiated from H. uromydis by having setae on the sternites of a more uniform length, where H. uromydis has alternating short setae on sternites 4– 6. Hoplopleura notomydis lacks additional setae adjacent to the tergites, differentiating it from H. gyomydis ; and the shape of the posterior process of the sternal plate is also diagnostic, in that H. gyomydis does not have an elongated process on the posterior edge of the plate. Hoplopleura mastacomydis has far more setae on the male tergites, and they are uniformly distributed whereas H. notomydis has fewer setae which are clumped in pairs or triplets at the edges of the tergites. Abdominal setae and the shape of the tergites also differentiates H. notomydis from H. irritans , with H. notomydis having broader tergites and fewer extra setae on the abdomen that are not on the tergites compared with H. irritans which has very narrow tergites and numerous setae adjacent to the tergites. Hoplopleura notomydis can be further differentiated from H. calabyi by the size of the seta on paratergal plate II ( H. calabyi has a very long seta), by the size and degree of overlap of the paratergal plates, and the number and patterns of clumping of the setae on the tergites, where H. calabyi has more numerous setae that are uniformly distributed. Hoplopleura notomydis can be differentiated from H. melomydis and H. setosa by having broader tergites and sternites, and the lack of additional setae adjacent to the sternites on the ventral surface. Among the lice that do not have a small medial seta on paratergal plate II, H. notomydis can be differentiated from H. zyzomydis by having setae on paratergal plates IV–VI and by having more tergites and sternites in total and by not having serrated internal edges of the parameres of the genitalia of the male; from H. bidentata by having only 1 seta on paratergal plate IV and having pointed posterior lobes on paratergal plate VII; and from H. cornata by having posterior lobes (dorsal and ventral in females, dorsal only in males) on paratergal plate VII and a sternal plate with a more pointed anterior process.

Description. Male (n=4). Figs 9–12 . Body length 871.2–877.8 (874.5). Head slightly wider than long, with 4 ApHS and 4 AnMHS. Dorsally, head with 6 DMHS, 4 DPaLHS, 2 DPaHS, 4 SuHS, 2 small DAcHS and 2 long DPHS. Ventrally, head with 2 VPaHS and 2 VPHS. Thorax wider than long, with 1 pair of small DMsS and 1 pair of large DPTS, 55.2–60.5 (57.85) long. Mesothoracic spiracle diameter 13.2–21.1 (15.83). Thoracic sternal plate clavate with anterior process. Abdomen wider than thorax. Dorsally, 1 tergite per segment except for segment 3 with 2 tergites and no tergites on segments 9–11. Segment 1 with 1 narrow tergite with scalloped posterior margin and 1 pair small of TeAS. Tergite of segment 2 and anterior tergite of segment 3 each with 2 pairs of postero-lateral TeAS. Tergites of segments 3 (posterior tergite), 4 and 5 each with 4 pairs of TeAS. Tergite of segment 6 with 3 pairs of TeAS evenly spaced. Tergite of segment 7 with 1 pair of TeAS, tergite of segment 8 without setae. Ventrally, segments 2 and 8 each with 1 sternite, segments 3–7 each with 2 sternites. No sternites on segments 1 or 9–11. Sternite of segment 2 with 4 pairs of StAS, articulates with paratergal plate. Anterior sternite of segment 3 large, articulating with paratergal plate and with 2 pairs of very large stout StAS laterally and 1 pair plus 1 single StAS medially. Posterior sternite of segment 3 with 4 pairs of StAS. Sternites of segment 4 with 3 pairs plus 1 StAS on anterior sternite and 4 pairs of StAS on posterior sternite. Sternites of segment 5 with 4 pairs plus 1 StAS on anterior sternite and posterior sternite with 4 pairs of StAS. Sternites of segment 6 with 4 pairs plus 1 StAS on anterior sternite and 3 pairs plus 1 StAS on posterior sternite. Sternites of segment 7 with 4 pairs of StAS and lateral pair of VLAS on small plates for anterior sternite, posterior sternite with 3 pairs plus 1 StAS. Sternite of segment 8 with 1 pair of StAS. Genital basal apodeme slightly longer than parameres. Pseudopenis gently tapered to a point extending beyond apices of parameres. Paratergal plates present on abdominal segments 1–8, plate I small and offset medially. All paratergal plates differentially sclerotized. Plates II with 2 large setae and pointed posterior lobes. Paratergal plate III with 2 large setae and serrated posterior lobes. Paratergal plate IV with one large seta and serrated posterior lobes. Paratergal plates V and VI each with 1 large and 1 minute setae and serrated posterior lobes. Paratergal plate VII with 2 large long setae and posterior lobe on dorsal surface only. Paratergal plate VIII with 2 large long setae and lacking posterior lobes. Spiracles present on paratergal plates III–VII, with a small spiracle on paratergal plate VIII.

Female (n=3) Figs 13–16 . Body length 1122–1135.2 (1129). Head about as wide as long, with with 4 ApHS and 4 AnMHS. Dorsally, head with 8 DMHS, 4 SuHS, 2 small DAcHS and 2 long DPHS. Ventrally, head with 2 VPHS. Thorax wider than long, with 1 pair of large DPTS, 60.5–68.4 (64) long. Mesothoracic spiracle diameter 13.2–15.8 (14). Thoracic sternal plate clavate with anterior process. Abdomen wider than thorax. Dorsally, 3 tergites per segment except for segments 1 and 3 with 1 tergite, and segments 2 and 8 each with 2 tergites. Segment 1 with 1 pair of small TeAS set postero-laterally. Segment 2 with 2 pairs TeAS postero-laterally. Segment 3 tergite with 3 pairs of TeAS postero-laterally. Segment 4 with anterior and medial tergites with 3 pairs of TeAS and posterior tergite with 4 pairs of TeAS. Segment 5 with 3 tergites each with 3 pairs of TeAS. Segment 6 with anterior and medial tergites each with 3 pairs of TeAS and posterior tergite with 2 pairs of TeAS. Segment 7 with anterior and medial tergites each with 3 pairs of TeAS and posterior tergite with 2 pairs of TeAS. Segment 8 anterior tergite with 2 pairs of TeAS and posterior tergite with 1 pair of TeAS. Ventrally, no sternite on segment 1. Segment 2 with 1 sternite articulating with paratergal plate II. Segments 3–7 each with 3 sternites. Anterior sternite of segment 3 with 4 pairs of StAS, posterior sternite with 2 pairs of large stout StAS on sclerotized projection of posterolateral edge of sternite. Medial sternite of segment 3 with 2 pairs of StAS, posterior sternite with 4 pairs of StAS. Sternites of segments 4 and 5 with same chaetotaxy: middle sternite with 3 pairs of StAS and anterior and posterior sternites each with 4 pairs of StAS. Segment 6 with 1 pair of VLAS on small plates positioned lateral to sternite with 4 pairs of StAS. Medial and posterior sternites of segment 6 each with 4 pairs of StAS. Segment 7 with 1 pair of VLAS on small plates positioned lateral to anterior and medial sternites. Anterior sternite with 4 pairs of StAS, medial sternite with 3 pairs of StAS, posterior sternite with 4 pairs of StAS varying in size. Subgenital plate broadly triangular with serrated apex and 4 small setae scattered irregularly but all consistent in size. Gonopods VIII with 3 small setae, gonopods IX with larger setae. Long and stout genital setae. Paratergal plates present on abdominal segments 1–8, plate I small and offset medially. All paratergal plates differentially sclerotized. Plate II with 2 large setae and pointed posterior lobes. Paratergal plate III with 2 large setae and serrated posterior lobes. Paratergal plate IV with one large seta and serrated posterior lobes. Paratergal plates V and VI each with 1 large and 1 minute setae and serrated posterior lobes. Paratergal plate VII with 2 large long setae and posterior lobe on dorsal surface only. Paratergal plate VIII with 2 large long setae and lacking posterior lobes. Spiracles present on paratergal plates III–VII, with a small spiracle on paratergal plate VIII.

Etymology. The species epithet is a noun in apposition referring to generic name of the host species, Notomys .

Type material. Ex Notomys alexis Thomas, 1922 : Holotype ♂, AWC101/96, Yulara , Northern Territory, Australia, 24 Aug. 1996, K. Masters & P. Haycock ( ANIC 19 000060) . Paratypes: 3♂, 3♀, same data as for the holotype ( ANIC 19 000061–66).

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 13. Hoplopleura notomydis n. sp. male: 9, habitus (dorsal / ventral). 10, paratergal plates. 11, sternal plate. 12, genitalia. Female: 13, sternal plate. Scale bars = 300 µm (Fig. 9); 200 µm (Fig. 10); 100 µm (Figs 11 – 13).

FIGURES 14 – 16. Hoplopleura notomydis n. sp. female: 14, habitus (dorsal / ventral). 15, paratergal plates. 16, postero-ventral view. Scale bars = 300 µm (Fig. 14); 200 µm (Fig. 15 – 16).