Thaumapsylla wilsoni Hastriter, 2009

Hastriter, Michael, 2009, A description of four new species of fleas (Insecta, Siphonaptera) from Angola, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, and Peru, ZooKeys 8 (8), pp. 39-61 : 51-55

Thaumapsylla wilsoni Hastriter , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:12DCADE9-21EA-4692-9F1D-1464C7838E88

( Figs. 26-31 )

Type Material. Holotype, ♁ and 2♁ paratypes, Papua New Guinea: [Golf Province], Kukuba caves [lowlands], ex. Dobsonia moluccensis (Quoy and Gaimaard) , 1 IX 1972, R. L. Vanderwal (3 slides B-87002); 4♁ paratypes, Javavare caves, 73 km NE Port

Morsby, 610 m elev., ex. D. moluccensis , 23 VIII 1966, 31 X 1968, 3 XI 1968, N. Wilson (slides B-84147, B-84148, B-84149). Holotype and 5 paratypes deposited in CMNH and one paratype (B-84148) in the author’s collection.

Diagnosis. Female sex is unknown. Males clearly distinguished from T. dina Jordan, 1937 by the possession of only two preoral genal spines. Further separable from males of T. longiforceps Traub and T. breviceps Rothschild by the shape of the crochet, distal arm of S-IX, and aedeagus. Further details include a greatly expanded prosternosome with ventrad quadrate lobes, a broad marginal band lacking trans-

verse striae, and lack of a distinct false comb on upper third of metatibia. Both choices in the second couplet of the key in Hopkins and Rothschild (1956:190) become problematic.

Description. Head ( Figs. 26 , 28 ). Frons and occiput gently arched separated by antennal groove almost contiguous with dorsal antennal fossa. Th in incrassation with sparse canaliculi along entire margin. Six fine setae (with 4-5 minute setae interspersed between them) parallel to margin of frons; with zone of minute coniform receptors between frons and these setae. Three minute setae parallel with ventor of antennal fossa anterior to vestigial lightly pigmented eye. Very large ocular bristle at margin of antennal fossa extending over clavus. Genal lobe sinuate at apex; two preoral darkly pigmented spatulate genal ctenidia present; anterior slightly shorter than posterior. Two placoids along margin of frons, two along margin of occiput, and one ventral to the latter two. Four short spiniform setae at dorsal margin of antennal fossa. Two rows of large spiniform setae (1, 3), group of three smaller setae ventrad, and many fine setae anterior to those in postantennal area. Thirteen large spiniform setae at posterior margin of head; dorsomedial posterior margin of head with single long seta borne on projection extended over pronotum. Maxilla sharp at apex. Labial palpus six segments extending to 2/3 of forecoxa; segments 3-5 one third length of other segments. Antennal fossa partially covered by genal lobe. Scape with 3 apical setae; pedicel with one or two minute setae; clavus with single stubby seta on each dorsal flabellate segment. Antenna confined to antennal fossa. Thorax ( Figs. 26 -28 ). Pronotum ctenidia of 16-17 spatulate spines per side; spines shorter dorsally than ventrally. Ctenidia extended onto prosternosome and arching forward. Single row of six minute setae at base of pronotal ctenidia; all dorsal to robust first link plate. Prosternosome with two lobes forming an unusual quadrate ventral extension. Th e nature of all setae of meso- and metathorax and abdomen are spiniform and darkly pigmented. Many setae on mesothorax and mesopleuron. Noteworthy is horizontal row on ventral mesopleuron that resembles false comb. Mesopleural rod massive and bifurcate. Second link plate conspicuous. Metanotum adorned with marginal row of seven long spiniform setae; anterior group of 13-14 shorter spiniform setae. Metanotal margin with four short, blunt, black spinelets. Lateral metanotal area without setae; heavily sclerotized margins. One small and three large spiniform setae on metepisternum; meso- and metasternites reduced to heavy sclerotizations. Pleural ridge slender; pleural arch absent. Furca thread-like. Metepimeron with group of 18 spiniform setae; round spiracular fossa larger than those of abdomen. Legs ( Fig. 31 ). Fore coxa robust, expanded on caudal margin with noticeably large seta; numerous lateral spiniform setae. Setae on meso- and metacoxa limited to the apical third. Two robust setae at each femoral-tibial joint; lateral smaller of two. To large setae dorsal to each femoral pit. Five dorsal notches on dorsal margin of each tibia; false combs on each. False comb of metatibia less conspicuous on dorsal third of metatibia. Fifth tarsal segments with five lateral plantar bristles; first pair shifted onto plantar surface between second pair. Two preapical spiniform plantar bristles; two thin preapical plantar hairs; three setae on pulvillus. Unmodified Abdominal Segments ( Fig. 26 ). Tergum I with three marginal spinelets; main row of 4 setae and anterior group of 7-8 setae. Tergites II-VI with seven setae in main row; T-II-IV with anterior rows of 4, 3, 2 setae, respectively. Four setae on T-VII. One large antesensilial bristle, lateral small and mesal reduced to minute seta; all borne on tubercle. One seta below lever of round spiracles on all terga. Setae on S-II-VII (1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2). Sensilium with 16 pits. Pencil-like paired proctigers arise from base of sensilial plate; each bearing terminal tuft of long setae. Modified Abdominal Segments. Tergum VIII with two lateral setae; ventroapical margin extends to upper margin of S-VIII. Sternum VIII with truncate lobe; lower portion bearing row of four marginal setae and one minute seta anterior to main row. Length of basimere twice width, with dorsal fringe of fine setae and two long acetabular bristles. Telomere spherical with two large apical setae. Manubrium knife-like and directed downward. Dorsal arm of S-IX with single long seta on ventral lobe ( Fig.30 ). Proximal arm of S-IX short; fused with ventral portion of aedeagal apodeme. Apodemal rod long, forming one complete revolution. Aedeagus ( Fig. 30 ). Aedeagal apodeme expanded dorsad and sharp at apex; apical appendage nearly as long as apodeme. Penis rods forming coil of two revolutions. Median dorsal lobe narrow, extended well beyond sclerotized inner tube. Sclerotized inner tube short with thick dorsal spur. Crescent sclerite thickened at anterior. Crochet long, extended to sharp pointed apex; paxillus interlocked with sinus of distal arm of S-IX.

Length (slide mounted specimens): Holotype 2.6mm, male average: 2.6mm (n = 7; range: 2489-2665 µm).

Etymology. The species is named Thaumapsylla wilsoni in honor of my colleague Nixon Wilson, Professor Emeritus, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa for not only collecting this new species, but also in recognition of his untiring efforts collecting ectoparasites over many years and for his contributions to our understanding of the order Siphonaptera .

Figures

Figure 26-27. Thaumapsylla wilsoni n. sp., holotype ♁. 26. Whole body overview. 27. Pronotal ctenidia and thorax. Scale 200 µm

Figure 28-31. Thaumapsylla wilsoni n. sp. 28. Head and pronotum, holotype ♁. 29. Ninth tergite, paratype ♁ (B-84148). 30. Aedeagus, distal arm of ninth sternite, and eighth sternite, paratype male (B84148). 31. Hind legs, paratype ♁ (B-87002). Scale = 200 µm