Myrsidea witti Price, Hellenthal and Weckstein

Price, Roger D., Hellenthal, Ronald A. & Weckstein, Jason D., 2004, The genus Myrsidea Waterston (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from the toucans (Piciformes: Ramphastidae), with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 613, pp. 1-18 : 6-7

Myrsidea witti Price, Hellenthal and Weckstein , new species ( Figs. 7–8 )

Type host. Ramphastos toco toco Statius Müller.

Female. As in Fig. 8 . Posterior pronotal margin with 6 setae, metanotal margin with 10–13. Tergite I with narrow elongate medioposterior tapering. Tergal setae: I, 6–8; II, 14–18; III, 16–20; IV, 18–23; V, 16–21; VI–VII, 15–19; VIII, 8–13. Postspiracular setae on V very long, only slightly shorter than others. Very long inner posterior marginal setae on IX. Sternal setae on II, 26–29; III, 31–37; IV, 56–63; V, 63–68; VI, 47–53; VII, 21–25; subgenital plate with 28–36 setae. Anus with 64–70 ventral fringe setae, 52–55 dorsal. Dimensions: TW, 0.68–0.70; HL, 0.43–0.45; PW, 0.43–0.45; MW, 0.63–0.70; AWIV, 0.87–0.98; ANW, 0.40–0.45; TL, 2.36–2.42.

Male. Posterior pronotal margin with 6 setae, metanotal margin with 8–10. Tergal setae: I, 10–13; II–III, 14–17; IV–VI, 16–20; VII, 15–17; VIII, 8. Postspiracular setae as for female. Sternal setae: II, 22–29; III, 27–32; IV, 44–51; V, 49–61; VI, 43–55; VII, 20– 21; VIII, 6–9. Genital sac sclerites as in Fig. 7 ; with ends of lateral portions overlapping to form oval; lacking distinct thin medioanterior transverse sclerite. Dimensions: TW, 0.62– 0.63; HL, 0.41–0.42; PW, 0.39–0.41; MW, 0.53–0.54; AWIV, 0.70–0.73; GL, 0.64–0.69; TL, 1.93–2.01.

Type material. Female holotype, ex R. t. toco , BRAZIL: Amapá, Macapa, Campus experimental da Embraba, BR­ 156 km 48, MPEG 46440; 1 female paratype, same data as holotype; 1 male paratype, ex R. t. toco , BRAZIL: Pará, Mun. de Chaves, Ilha Mexiana, Fazenda Santana, MPEG 50293; 2 female, 1 male paratypes, ex R. toco albogularis Cabanis , BOLIVIA, Santa Cruz, E Stania Cambaras, 38 km SSW San Matias, 16°40' S, 58°30' W (CCW­946; 1999); 1 male paratype, same, except (CCW­981).

Remarks. The very long postspiracular setae on V for both sexes and the configuration of the male genital sac sclerites set M. witti apart from the other 2 species of the victrix group.

Etymology. This species is named for Christopher C. Witt, Louisiana State University, in recognition of his interest in lice and dedication to collecting them. He was also the collector of lice used for this description.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. 1 – 4, Myrsidea victrix. 1, Dorsoventral male. 2, Male genitalia. 3, Female metanotum and dorsoventral abdomen. 4, Male genital sac sclerites, M. victrix and M. abbreviata. 5 – 6, M. ceciliae. 5, Female metanotal margin and dorsoventral abdomen. 6, Male genital sac sclerites. 7 – 8, M. witti. 7, Male genital sac sclerites. 8, Female dorsal thorax and dorsoventral abdomen.