Myrsidea Waterston

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 : 2-4

Genus Myrsidea Waterston

Myrsidea Waterston 1915: 12 . Type species: Myrsidea victrix Waterston by original designation.

A thorough characterization of this genus is given in Clay (1966). We will give here only features that are significant in defining the genus as it pertains to toucan lice.

Head ( Fig. 1 ) anteriorly rounded; without lateral notch or slit; inner occipital setae long, outer minute; without ventral sclerotized processes; each side of gula with heavier longer posterior seta; hypopharyngeal sclerites well developed.

Thorax with pronotum lacking central setae near transverse carina; with 3 short setae at each lateral angle. Mesonotum well defined, with 2 minute setae adjacent to postnotum and 2 at posterior margin. Metanotum without central setae. Prosternal plate well developed, elongate, with 2 short anterior setae; mesothorax with notum, pleura, and sternum fused to form strongly sclerotized ring; metasternum large, diamond shaped, usually with 6 setae, much less often 4, 5, 7, or 8; venter of femur III with setal brush.

Abdomen with undivided tergites, without anterior setae except for very small corner seta on each side of tergite I; sternite I small, without setae; sternite II enlarged, with aster of 4–6 heavy setae at each lateroposterior corner. Female anus oval, without inner setae; subgenital plate of fused sternites VII–IX, with lightly serrated posterior margin. Male subgenital plate of fused sternites VIII–IX; genitalia of characteristic shape ( Fig. 2 ), with spinous sac having small associated sclerites.

Sexual dimorphism is limited to males having smaller dimensions, sparser abdominal chaetotaxy, and differences associated with genitalic features of the posterior abdomen. Some females may have a gross enlargement of the metanotum ( Figs. 9, 13 ) or abdominal tergite I ( Figs. 3, 5, 8 ), and corresponding reduction of some anterior tergites. Male segments are unmodified ( Figs. 1 , 12 ).

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.

FIGURES 9 – 18. 9 – 12, Myrsidea extranea. 9, Female dorsal thorax, metasternum, and dorsoventral abdomen. 10, Male genitalia. 11, Male genital sac sclerites. 12, Male metanotum and dorsoventral abdomen. 13 – 14, M. peruviana. 13, Female dorsal thorax and abdomen. 14, Male genital sac sclerites. 15, M. abbreviata female metanotum and dorsoventral abdomen. 16, M. dorotheae male genital sac sclerites. 17 – 18, M. lanei. 17,