Myrsidea meyi Valim, Price and Johnson

Valim, Michel P., Price, Roger D. & Johnson, Kevin P., 2011, New host records and descriptions of five new species of Myrsidea Waterston, 1915 (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from passerine birds (Aves: Passeriformes), Zootaxa 3097, pp. 1-19 : 8-10

Myrsidea meyi Valim, Price and Johnson n. sp.

( Figs. 21 , 26–27 , 30–32 )

Type host. Syndactyla subalaris (Sclater, 1859) —the Lineated Foliage-gleaner ( Furnariidae ).

Female (n = 1). Habitus as in Fig. 26 . Hypopharynx fully developed, DHS10, 0.08 long; DHS11, 0.11 long. Gula with 4 setae on each side. Metanotum with 7 setae on posterior margin. Setae of femoral brush, 14. Metanotum and abdomen as in Fig. 30 . Metanotum enlarged posteriorly, tergite I divided into two pieces, one on each side of the metanotum, tergites II–IV with median setae finer and placed anteriorly from the posterior margin, tergite V compressed by IV with setae on its posterior margin, tergites VI–VII unmodified and of similar size. With conspicuous median gap in each tergal setal row. Tergal setae: I, 10; II, 16; III, 17; IV–VI, 18; VII, 12; VIII, 6. Postspiracular setae shortest (0.11–0.15) on III, V and VI, and extremely long (0.30–0.43) on I, II, IV, VII and VIII. Sternal setae: II, each aster of 5 setae, posterior margin with 13 and anteriorly with 10; III, 25; IV, 31; V, 30; VI, 25; VII, 19; VIII–IX with 13 marginal and 12 anterior setae. Each pleurite III–VII with about 5–7 short marginal setae. Anus with 36 ventral fringe setae, 31 dorsal. Dimensions: TW, 0.49; HL, 0.34; PW, 0.31; PSPL, 0.12; MW, 0.50; MSPL, 0.15; AWIV, 0.65; ANW, 0.24; TL, 1.54.

Male (n = 2). Habitus as in Fig. 27 . Gula with 4 setae on each side (one paratype with 3 on each side). Metanotum with 6 setae on posterior margin, metasternal plate with 6 setae as in Fig. 21 . Setae of femoral brush, 11–14. Metanotum and abdomen as in Fig. 31 . Conspicuous median gap in each tergal setal row. Tergal setae: I, 6–7; II, 13–14; III, 14–16; IV, 15–16; V, 16; VI, 14–15; VII, 9–11; VIII, 8. Postspiracular setae as for female. Sternal setae: II, each aster of 5 setae, posterior margin with 8–11 and anteriorly with 8; III, 20–22; IV, 22–24; V, 22–25; VI, 22– 24; VII, 14–15; VIII, 6–9. Genital sac sclerite as in Fig. 32 . Dimensions: TW, 0.45; HL, 0.31; PW, 0.29–0.30; PSPL, 0.10–0.11; MW, 0.39–0.41; MSPL, 0.13; AWIV, 0.49; GL, 0.42–0.46; GSL, 0.06; TL, 1.23–1.33.

Type material. Female holotype, ex Syndactyla subalaris , JK06-276, Panama: Palo Seco, 25 February 2006, K.P. Johnson coll. Paratypes: 1 male, same data as holotype; 1 male ( DNA voucher Mysp.Sybub.5.1.2006.3), same data as holotype except JK06-325, 27 February 2006. One male paratype (JK06-325) at MZUSP.

Other specimens. 1 nymph ( DNA voucher Mysp.Sysub.6.6.2007.2), same data as holotype; 1 nymph ( DNA voucher Mysp.Sysub.6.6.2007.4), same data as holotype except JK06-325, 27 February 2006.

Remarks. Females of M. meyi n. sp. are morphologically separable from the other species found on furnariids (e.g. M. strobilisternata , M. calvi , M. ochrolaemi , and M. waterstoni n. sp.) by the division of tergite I into two lateral pieces (entire in other species) and by the placement of setal insertions on tergal segments II–IV on the middle portion of segments instead of on the posterior margin. Males are unique in the reduction of number and size of setae on tergite I ( Fig. 31 ).

Etymology. This species is named after Eberhard Mey (Naturhistorisches Museum im Thüringer Landesmuseum Heidecksburg, Rudolstadt, Germany), in recognition of his contributions to the taxonomy of lice.

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 21. Dorsal view of Myrsidea male terminalia: (15) M. strobiloesternata; (16) M. ochrolaemi from Anabacerthia variegaticeps; (17) M. waterstoni n. sp. Metasternal plate and sternite I of males: (18) M. strobiloesternata; (19) M. ochrolaemi; (20) M. waterstoni n. sp.; (21) M. meyi n. sp. Asterisk indicates an inferred tergal seta.

FIGURES 26 – 29. Myrsidea meyi n. sp.: (26) female holotype; (27) male paratype. Myrsidea dalgleishi n. sp.: (28) female holotype; (29) male paratype.

FIGURES 30 – 35. Myrsidea meyi n. sp.: (30) metathorax and dorsoventral abdomen of female; (31) metathorax and dorsoventral abdomen of male; (32) male genital sac sclerite. Myrsidea dalgleishi n. sp.: (33) metathorax and dorsoventral abdomen of female; (34) metathorax and dorsoventral abdomen of male; (35) male genital sac sclerite.