Brueelia cicchinoi Valim & Weckstein

Valim, Michel P. & Weckstein, Jason D., 2011, Two new species of Brueelia Keler, 1936 (Ischnocera, Philopteridae) parasitic on Neotropical trogons (Aves, Trogoniformes), ZooKeys 128, pp. 1-13 : 4-6

Brueelia cicchinoi Valim & Weckstein sp. n. Figs 7 –1215– 16

Type host:

Trogon viridis Linnaeus, 1766 - White-tailed Trogon

Diagnosis.

The shape of the anterior ventral plate is unique in this species (Figs 15-16). It is morphologically close to Brueelia insolita by the thickness of the temporal carina and by the presence of setae on the mesosternal plate; but they can be distinguished by the shape of the anterior ventral plate. The males of this species can be distinguished by the distinct genital architecture and by the presence of two long setae on tergite IX+X (only one in Brueelia insolita and Brueelia sueta sp. n.). In females, the presence of postspiracular setae on segment IV; the chaetotaxy of vulvar margin; and lacking of the notch on vulvar margin are the most distinctive characters. This species can be promptly distinguished from the Brueelia sueta sp. n. by the thickness of the temporal carina, genitalia and tergal chaetotaxy in males; and by the presence of postspiracular setae on tergite IV and vulvar chaetotaxy in females.

Male.

Habitus as in fig. 7. Body pigmentation uniform, all plates barely yellowish in color. Head oval shaped, slightly longer than wide. Hyaline margin indistinguishable; anterior dorsal head plate not completely surrounded by the dorsal preantennal suture. Preantennal margin slightly convex; marginal carina thickened with its inner margin sinuate (Figs 15-16). Tracks of cybarial muscles practically indistinct. Frontoclypeal suture with its nodal area well defined. Tracks of insertion of the mandibular adductor muscles faintly marked. Gular plate well pigmented with a broad rhombic silhouette. Temples more rounded; temporal carina pigmented and thinner, with its inner margin only superficially sinuate (Fig. 9); eye distinct from the temporal carina (Fig. 9). Pterothorax with 5-6 marginal setae on each side; pterothoracic apodeme well developed, not reaching the lateral margin of the pterothorax. Mesosternal and metasternal plates not fused, both slightly longer than wide and bearing two long setae each. Abdomen with tergites II–VIII lightly and uniformly pigmented. Tergal chaetotaxy: postspiracular long on IV–VIII; one small accessory setae on V–VIII (atypical specimens lack this seta on one side); and one sutural seta on II–VIII. Tergite IX+X (from the lateral to meson) with one short, one long, three short, one long, and one short setae. Paratergal chaetotaxy: II–III 0; IV–V 1; VI–VII 2; VIII 3. Sternal plates II–VI yellowish, typically with one pair of setae on each, subgenital plate uniformly pigmented. Genitalia (Fig. 10): basal plate wide, with concavity on lateral borders; straight and broad subtriangular paramera, with pointed tips (Fig. 10); lateral sclerites of the endomeral complex short (1/3 of the paramera length) and subtriangular with their posterior edge smooth, bearing 2 sensillae each.

Body measurements (n = 5), ex Trogon viridis : HL, 0.30-0.31; PAW, 0.23-0.24; TW, 0.28-0.30; PL, 0.11-0.14; PW, 0.20; PTL, 0.12-0.16; PTW, 0.27-0.28; AL, 0.77-0.87; AW 0.37-0.42; GL, 0.19-0.21; and TL, 1.27-1.38.

Body measurements (n = 3), ex Trogon massena : HL, 0.31-0.33; PAW, 0.24-0.25; TW, 0.29-0.30; PL, 0.12-0.13; PW, 0.20-0.21; PTL, 0.13; PTW, 0.29-0.31; AL, 0.83-0.93; AW 0.39-0.47; GL, 0.20-0.21; and TL, 1.34-1.48.

Body measurements (n = 1), ex Trogon melanocephalus : HL, 0.33; PAW, 0.26; TW, 0.31; PL, 0.13; PW, 0.21; PTL, 0.14; PTW, 0.32; AL, 0.91; AW 0.50; GL, 0.19; and TL, 1.46.

Body measurements (n = 2), ex Trogon collaris : HL, 0.30-0.31; PAW, 0.23-0.24; TW, 0.29-0.30; PL, 0.11-0.13; PW, 0.19-0.21; PTL, 0.15; PTW, 0.28-0.30; AL, 0.83-0.84; AW 0.39-0.43; GL, 0.18-0.20; and TL, 1.37-1.38.

Female.

Habitus as in figure 8. Pigmentation of the head, thorax and abdomen much as for male, differing in body size, terminalia and tergal chaetotaxy. Pterothorax with 5-6 marginal setae on each side. Tergites II–VIII divided medially, IX+X entire and uniformly pigmented. Subgenital plate uniformly pigmented, lacking posterior notch, with 3-4 small setae each side (Fig. 11). Gonapophysis commonly with 3 setae (Figs 12). Vulva with 2-3 short and spiniform setae and 2-3 long and thin setae on each side (Fig. 11).

Body measurements (n = 3), ex Trogon viridis : HL, 0.32-0.33; PAW, 0.26; TW, 0.32; PL, 0.12-0.13; PW, 0.21-0.22; PTL, 0.13-0.15; PTW, 0.30-0.31; AL, 0.98-1.07; AW 0.44-0.46; and TL, 1.53-1.61.

Body measurements (n = 2), ex Trogon melanurus : HL, 0.34-0.36; PAW, 0.26-0.27; TW, 0.33-0.34; PL, 0.15-0.16; PW, 0.23; PTL, 0.15; PTW, 0.33; AL, 0.98-1.05; AW 0.46-0.47; and TL, 1.56-1.60.

Body measurements (n = 3), ex Trogon massena : HL, 0.34; PAW, 0.26-0.28; TW, 0.32-0.33; PL, 0.13; PW, 0.21-0.23; PTL, 0.15-0.16; PTW, 0.32-0.33; AL, 1.01-1.10; AW 0.46-0.47; and TL, 1.59-1.69.

Body measurements (n = 1), ex Trogon melanocephalus : HL, 0.35; PAW, 0.27; TW, 0.33; PL, 0.14; PW, 0.22; PTL, 0.14; PTW, 0.34; AL, 1.09; AW 0.49; and TL, 1.68.

Body measurements (n = 3), ex Trogon collaris : HL, 0.33-0.34; PAW, 0.26-0.27; TW, 0.32-0.33; PL, 0.13; PW, 0.20-0.22; PTL, 0.14-0.17; PTW, 0.32-0.33; AL, 1.01-1.08; AW 0.48-0.54; and TL, 1.58-1.66.

Type material.

Male holotype, ex Trogon viridis , JAP765 FMNH 456563; BRAZIL: Amazonas, Maraã, Lago Cumapi (01°43'48.6"S; 65°52'45.5"W), 31.VII.2007, J.D. Weckstein col., at MZUSP. Paratypes: 4 males and 3 females (one female DNA voucher Brsp.Trvi.1.4.2011.20), same data as holotype. 2 males and 1 female (DNA voucher) paratypes at FMNH.

Other specimens studied not regarded as types.

1 male and 1 female (female DNA voucher Brsp.Phpa.4.4.2011.16), ex Pharomachrus pavoninus , JAP315 MPEG 62491; BRAZIL: Amazonas, Japurá, Rio Mapari (02°02'31.5"S; 67°17'16.6"W), 17.VII.2007, J.D. Weckstein col., at FMNH; 2 females (one female DNA voucher Brsp.Trme.4.4.2011.13), ex Trogon melanurus , AMZ415 MPEG 59344; BRAZIL: Amazonas, Barcelos, Rio Aracá (0°25'12"S; 62°56'13"W), 4.XII.2005, C.C. Ribas col., at MZUSP; 4 males and 4 females (one pair of specimens DNA vouchers Trsp.Trmas.3.29.1999.4 and Trsp.Trmas.4.7.1999.9), ex Trogon massena ; MÉXICO: Cam peche, 24 km S Sivituc (18°14'N; 90°12'W), 6.III.1998, D.H. Clayton col., at PIPeR; 1 male and 2 females (one female DNA voucher Trsp.Trmel.5.4.1999.5); ex Trogon melanocephalus ; MÉXICO: Campeche, 24 km S Sivituc (18°14'N; 90°12'W), 9.III.1998, D.H. Clayton col., at PIPeR; 2 males and 3 females (FMNH-INS 28922, 28923); ex Trogon collaris ; PERU: Madre de Dios, Hacienda Amazonia, near Atalaya ridged, 330m above hacienda, 5.VIII.1985, D.H. Clayton col. (#85-076 and 85-077), at FMNH.

Etymology.

This species is named after Armando C. Cicchino (Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina) in recognition of his more than thirty years of contributions to the taxonomy and systematics of the genus Brueelia and chewing lice in general.

Remarks.

Although we described herein a new Brueelia species from Pharomachrus pavoninus , this same host species, from a different locality, also harbored Brueelia cicchinoi sp. n. Nevertheless, we are certain that this record of Brueelia cicchinoi on the host Pharomachrus pavoninus is a reliable host-parasite association because: (1) the pair of Brueelia specimens collected from Pharomachrus pavoninus are morphologically identical with those collected from Trogon viridis ; (2) both individuals of Pharomachrus pavoninus were collected on different days and at different localities; (3) no Trogon spp. were deloused or collected on the day that JDW collected Brueelia cicchinoi sp. n. from Pharomachrus pavoninus ; (4) specimens of Brueelia cicchinoi sp. n. collected from Pharomachrus pavoninus and Trogon viridis are genetically identical (see below); (5) our specimens are only 1 bp different and thus nearly genetically identical to Brueelia sp. collected from two other Trogon species (see below) collected in México. Lastly, although the type host of Brueelia cicchinoi sp. n., Trogon viridis MPEG 62484, was collected in the Amazonian Imerí area of endemism between the Rio Japurá and Rio Negro, we also found Brueelia cicchinoi sp. n. on Trogon melanurus MPEG 59344) from the Imerí area of endemism between the Rio Branco and the Rio Negro and on Pharomachrus pavoninus MPEG 62491 from the Napo area of endemism south of the Rio Japurá. Although we do not have a male specimen of Brueelia cicchinoi sp. n. from Trogon melanurus we are also certain of this host association because the two specimens studied from Trogon melanurus are morphologically and genetically indistinguishable from those collected from Trogon viridis . Thus, Brueelia cicchinoi sp. n. is apparently a relatively widespread trogon parasite found on at least six species of trogons: Trogon viridis , Trogon melanurus , Trogon collaris , Trogon massena (see below), Trogon melanocephalus (see below), and Pharomachrus pavoninus .