Brueelia hrabali Najer & Sychra

Najer, Tomas, Sychra, Oldrich, Hung, Nguyen Manh, Capek, Miroslav, Podzemny, Petr & Literak, Ivan, 2012, Chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) from wild passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in northern Vietnam, with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 3530, pp. 59-73 : 65

Brueelia hrabali Najer & Sychra , sp. nov.

( Figs. 2 A–B; 3A–F; 6C–D)

Type host: Macronous gularis (Horsfield, 1822) – Pin-striped Tit-Babbler

Male (n = 3) ( Figs. 2 A and 6C): Preantennal region longer than the postantennal, with slightly concave anterior margin. The marginal carina uninterrupted laterally, with complete medial interruptions formed by a pair of sutures originating in the anterior hyaline margin, sutures run along either side of a moderately sclerotized dorsal anterior head plate of unique shape with two lateral and one central pointed projections ( Fig. 3 A), but leave the plate continuous with the remainder of the head's dorsal sclerotization ( Fig. 3 B) (type “e” in Johnson et al. 2002). Metanotum with 4 setae (2 short and 2 medium long) on each side of posterior margin. Metapleurite with two medium long and one short seta.

Tergal setae: postspiracular seta present on each side of tergites IV–VII; postspiracular accessory setae absent; sutural seta short (0.040–0.050), present on each side of tergites II–VIII; tergal posterior setae: II–VI, 0; VII, 0–1; VIII, 1–2 on each side of segment. Tergite VIII with one seta in each postero-lateral corner; tergite IX with 2 long and 3–5 short setae, on each side; terminal dorsal sclerite with only 2 short setae ( Fig. 3 E). Each tergal plate with two differently coloured parts – a dark brown lateral band with a light median area; it gives the impression of being divided into two separated parts (Fig. 6C). Abdominal sterna II–VII with a pair of short lateral setae. Paratergal setae: II, 0; III–V, 1; VI–VII, 2; VIII, 4–5. Male genitalia as in Figs. 3 C and 3D with very short and stout parameres and rectangle-shaped endomeral plate with serrated latero-anterior parts and two central oval plates each with 2–3 minute setae. Dimensions: PAW, 0.25–0.27; PAL, 0.19–0.20; TW, 0.31–0.32; POL, 0.14–0.16; HL, 0.36–0.37; PW, 0.21–0.22; ML, 0.15–0.16; MW, 0.26–0.29; AWV, 0.36–0.37; AL, 1.21–1.22; GW, 0.07; TL, 1.84–1.86.

Female (n = 3) ( Figs. 2 B and 6D): Generally as for male. Metanotum with 2 long and 2 medium long setae on each postero-lateral margin. All tergites without tergal posterior or sutural setae. Tergite VIII with one seta in each postero-lateral corner; tergite IX with 2 long and 0–1 short seta, on each side. Ventral terminalia as in Fig. 3 F, subgenital plate wide and significantly convex posteriorly, with 12–16 spine-like and 9–11 fine minute setae. Dimensions: PAW, 0.28–0.29; PAL, 0.22; TW, 0.35–0.38; POL, 0.17–0.18; HL, 0.40–0.41; PW, 0.24–0.25; ML, 0.17–0.18; MW, 0.29–0.31; AWV, 0.42–0.46; AL, 1.42–1.54; TL, 2.16–2.24.

Type material. Holotype male ex Macronous gularis , VIETNAM: surroundings of the tourist center and ranger station in central part of Cuc Phuong National Park, Cuc Phuong, Province of Ninh Binh (20°15' N 105°42' E), 3 February 2010, coll. I. Literak, in IEBR VAST (O. Sychra V40). Paratypes: 2 males, 1 female with the same data as holotype but in IEBR VAST (O. Sychra V40 and V41); 1 male, 1 female with the same data as holotype but in MMBC (O. Sychra V42).

Remarks. Brueelia hrabali is the first species of chewing lice known from babblers of the genus Macronous . It can be morphologically separated from other species of the genus Brueelia known from birds which may occur in Vietnam, by the following combinations of features: (1) the shape of the head and body; (2) dorsal head plate with two lateral and one central pointed projections ( Fig. 3 A); (3) the characteristic two-colored tergal plates, as in Figs. 6C and 6D; (4) male genitalia with short parameres and rectangle-shaped endomeral plate with two central oval plates ( Figs. 3 C and 3D); (5) the high ratio of abdomen length to body length. Brueelia hrabali appears to be much longer than other species of Brueelia known from the family Timaliidae , except for Brueelia impressifrons Ansari, 1956a , although Brueelia hrabali can be distinguished from the latter by the features mentioned above. Two of nine birds examined were parasitized by Brueelia hrabali .

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Jozef Hrabal, the uncle of the first author, who often encouraged his interest in nature.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Brueelia hrabali. A, dorso-ventral view of male. B, dorso-ventral view of female. Scales = 0.10 mm for both figures.

FIGURE 3. Brueelia hrabali. A, dorsal anterior head plate. B, head of male. C, dorsal view of male genitalia. D, ventral view of male genitalia. E, dorsal view of male terminalia. F, ventral view of female terminalia. Scales = 0.10 mm for all figures.