Philopteroides macrocephalus Valim & Palma

Valim, Michel P. & Palma, Ricardo L., 2013, Three new species of the genus Philopteroides Mey, 2004 (Phthiraptera, Ischnocera, Philopteridae) from New Zealand, ZooKeys 297, pp. 71-89 : 81-84

Philopteroides macrocephalus Valim & Palma sp. n. Figs 7-8, 12, 25-28, 36-37

Type host.

Petroica macrocephala macrocephala (Gmelin, 1789) - New Zealand tit or tomtit ( Petroicidae )

Distribution.

New Zealand.

Description.

Female. Habitus as in Fig. 7, and head as in Fig. 12. Anterior setae 3 (as 3) rigid, peg-shaped, 0.05-0.06 long; anterior dorsal head setae (ads) peg-like, 0.02 long. Hyaline membrane with deep concavity and thin sclerotization, 0.06-0.08 long; anterior dorsal plate slightly concave and ventral head plate deeply concave (Fig. 36). Pterothorax with 9 posteromarginal setae on each side. Tergo-pleural plate II with a much reduced postero-lateral projection overlapping segment III; tergo-pleural plate III without any projection. Tergocentral setae: II, 17-19 (plus 2 anterior setae); III, 23-25; IV, 25-27; V, 26-27; VI, 24-26; VII, 23-25; VIII, 12-14. Tergites VII–IX +X as in Fig. 25. Sternal setae: II, SL-LS; III, LLLLSL-LSLLLL; IV, LLLLSLL-LLSLLLL; V, LLLLLSLL-LLSLLLLL; VI, LLLLL-LLLLL (some specimens show slight variations from this symmetrical pattern). Segments II–VII with 3-5 additional long setae situated on the soft tegument, between the sternal plate and the pleural setae. Paratergal setae (all long): II–III, 0; IV, 5-6; V, 4-5; VI–VII, 4; VIII, 2. Tergites VI–VII with an innermost dorsal seta (included in the paratergal count), besides the postspiracular setae (not included in the count). Sternites III–VI with large, well-developed plates, roughly rectangular. Vulva with 9-11 medium to long setae each side, and 14-15 small setae in the middle of the vulvar margin. Subgenital plate, inner genital sclerite, subvulval sclerites, and vulvar margin as in Fig. 26, plus a variation of an additional female in Fig. 26a. Measurements (n = 7): HL 0.59-0.62, ANW 0.10-0.12, POL 0.28-0.30, POW 0.40-0.41, ADPL 0.24-0.25, ADPLL 0.20-0.21, ADPW 0.18-0.19, TRL 0.11-0.13, TRW 0.04-0.05, TW 0.58-0.64, PW 0.30-0.36, PTL 0.21-0.25, PTW 0.44-0.48, TPVL 0.25-0.27, AW 0.72-0.79, EWG 0.05-0.06, IWG 0.03-0.04, TL 1.85-2.13.

Male. Similar to female, except in dimensions and morphology of terminalia (Fig. 8). Pterothorax with 7-9 posteromarginal setae on each side. Tergocentral setae: II, 17-18 (plus 2 anterior setae); III, 17-19; IV, 22-24; V, 18-20; VI, 17-20; VII, 16-18; VIII, 10-12. Paratergal setae (all long): II–III, 0; IV–V, 4 (rarely 2 setae on one side only); VI–VII, 4-5 (rarely 3 setae on one side only); VIII, 2. Sternal plates III–VI well developed and entire; 4 long setae on the subgenital plate with only the anterior pair situated on the plate (Fig. 28). Genitalia: length of parameres 0.50 (Fig. 37). Measurements (n = 9): HL 0.55-0.57, ANW 0.10-0.12, POL 0.27-0.28, POW 0.37-0.39, ADPL 0.23-0.25, ADPLL 0.27-0.28, ADPW 0.16-0.17, TRL 0.10-0.12, TRW 0.04-0.05, TW 0.51-0.55, PW 0.28-0.30, PTL 0.17-0.20, PTW 0.42-0.44, TPVL 0.25-26, AW 0.62-0.65, GL 0.27-0.32, GW 0.07-0.08, TL 1.49-1.61.

Type specimens.

Holotype ♀ (MONZ AI.030122), ex Petroica macrocephala macrocephala , NEW ZEALAND: Haast Pass, 30.IX.1969, C.N. Challies col. (University of Canterbury). Paratypes: 3♂, 3♀ (MONZ AI.017278 & AI.017279), 1♂, 1♀ (MZUSP #2887), same data as holotype.

Additional specimens, non-types.

2♀ (MONZ AI.017281), ex Petroica macrocephala dannefaerdi (Rothschild, 1894), NEW ZEALAND: Penguin Creek, Snares Island, 29.III.1972, D.S. Horning & C.J. Horning cols.; 1♂ (MONZ AI.017282), NEW ZEALAND: Boat Harbour, Snares Is, 22.II.1975, H.A. Best col.; 1♂ (MONZ AI.017283), NEW ZEALAND: Station Point, Snares Island, 25.II.1977, D.S. Horning col.; 1♂ (MONZ AI.017284), NEW ZEALAND: Tern Point, Snares Islands, 10.I.1987, A. Tennyson col.; 1♂ (MONZ AI.017280), NEW ZEALAND: Snares Is, no date, CMu Av. 4635. 1♂ (MONZ AI.017277), ex Petroica macrocephala , NEW ZEALAND: Springs Junction, Maruia, 20.VIII.1966, J.R. Jackson col.

Etymology.

The s pecies epithet is a noun in apposition derived from the species name of the host, and also refers to the larger head of this louse species.

Remarks.

Morphologically close to Philopteroides fuliginosus by the features mentioned under that species above. However, both sexes of Philopteroides macrocephalus can be distinguished from those of Philopteroides fuliginosus by (1) the hyaline margin with a deeper incision (0.06-0.08mm) at its midline (compare Figs 11 and 12, Figs 34 and 36); (2) the female tergal chaetotaxy and shape of tergites IX+X (compare Figs 21 and 25); (3) the male subgenital plate (compare Figs 24 and 28); and (4) the male genitalia (compare Figs 35 and 37).

Key to the species of Philopteroides Mey, 2004 (adults only) *

*except Philopteroides lineatus (Giebel, 1874)