Priceiella (Thescelovora) macrocephala Gustafsson, Clayton

Gustafsson, Daniel R., Clayton, Dale H. & Bush, Sarah E., 2018, Twelve new species of Priceiella (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae) from Old World babblers, with keys to species of two subgenera and checklists of species for the genus, Zootaxa 4382 (3), pp. 401-449 : 422

Priceiella (Thescelovora) macrocephala Gustafsson, Clayton , & Bush, new species

( Figs 43–49 )

Type host. Megapomatorhinus hypoleucos wrayi Sharpe, 1887 —large scimitar-babbler ( Timaliidae ).

Type locality. Gunong Benom, elev. 6000 ft., Malaysia.

Diagnosis. Priceiella (Thescelovora) macrocephala n. sp. is most similar to P. (T.) fuscicaena n. sp., with which it shares the following characters: preantennal area long, with straight lateral margins ( Figs 31 , 45 ); dorsal preantennal suture reaching at least half-way between dsms and ads ( Figs 31 , 45 ); parameres not divergent distally ( Figs 34 , 48 ); aps absent from male tergopleurites VI–VII. These two species can be separated on the following characters: proximal mesosome rectangular without rugose ventral area in P. (T.) macrocephala ( Fig. 47 ), but rounded and with rugose ventral area in P. (T.) fuscicaena ( Fig. 33 ); marginal thickening of mesosomal lobes slender in P. (T.) macrocephala ( Fig. 47 ), but broad in P. (T.) fuscicaena ( Fig. 33 ); pmes not visible near rugose nodi in P. (T.) macrocephala ( Fig. 47 ), but visible in P. (T.) fuscicaena ( Fig. 33 ); parameres tapering gradually, with distal ends slender in P. (T.) fuscicaena ( Fig. 34 ), but tapering only in distal end and with roughly same width for most of length in P. (T.) macrocephala ( Fig. 48 ); vos longer in P. (T.) macrocephala ( Fig. 49 ) than in P. (T.) fuscicaena ( Fig. 35 ), but vulval chaetotaxy otherwise similar.

Description. Both sexes. Head pentagonal ( Fig. 45 ). Frons deeply concave. Lateral margins of preantennal head roughly straight. Dorsal preantennal suture reaches dsms and at least half-way to ads. Head chaetotaxy as in Fig. 45 . Coni reach distal margin of scape. Base pigmentation very pale brown; marginal and marginal temporal carinae, head nodi, flagellomeres I–II, proepimera, metepisterna and pleural incrassations dark reddish brown; mandibular framework, margins of antennal sockets, gular plate, flagellomere III and sternal and subgenital plates medium brown; sternal plates paler medianly.

Male. Pteronotum with 7–8 mms on each side ( Fig. 43 ) (one male with 10 on one side). Abdominal plates and chaetotaxy as in Fig. 43 ; aps absent on tergopleurites VI–VII. Male genitalia as in Figs 46–48 . Basal apodeme broad, rectangular, slightly constricted at mid-length ( Fig. 46 ). Proximal mesosome broad, with flat anterior margin ( Fig. 47 ); typically widened proximally. Mesosomal lobes gently rounded to blunt medial point. Lateral thickening of mesosome sinuous. Ventral nodi rugose. Gonopore open only distally; 2 ames sensilla on each side near anterolateral corner of mesosomal lobes; 1 pmes sensilla on each side lateral to anterior end of gonopore. No lateral pmes discernable near rugose nodi, but these may be overlooked due to being sensilla. Parameral heads roughly triangular, with irregularly serrated posterior margin ( Fig. 48 ). Parameral blades short, of roughly the same width for most of length; pst1–2 close together. Measurements ex Pomatorhinus hypoleucos wrayi (n = 6): TL = 1.62– 1.77; HL = 0.40–0.43; HW = 0.40–0.43; PRW = 0.24–0.26; PTW = 0.37–0.41; AW = 0.53–0.59.

Female. Pteronotum with 7 mms on each side ( Fig. 44 ). Abdominal plates and chaetotaxy as in Fig. 44 . Vulval margin gently rounded ( Fig. 49 ) with 3–4 slender vms on each side (lateral vms much shorter than more medial vms), 5–6 thorn-like vss on each side; 5–7 slender vos on each side; distal vos medial to vss. Measurements ex Pomatorhinus hypoleucos wrayi (n = 6): TL = 1.83–2.01; HL = 0.42–0.44; HW = 0.43–0.46; PRW = 0.25–0.28; PTW = 0.39–0.42; AW = 0.57–0.65.

Etymology. The species epithet is derived from Greek “ makros ” for “large” and “ kefali ” for head, referring to its much larger head compared with closely related species.

Type material. Ex Pomatorhinus hypoleucos wrayi : Holotype Ƌ, Gunong Benom , elev. 6000 ft., Malaysia, 28 Mar. 1967, BA-40, Brit. Mus. 1967-400 ( NHML) . Paratypes: 5♂, 6♀, same data as holotype ( NHML) .

Additional material examined (non-types)

Ex Pomatorhinus hypoleucos wrayi : 1♂, 1♀, Mount Brinchang, Malaysia, 16 Mar. 1963, M-02691, 24716 on reverse ( OSUS).

Figures

FIGURES 43–44. Priceiella (Thescelovora) macrocephala n. sp. ex Pomatorhinus hypoleucos wrayi Sharpe, 1887. 43, male habitus, dorsal and ventral views. 44, female habitus, dorsal and ventral views.

FIGURES 45–49. Priceiella (Thescelovora) macrocephala n. sp. ex Pomatorhinus hypoleucos wrayi Sharpe, 1887. 45, male head, dorsal and ventral views. 46, male genitalia, dorsal view. 47, male mesosome, ventral view. 48, male paramere, dorsal view.49, female subgenital plate and vulval margin, ventral view.

FIGURES31–35. Priceiella (Thescelovora) fuscicaena n. sp. ex Malacopteron magnum magnum Euton, 1839. 31, male head, dorsal and ventral views.32,male genitalia, dorsal view.33, male mesosome, ventral view.34, male paramere,dorsal view.35, female subgenital plate and vulval margin, ventral view.