Myrsidea vincesmithi Price, Johnson

Price, Roger D., Johnson, Kevin P. & Dalgleish, Robert C., 2008, Myrsidea Waterston (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from wrens (Passeriformes: Troglodytidae), with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 1740, pp. 59-65 : 63

Myrsidea vincesmithi Price, Johnson , and Dalgleish, new species

Type host. Thryothorus rutilus Vieillot, 1819 , the Rufous-breasted Wren.

Female. Unknown.

Male. As for M. bessae , except as follows. Metanotum with 11 marginal setae; metasternal plate with 6 setae. Tergal setae: I, 13; II, 16; III–IV, 18; V, 16; VI, 15; VII, 14; VIII, 12. Postspiracular setae shortest on III and V–VI (not>0.21 long), extremely long on VII, as long as on VIII. Sternal setae: II, each aster of 3 or 4 setae, 17 marginal between asters, 10 anterior; III, 20; IV, 26; V, 31; VI, 27; VII, 19; VIII, 8. Dimensions: TW, 0.43; HL, 0.29; PW, 0.28; MW, 0.39; AWIV, 0.47; GL, 0.40; TL, 1.22.

Type material. Holotype male (to TNHM), ex T. rutilus , TRINIDAD: Cumuto, 17 May 1960, TRVL 4398, Brit. Mus. 1974-636.

Remarks. While we generally are reluctant to describe a new species from only a single specimen, the differences are so marked in this case that we feel justified in doing so. This species is closest to M. bessae , but is separable by having more setae on all abdominal tergites and sternites as well as on the metanotal margin, and by having an extremely long postspiracular seta on tergite VII.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Vincent Smith, The Natural History Museum, London, in recognition of his contributions to taxonomic databases for lice and work on louse systematics.