Myrsidea mccrackeni Price and Johnson

Price, Roger D. & Johnson, Kevin P., 2006, Four new species of Myrsidea Waterston chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from the Malagasy warblers (Passeriformes), Zootaxa 1297, pp. 47-55 : 52

Myrsidea mccrackeni Price and Johnson , new species (Fig. 6)

Type host. Oxylabes madagascariensis (J.F. Gmelin) , the White­throated oxylabes.

Male. Gula with 4 setae on each side. Metanotum with 7 setae on posterior margin. Tergal setae: I, 6; II–IV, 11–12; V, 13; VI–VII, 11; VIII, 9. Conspicuous median gap in each tergal setae row. Postspiracular setae extremely long (0.36 or more) on tergites II, IV, and VIII, shorter (0.27–0.31) on VI–VII, and shortest (not>0.19) on I, III, and V. Sternal setae: II, each aster with 5 setae, remainder with 21; III, 15; IV–V, 21–22; VI, 25; VII, 11; VIII, 4. Genitalia similar to Fig. 3 , but without detectable sac sclerite. Dimensions: TW, 0.39; HL, 0.27; PW, 0.27; MW, 0.36; AWIV, 0.53; GL, 0.44; TL, 1.29.

Female. Gula with 4 setae on each side. Metanotum and dorsal abdomen as in Fig. 6. Metanotum with 8 setae on posterior margin. Tergites unmodified, of similar size. Tergal setae: I, 12; II–IV, 18–20; V–VI, 14–17; VII, 13–16; VIII, 8. Without conspicuous median gap in each tergal setal row on anterior segments II–III or II–IV. Postspiracular setae as for male. Sternal setae: II, each aster with 6–7 setae, remainder with 24–25; III, 18; IV, 35–38; V, 41–42; VI, 36–40; VII, 18–20; VIII–IX with 11–12 marginal, 12–13 anterior setae. Each pleurite II–V with 9–11 short marginal setae. Anus with 30–35 ventral and dorsal fringe setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.44–0.46; HL, 0.29–0.31; PW, 0.29; MW, 0.42–0.46; AWIV, 0.65; ANW, 0.23; TL, 1.58–1.66.

Type material. Holotype female, ex O. madagascariensis , MADAGASCAR: Antsiranana, Parc National de Marojejy, 24 Oct 2001, S. Goodman, SMG 12229. Paratypes: 1 male, 1 female, same data as holotype.

Remarks. The larger number of female abdominal tergal setae, especially on segments II–III, and the lack of a median gap in the tergal setal rows on these anterior segments enable easy recognition of this species as apart from the first two. In addition, both sexes have the gula with four setae on each side and a greater total length, and the female has a wider anus.

Etymology. This species is named for Kevin McCracken, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, in recognition of his assistance in collecting lice from a wide variety of birds.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Myrsidea yoshizawai. 1, Entire dorsoventral male. 2, Male genital sac sclerite. 3, Male genitalia. 4, Female metanotum and dorsoventral abdomen.