Myrsidea blattae Dalgleish and Price

Dalgleish, Robert C. & Price, Roger D., 2005, Two new species of the genus Myrsidea Waterston (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from cotingas (Passeriformes: Cotingidae), Zootaxa 983, pp. 1-6 : 4-5

Myrsidea blattae Dalgleish and Price , new species ( Figs. 5–6 )

Type host. Schiffornis turdina Lawrence , Thrush­like Schiffornis .

Male. Head as in Fig. 1 , thorax and abdomen as in Fig. 5 . Metanotal margin with 10 setae. Tergal setae: I, 11; II–VI, 15–17; VII, 14; VIII, 10. Postspiracular setae extremely long on II and IV, shorter on I, III, VII, and VIII, shortest on V and VI. Sternal setae: II, 21; III, 19; IV–VI, 25–26; VII, 13; VIII of subgenital plate, 8; remainder of plate as in Fig. 5 . Genital sac somewhat obscured, but apparently close to Fig. 3 . Dimensions: TW, 0.47; HL, 0.32; PW, 0.28; MW, 0.37; AWIV, 0.46; GL, 0.40; TL, 1.29.

Female. Head as in Fig. 1 , thorax and abdomen as in Fig. 6 . Metanotal margin with 10–12 setae. Abdominal tergites not enlarged. Tergal setae: I, 12; II, 14–16; III–IV, 17–20; V–VI, 16–19; VII, 14–17; VIII, 12. Postspiracular setae as for male. Posterior marginal setae on IX as in Fig. 6 . Sternal setae on II, 22–25; III, 21–26; IV, 27–32; V, 33–34; VI, 25–34; VII of subgenital plate, 11–12; remainder of plate with 11–13 marginal, 8–9 anterior setae. Anus with 33–34 ventral fringe setae, 31–34 dorsal. Dimensions: TW, 0.50– 0.51; HL, 0.35–0.36; PW, 0.30–0.31; MW, 0.43–0.44; AWIV, 0.56–0.63; ANW, 0.22– 0.23; TL, 1.40–1.47.

Type material. Female holotype, ex S. blattae , NE PERU: SE Inquitos, Rio Napa, Explor Napa Camp, 13 June 1989, R. C. Dalgleish­6927. Paratypes, 3 females, 1 male, same data as holotype.

Remarks. This species is characterized by its larger dimensions, both sexes with more setae on tergites VI–VIII and fewer setae on metanotal margin and sternites IV–V, and the female without any highly modified abdominal tergites.

Etymology. Named after Elizabeth K. Blatt, of Princeton, West Virginia, USA., who assisted and supported the field work in Peru.

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 6. Myrsidea blattae. 5, Male dorsal thorax and dorsoventral abdomen. 6, Female meso­metanotum and dorsoventral abdomen.

FIGURES 1 – 4. Myrsidea cinnamomei. 1, Dorsoventral male. 2, Male genitalia. 3, Male genital sac sclerites. 4, Female meso­metanotum and dorsoventral abdomen.