Priceiella (Torosinirmus) koka Gustafsson & Bush, 2017

Bush, Sarah E., 2017, Morphological revision of the hyperdiverse Brueelia - complex (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae) with new taxa, checklists and generic key, Zootaxa 4313 (1), pp. 1-443 : 189-193

Priceiella (Torosinirmus) koka Gustafsson & Bush , new species

( Figs 307–314 , 318 )

Type host. Turdoides tenebrosa (Hartlaub, 1883) — dusky babbler. Type locality. Koka, Ethiopia.

Diagnosis. Priceiella (Torosinirmus) koka n. sp. is most similar to Pr. (Ts.) nivea ( Ansari, 1956a) , with which it shares the long parameres [ Fig. 313 ; parameres of Pr. (Ts.) brueliodes much shorter, broader]. In both Pr. (Ts.) koka and Pr. (Ts.) nivea the divergent part of the paramere is shorter, compared to the convergent part, than in Pr. (Ts.) brueliodes . Priceiella (Ts.) koka ( Figs 307–308 ) also shares the larger number of pterothoracic setae with Pr. (Ts.) nivea . Moreover, the antennae of Pr. (Ts.) koka ( Figs 309–310 ) and Pr. (Ts.) nivea are sexually dimorphic, which is not the case for Pr. (Ts.) brueliodes .

The most significant difference between Priceiella (Torosinirmus) koka and Pr. (Ts.) nivea is the shape of the mesomere, which in the latter species is rounded both anteriorly and posteriorly, whereas the mesomere of Pr. (Ts.) koka ( Fig. 312 ) is broader and entirely flat anteriorly, and more angular posteriorly. Males separated by the setae of tergopleurite IX+X [2 in Pr. (Ts.) nivea, 3–4 in Pr. (Ts.) koka ] and the unequal size of the setae of the genital opening in Pr. (Ts.) koka , but equal size of all setae in Pr. (Ts.) nivea .

Females of all three species cannot be reliably identified presently. The differences in genital setae [5 vms and 6 vss on each side in Priceiella (Torosinirmus) nivea , 4 vms and 9 vss on each side in Pr. (Ts.) brueliodes , and 3–5 vms and 5–7 vss on each side in Pr. (Ts.) koka ] may seem reliable, but Ansari’s (1956a) descriptions are based on single specimens of each species, and thus potential overlap between his Pr. (Ts.) brueliodes, Pr. (Ts.) nivea , and Pr. (Ts.) koka is likely underestimated. Differences in abdominal chaetotaxy between the three species may also be illusory, for the same reason. However, Pr. (Ts.) koka ( Fig. 309 ) generally has a flatter frons than either of the other two species. Adequate comparison between females of the three species must await additional collections from the type hosts of Pr. (Ts.) nivea and Pr. (Ts.) brueliodes .

Description. Both sexes. Head shape, structure, and chaetotaxy as in genus and subgenus descriptions and Fig. 309 . Preantennal nodi moderate. Coni much short, broad, not reaching distal margin of scapes. Antennae sexually dimorphic ( Figs 309–310 ). Preocular nodi moderate. Postocular nodi small. Gular plate short, squat. Thoracic and abdominal segments as genus and subgenus descriptions and Figs 307–308 . Tergopleurites largely translucent, but with weak pigmentation lateral to spiracle openings. Sternal plates III–VI and subgenital plates of both sexes with weak pigmentation. Pleurites not modified as in other Priceiella ( Fig. 318 ).

Male. Scape long, slightly swollen, curved posteriorly ( Fig. 309 ). Pteronotum with 8–9 posterior setae on each side ( Fig. 307 ). Abdominal plates and chaetotaxy as in Table 8 and Fig. 307 . Tergopleurite IX+X with 3–4 setae clustered submedianly. Setae of genital opening of unequal size, with lateral 2 setae 3–4 times as long as median seta. Male genitalia as in Figs. 311–313 . Basal apodeme roughly rectangular, lateral margins straight or only slightly concave. Proximal mesomere short, broad, not overlapping with basal apodeme; anterior margin flat. Primary mesomeral lobes broad, gently rounded, somewhat angular in some specimens. Lateral and distal margins thickened, but thickening not sinuous and do not extend medianly towards the gonopore ( Fig. 312 ). Ventral side with small protruding nodi near distal margin. Distal margin of mesomere convergent to median point. Parameral heads small, blunt. Parameral blades ( Fig. 313 ) stout, divergent in distal third only. Measurements ex Turdoides tenebrosa (n = 7): TL = 1.21–1.40; HL = 0.35–0.37; HW = 0.33–0.36; PRW = 0.20–0.24; PTW = 0.35–0.38; AW = 0.49–0.52.

Female. Scape as in Fig. 310 . Pteronotum with 4–6 posterior setae on each side (most specimens with 5 on each side) ( Fig. 308 ). Abdominal plates and chaetotaxy as in Table 8 and Fig. 308 . Subgenital plate roughly triangular ( Fig. 314 ). Vulval margin ( Fig. 314 ) gently rounded, with 3–5 slender vms on each side, and 5–7 thornlike vss on each side; 4–5 vos on each side; distal vos located on cross-piece, just anterior to vss. Measurements ex Turdoides tenebrosa (n = 10): TL = 1.61–1.75; HL = 0.36–0.42; HW = 0.35–0.39; PRW = 0.21–0.25; PTW = 0.35– 0.39; AW = 0.49–0.58.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the type locality.

Type material. Ex Turdoides tenebrosa : Holotype ♂, Koka, Ethiopia, 18 Dec. 1960, S. Brelih, IM-7402 ( PMSL) . Paratypes: 5♂, 4♀, same data as holotype, IM-7 401, IM-7403, IM-6405–14 ( PMSL) ; 2♂, 5♀, Awassa , Ethiopia, 5 Nov. 1960, S. Brelih, IM-3199–3205 ( PMSL) .

Figures

FIGURES 307 – 308. Priceiella (Torosinirmus) koka n. gen., n. subgen. & n. sp. ex Turdoides tenebrosa: 307, male habitus, dorsal and ventral views. 308, female habitus, dorsal and ventral views.

FIGURES 309 – 314. Priceiella (Torosinirmus) koka n. gen., n. subgen. & n. sp. ex Turdoides tenebrosa: 309, male head, dorsal and ventral views. 310, female antenna, ventral view. 311, male genitalia, dorsal view. 312, male mesosome, ventral view. 313, male paramere, dorsal view. 314, female subgenital plate and vulval margin, ventral view.

FIGURES 315 – 318. Pleurites IV – V of male, including lateral end of sternite, dorsal view (ventral structures shown with dotted lines): 315, Priceiella (Priceiella) sternotypica (Ansari, 1956 a) n. comb. 316, Priceiella (Camurnirmus) hwameicola n. gen., n. subgen. & n. sp. 317, Priceiella (Thescelovora) alliocephala n. gen., n. sungen. & n. sp. 318, Priceiella (Torosinirmus) koka n. gen., n. sugen. & n. sp.