Brueelia pseudognatha 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 : 53

Brueelia pseudognatha Gustafsson & Bush , new species

( Figs 63–69 )

Type host. Pycnonotus nigricans superior Clancey, 1959 — black-fronted bulbul. Type locality. Potchefstroom, Transvaal, South Africa.

Diagnosis. Brueelia pseudognatha n. sp. belongs to a group of Brueelia s. str. that occurs mainly on bulbuls ( Pycnonotidae ). This group is characterised by the fingerlike extensions of the median margin of the ventral carinae and the abdominal chaetotaxy. The only previously described species that we can positively identify with this group is Brueelia alophoixi Sychra [in Sychra et al.], 2009. Brueelia guldum Ansari, 1955a , probably belongs to this group, but illustrations of Br. guldum given by Ansari (1958a) are not detailed enough to be certain. Brueelia pseudognatha and Br. alophoixi can readily be separated by head shape, with Br. alophoixi having a shorter, more trapezoidal head, and Br. pseudognatha ( Fig. 65 ) having a more oblong head. In addition, male Br. pseudognatha have fewer and shorter abdominal setae, especially on segments VIII–IX ( Fig. 42 ).

Description. Both sexes. Head shape, structure, and chaetotaxy as in Fig. 65 . Marginal carina slightly widened at clypeo-labral suture. Ventral anterior plate small. Short vsms2 located in clypeo-labral suture, not on lateral margin. Lateral margins of clypeo-labral suture with distinct protruding finger at anterior end of pulvinus. Preantennal nodi oblong. Coni broad, reaching distal margin of scape. Pre- and post-ocular nodi small. Gular plate spade-shaped. Thoracic and abdominal segments as in genus description and Figs 63–64 ; 4 mms on each side, alternating between short and long setae. Proepimera broad, median ends curled around coxae II. Median ends of metepisterna broad, blunt. Tergopleurites almost entirely translucent. Sternal plates weakly pigmented, but slightly darker around edges.

Male. Abdominal chaetotaxy as in Table 3 and Fig. 63 . tps present on segment VIII. Subgenital plate slenderly trapezoidal ( Fig. 63 ). Male genitalia ( Fig. 66 ) typical for genus. Proximal mesosome broadly rounded. Gonopore ( Fig. 67 ) narrowly open distally. Parameral blades ( Fig. 68 ) slightly elongated distally; pst1 sensillus, submarginal near distal tip; pst2 seta, lateral near distal tip. Measurements ex Pycnonotus nigricans superior (n = 2): TL = 1.69– 1.78; HL = 0.35; HW = 0.28; PRW = 0.18; PTW = 0.28; AW = 0.37–0.38.

Female. Abdominal chaetotaxy as in Table 3 and Fig. 64 . Subgenital plate ( Fig. 69 ) slenderly pentagonal, flaring into cross-piece at vulval margin. Sutural setae present on tergopleurite VIII. Vulval margin slightly protruding medianly ( Fig. 69 ), with 3–4 slender vms on each side, and 4 short, thorn-like vss on each side; 3–4 slender vos on each side anterior to cross-piece, and 1 slender vos median to vss. Measurements ex Pycnonotus nigricans superior (n = 2): TL = 1.48–1.55; HL = 0.33; HW = 0. 26; PRW = 0.17; PTW = 0.25–0.26; AW = 0.33– 0.35.

Etymology. The species epithet is derived from Greek “ pseudos ” for “false” and “ gnathos ”, for “jaw”, referring to the fingerlike extension of the ventral carinae ( Fig. 65 ).

Type material. Holotype ♂, Potchefstroom , Transvaal, South Africa, 12 Jul. 1954, H.E. Paterson, Brit. Mus. 1955-660 ( NHML) . Paratypes: 1♀, same data as holotype ( NHML) ; 1♂, 1♀, Potchefstroom, Transvaal, 1 Oct. 1953, Brit. Mus. 1954-474 ( NHML) ; 1♀, Free State, South Africa, 2 Aug. 1998, K. Johnson, PIPeR #150, voucher for sequence Brsp.Pynig. 2.10.1999.3 (PIPeR).

Figures

FIGURES 63 – 64. Brueelia pseudognatha n. sp. ex Pycnonotus nigricans superior: 63, male habitus, dorsal and ventral views. 64, female habitus, dorsal and ventral views.

FIGURES 65 – 69. Brueelia pseudognatha n. sp. ex Pycnonotus nigricans superior: 65, male head, dorsal and ventral views. 66, male genitalia, dorsal view. 67, male mesosome, ventral view. 68, male paramere, dorsal view. 69, female subgenital plate and vulval margin, ventral view.

FIGURES 42 – 43. Brueelia brachythorax (Giebel, 1874) ex Bombycilla garrulus garrulus: 42, male habitus, dorsal and ventral views. 43, female habitus, dorsal and ventral views.