Mirandofures kamena 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 : 68-71

Mirandofures kamena Gustafsson & Bush , new species

( Figs 90–97 )

Type host. Erythrura trichroa sigillifer (De Vis, 1897) — blue-faced parrotfinch. Type locality. Mount Kaindi , elev. 2300 m, Morobe District, Papua New Guinea.

Diagnosis. Females are separated from all other described species in the genus by the lack of a median extension of the subgenital plate ( Fig. 97 ) and the set of large setae on the posterior margin of the subgenital plate. Male genitalia ( Figs 94–96 ) similar to those of Mirandofures amandavae , but the parameres of Mirandofures kamena n. sp. are larger, more elongate, and more strongly curved. The mesosome of Mi. kamena is longer and broader with more extensive mesosomal lobes and more prominent lateral nodi of the gonopore in Mi. kamena than in Mi. amandavae .

The head shape ( Fig. 92 ) and male genitalia ( Figs 94–96 ) of Mi. kamena are similar to those of Mi. stenozona . However, the preantennal area of Mi. kamena is proportionally longer and more narrow anteriorly than is the case in Mi. stenozona , and the marginal carinal plate is not as extensive in Mi. stenozona as in Mi. kamena . In both species, the proximal mesosome is roughly rectangular, the parameres are slender and elongated, and there is no distinct heel of the paramere distal to the mesosome. However, the mesosomal lobes of Mi. kamena are broad and rounded with rugose area limited to distal margin, whereas in Mi. stenozona the lobes are slender, somewhat angular distally, and with the rugose areas extending along the entire lateral margins. Female Mi. kamena are separated from female Mi. stenozona by the fact that in the former species the subgenital plate does not extend posteriorly towards the vulval margin, whereas in the latter species a broad median section of the subgenital plate reaches the vulval margin. The long setae at the posterior margin of the subgenital plate in Mi. kamena ( Fig. 97 ) are absent in Mi. stenozona .

Description. Both sexes. Head shape, structure, and chaetotaxy as in genus description and Fig. 92 . Marginal carinal plate extensive, obovate. Marginal temporal carina, postmarginal carina, and head nodi with dark brown pigmentation. Thoracic and abdominal segments as in genus description and Figs 90–91 . Pleural ridge prominent, swollen. Pleural incrassations with large median extensions in anterior end, especially prominent in females. Sternal plates and median section of tergopleurites translucent in both sexes, but pleurites and lateral sections of tergopleurites medium to dark brown, lighter brown in area around spiracle openings.

Male. Antennae as in Fig. 92 . Abdominal chaetotaxy as in Table 4 and Fig. 90 ; ss of tergopleurites III–IV often absent. Basal apodeme with constriction at mid-length ( Fig. 94 ). Proximal mesosome trapezoidal, rounded. Gonopore ( Fig. 95 ) narrowly open distally. Mesosomal lobes rounded, small, with rugose distal ends. Small submedian spur on each lobe; 3 pmes sensilla sublaterally on each lobe. Parameral heads ( Fig. 96 ) bifid. Parameral blades gently curved around mesosome, distally elongate, slender; pst1–2 as in genus description. Measurements ex Erythrura trichroa sigillifer (n = 13, except n = 10 for TL and n = 12 for AW): TL = 1.41–1.57 (1.48); HL = 0.33–0.39 (0.36); HW = 0.24–0.26 (0.25); PRW = 0.16–0.20 (0.18); PTW = 0.23–0.28 (0.26); AW = 0.36–0.44 (0.39).

Female. Antennae as in Fig. 93 . Abdominal chaetotaxy as in Table 4 and Fig. 91 . Subgenital plate rounded rectangular ( Fig. 97 ), not modified compared to other sternal plates; distal margin not or only slightly bulging medianly, not approaching vulval margin. Vulval margin gently rounded, not bulging medianly ( Fig. 97 ), with 4–6 slender vms on each side, and 4–6 short, thorn-like vss on each side. One long, slender setae median to vss on each side; 2–3 long setae on posterior margin of subgenital plate on each side, and 3–5 shorter, slender vos scattered posterior to subgenital plate on each side. Measurements ex Erythrura trichroa sigillifer (n = 15 except n = 14 for TL and n = 13 for AW): TL = 1.89–2.08 (1.99); HL = 0.40–0.42 (0.41); HW = 0.27–0.29 (0.28); PRW = 0.19–0.21 (0.20); PTW = 0.25–0.30 (0.29); AW = 0.36–0.59 (0.44).

Etymology. The species epithet “ kamena ” is derived from the Greek “ kaména ”, meaning burned or charred, and referring to the darkened pleurites, perhaps particularly the darkened median margin of the hook-shaped pleural heads, which looks as though they have been touched by flames.

Type material. Ex Erythrura trichroa sigillifer : Holotype ♂, Mount Kaindi, elev. 2300 m, Morobe District, Papua New Guinea, 19 Jun. 1967, P.H. Colman, BBM-NG-50772 ( BPBM) . Paratypes: 1♀, same data as holotype ( BPBM) ; 3♂, 3♀, vicinity of Wau , elev. 7700 ft, Mount Kaindi, Morobe District, Papua New Guinea, 25 Jun. 1970, A.B. Mirza, BBM-NG-98787–8 ( BPBM) ; 6♂, 7♀, Mount Kaindi , Morobe District, Papua New Guinea, 25 Sep. 1970, A.B. Mirza or F.J. Radovsky, BBM-NG-99139, BBM-NG-99143–4, BBM-NG-99155 ( BPBM) ; 1♀, Mount Kaindi , elev. 2350 m, Morobe District, Papua New Guinea, 25 Jun. 1967, A.C. Ziegler, BBM-NG-53463 ( BPBM) ; 1♂, 3♀, Mount Kaindi , elev. 2300 m, Morobe District, Papua New Guinea, 9 Jul. 1967, A.C. Ziegler, BBM-NG- 53488 ( BPBM) .

Additional material examined (non-types)

Ex Erythrura trichroa sigillifer : 1♀, 10 km W of Bulolo, elev. 780 m, Morobe District, Papua New Guinea, 4 Aug. 1967, P.H. Colman, BBM-NG-51347 ( BPBM) ; 2♂, 3♀, 10 km W of Bulolo , elev. 780 m, Morobe District, Papua New Guinea, 2 Aug. 1967, P.H. Colman, BBM-NG-51301 ( BPBM) ; 1♂, 1♀, 10 km W of Bulolo , elev. 780 m, Morobe District, Papua New Guinea, 12 Aug. 1967, P.H. Colman, BBM-NG-54213 ( BPBM) .

Figures

FIGURES 90 – 91. Mirandofures kamena n. gen. & n. sp. ex Erythrura trichroa sigillifer: 90, male habitus, dorsal and ventral views. 91, female habitus, dorsal and ventral views.

FIGURES 92 – 97. Mirandofures kamena n. gen. & n. sp. ex Erythrura trichroa sigillifer: 92, male head, dorsal and ventral views. 93, female antenna, ventral view. 94, male genitalia, ventral view. 95, male mesosome, ventral view. 96, male paramere, dorsal view. 97, female subgenital plate and vulval margin, ventral view. Abbreviation: MCP, marginal carinal plate.