Myrsidea iliacae Price and Dalgleish

Price, Roger D. & Dalgleish, Robert C., 2007, Myrsidea Waterston (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from the Emberizidae (Passeriformes), with descriptions of 13 new species, Zootaxa 1467, pp. 1-18 : 5

Myrsidea iliacae Price and Dalgleish , new species

( Figs. 11–12 )

Type host. Passerella iliaca (Merrem) , Fox Sparrow.

Female (9). Gula with 4–5 setae on each side. Metanotum and dorsal abdomen as in Fig. 12 . Metanotum not enlarged, with 10–12 marginal setae; metasternal plate with 6–8 setae. Abdominal tergites I–II enlarged, with I largest, having pronounced medioposterior convexity, III–V smaller and medially compressed. Tergal setae, with median gap in each row: I, 8–10; II–III, 8–12; IV–VI, 9–16; VII, 8–11; VIII, 8. Postspiracular setae long on V–VI (0.13–0.14), very long on VII (0.26–0.28). Sternal setae: II, 3–4 in each aster, 9–13 marginal between asters, 8–11 anterior; III, 18–25; IV, 26–29; V, 27–33; VI, 24–29; VII, 12–16; VIII–IX, 20–24. Dimensions: TW, 0.45–0.48; HL, 0.31–0.34; PW, 0.27–0.30; MW, 0.42–0.47; AWIV, 0.54–0.64; ANW, 0.20– 0.23; TL, 1.42–1.59.

Male (11). Gula with 4–5 setae on each side. Metanotum with 7–9 marginal setae; metasternal plate with 6 setae. Tergal setae, with median gap in each row: I, 6–8; II, 8–10; III–IV, 10–13; V–VI, 8–12; VII, 8–10; VIII, 6–8. Sternal setae: II, as for female; III, 14–19; IV, 23–26; V, 24–29; VI, 20–27; VII, 12–17; VIII, 6–8. Genital sac sclerite as in Fig. 11 , with slight apical indentation and distinct subapical lateral projections. Dimensions: TW, 0.40–0.44; HL, 0.29–0.32; PW, 0.24–0.28; MW, 0.34–0.38; AWIV, 0.45–0.49; GL, 0.37– 0.44; TL, 1.14–1.35.

Type material. Holotype female ( OSU), ex P. iliaca , USA: New Jersey, Princeton, 28 Nov 1939. Paratypes ( OSU), all from type host: 1 female, 1 male, same data as holotype; 1 male, same except 24 Nov 1939, C.B. Worth; 1 female, New Jersey, 24 Sept 1940, C.B. Worth; 1 male, New Jersey, 10 Sept 1938; 3 males, New York, 1940; 1 female, New York, Long Island, 1939, M. Beals.

Other material. 8 females, 6 males, ex Pipilo erythrophthalmus (L.), Eastern Towhee, USA: Colorado, Illinois, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina (1 collection each).

Remarks. The female of M. iliacae , with a normal metanotum having at least 10 marginal setae, the enlarged tergites I–II, a distinct median gap in the abdominal tergal rows, and fewer setae on tergites VII– VIII, is separable from others of this group. The male is recognized by the number of setae on the metanotal margin and on tergites and sternites VII–VIII.

We initially had believed our material from Pipilo erythrophthalmus was M. melanorum . However, our lice are distinctly different from that described by Kellogg (1896) and are inseparable from the Myrsidea collected from the Fox Sparrow.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 15. 7 – 9. Myrsidea citrinae. 7. Female metanotum and dorsal abdomen. 8. Male metanotum and dorsal abdomen. 9. Male sternite II. 10. M. zonotriciae female metanotum and dorsal abdomen. 11 – 12. M. iliacae. 11. Male genital sac sclerite. 12. Female metanotum and dorsal abdomen. 13 – 15. M. coronatae. 13. Female metanotum and dorsoventral abdomen. 14. Male genital sac sclerite. 15. Male sternite II.