Bizarrifrons magus

Valim, Michel P. & Palma, Ricardo L., 2012, Redescriptions of two species and descriptions of three new species of the louse genus Bizarrifrons Eichler, 1938 (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae), Zootaxa 3273, pp. 28-50 : 30-35

Bizarrifrons magus (Nitzsch [in Giebel], 1866)

( Figs 1–6 , 9–16 )

Type host: Cassicus cristatus [= Psarocolius decumanus (Pallas, 1769) ]— Crested oropendola

Nirmus magus Nitzsch [in Giebel], 1861. Z. Ges. Naturw. 18: 301 (nomen nudum).

Nirmus majus Nitzsch [in Giebel], 1866. Z. Ges. Naturw. 28: 367 (error for magus ).

Docophorus ambiguus Giebel, 1874 . Insecta Epizoa: 119, pl. VIII, figs 12–13 (not Docophorus ambiguus Burmeister, 1838 ).

Nirmus magus Nitzsch, 1861 ; Giebel 1874. Insecta Epizoa: 119 (as junior synonym of D. ambiguus ).

Docophorus ambiguus N. in Giebel. Piaget 1880. Les Pédiculines: 70.

Docophorus ambiguus Nitzsch in Giebel, 1874. Kellogg 1908. Genera Insectorum 66: 10.

Degeeriella ambigua Giebel, 1874 . Harrison 1916. Parasitol. 9: 107 (as junior synonym of D. magus ).

Degeeriella magus Nitzsch in Giebel, 1861. Harrison 1916. Parasitol. 9: 117.

Philopeterus [sic] ambiguus Giebel, 1847 [sic]. Paine 1917. Proc U S Natl Mus. 53: 231.

Philopterus ambiguus Giebel. Paine 1917 . Proc U S Natl Mus. 53: pl. 32, figs a–d.

Degeeriella magus Nitzsch. Eichler 1936 . J Ornithol. 84: 486, fig. 3.

Bizarrifrons maga (Nitzsch in Giebel). Eichler 1938. Zoolog Anz. 124: 227, figs 1, 2a, 3a.

Bizarrifrons ambiguus ( Giebel, 1874) . Hopkins & Clay 1952. Check list of the genera and species of Mallophaga: 50 (as junior synonym of B. magus ).

Bizarrifrons magus (Nitzsch [in Giebel], 1866). Hopkins & Clay 1952. Check list of the genera and species of Mallophaga: 51.

Nirmus magus Nitzsch, 1866 [sic]. Hopkins & Clay 1952. Check list of the genera and species of Mallophaga: 245.

Nirmus majus Nitzsch, 1866 ; misprint for magus . Hopkins & Clay 1952. Check list of the genera and species of Mallophaga: 245.

Bizarrifrons magus (Nitzsch, 1866) . Cicchino & Castro, 1998. Ischnocera : 117.

Bizarrifrons magus (Nitzsch [in Giebel], 1866). Price et al. 2003. Chewing lice: world checklist: 152.

The spelling of the species epithet “ magus ” is preserved here invoking prevailing usage. However, it should be noted that the original correct spelling was “ majus ” as published in Giebel (1866), because the name “ Nirmus magus ” as published in Giebel (1861) is clearly a nomen nudum and therefore invalid and unavailable. Giebel (1874) reverted the spelling to “ Nirmus magus ” and, inexplicably, listed it as a junior synonym of his new species Docophorus ambiguus . Harrison (1916) regarded the name Nirmus magus Nitzsch in Giebel, 1861 as a valid taxon, and his incorrect spelling of the species epithet – but not the date 1861 – has been used by all subsequent authors.

Descriptions of immature stages. First nymphal instar. Habitus as in Fig. 1 . Head roughly subconical with tips of the marginal carinae convergent, lacking dorso-anterior head plate. Preantennal region symmetric. Marginal and occipital carinae brownish, ventral carinae white. Scape and pedicel white, only flageromeres brownish. Pterothorax with 1 long seta on each side, situated about the mid-point of the posterior margin, plus a short spiniform seta on each postero-lateral angle. Without meso- or metasternal plates, or setae. Without paratergal and hemitergal plates. Tergal chaetotaxy (on each side): segments II–III with 1 innermost posterior seta; IV–VIII with 1 innermost posterior seta and a postspiracular setae; IX, with 2 long setae. Sternal chaetotaxy (on each side): 1 very short seta on II–VIII; 2 long and 1 very short setae on IX. Paratergal chaetotaxy: II–III without seta; IV–V, 1 very short seta; VI–VII, 1 long and 1 very short setae; VIII, 2 long and 1 short setae. Measurements (n = 3): POL, 0.13; POW, 0.23–0.24; TW, 0.32–0.33; HL, 0.30–0.32; PW, 0.20–0.23; MW, 0.28–0.29; AWV, 0.27–0.32; TL, 0.85–0.89.

Second nymphal instar. Habitus as in Fig. 2 . Head slightly pointed with tips of the marginal carinae parallel, the ventral carina only slightly surpassing the marginal carina as in adults. Dorso-anterior head plate present and square-like; ventro-anterior head plate small and cordiform. Preantennal region slightly asymmetric. Marginal and occipital carinae brownish, ventral carinae mostly white except on the tip of the head which is faintly brownish. Scape and pedicel white, only flageromeres brownish. Pterothorax with 4 (rarely 3) long setae on each side, plus a short spiniform seta on each postero-lateral angle. Without meso- or metasternal plates, but with 1 seta on each area corresponding to the meso- and metasternum. Paratergal plates of similar size and well pigmented present on segments II–VIII, with those on VIII slightly smaller. Without hemitergal plates. Tergal chaetotaxy (on each side): II–III with 1 innermost posterior seta; IV–VIII with 1 innermost posterior seta and a postspiracular setae; IX with 2 long setae. Sternal chaetotaxy (on each side): 1 seta on II–VIII, those on VI–VIII very short; 2 long and 1 short setae on IX. Paratergal chaetotaxy: II–III, without seta; IV–V with 1 long seta; VI–VII, 1 long and 1 short setae; VIII, 2 long and 1 short setae. Measurements (n = 2): POL, 0.19; POW, 0.30–0.31; TW, 0.42–0.43; HL, 0.40–0.42; PW, 0.26–0.28; MW, 0.37–0.38; AWV, 0.50–0.52; TL, 1.25–1.27.

Third nymphal instar. Habitus as in Fig. 4 . Head distinctly pointed with tips of the marginal carinae parallel, the ventral carina surpassing the marginal carina. Dorso-anterior head plate present and square-like with anterior margin concave; ventro-anterior head plate small and roughly cordiform. Preantennal region asymmetric, less expressed as in adults. Pigmentation of head and thorax different from that of the adults, with marginal and occipital carinae brownish, the ventral carinae brownish only from the level of the a.v.s.3 to the frontal margin, the basal portion of this carina completely white. Scape and pedicel white, flageromeres brownish. Pterothorax with 7 (rarely 6) long seta on each side, plus a short spiniform seta on each postero-lateral angle. Without meso- or metasternal plates, but with 1 seta on each area corresponding to the meso- and metasternum. Paratergal plates of similar size and well pigmented on segments II–VIII, with those on VIII slightly smaller. Without hemitergal plates. Sternal chaetotaxy (on each side): 1 long seta on II–VI; 1 short seta on VII–VIII; 2 long plus 3 short setae on IX. Paratergal chaetotaxy: II–III without seta; IV–V with 2 setae; VI–VIII with 3 setae of various lengths.

Male tergal chaetotaxy (on each side) ( Fig. 3 ): segments II–III with 1 innermost posterior seta; IV–VI with 1 innermost posterior seta and a postspiracular seta; VII–VIII with 2 inner posterior setae and a postspiracular seta, very short on VIII; IX with 2 long setae. Measurements (n = 1): POL, 0.25; POW, 0.36; TW, 0.51; HL, 0.52; PW, 0.32; MW, 0.47; AWV, 0.57; TL, 1.50.

Female tergal chaetotaxy (on each side) ( Fig. 4 ): segments II–III with 1 innermost posterior seta; IV–VIII with 1 innermost posterior seta and a postspiracular setae; IX with 2 long setae. Measurements (n = 2): POL, 0.22–0.27; POW, 0.29–0.39; TW, 0.41–0.52; HL, 0.40–0.54; PW, 0.26–0.33; MW, 0.38–0.45; AWV, 0.51–0.55; TL, 1.32–1.53.

Redescription of adults. Male. Habitus as in Figs 5 and 9 , coloration as in Fig. 5 . Anterior portion of the head distinctly asymmetric ( Figs 5 and 9 ). Head shape and chaetotaxy similar to Fig. 11 . Conus long, but not reaching the distal margin of the scape. Antennal flagellomeres distinctly more pigmented than the pedicel, the latter slightly more pigmented than the scape. Pterothorax with the entire posterior margin brownish and with 7–8 setae on each side. Episterna II and III strongly pigmented. Tergites well developed, with their internal margins truncated, except for VII–VIII slightly pointed; with distinct pigmentation, except for large round areas around the spiracles. Postspiracular setae present on segments IV–VII, with alveoli only on IV and V. Tergal chaetotaxy uniform with some individual variation, as follows (on each side): II–III with 1 innermost posterior seta; IV–V with 1 innermost posterior seta and a postspiracular setae; VI with 2 inner posterior, 1 (rarely none) outer posterior and a postspiracular setae; VII with 5 outer posterior (rarely lacking or two on one side) and 1 postspiracular setae; VIII with 6 posterior and a trichobothrium latero-posterior; IX+X with 9–12 setae, 3 of them longer than the others. The postero-internal angle of tergites VII–IX+X distinctly bent downwards, sometimes also on VI in at least one side ( Figs 9 and 12 ). Two pairs of sclerites around the genital opening: 2 distal, large, sub-rounded to sub-square; the other 2 proximal, smaller and oblong in shape. Sternal plates on II–VI well developed, laterally rounded and pigmented. Sternal chaetotaxy (on each side): segments II–VI with 1 medium long setae, surpassing the plate in the next segment and reaching the following plate. Paratergal chaetotaxy: segments II–III without setae; IV–V, 2 setae (one male with only one on IV in both sides); VI–VIII, 3; IX+X, 4 (rarely 3 on one side). Genitalia as in Fig. 13 ; subgenital plate as in Fig. 14 , without a fenestra. Measurements (n = 11): POL, 0.28–0.32; POW, 0.39–0.42; TW, 0.55–0.59; HL, 0.60–0.64; DPW, 0.11–0.13; PW, 0.31–0.36; MW, 0.48–0.53; AWV, 0.57–0.69; BAL, 0.22–0.24; PL, 0.12–0.15; GW, 0.13–0.14; GL, 0.34–0.37; TL, 1.80–1.95.

Female. Habitus as in Figs 6 and 10 , coloration as in Fig. 6 . Head as in Fig. 11 . Similar to the male, but differing in the tergal chaetotaxy and terminal segments. Tergites IX+X medially fused, with a distinct shallow anterior notch in the midline. Tergal chaetotaxy (on each side): segments II–III with 1 innermost posterior seta; IV–VII with 1 innermost posterior seta and a postspiracular setae; VIII with 1 innermost posterior seta and a trichobothrium latero-posterior; IX+X with 4 setae, 2 of them small, only reaching the terminal plates, and 2 very long, reaching beyond the end of the abdomen. Postero-internal angle of each tergite II–VIII truncated, roughly square; tergite IX+X entirely pigmented. Subgenital plate tapering from its rectangular base ( Fig. 15 ), with 2–5 small setae laterad on each side ( Fig. 16 ). Vulvar margin with 7–10 short marginal setae and 10–16 short spiniform submarginal setae, on each side ( Fig. 16 ). Measurements (n = 11): POL, 0.30–0.35; POW, 0.39–0.46; TW, 0.58–0.62; HL, 0.62–0.67; DPW, 0.11–0.13; PW, 0.34–0.38; MW, 0.48–0.55; AWV, 0.61–0.73; TL, 1.97–2.31.

Remarks. Although without a formal description, Paine (1917) noted that in the “very youngest stages” of B. magus the head is symmetric, only becoming asymmetric in the “succeeding” stages. We confirm that the preantennal region of nymph I is symmetric, and that a very discrete asymmetry appears in nymph II, reaching its maximum degree in nymph III and adults. The development of an asymmetric head in chewing lice has also been observed by Mey (1998) for the genus Struthiolipeurus Cummings, 1916 , where nymph I still retains its more primitive symmetric head.

Material examined. 8 males and 7 females (FMNH-INS 28930, 28931, 28933), ex Psarocolius decumanus , PERÚ: Madre de Dios, Hacienda Amazonia, near Atalaya, 17.XI.1985, S.M. Lanyon coll. (host #1116). 1 male, 3 females, 1 nymph III 3, 1 nymph III Ƥ, and 1 nymph II (FMNH-INS 28928), same data except, 10.XI.1985 and host #1069. 1 male, 2 nymphs I, and 1 nymph III Ƥ (FMNH-INS 28934), same data except, 12.XI.1985 and host #1087. 1 male (FMNH-INS 28929), same data except, 9.XI.1985 and host #1061. 1 female (FMNH-INS 28932), same data except 5.XI.1985 and host #1036. 1 male, 2 females, 1 nymph I, and 1 nymph II (FMNH-INS 28947), same data except 21.XI.1985 and host #1160. The slide FMNH-INS 28931, with 3 males and 2 females, will be deposited in MZUSP.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Bizarrifrons magus: first nymphal instar, dorso-ventral view (1); second nymphal instar, dorso-ventral view (2); metathorax and abdomen of male third nymphal instar, dorsal view (3); female third nymphal instar, dorso-ventral view (4). Only coxae and trochanters shown.

FIGURES 5 – 8. Adult male Bizarrifrons magus (5); adult female B. magus (6); adult male Bizarrifrons quasisymmetricus sp. nov. (7); adult female B. quasisymmetricus sp. nov. (8).

FIGURES 9 – 10. Bizarrifrons magus: adult male, dorso-ventral view (9); adult female, dorso-ventral view (10).

FIGURES 11 – 17. Bizarrifrons magus: female head, dorso-ventral view (11); male terminalia, dorso-ventral view (12); male genitalia (13); male subgenital plate (14); female subgenital plate (15); female terminalia, dorso-ventral view (16). Bizarrifrons latifrons sp. nov.: male genitalia (17). Abbreviations (from Clay 1951 and Mey 1994): a. d. s. = anterior dorsal seta; a. s. = anterior seta; a. v. s. = anterior ventral seta; d. sm. s = dorsal submarginal seta; md. s = mandibular seta; m. t. s. = marginal temporal seta; o. s. = ocular seta; po. s. = preocular seta; pa. s. = preantennal seta; pc. s. = preconal seta; pn. s. = postnodal seta; pt. s. = postemporal seta; v. sm. = ventral submarginal seta.