Forficuloecus josephi Price, Johnson

Price, Roger D., Johnson, Kevin P. & Palma, Ricardo L., 2008, A review of the genus Forficuloecus Conci (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) from parrots (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae), with descriptions of four new species, Zootaxa 1859, pp. 49-62 : 57-58

Forficuloecus josephi Price, Johnson , and Palma, new species

( Figs. 21–25 )

Type host. Neopsephotus bourkii (Gould, 1841) , the Bourke's Parrot.

Male. Dorsal abdomen as in Fig. 25 . Tergal setae: II, 4–6; III–VII, 4; VIII, 2–4. Tergite IX with small but well-defined lateral plates, distinct median gap between them. Sternal setae: II, 2; III, 2–4; IV–V, 4; VI–VII, 4–6. Genitalia ( Fig. 22 ) with long gently curved parameres and elongate slender penis shaped as shown.

Female. Head as in Fig. 24 , dorsal abdomen as in Fig. 21 . Tergal setae: II, 5–6; III, 4–5; IV, 4–6; V–VIII, 4. Sternal setae: II, 2–3; III, 2–5; IV–V, 4–7; VI, 5–7; VII, 4. Ventral terminalia as in Fig. 23

Type material. Holotype male ( ANIC), ex N. bourkii , AUSTRALIA: Western Australia, 22 May 2002, T. Chesser, ANWC 33375. Paratypes ( INHS): 1 male, 3 females, same data as holotype; 1 male, 1 female, same except South Australia, 1 May 2002, ANWC 32776.

Other material. Ex Neophema splendida (Gould, 1841) [captive], AUSTRALIA: 1 male, 1 female ( MONZ), South Australia, Adelaide, June 1986, P. Needham.

Remarks. Both sexes of F. josephi are the smallest of the species in this group, and they are further distinctive by having the fewest abdominal tergal setae. This small size and reduced number of tergal setae are most similar to F. greeni Guimarães. However , the consistently smaller number of tergal setae for F. josephi will separate these two species. Palma and Barker (1996: 178) listed Neophema splendida as a host for F. greeni , based on the same specimens that we have identified as F. josephi in this review.

Etymology. This species is named for Leo Joseph, Australian National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO, Canberra, in recognition of his work on the systematics of parrots and his assistance in collecting bird lice.

Figures

FIGURES 18 – 25. 18 – 20, Forficuloecus palmai. 18, Ventral female terminalia. 19, Dorsal male terminalia. 20, Male genitalia. 21 – 25, F. josephi. 21, Dorsal female abdomen. 22, Male genitalia. 23, Ventral female terminalia. 24, Dorsal female head. 25, Dorsal male abdomen.