Myrsidea aleixoi Price, Hellenthal and Weckstein

Price, Roger D., Hellenthal, Ronald A. & Weckstein, Jason D., 2004, The genus Myrsidea Waterston (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from the toucans (Piciformes: Ramphastidae), with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 613, pp. 1-18 : 12-13

Myrsidea aleixoi Price, Hellenthal and Weckstein , new species

Type host. Pteroglossus beauharnaesii Wagler.

Female. Much as in Fig. 17 . Metanotal margin with 11–14 setae, much less often 10. Tergites III–V with slight medioposterior convexity intruding into following tergite. Tergal setae: I, 13–18; II, 18–20; III, 20–23; IV–VI, 18–22; VII, 14–17; VIII, 8–10. Postspiracular setae on III and V much shorter than others. Medium inner posterior marginal setae on IX. Sternal setae: II, 31–39; III, 30–35; IV, 42–47; V, 44–50; VI, 37–43; VII, 15– 19; subgenital plate, 33–46. Anus with 41–49 ventral fringe setae, 42–52 dorsal. Dimensions: TW, 0.66–0.69; HL, 0.40–0.43; PW, 0.42–0.46; MW, 0.65–0.70; AWIV, 0.94–0.98; ANW, 0.35–0.41; TL, 2.31–2.40.

Male. Metanotal margin with 6–7 setae. Tergal setae: I, 11–13; II–III, 17–20; IV–VI, 18–21; VII, 14–15; VIII, 7–8. Medium inner posterior marginal setae on IX, much as in Fig. 1 . Postspiracular setae on III and V shorter than others. Sternal setae: II, 30–34; III, 28–34; IV, 39–41; V, 37–43; VI, 38–39; VII, 16–21; VIII, 10–14. Genital sac sclerites as in Fig. 16 , with bifurcation on each side. Dimensions: TW, 0.62; HL, 0.38; PW, 0.41– 0.42; MW, 0.50–0.56; AWIV, 0.73–0.77; GL, 0.63–0.70; TL, 1.93–2.03.

Type material. Female holotype, ex P. beauharnaesii , BRAZIL: Mato Grosso, S bank Rio Cristalino, 1.3 km up river from confluence with Rio Teles Pires, 34 km NE Alta Floresta, 09°37'25" S, 55°55'40" W, 1 Aug. 1999, JDW­283; 3 female, 2 male paratypes, same data as holotype.

Other material. Ex P. castanotis Gould , 3 females, 1 male, BOLIVIA: Dpto. Santa Cruz, Mina Don Mario , 126 km ENE San Jose de Chiquitos, 17°20' S, 59°41' W (MHH­ 31; 1999).

Remarks. This new species is morphologically close to M. dorotheae , but is separable by its consistently larger dimensions for both sexes and most females with at least 11 marginal metanotal setae.

Etymology. This species is named for Alexandre Aleixo, Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, in recognition of his valuable assistance in collecting specimens vital to this and other studies of lice.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 18. 9 – 12, Myrsidea extranea. 9, Female dorsal thorax, metasternum, and dorsoventral abdomen. 10, Male genitalia. 11, Male genital sac sclerites. 12, Male metanotum and dorsoventral abdomen. 13 – 14, M. peruviana. 13, Female dorsal thorax and abdomen. 14, Male genital sac sclerites. 15, M. abbreviata female metanotum and dorsoventral abdomen. 16, M. dorotheae male genital sac sclerites. 17 – 18, M. lanei. 17,

FIGURES 1 – 8. 1 – 4, Myrsidea victrix. 1, Dorsoventral male. 2, Male genitalia. 3, Female metanotum and dorsoventral abdomen. 4, Male genital sac sclerites, M. victrix and M. abbreviata. 5 – 6, M. ceciliae. 5, Female metanotal margin and dorsoventral abdomen. 6, Male genital sac sclerites. 7 – 8, M. witti. 7, Male genital sac sclerites. 8, Female dorsal thorax and dorsoventral abdomen.