Myrsidea palmai Hellenthal and Price

Hellenthal, Ronald A. & Price, Roger D., 2003, The genus Myrsidea Waterston (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from bulbuls (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae), with descriptions of 16 new species, Zootaxa 354, pp. 1-20 : 15-16

Myrsidea palmai Hellenthal and Price , new species ( Figs. 15–18 )

Type host. Criniger ochraceus F. Moore.

Male (4). Much as in Fig. 15 . Tergal setae: II–IV, 11–13; V, 8–10; VI, 8–9; VII, 8; VIII, 7–8. Sternal setae: III, 17–21; IV, 20–25; V, 28–36; VI, 24–31; VII, 12–15; VIII, 4 ( Fig. 2 : arrow). Dimensions: TW, 0.41–0.45; HL, 0.31–0.32; PW, 0.27–0.30; MW, 0.38– 0.41; AWIV, 0.47–0.52; LSVII, 0.09–0.13; TL, 1.32–1.44; GL, 0.37–0.45; GSW, 0.020– 0.026.

Female (5). Metanotum and abdomen as in Fig. 16 . Tergite I greatly enlarged. Tergal setae: II, 11–16; III, 15–20; IV–V, 2 1 –29; VI, 16–21; VII, 12–18; VIII, 8. Sternal setae: III, 22–37; IV, 39–50; V, 43–57; VI, 28–33; VII, 13–14; VIII, 20–27. Anal fringe with 35–39 ventral, 36–46 dorsal setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.49–0.50; HL, 0.34–0.35; PW, 0.31–0.32; MW, 0.49–0.53; AWIV, 0.60–0.69; LSVII, 0.04–0.06; ANW, 0.24–0.26; TL, 1.65–1.71.

Type material. Ex C. ochraceus , holotype female, Khao Luang, Nakornsithamonraj, THAILAND, 14 May 1965, MAPS­148. Paratypes, all ex C. ochraceus in THAILAND: 1 male, 1 female, same as holotype; 3 females, same except 12 May 1965, MAPS­121; 3 males, Chanthabari, Khao Soi Dao Tai, 11–23 Mar. 1966, MAPS­4300, MAPS­4510, MAPS­4693.

Remarks. The unique male genital sac sclerite and the greatly enlarged female tergite I readily distinguish this species from all of the preceding 15 species. Other features, as given in the group characterization, further add to this separation.

Etymology. This species is named for Ricardo L. Palma, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to chewing louse taxonomy and his association with us in the production of the world checklist.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 15. 8, Myrsidea kathleenae male genital sac sclerite. 9, M. warwicki female metanotal margin and dorsoventral abdomen. 10 – 14, Male genital sac sclerite. 10, M. plumosi. 11, M. adamsae. 12, M. ochracei. 13, M. borbonici. 14, M. johnsoni. 15, M. palmai male metanotal margin and dorsoventral abdomen.

FIGURES 16 – 19. 16 – 18, Myrsidea palmai. 16, Female metanotal margin and dorsoventral abdomen. 17, Male genitalia. 18, Male genital sac sclerite. 19, M. claytoni female metanotal margin and dorsoventral abdomen.

FIGURES 1 – 7. 1 – 5, Myrsidea pycnonoti. 1, Dorsoventral male. 2, Ventral male terminalia. 3, Female metanotal margin and dorsoventral abdomen. 4, Male genitalia. 5, Male genital sac sclerite. 6, M. phillipsi male genital sac sclerite. 7, M. gieferi male ventral terminalia.