Bizarrifrons quasisymmetricus Valim and Palma

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 : 45-47

Bizarrifrons quasisymmetricus Valim and Palma , sp. nov.

( Figs 7–8 , 40–49 )

Type host. Cacicus solitarius (Vieillot, 1816) —Solitary cacique Diagnosis. This species belongs to the picturatus group due its general tergal coloration and chaetotaxy. Within this group is morphologically close to B. juruani by the length of the conus in relation to the first antennal segment, i.e. the tip of the conus reaches at most the end of the scape (in B. picturatus the conus is slightly longer than the scape, see above). However, both sexes of B. quasisymmetricus can be distinguished from the two other species in this group by their slight asymmetry in the preantennal region (markedly asymmetric in B. picturatus and B. juruani ). Furthermore, males of B. quasisymmetricus can be identified by the configuration of the mesomere in their genitalia ( Fig 47 vs. 37), and the presence of a fenestra in the male subgenital plate.

Description. Male. Habitus as in Figs 7 and 40 , coloration as in Fig. 7 . Preantennal region only slightly asymmetric ( Figs 7 and 40 ). Conus long, but not reaching the distal margin of the scape. Flagellomeres and pedicel distinctly more pigmented than the scape. Pterothorax with posterior margin brownish with a clear median gap, and 9–11 setae on each side. Episterna II and III strongly pigmented. Tergites well developed tapering towards the midline, VII–VIII narrower; well pigmented, except for a large round area around the spiracles. Tergal chaetotaxy uniform with some individual variation (on each side): segment II with 1 inner and 1–2 outer posterior setae; III with 1 inner and 3 outer posterior setae; IV–V with 1 inner and 3–4 outer posterior, a postspiracular seta and 1 postspiracular accessory; VI–VII with 1 inner and 4 outer posterior setae, a postspiracular seta and 1 postspiracular accessory; VIII with 5–7 posterior setae and a trichobothrium latero-posterior; IX+X with 8–9 setae, 3 longer than the others. Postero-internal angle of tergites VII–VIII straight ( Figs 40 and 42 ). Lacking sclerites around the genital opening. Sternal plates on II–VI well developed, narrow, laterally pointed and entirely pigmented, but with less sclerotization on II. Sternal chaetotaxy (on each side): segments II–VI with 1 medium long setae, surpassing the plate and reaching the following plate. Paratergal chaetotaxy: segments II–III without setae; IV–V with 2; VI–VIII, 3; IX+X, 4. Male subgenital plate of the holotype as in Fig. 43 , with a distinct transversal fenestra (variation in three paratypes as in Figs 44–46 ); genitalia as in Fig. 47 . Measurements (n = 4): POL, 0.23–0.24; POW, 0.34–0.36; TW, 0.49–0.51; HL, 0.51–0.54; DPW, 0.10–0.11; PW, 0.31–0.32; MW, 0.43–0.47; AWV, 0.61–0.67; BAL, 0.21–0.22; PL, 0.14–0.15; GW, 0.14–0.15; GL, 0.33–0.35; TL, 1.48–1.61.

Female. Habitus as in Figs 8 and 41 , coloration as in Fig. 8 . Similar to the male, but differing in the tergal chaetotaxy and terminal segments. Tergite IX+X medially fused, with a shallow anterior notch in the midline. Tergal chaetotaxy (on each side): segments II–III with 3 inner posterior seta; IV–VII with 4 inner posterior seta and a postspiracular setae; VIII with 4 inner posterior setae and a trichobothrium latero-posterior; IX+X with 4 setae, 2 short, only reaching the terminal plates; and 2 long, surpassing the end of the abdomen. The postero-internal angle of tergites II–III pointed, those of IV–VIII rounded. Subgenital plate tapering from the base to the distal end ( Fig. 49 ), with 3–4 short setae laterad, on each side ( Fig. 48 ). Vulva with 7–9 short marginal setae and 9–12 short submarginal spiniform setae on each side ( Fig. 48 ). Measurements (n = 11): POL, 0.23–0.26; POW, 0.35–0.37; TW, 0.50–0.54; HL, 0.52–0.57; DPW, 0.10–0.11; PW, 0.30–0.33; MW, 0.45–0.48; AWV, 0.63–0.71; TL, 1.66–1.89.

Type material. Male holotype (FMNH-INS 28926), ex Cacicus solitarius , PERU: Cuzco, 20Km NW Pilcopata, 21.XII.1985, D.H. Clayton coll. (host #1211). Paratypes: 3 males and 7 females (FMNH-INS 28926, 28927), same data as holotype. 2 females (FMNH-INS 28924), same data as holotype except, 2.XII.1985 and host #1212. 1 female (FMNH-INS 28925), same data as holotype except, 2.XII.1985 and host #1213. The slide FMNH-INS 28927, with 2 males and 4 females paratypes, will be deposited in MZUSP.

Etymology. The species epithet derives from quasi- (Latin) = almost, and - symmetricus (Latin) = symmetric, referring to the almost symmetric preantennal region of the head, and is treated as a noun in apposition.

Figures

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 40 – 41. Bizarrifrons quasisymmetricus sp. nov.: adult male, dorso-ventral view (40); adult female, dorso-ventral view (41).

FIGURES 42 – 49. Bizarrifrons quasisymmetricus sp. nov.: male terminalia, dorso-ventral view (42); variation in male subgenital plate (43 – 46); male genitalia (47); female terminalia, dorso-ventral view (48); female subgenital plate (49).