Myrsidea claytoni 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 : 16

Myrsidea claytoni Hellenthal and Price , new species ( Fig. 19 )

Type host. Pycnonotus eutilotus (Jardine and Selby) .

Male (6). Close to M. palmai , differing as follows. Tergal setae: II–III, 12–14; IV, 10– 15; V, 8–12; VI, 8–11. Sternal setae: IV, 26–32; V, 34–40; VI, 30–35; VII, 14–19. Dimensions: HL, 0.27–0.30; PW, 0.26–0.28; MW, 0.34–0.39; AWIV, 0.44–0.48; TL, 1.19–1.29; GL, 0.40–0.45.

Female (3). Close to M. palmai , differing as follows. Metanotum and abdomen as in Fig. 19 , with metanotum greatly enlarged. Sternal setae: VI, 31–38; VII, 13–15; VIII, 19– 20. Anal fringe with 32–35 ventral, 36–39 dorsal setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.46–0.49; HL, 0.30–0.33; PW, 0.30–0.31; MW, 0.45–0.49; AWIV, 0.58–0.65; TL, 1.45–1.67.

Type material. Ex P. eutilotus , holotype female, Semengo, SARAWAK, 8 Sept. 1966, 7E­0724. Paratypes: 4 males, 3 females, same as holotype.

Other material. Ex P. sinensis , 3 males, HONG KONG (2 collections).

Remarks. The female of this species is unique by having the enlarged metanotum. The male is tenuously separable by its smaller head length and total length.

Etymology. This species is named for Dale H. Clayton, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to chewing louse biology and his association with us in the production of our world checklist.

Figures

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.