Myrsidea similis Price, Hellenthal and Dalgleish

Price, Roger D., Hellenthal, Ronald A. & Dalgleish, Robert C., 2005, The genus Myrsidea Waterston (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from tyrant­flycatchers (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae), with descriptions of 13 new species, Zootaxa 1048, pp. 1-20 : 11

Myrsidea similis Price, Hellenthal and Dalgleish , new species ( Figs. 11–12 )

Type host. Myiozetetes similis (Spix) , Social Flycatcher.

Female. Dorsal thorax and abdomen as in Fig. 11 . Metanotum with 11 marginal setae. Tergites II–IV with slight medioposterior convexity. Tergal setae: I, 13; II, 17; III, 12; IV, 15; V, 13; VI, 12; VII, 10; VIII, 8. Postspiracular setae on III and V–VI shorter than very long postspiracular setae on adjacent segments. Sternal setae: II, each aster with 3 setae, 22 other setae; III, 18; IV, 33; V, 46; VI, 32; VII, 14; VIII–IX of subgenital plate, 24. Anus with 43 setae in dorsal fringe, 38 in ventral. Dimensions: TW, 0.51; HL, 0.36; PW, 0.32; PSL, 0.12; MW, 0.48; MSL, 0.15; AWIV, 0.68; ANW, 0.24; TL, 1.68.

Male. Metanotum with 10 marginal setae. Tergal setae: I, 11; II–III, 14; IV–V, 12; VI–VII, 11; VIII, 10. Sternal setae: II, each aster with 3 setae, 22 other setae; III, 18; IV, 37; V, 42; VI, 30; VII, 16; VIII, 8. Genital sac sclerite 0.11 long, as in Fig. 12 . Dimensions: TW, 0.45; HL, 0.32; PW, 0.28; PSL, 0.11; MW, 0.39; MSL, 0.14; AWIV, 0.50; GL, 0.45; TL, 1.42.

Type material. Holotype female ( OSU), ex M. similis , COSTA RICA: Limon Province, Las Diametes, 8 Apr 1964, O­2492. Paratype ( OSU): 1 male, same data as holotype.

Remarks. The female of Myrsidea similis is distinguished from others of the group by its postspiracular setal configuration in conjunction with the large number of marginal metanotal and tergite II setae, the wide anus with its large number of fringe setae, and the large dimensions. The male genital sac sclerite is similar to those of M. flaviventris and M. elaeniae of this group, but the male of M. similis may be separated from them by its having more setae on tergites VII–VIII and sternites IV–V, only 3 setae in each sternite II aster, and tendency for greater temple width.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 17. 9 – 10, Myrsidea barbati. 9, Female dorsal thorax and dorsoventral abdomen. 10, Male genital sac sclerite. 11 – 12, M. similis. 11, Female dorsal thorax and abdomen. 12, Male genital sac sclerite. 13 – 14. M. contopi. 13, Male genital sac sclerite. 14, Female dorsal thorax and abdomen. 15 – 16, M. oleaginei. 15, Female dorsal thorax and dorsoventral abdomen. 16, Male genital sac sclerite. 17, M. neocinereae female dorsal thorax and dorsoventral abdomen.