New data on the taxonomy and distribution of ten Neotropical chewing lice of the genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae), including the description of a new species

Abstract

The new species Myrsidea alexanderi is described and illustrated ex Pheugopedius maculipectus (Troglodytidae) from Honduras. Redescriptions and illustrations are given for both sexes of Myrsidea chiapensis ex Calocitta formosa from Costa Rica, and the male of M. dissimilis ex Progne chalybea from Brazil. Also, seven other previously known species or subspecies of the louse genus Myrsidea are recorded and discussed from passerine birds of the Neotropical Region, as follows: Myrsidea antiqua, Myrsidea balteri, Myrsidea diffusa, Myrsidea nesomimi borealis, Myrsidea paleno, Myrsidea psittaci and Myrsidea serini. Our data increase knowledge of intraspecific morphological variability within these species, and also of their host and geographical distribution. New host-louse associations are: Agelaioides badius for M. psittaci; Basileuterus culicivorus and Myiothlypis leucoblephara for M. paleno; Mimus saturninus for M. nesomimi borealis; and Icterus dominicensis and Molothrus rufoaxillaris for Myrsidea sp.

New species and additional data on the chewing louse genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from wild Neotropical Passeriformes (Aves)

“…is morphologically similar to M. incerta (Kellogg, 1896b) and M. pricei Clay, 1966 from members of the Turdidae, and to M. bessae Dalgleish, 2008 andM. alexanderi Kolencik, Sychra, Valan &Literak, 2016 from members of the Troglodytidae. Combining genetic and morphological difference, the closest species is M. incerta.…”

“…See Sychra et al (2014) and Kolencik et al (2016) for details of the coordinates of the study sites and detailed methods of collection. We used the standard method to prepare and slide-mount chewing lice, as described by Palma (1978), but modified as follows: (1) lice treated in a solution of 20% KOH for at least 5 hours, (2) 30 minutes in water, (3) 30 min in 10% acetic acid, (4) 30 min in 50% ethanol, (5) 30 min in 70% ethanol, (6) 30 min in 96% ethanol, and (7) at least 24 hours in clove oil.…”

Phylogenetics and host‐specificity of the mega‐diverse louse genus Myrsidea (Amblycera: Menoponidae)

“…Although 95% of Myrsidea species parasitize passerine birds (order Passeriformes; Price et al, 2003), there are representatives parasitizing a few non‐passerine families, including barbets (order Piciformes, families Lybiidae and Capitonidae; Bueter et al, 2009; Soto‐Patiño et al, 2018), woodpeckers (order Piciformes, family Picidae; Ilieva, 2009), toucans (order Piciformes, family Ramphastidae; Hellenthal et al, 2005; Price et al, 2004) and hummingbirds (order Apodiformes, family Trochilidae; Dalgleish & Price, 2003a). Although there are many taxonomic studies of Myrsidea from passerines (e.g., Dalgleish & Price, 2003b; Dalgleish & Price, 2005; Kolencik et al, 2016; Kolencik et al, 2017; Kolencik et al, 2018; Kounek, Sychra, Čapek, Lipková, & Literák, 2011; Kounek, Sychra, Čapek, & Literák, 2011; Kounek et al, 2013; Price et al, 2005; Price & Dalgleish, 2006; Sychra et al, 2006; Sychra et al, 2007; Sychra et al, 2009; Valim & Weckstein, 2013), only a few authors have focused their study on those from non‐passerine birds (Carriker, 1949; Carriker & Diaz‐Ungria, 1961; Hellenthal et al, 2005; Price et al, 2004). How these non‐passerine avian host orders and families acquired their Myrsidea chewing lice remains a key unanswered question.…”

“…Although there are many taxonomic studies of Myrsidea from passerines (e.g., Dalgleish & Price, 2003b;Kolencik et al, 2016;Kolencik et al, 2017;Kolencik et al, 2018;Kounek, Sychra, Čapek, Lipková, & Literák, 2011;Kounek et al, 2013;Price et al, 2005;Price & Dalgleish, 2006;Sychra et al, 2006;Sychra et al, 2007;Sychra et al, 2009;Valim & Weckstein, 2013), only a few authors have focused their study on those from non-passerine birds (Carriker, 1949;Carriker & Diaz-Ungria, 1961;Hellenthal et al, 2005;Price et al, 2004).…”

New record of the chewing louse Myrsidea dissimilis (Kellogg, 1896) (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) parasitizing a Purple Martin, Progne subis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Hirundinidae) in Amazonas, Brazil

“…In Brazil, 35 species have already been recorded for this genus (Valim & Kuabara 2023), including Myrsidea dissimilis (Kellogg, 1896) that has been found parasitizing the Grey-breasted Martin, Progne chalybea (Gmelin, 1789) (Passeriformes: Hirundinidae), near the Ivinhema River, Mato Grosso do Sul (53°30' W, 22°31' S) (Kolencik et al 2016), the Araguaia River, Aragarças¸ Goiás (52°15' W, 15•53' S), and in the Alto Tapajós, confluence with Teles Pires, Mato Grosso (58°03' W, 07°21' S) (Kuabara & Valim 2017). This species was also recorded parasitizing the White-winged Swallow, Tachycineta albiventer (Boddaert, 1783) (Passeriformes: Hirundinidae), near the Araguaia River, Goiás (Kuabara & Valim 2017).…”