Tuhinga 21: 135–146 Copyright © Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (2010) The species of Myrsidea Waterston (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from the Galápagos Islands, with descriptions of new taxa Ricardo L. Palma* and Roger D. Price** * Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO Box 467, Wellington, New Zealand (ricardop@ tepapa.govt.nz) ** 1409 Burnham Court, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903, United States of America ([email protected]) ABSTRACT: Three species and one subspecies of lice in the genus Myrsidea are described and illustrated from passerine hosts from the Galápagos Islands. New taxa are: Myrsidea darwini new species (type host Geospiza fuliginosa Gould, Emberizidae); Myrsidea nesomimi nesomimi new species and subspecies (type host Nesomimus macdonaldi Ridgway, Mimidae); and Myrsidea nesomimi borealis new subspecies (type host Nesomimus parvulus (Gould), Mimidae). Myrsidea ridulosa (Kellogg & Chapman) is recorded for the first time in the Galápagos Islands, from Dendroica petechia aureola (Gould) (Parulidae). Myrsidea nesomimi is the first species of Myrsidea described from members of the family Mimidae. KEYWORDS: Phthiraptera, Menoponidae, Myrsidea, lice, new taxa, new record, Galápagos Islands, Darwin’s finches, Galápagos mockingbirds, yellow warbler. Introduction also recognised as belonging to Myrsidea by Clay (1966: 349) and Price et al. (2003: 129). However, our study of The genus Myrsidea Waterston, 1915 is one of the most many samples and specimens of Myrsidea recently collected speciose among lice, comprising species parasitic on hosts from several species of Darwin’s finches, mockingbirds and belonging to the avian orders Passeriformes, Piciformes and the yellow warbler in the Galápagos Islands shows that they Apodiformes. Since the publication of a world checklist by are not M. incerta (as redescribed by Clay 1966: 349), but Price et al. (2003), where 208 species were listed as valid, represent four different taxa, three species and one there have been over 100 other species described as new subspecies, of which two species and one subspecies are new (e.g. Dalgleish & Price 2003, 2004, 2005; Hellenthal & to science. In this publication, we describe and name the Price 2003, 2005; Price et al. 2004, 2005; Johnson & Price three new taxa, and redescribe and record a known species 2006; Price & Dalgleish 2006, 2007; Price & Johnson for the first time in the Galápagos Islands. 2006a,b; Sychra et al. 2006). In two papers dealing with lice from the Galápagos Islands (Kellogg & Kuwana 1902: 488; Kellogg 1906: 322), Material and methods the authors identified many specimens from several passerine All lice studied and included in this paper were collected in hosts – and from some seabirds – as Menopon incertum the Galápagos Islands, originating from four sources, as Kellogg, 1896. Subsequently, in a major list of insect species follows: recorded from the Galápagos Islands, Linsley & Usinger (1966: 128) updated the louse taxonomy and listed the 1. Samples collected by the senior author and other same species as Myrsidea incerta (Kellogg, 1896), a species members of the ‘Grupo Peck’ in March–April 1992. Birds 136 Tuhinga, Number 21 (2010) were captured in the field alive, deloused with a mild Systematics insecticide, and released. Most of these specimens will remain in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Genus Myrsidea Waterston Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand (MONZ), while Myrsidea Waterston 1915: 12. Type species: Myrsidea victrix some will be deposited in the Charles Darwin Research Waterston, 1915, by original designation. Station, Puerto Ayora, Isla Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands, Clay (1966) provides a detailed morphological description Ecuador (CDRS). of this genus. 2. The Kellogg collection of the Essig Museum, Division of Myrsidea darwini new species Entomology and Parasitology, University of California, (Figs 1–5) Berkeley, California, USA (CISC). Additional collection ‘Menopon incertum’ Kellogg & Kuwana, 1902: 488 (not data for these specimens, given in square brackets, were Menopon incertum Kellogg, 1896). downloaded from the ornithology database of the California ‘Myrsidea incerta’ Linsley & Usinger, 1966: 128 (not Academy of Sciences and compiled by Robert C. Dalgleish Menopon incertum Kellogg, 1896). (San Diego, California, USA). Many specimens of this TYPE HOST: Geospiza fuliginosa Gould, 1837 – ‘Small ground collection are stragglers or contaminants, as discussed by finch’. Palma (1994: 273). DESCRIPTION: Female 3. Samples collected by Noah K. Whiteman and Jennifer L. Metathorax and abdomen as in Fig.2. Hypopharyngeal Bollmer from live birds in the field during 2003 and 2004, sclerites weak, as in Fig.5. Gula with 4+4 setae, except and donated to the senior author to be deposited in the col- for a few specimens with 4+3 or 4+5 setae. Pronotum with lection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 12 marginal setae. Metanotum not enlarged, with 8 marginal Wellington, New Zealand (MONZ). setae. Metasternal plate with 5–6 setae. Abdomen with all 4. Samples collected by Paquita Hoeck from live birds in tergites unmodified. Tergal setae: I, 9–11; II–III, 12–15; the field during 2006 and 2008, and donated to the senior IV, 11–13; V, 10–12; VI, 9–10; VII, 7–8; VIII, 8. Post - author by Vincent S. Smith to be deposited in the collection spiracular setae extremely long on II and IV, very long on of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, VII–VIII, long on I, and shortest on III and V–VI. Sternal Wellington, New Zealand (MONZ). setae: sternum I very small without setae; II, aster with 4+4 setae, less often 4+3 or 3+3, also with 8–11 marginal and The lice in samples (1), (3) and (4) above were slide- 7–11 anterior setae; III, 16–21; IV, 27–31; V, 28–34; VI, mounted using the technique described by Palma (1978). 19–26; VII, 12–15; VIII–IX of subgenital plate, 16–20. Specimens in (2), the Kellogg Collection, were originally Anus with 29–36 dorsal fringe setae and 30–35 ventral mounted in glycerol and had dried and shrunk. They were setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.38–0.40; HL, 0.28–0.31; PW, remounted in Canada balsam by the senior author following 0.26–0.28; PSL, 0.10–0.11; MSL, 0.14–0.16; MW, 0.39– the same technique as for the other samples. 0.42; AWIV, 0.58–0.63; ANW, 0.19–0.20; TL, 1.40–1.48. In the following descriptions, all measurements are in Male millimetres. Abbreviations are TW, temple width; HL, head As in Fig.1. Hypopharyngeal sclerites as in female. Gula length; PW, prothorax width; PSL, prosternal plate length; with 4+4 setae, except for one specimen with 4+3. Pronotum MSL, metasternal plate length; MW, metathorax width; with 12 marginal setae. Metanotum not enlarged, with 8 AWIV, abdomen width at segment IV; ANW, female anus marginal setae. Metasternal plate with 4–6 setae. Abdomen width; GL, male genitalia length; GSL, genital sac sclerite with all tergites unmodified. Tergal setae: I, 11; II–III, 14– length; and TL, total length. Tergal setal counts include the 15; IV, 12–15; V, 13–16; VI–VII, 12–14; VIII, 9–10. Post- postspiracular setae and all setae between them. Host classi- spiracular setae as in female. Sternal setae: sternum I as in fication and nomenclature follow Dickinson (2003), but we female; II, aster with 4+4 setae, less often 4+3 or 3+3, also have not identified the subspecies of Nesomimus parvulus with 9–10 marginal and 8 anterior setae; III, 16–21; IV, (Gould, 1837), Camarhynchus psittacula Gould, 1837 or 29–31; V, 29–35; VI, 23–27; VII, 15–18; VIII, 5–9. Camarhynchus pallidus (Sclater & Salvin, 1870). Genitalia as in Fig.4. Genital sac sclerite as in Fig.3. Dimensions: TW, 0.36–0.39; HL, 0.26–0.28; PW, 0.23–0.25; PSL, 0.09–0.10; MSL, 0.13–0.14; MW, The species of Myrsidea Waterston (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from the Galápagos Islands 137 12 3 5 4 Figs 1–5 Myrsidea darwini: 1, dorsoventral view of male; 2, dorsoventral view of female metathorax and abdomen; 3, male genital sac sclerite; 4, male genitalia; 5, female hypopharyngeal sclerites. 138 Tuhinga, Number 21 (2010) 0.33–0.37; AWIV, 0.43–0.47; GL, 0.36–0.40; GSL, 0.6; ‘Myrsidea incerta’ Linsley & Usinger, 1966: 128 (not TL, 1.20–1.24. Menopon incertum Kellogg, 1896). Myrsidea sp.; Parker et al. 2006: 630. MATERIAL EXAMINED: Type material TYPE HOST: Nesomimus macdonaldi Ridgway, 1890 – ‘Hood Ex Geospiza fuliginosa Gould, 1837 – ‘Small ground finch’. mockingbird’. DESCRIPTION: Holotype å (MONZ, AI.020541) and 3ß, 4å paratypes, Female Isla Pinta (in bush, 200m a.s.l.), 17 Mar. 1992, R.L. Palma Metathorax and abdomen as in Fig.7. Hypopharyngeal (MONZ, AI.020303). Other paratypes: 2å, Charles Darwin sclerites well developed, as in Fig.10. Gula with 5+5 or 5+4 Research Station, Isla Santa Cruz, 5 Mar. 1992, R.L. Palma setae, except for a few specimens with 4+4. Pronotum with & E.M. Inca (MONZ, AI.020302); 3ß, 5å, Isla Pinta (in 12–13 marginal setae. Metanotum slightly enlarged, with bush, 350m a.s.l.), 18 Mar. 1992, R.L. Palma & E.M. Inca 10–14 marginal setae. Metasternal plate mostly with 5–6 (MONZ, AI.020304; CDRS); 4å, Bahía Manzanillo, Isla setae, rarely 7–10. Abdomen with tergites I–V modified, Española, 24 Apr. 1992, R.L. Palma (MONZ, AI.020305). especially I. Tergal setae: I, 6; II–III, 14–20; IV, 12–18; V– Non-types VI, 14–21; VII, 12–19; VIII, 8–9. Postspiracular setae Ex Geospiza magnirostris Gould, 1837 – ‘Large ground finch’. extremely long on II and IV, very long on I and VIII, long 2å, Playa Negra, Isla Marchena, 24 Mar.