Myrsidea palmeri Johnson & Price 2006, new species

Myrsidea palmeri Johnson and Price, new species (Figs. 9–10)

Type host. Andropadus curvirostris Cassin, the Plain Greenbul.

Male. Head and thorax much as for M. masoni; gula with 4 setae on each side; metasternal plate with 6, less often 5, setae. Tergal setae: I, 13–14, II, 15–17; III, 17; IV, 18–19; V, 16–17; VI–VII, 15–18; VIII, 10–11. Postspiracular setae very long on I–II, IV, and VII–VIII, shorter on III and V–VI. Sternal setae: II, each aster with 4 setae, remainder with 26–28; III, 21–23; IV, 36–41; V, 37–45; VI, 32–38; VII, 14–18; VIII, 6. Genital sac sclerite as in Fig. 10. Dimensions: TW, 0.41–0.43; HL, 0.29–0.30; PW, 0.26–0.28; MW, 0.37–0.38; AWIV, 0.46–0.49; LSVII, 0.11; GL, 0.40–0.41; TL, 1.20–1.22.

Female. Head and thorax as for male, except 1 of 8 gular sides with only 3 setae. Abdomen as in Fig. 9. Tergites I–VIII unmodified. Tergal setae: I, 17–19; II, 18–19; III, 15–18; IV, 16–19; V, 15–16; VI, 13–16; VII, 12–13; VIII, 8. Postspiracular setae as for male. Sternal setae: II, each aster with 4, rarely 5, setae, remainder with 27–32; III, 21–27; IV, 40–46; V, 48–53; VI, 39–43; VII, 16–21; VIII–IX with 11–14 marginal, 8–11 anterior setae. Anus with 33–37 ventral fringe setae, 34–40 dorsal. Dimensions: TW, 0.46–0.47; HL, 0.31–0.32; PW, 0.29–0.30; MW, 0.42–0.45; AWIV, 0.56–0.62; LSVII, 0.10–0.15; ANW, 0.22–0.23; TL, 1.45–1.52.

Type material. Female holotype, ex A. curvirostris, GHANA: Goaso, 27 March 2003, K. P. Johnson, BDM 847. Paratypes: 3 females, 3 males, same data as holotype.

Remarks. Both sexes of M. palmeri are separated from those of the first two species by having the shorter postspiracular setae on III and V–VI and more setae on tergites I–II. Additionally, both sexes have fewer setae in each sternite II aster and more setae on sternite III, the gula, and the metasternal plate than M. masoni, and more setae on sternite VII than M. chesseri. The male of M. palmeri is further recognized by its distinctive genital sac sclerite. The lack of extreme female tergal development, both sexes with shorter postspiracular setae on III and V–VI, and the male with the unique genital sac sclerite distinguish M. palmeri from all previously known species of this genus.

Etymology. This species is named for Robert Palmer (CSIRO, Australian National Wildlife Collection) in recognition of his assistance in collecting lice from a wide variety of birds.