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Issue: Vol. 3442 No. 1: 28 Aug. 2012
Type: Articles
Published: 2012-08-28
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3442.1.3
Page range: 58–68
Abstract views: 47
PDF downloaded: 30

Chewing lice of the genus Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Amblycera: Menoponidae) from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in South Africa, with descriptions of three new species

Department of Biodiversity (Zoology), University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727 Polokwane, South Africa
Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackeho 1–3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
Department of Biodiversity (Zoology), University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727 Polokwane, South Africa
Phthiraptera Myrsidea Menoponidae Amblycera new species Passeriformes South Africa new host-louse associations

Abstract

A total of 144 individuals of 46 bird species belonging to the 20 families were examined for chewing lice in SouthAfrica. Considering only the genus Myrsidea, a total of 19 birds of 8 species were parasitised with 8 species ofMyrsidea. Descriptions and illustrations are given for three new species of Myrsidea. The new species and their typehosts are: Myrsidea aynazae ex Phyllastrephus flavostriatus (Sharpe) (Pycnonotidae), Myrsidea eslamii ex Zootheragurneyi (Hartlaub) (Turdidae) and Myrsidea mariquensis ex Bradornis mariquensis Smith (Muscicapidae). Records ofnew host-louse associations are: Phyllastrephus terrestris Swainson (Pycnonotidae) for Myrsidea sp., Ploceus intermedius Ruppell (Ploceidae) for Myrsidea sp., and Turdus libonyanus (Smith) (Turdidae) for Myrsidea sp.

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