A new species of tunga (siphonaptera: Tungidae) parasitizing cattle from Brazil

Abstract

Tunga hexalobulata (Siphonaptera: Tungidae), new species of tungid sand flea belonging to the penetrans group, is described with illustrations of adult female parasitizing Bos indicus (L., 1758) from Brazil. It differs from the 12 other known species of Tunginae by the presence of six anterior humps in the neosome. It also can be differentiated from other species of the penetrans group by lesser size of the neosome, presence of three posterodorsally bristles in antennal segment II, and the extension of the posterior arm of the preoral internal sclerotization. © 2013 Entomological Society of America.