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

Abstract

A total of 144 individuals of 46 bird species belonging to the 20 families were examined for chewing lice in South Africa. Considering only the genus Myrsidea, a total of 19 birds of 8 species were parasitised with 8 species of Myrsidea. Descriptions and illustrations are given for three new species of Myrsidea. The new species and their type hosts are: Myrsidea aynazae ex Phyllastrephus flavostriatus (Sharpe) (Pycnonotidae), Myrsidea eslamii ex Zoothera gurneyi (Hartlaub) (Turdidae) and Myrsidea mariquensis ex Bradornis mariquensis Smith (Muscicapidae). Records of new 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. Copyright © 2012 Magnolia Press.