Brueelia (Brueelia) anomala, Gustafsson & Bush, 2025

Gustafsson, Daniel R. & Bush, Sarah E., 2025, New species group and four new species of Brueelia Kéler, 1936 (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) from African buntings (Passeriformes: Emberizidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 1004, pp. 19-38 : 22-25

Brueelia (Brueelia) anomala sp. nov.

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Figs 1–7

Differential diagnosis

Brueelia anomala sp. nov. is most similar to Brueelia saharae sp. nov. with which it shares the following characters not found in Brueelia semicingulata sp. nov.: antero-lateral extensions of gonopore reach beyond lateral margins of mesosome in B. anomala ( Fig. 5 ) and B. saharae ( Fig. 19 ), but do not reach lateral margins in B. semicingulata ( Fig. 12 ); dark markings of lateral tergopleurites more extensive in B. anomala ( Figs 1–2 ) and B. saharae ( Figs 15–16 ) than in B. semicingulata ( Figs 8–9 ); parameres more elongated in B. anomala ( Fig. 6 ) and B. saharae ( Fig. 20 ) than in B. semicingulata ( Fig. 13 ). Brueelia anomala can be separated from B. saharae by the following characters: proximal mesosome rounded in B. anomala ( Fig. 5 ), but angular and proximally widened in B. saharae ( Fig. 19 ); gonopore with flat anterior margin in B. anomala ( Fig. 5 ), but medianly pointed anterior margin in B. saharae ( Fig. 19 ); male tergopleurite VII with 1 tps on each side in B. anomala ( Fig. 1 ), but 2 tps on each side in B. saharae ( Fig. 15 ).

Etymology

The species epithet is derived from the Greek ‘anomalia’ for ‘irregularity’, referring to the presence of a dorsal preantennal suture, which is unusual in the genus.

Type material

Holotype (ex Emberiza striolata striolata ) “ ARABIA ” • ♂; locality unknown; Mar. 1948; R. Meinertzhagen leg.; 17490, NHMUK010693762 ; NHMUK [marked with black dot on slide] .

Paratypes (ex Emberiza striolata striolata )

“ ARABIA ” • 3 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀; locality unknown; Mar. 1948; R. Meinertzhagen leg.; 17490, NHMUK010693762 ; NHMUK .

Type host

Emberiza striolata striolata ( Lichtenstein, 1823) – striolated bunting.

Type locality

“Arabia”.

Description

Both sexes

Head narrowly trapezoidal ( Fig. 3 ), lateral margins of preantennal area straight, frons flat to slightly concave. Marginal carina narrow, deeply displaced and much widened at osculum. Ventral anterior plate large, rounded triangular. Head chaetotaxy as in Fig. 3 . Preantennal nodi slender, not bulging. Pre-ocular nodi larger than post-ocular nodi. Marginal temporal carina moderate, irregular. Gular plate lanceolate. Thoracic and abdominal segments as in Figs 1–2 . Base pigmentation pale yellowish brown; posterior half of marginal carina, margins of antennal sockets, temples, anterior gular plate, proepimera, metepisterna, sternal and subgenital plates, and most of female tergopleurite IX+X medium brown; antero-lateral sections of tergopleurites medium brown as outlined by narrow lines in Figs 1–2 .

Male

Thoracic and abdominal chaetotaxy as in Fig. 1 ; tergopleurite VII with 1 tps on each side. Basal apodeme slender ( Fig. 4 ), slightly constricted at mid-length. Proximal mesosome gently rounded ( Fig. 5 ). Mesosomal lobes broad, rugose area extensive in distal ends, 2 pmes sensilla on each side of gonopore. Gonopore with antero-lateral extensions reaching beyond lateral margins of mesosome, anterior margin flat. Penile arms long, reaching to distal margin of mesosome. Parameres elongated, tapering gently, pst1–2 as in Fig. 6.

MEASUREMENTS (n = 4). TL = 1.17–1.23; HL = 0.31–0.32; HW = 0.23–0.24; PRW = 0.15; PTW = 0.21–0.23; AW = 0.31–0.32.

Female

Thoracic and abdominal chaetotaxy as in Fig. 2 . Lateral margins of anterior subgenital plate roughly parallel ( Fig. 7 ), with moderate connection to cross-piece. Vulval margin gently rounded ( Fig. 7 ), with 3–4 short, slender vms and 3–4 short, thorn-like vss on each side; 3–4 short, slender vos on each side of subgenital plate; distal 1 vos median to vss.

MEASUREMENTS (n = 8). TL = 1.44–1.53; HL = 0.34–0.35; HW = 0.24–0.26; PRW = 0.16–0.17; PTW = 0.24–0.26; AW = 0.26–0.38.

Figures

Figs 1–2. Brueelia anomala sp. nov. ex Emberiza striolata striolata (Lichtenstein, 1823). 1. Holotype, ♂ (NHMUK010693762), habitus, dorsal and ventral view. 2. Paratype, ♀ (NHMUK010693762), habitus, dorsal and ventral view.

Figs 3–7. Brueelia anomala sp. nov. ex Emberiza striolata striolata (Lichtenstein, 1823). 3–5. Holotype, ♂ (NHMUK010693762). 3. Head, dorsal and ventral view. 4. Genitalia, dorsal view. 5. Mesosome, ventral view. 6. Paratype, ♂ (NHMUK010693762), paramere, dorsal view. 7. Paratype, ♀ (NHMUK010693762), subgenital plate and vulval margin, ventral view.

Figs 17–21. Brueelia saharae sp. nov. ex Emberiza sahari Levaillant, 1850. 17–20. Holotype, ♂ (NHMUK010693761). 17. Head, dorsal and ventral view. 18. Genitalia, dorsal view. 19. Mesosome, ventral view. 20. Paramere, dorsal view. 21. ♀, subgenital plate and vulval margin, ventral view.

Figs 10–14. Brueelia semicingulata sp. nov. ex Emberiza tahapisi arabica (Lorenz von Liburnau & Hellmayr, 1902). 10–13. Holotype, ♂ (NHMUK010693760). 10. Head, dorsal and ventral view. 11. Genitalia, dorsal view. 12. Mesosome, ventral view. 13. Paramere, dorsal view. 14. Paratype, ♀ (NHMUK010693760), subgenital plate and vulval margin, ventral view.

Figs 15–16. Brueelia saharae sp. nov. ex Emberiza sahari Levaillant, 1850. 15. Holotype, ♂ (NHMUK010693761), habitus, dorsal and ventral views. 16. ♀, habitus, dorsal and ventral views.

Figs 8–9. Brueelia semicingulata sp. nov. ex Emberiza tahapisi arabica (Lorenz von Liburnau & Hellmayr, 1902). 8. Holotype, ♂ (NHMUK010693760), habitus, dorsal and ventral view. 9. Paratype, ♀ (NHMUK010693760), habitus, dorsal and ventral view.