Brueelia (Brueelia) saharae, 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 : 28-31

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2025.1004.2955
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16375322
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/BD6B87CD-262D-FFDF-FD97-FDEAFC1769A0
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Brueelia (Brueelia) saharae
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Brueelia (Brueelia) saharae sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:20B215F5-894A-4C4B-8CA7-2ADD49D312DD

Figs 15–21 View Figs 15–16 View Figs 17–21

Differential diagnosis

Brueelia saharae sp. nov. is most similar to B. anomala 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 View Figs 3–7 ) and B. saharae ( Fig. 19 View Figs 17–21 ), but do not reach lateral margins in B. semicingulata ( Fig. 12 View Figs 10–14 ); dark markings of lateral tergopleurites more extensive in B. anomala ( Figs 1–2 View Figs 1–2 ) and B. saharae ( Figs 15–16 View Figs 15–16 ) than in B. semicingulata ( Figs 8–9 View Figs 8–9 ); parameres more elongated in B. anomala ( Fig. 6 View Figs 3–7 ) and B. saharae ( Fig. 20 View Figs 17–21 ) than in B. semicingulata ( Fig. 13 View Figs 10–14 ). Brueelia saharae can be separated from B. anomala by the following characters: proximal mesosome angular and proximally widened in B. saharae ( Fig. 19 View Figs 17–21 ), but rounded in B. anomala ( Fig. 5 View Figs 3–7 ); gonopore with medianly pointed anterior margin in B. saharae ( Fig. 19 View Figs 17–21 ), but flat anterior margin in B. anomala ( Fig. 5 View Figs 3–7 ); male tergopleurite VII with 1 tps on each side in B. anomala ( Fig. 1 View Figs 1–2 ), but 2 tps on each side in B. saharae ( Fig. 15 View Figs 15–16 ).

Etymology

The species epithet is derived from the Sahara Desert, which is the main range of the type host.

Type material

Holotype (ex Emberiza sahari ) MOROCCO • ♂; locality unknown; Nov. 1938; R. Meinertzhagen leg.; 12071, NHMUK010693761 ; NHMUK [marked with black dot on slide] .

Paratypes (ex Emberiza sahari )

MOROCCO • 11 ♂♂, locality unknown; Nov. 1938; R. Meinertzhagen leg.; 12071, NHMUK010693761 ; NHMUK • 18 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 12071, NHMUK010693831 ; NHMUK

Type host

Emberiza sahari Levaillant, 1850 – house bunting.

Type locality

Morocco.

Description

Both sexes

Head slenderly trapezoidal ( Fig. 17 View Figs 17–21 ), lateral margins of preantennal area slightly convex, frons flat to slightly convex. Marginal carina slender, deeply displaced and much widened at osculum. Ventral anterior plate rounded triangular. Head chaetotaxy as in Fig. 17 View Figs 17–21 . Preantennal nodi wide but not bulging. Pre-ocular nodi larger than post-ocular nodi. Marginal temporal carina slender, slightly irregular. Gular plate lanceolate. Thoracic and abdominal segments as in Figs 15–16 View Figs 15–16 . Base pigmentation pale brown; 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 corners of tergopleurites medium brown as outlined by narrow lines in Figs 15–16 View Figs 15–16 .

Male

Thoracic and abdominal chaetotaxy as in Fig. 15 View Figs 15–16 ; tergopleurite VII with 2 tps on each side. Basal apodeme short, stout ( Fig. 18 View Figs 17–21 ), slightly constricted at mid-length. Proximal mesosome pointed ( Fig. 19 View Figs 17–21 ), with narrow lateral extensions variable between specimens. Mesosomal lobes broad, rugose area extensive, 2 pmes on each side lateral to gonopore. Gonopore with antero-lateral extensions reaching beyond lateral margins of mesosome. Penile arms short, not reaching distal margin of mesosome. Parameres elongated, tapering gently, pst1–2 as in Fig. 20.

MEASUREMENTS (n = 12 except TL where n = 9). TL = 1.28–1.43; HL = 0.32–0.35 (0.34); HW = 0.25– 0.27 (0.26); PRW = 0.16–0.17 (0.16); PTW = 0.24–0.27 (0.26); AW = 0.33–0.39 (0.36).

Female

Thoracic and abdominal chaetotaxy as in Fig. 16 View Figs 15–16 . Lateral margins of anterior subgenital plate concave to roughly parallel ( Fig. 21 View Figs 17–21 ), with narrow connection to cross-piece. Vulval margin convergent to rounded median point ( Fig. 21 View Figs 17–21 ), with 3–5 short, slender vms and 4–5 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 = 18). TL = 1.55–1.75 (1.65); HL = 0.36–0.38 (0.37); HW = 0.27–0.29 (0.28); PRW = 0.17–0.19 (0.18); PTW = 0.27–0.30 (0.29); AW = 0.39–0.44 (0.41).