Osculonirmus limpidus Mey 1982

Osculonirmus limpidus Mey, 1982

(Figs 122–129)

Osculonirmus limpidus Mey, 1982a: 60.

Brueelia limpidus (Mey, 1982); Price et al. 2003: 156.

Type host. Eremophila alpestris brandti (Dresser, 1874) — horned lark.

Type locality. 15 km W of Chovd-chot, Aimak Chovd, Mongolia.

Other hosts. Eremophila alpestris adusta (Dwight, 1890) — horned lark new host record. Eremophila alpestris albigula (Bonaparte, 1850) — horned lark new host record. Eremophila alpestris utahensis (Behle, 1938) — horned lark new host record.

Description. Both sexes . Head shape, structure, and chaetotaxy as in genus description and Fig. 124. Displacement of marginal carina at osculum generally deeper in females than in males. Thoracic and abdominal segments as in genus description and Figs 122–123.

Male. Scape swollen (Fig. 124). Abdominal chaetotaxy as in Table 2 and Fig. 122. Male genitalia distinct (Fig. 126). Basal apodeme long, slender. Proximal mesosome elongated, slender. Gonopore (Fig. 127) narrowly open distally, anterior end pointed, distal ends widened and slightly elongated. Mesosomal lobes small, rounded. Parameral heads (Fig. 128) swollen, deeply bifid. Parameral blades much elongated, convergent distal to mesosome and distal parts close together; pst1 sensilla, near distal tip; pst2 microseta, lateral near distal tip. Measurements ex Eremophila alpestris adusta (n = 1): TL = 1.47; HL = 0.37; HW = 0.31; PRW = 0.18; PTW = 0.33; AW = 0.44. Ex E. a. utahensis (n = 3 except n = 2 for TL and AW): TL = 1.47–1.48; HL = 0.36–0.37; HW = 0.30–0.32; PRW = 0.14–0.17; PTW = 0.27–0.29; AW = 0.35–0.41.

Female. Antennae as in Fig. 125. Abdominal chaetotaxy as in Table 2 and Fig. 123. Subgenital plate oval to rounded triangular, not approaching vulval margin (Fig. 129). Vulval margin narrowly convex (Fig. 129), with 3 short, slender vm on each side, and 2 short, thorn-like vss on each side; 2 short, slender vos on each side. Measurements ex Eremophila alpestris adusta (n = 9): TL = 1.86–2.09; HL = 0.41–0.43; HW = 0.35–0.37; PRW = 0.19; PTW = 0.31–0.35; AW = 0.41–0.51. Ex E. a. albigula (n = 9): TL = 1.67–2.02; HL = 0.41–0.43; HW = 0.35– 0.38; PRW = 0.18–0.20; PTW = 0.30–0.36; AW = 0.39–0.52. Ex E. a. utahensis (n = 14 except n = 2 for AW): TL = 1.79–1.97 (1.89); HL = 0.40–0.43 (0.42); HW = 0.34–0.38 (0.36); PRW = 0.16–0.20 (0.18); PTW = 0.31–0.36 (0.33); AW = 0.40–0.46 (0.43).

Material examined (non-types). Ex Eremophila alpestris adusta: 1♂, 10♀, Arizona, USA, Mar. 1939, R. Meinertzhagen, 13237–8 (NHML).

Ex Eremophila alpestris albigula: 9♀, Afghanistan, Mar. 1937, R. Meinertzhagen, 10303–5 (NHML).

Ex Eremophila alpestris utahensis: 1♂, 2♀, Sewerline, Dugway Valley, Tooele County, Utah, USA, 2 Jul. 1953, Fremling, 357, B-285, one slide with 8202 on reverse (OSUS); 1♀, Sewerline, Dugway Valley, Tooele County, Utah, USA, 20 Jan. 195[4?] [last digit not filled in on slide], R.D. Porter, 104, B-37, 8197 on reverse (OSUS); 1♀, Sewerline, Dugway Valley, Tooele County, Utah, USA, 23 Nov. 1953, W. Denzer, 206, B121–2, 8199 on reverse (OSUS); 1♂, Government Creek, Dugway Valley, Tooele County, Utah, USA, 9 Feb. 1954, R. Porter, 203, B-900, 8201 on reverse (OSUS); 3♀, Government Creek, Dugway [Valley], Tooele County, Utah, USA, 5 Feb. 1962, E. & E. [Branch], Ea 30 (PIPeR); 11♀, same locality and collector as previous, 15 Mar. 1962, Ea 81–2 (PIPeR); 2♂, 1♀, same locality and collector as previous, 22 Jul. 1 962, Ea 211 (PIPeR); 2♀, same locality and collector as previous, 29 May 1962, E1187 (PIPeR); 2♀, same locality and collector as previous, 5 Feb. 1962, Ea 28 (PIPeR); 1♀, Dugway [Valley], Tooele County, Utah, USA, 6 May 1969, E. & E. Branch, EE-700-129 (PIPeR); 1♀, same locality and collector as previous, 18 May 1964, 5206 (PIPeR); 1♀, same locality and collector as previous, 13 Feb. 1962, EE-700-128 (PIPeR); 5♀, same locality as previous, Mar. 1962, EE-700-125–6 (PIPeR); 1♀, same location as previous, 26 May 1962, EE-700-130 (PIPeR); 1♀, Fish Springs, Juab County, Utah, USA, 17 May 1962, E. & E. Branch, Ea 147 (PIPeR); 4♀, Skull Valley, Tooele County, Utah, USA, 27 Feb. 1962, E. & E. [Branch], B3836 (PIPeR).

Remarks. Our material from North American hosts differs from that illustrated by Mey (1982a) in the shape of the head and the pterothorax, but chaetotaxy and other characters appear to be the same. We have not seen any material from the type host subspecies, and cannot assess whether the apparent differences are between the actual specimens or in how they are illustrated. The tergopleurites are not medianly continuous in any material examined by us, unlike Mey’s (1982a: fig. 1) illustration.