Myrsidea vincula Le Souef & Bullen 1902

Myrsidea vincula (Le Souëf & Bullen, 1902)

Figs 7–8, 17–18, 23–24.

Colpocephalum vinculum Le Souëf & Bullen, 1902: 158, fig. 10. Colpocephalum vinculum Le Souëf & Bullen, 1902; Harrison 1916: 56 Myrsidea vincula (Le Souëf & Bullen, 1902); Hopkins & Clay 1952: 234. Myrsidea vincula (Le Souëf & Bullen, 1902); Palma 1996: 139. Myrsidea vincula (Le Souëf & Bullen, 1902); Murray et al. 2006: 1957. Myrsidea sp.; Murray et al. 2006: 1957.

Type host. Strepera graculina (Shaw, 1790) —pied currawong (Artamidae).

Other host. Strepera fuliginosa (Gould, 1837) —black currawong (Artamidae). This paper.

Type locality. Victoria, Australia.

Redescription. Female (n = 3). As in Figs 7 and 23. Hypopharyngeal sclerites well developed (Fig. 8). Length of dorsal head seta (DHS) 10, 0.080–0.110; DHS 11, 0.120–0.130; ratio DHS 10/11, 0.64–0.85. Labial setae 5 (ls5) 0.10 long, latero-ventral fringe with 13–15 setae. Gula with 5–6 setae on each side. Pronotum with 8 setae on its posterior margin and 3 short spiniform setae on each lateral corner. Prosternal plate triangular (as Fig. 3). First tibia with 3–5 outer ventro-lateral and 11–17 dorso-lateral setae. Metanotum not enlarged, with 6–7 marginal setae; metasternal plate with 13–15 setae; metapleurites with 2–4 short strong spiniform setae. Femur III with 41–46 setae in ventral setal brush. Tergites not enlarged, all with straight posterior margin. Abdominal segments with small but well-defined median gap in each row of tergal setae. Tergal setae: I, 4–7; II, 6–9; III, 9–10; IV, 8–13; V, 9–11; VI, 7–10; VII, 4; VIII, 4. Postspiracular setae long on II, III, IV, VI, VII and VIII (0.50–0.64), shorter on I (0.34), and shortest on V (0.15–0.22). Inner posterior seta of last tergite not longer than anal fringe setae with length 0.04– 0.05; length of short lateral marginal seta of last segment 0.03–0.04 (Fig. 7). Pleural posterior setae: I, 5–7; II–III, 7–9; IV, 7–10; V, 8–11; VI, 7–9; VII, 5–8; VIII, 3. Pleural anterior setae: IV–VII, 1–3. Pleurites I–III with only short spine-like setae; pleurites IV–VII with 1–4 additional slender and longer setae. Inner setae on pleurite VIII (0.18–0.2) three times as long as outer (0.06–0.07). Anterior margin of sternal plate II with a medial notch (as in Fig. 6). Sternal setae: I, 0; II, 3–4 in each aster—aster setae length: s1, 0.05–0.07; s2, 0.03–0.04; s3, 0.03; s4, 0.02– 0.03—with 14–15 marginal setae between asters, and 12–14 medioanterior setae; III, 37–43 marginal setae; IV, 54– 73; V, 57–73; VI, 61–74; VII, 21–26; VIII–IX, 1 5–19; and 16–20 setae on deeply serrated vulvar margin; also with 1–3 medioanterior setae on sternites III–VII. Subvulval sclerite (sternite IX) clearly visible (Fig. 7). Anal fringe formed by 41–47 dorsal and 38–45 ventral setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.66–0.68; POW, 0.47–0.49; HL, 0.40–0.41; PW, 0.41–0.42; MW, 0.63–0.66; AW, 0.88–0.91; ANW, 0.34–0.35; TL, 2.17–2.27.

Male (n = 1). As in Fig. 24. Similar to female, except as follows: Length of dorsal head seta (DHS) 10, 0.100– 0.110; DHS 11, 0.115–0.120; ratio DHS 10/11, 0.87–0.92. Labial setae 5 (ls5) 0.08 long, latero-ventral fringe with 15–16 setae. Gula with 5 setae on each side. Prosternal plate triangular. First tibia with 3 outer ventro-lateral and 14 dorso-lateral setae. Metanotum not enlarged with 8 marginal setae; metasternal plate with 13 setae; metapleurites with 4 short spiniform strong setae. Femur III with 46–47 setae in ventral setal brush. Abdominal segments with well-defined median gap in each row of tergal setae. Tergal setae: I, 4; II, 9; III–IV, 11; V, 12; VI, 8; VII, 4; VIII, 4. Postspiracular setae long on I–IV, VII and VIII (0.40–0.60), shorter on VI (0.35–0.37), and shortest on V (0.20).

Length of inner posterior seta of last tergite, 0.05; short lateral marginal seta of last segment, 0.03. Pleural setae: I, 5; II–V, 7–8; VI, 8; VII, 3–5; VIII, 3. Pleurites I–II with only short spine-like setae; pleurites III–VII with 1–4 slender and longer setae; pleurites V–VI with 1 anterior setae. Pleurite VIII with inner setae (0.15) three times as long as outer (0.05). Anterior margin of sternal plate II with a medial notch. Sternal setae: I, 0; II, 3 in each aster, aster setae broken; with 15 marginal setae between asters, and 8 medioanterior setae; III, 36 marginal setae; IV, 59; V, 71; VI, 70; VII, 38; VIII, 30 anterior and 4 posterior setae; and 1–3 medioanterior setae on sternites IV–VIII. With 8 internal anal setae. Genitalia and genital sac sclerite as in Figs 17–18, respectively; inner posterior arms of basal plate rounded (see Clay 1968: 207). Dimensions: TW, 0.64; POW, 0.47; HL, 0.39; PW, 0.40; MW, 0.55; AW, 0.73; GW, 0.16; GL, 0.30; ParL, 0.06; GSL, 0.13; TL, 1.96.

Material examined. Ex Strepera fuliginosa: 1♂, 3♀, Maydena, Tasmania, Australia, 11–16 December 1959, T. Anderson (ANIC).

Remarks. We have been unable to locate the type specimen(s) of Myrsidea vincula as their whereabouts are unknown (Palma 1996: 139), or any other material from its type host despite our enquiries to major entomological collections in Australia. Since our redescription is based on specimens from a closely related host, we may be incorrect in assuming that the Myrsidea from these two species of Strepera are conspecific. However, we prefer to be conservative and risk an incorrect identification rather than to describe and name a new species which may later prove to be a junior synonym of M. vincula.