Sturnidoecus acutifrons (Uchida, 1949)

Philopterus sturni var. acutifrons Uchida, 1949: 549.

Sturnidoecus acutifrons – Hopkins & Clay 1952: 344.

Type host

Hypsipetes amaurotis ogawae Hartert, 1907 – brown-eared bulbul.

Type locality

Amami-Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

Remarks

Philopterus acutifrons was based on a single female, which was never illustrated or described in detail. It was separated from Philopterus sturni [= Sturnidoecus sturni (Schrank, 1776)] based on differences in measurements, the shape of the frons, and the lack of setae on posterior corners of the prothorax. In Philopteroides, the pronotal setae are situated more medianly, which may be interpreted as an ‘absence’ of setae on the pronotum. Similarly, the frons of Philopteroides on bulbuls is generally narrower and more deeply emarginated than in Sturnidoecus sturni (cf. Fig. 108 with Gustafsson & Bush 2017: fig. 379). However, as at least some of Uchida’s species appear to be described from stragglers or contaminations (see above), it is possible that his specimen of P. acutifrons is a straggler that could belong to any head louse ecomorph genus occurring in Japan. Without examining specimens it is impossible to know what genus this belongs to; the species is in need of redescription, and should presently be considered a species inquirenda. If the type specimen is lost, it may be best to consider this name a nomen dubium, as it cannot reliably be placed in any genus.