A description of four new species of fleas ( Insecta , Siphonaptera ) from Angola , Ethiopia , Papua New Guinea , and Peru

Four new species of fl eas are described: Aphropsylla truncata sp. n. (Ethiopia), Ectinorus hirsutus sp. n. (Peru), Rhinolophopsylla traubi sp. n. (Angola), and Th aumapsylla wilsoni sp. n. (Papua New Guinea). Our understanding of the genus Aphropsylla is defi cient, therefore a discussion of host/parasite relationships and new records from Uganda are provided. A key is provided for the genus Aphropsylla, while representatives of the other three genera are associated with existing keys to facilitate their identifi cation. Th e presence of lucodiscs on Aphropsylla and other genera is briefl y discussed. Th e occurrence of lucodiscs among representatives of the order Siphonaptera deserves further investigation.


Introduction
During ongoing studies of the late Robert Traub collection of fl eas (maintained in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History), series containing undescribed species of Aphropsylla Jordan, 1932, Ectinorus Jordan, 1942, Rhinolophopsylla Oudemans, 1909, and Th aumapsylla Rothschild, 1907were discovered.Th ese new taxa are herein described and additional new host and locality records are reported for the genus Aphropsylla.

Materials and methods
Dissections of fl ea genitalia and mounting techniques were completed in accordance with procedures outlined in Hastriter (2004), and Hastriter and Whiting (2003), respectively.Methods of measuring fl eas and preparing digital images follow those outlined in Hastriter and Eckerlin (2003).Line drawings were prepared with the aid of a Ken-A-Vision microprojector.Mammal nomenclature follow those of Wilson and Reeder (2005) and morphological terms are adapted from those of Rothschild and Traub (1971).Unless otherwise specifi ed, numbers used within descriptions apply to only one side of laterally fl attened microscope slide mounted specimens.
Aphropsylla species were originally placed in the genus Ctenocephalus Kolenati (now Ctenocephalides Stiles and Collins) until Jordan (1932) noted the generic distinction in the two genera by the position of the genal comb relative to the oral angle of the frons.Only three species of Aphropsylla occur in a limited region of east Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda).Aphropsylla conversa (Jordan & Rothschild, 1913) (Figs. 3,8,11,13,17) Ctenocephalus conversus Jordan & Rothschild. 1913. Novitates Zoologicae, 20:231-232.Aphropsylla conversus Jordan. 1932:292-293;Hopkins. 1947:152. Aphropsylla conversa Hopkins & Rothschild. 1953:133;Cheetham. 1988:35;Beaucournu. 2004:190  Remarks.When Jordan and Rothschild described this species, they erroneously labeled one female (same data as holotype) as a "neallotype".It is presumed they ment "allotype" and not "neallotype" or neoallotype.Host preferences for this species of Aphropsylla are virtually unknown since only a single specimen had been collected from each of the three known host species (other than man).Genetta maculata, a small agile Figures 10-13.10-11.Eighth tergite and anal stylet.10.Aphropsylla truncata n. sp., allotype ♀. 11.Aphropsylla conversa, "neallotype" = allotype?♀. 12-13.Spermatheca.12. Aphropsylla truncata n. sp., paratype ♀. 13.Aphropsylla conversa, "neallotype" = allotype?♀.Scale 10, 12-13 = 100 μm, 11 = 200 μm 10 12 11 and scansorial carnivore, is certainly an accidental host, likely infested with one specimen correlated with the host's carnivorous habits.Lophiomys imhausi and D. arboreus are both herbivores.Although the latter is arboreal, the single specimen recorded from it is also likely accidental.Th e label data for the nine specimens reported here, all indicate that the host was "on man" and it is presumed that the collector (or labeler) assumed man was an "acc.= ?accidental"host.Unfortunately, the circumstances are not known surrounding the collection of no less than nine specimens from a human.Th ere was surely some intimate contact with a bird or mammal nest by the "human host".Th e fact that a sizable series of the new species described below was collected from bird nests (and not from a mammal per se) might suggest that the genus has close evolutionary affi nities to avian hosts.Diagnosis.Male easily distinguished from A. conversa and A. wollastoni by the short truncate shape of P1 (length <1.5 greatest width vs. length >2.5 x greatest width), the presence of a spiculated intersegmental membrane between the lobes of S-VIII, and one seta of fourth hind tarsal segment extended beyond base of distotarsomere 3. Female sex of A. wollastoni unknown.Female sex of A. truncata separable from A. conversa by 1) ventral anal lobe broader, ventrally oblique at apex, and adorned with setae on distal half, 2) anal stylet 3 x as long as greatest width vs. >4 x as long as width in A. conversa, 3) T-VIII without deep marginal sinus as A. convera, 4) fi rst genal tooth <half length of adjacent tooth, nearly as long as adjacent tooth in A. conversa, 5) 7-8 genal teeth vs. 8-9 in A. conversa, and 6) one seta of fourth hind tarsal segment extending beyond base of distotarsomere 3.
Distal arm of S-IX broader at base than apex; apex hooked caudad.Caudal margin fringed with numerous fi ne setae, lacking apodemal rod.Spiculated intersegmental membrane connecting mesal area of S-VIII.Aedeagus (Fig. 14).Aedeagal apodeme long and narrow.Penis rods exceed apex of aedeagal apodeme.Ventral lateral lobe expanded ventrad.Median dorsal lobe hood-like at dorsoapical margin.Sclerotized inner tube with dorsal spine on basal third; confi ned within phallosome.Crochet large and bilobed; ensheathed within lateral lobe.Modifi ed Abdominal Segments, Female (Figs. 10,12).Tergum VIII with four lateral setae and two marginal setae on broad lobe; several short spiniform mesal setae.Sternum VIII angled apically; with longitudinal striations, no setae.Dorsal anal lobe triangular; anal stylet robust with two lateral short setae and long apical seta.Ventral anal lobe broad with ventrally oblique apex; setae numerous on apical half.Fibula vaginalis sclerotized.Cribriform area of spermatheca at ventroapical aspect of bulga.Bulga spherical.Bulga and hilla subequal in length; no demarcation between them.
Etymology.Th e species name "truncata" is derived from truncus (L.) or "cut off ", which is descriptive of the male eighth tergite (P1) unique to this species of Aphropsylla.
Remarks.All specimens were collected in an arboreal situation from a nest.Nests were either individual bird nests, or a Dendromus nest associated with a bird nest.It is signifi cant that 39 specimens from three diff erent collections were collected from a bird nest unassociated with a mammal nest, while only two collections yielding only 3 specimens were collected from Dendromus nests associated with the same type of "mossy" bird nests.It would appear that this species is biologically associated with a bird and that the mammal is an accidental host species.It is unfortunate that the bird species is unknown; however, judging from the nest materials, height of nests, elevation, and endemic locality of Dinsho, likely candidates might be the Black Headed Sisken (Serinus nigriceps Ruppell) or other local species of the genus Serinus Koch.Th ese bird species should be investigated as possible avian host species.
Th e genus Aphropsylla (Archaeopsyllini Oudemans) has several unique features shared by few other genera.A dense array of fi ne setae lining the recess of the occipital groove is present in males.In other fl ea taxa, this area is usually devoid of setae, or is limited to sparse or unapparent setae.Another unusual feature is the presence of lucodiscs, a term coined by Traub and Johnson (1952) and fi rst identifi ed in the distant related genus Stenoponia Jordan & Rothschild.Within the tribe Archaeopsyllini, lucodiscs also occur in the genera Archaeopsylla Dampf and Ctenocephalides Stiles & Collins.Th e author was unable to examine the other two rare genera in this tribe (Centetipsylla Jordan and Nesolagobius Jordan & Rothschild) to determine the presence of lucodiscs.All three genera in the tribe Hystrichopsyllini Tiraboschi (Atyphloceras Jordan & Rothschild, Hystrichopsylla Taschenberg, and Typhloceras Wagner) also have lucodiscs.It should be noted that lucodiscs are distinct morphological entities present in defi ned patterns, which are species specifi c.Th ey may have signifi cance in identifi cation criteria and phylogenetic relationships.Lucodiscs are not the subject of this paper; however, their prevalence among the order Siphonaptera deserves further investigation beyond this discussion.Rothschild (Figs. 4,9,18) Ctenocephalus wollastoni Rothschild. 1908. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 44:76-79.Aphropsylla wollastoni Jordan. 1932:292-293;Hopkins. 1947:152;Hopkins and Rothschild. 1953:133;Cheetham. 1988: 102;Beaucournu. 2004:190 Remarks.Rothschild (1908) described A. wollastoni from three males from the Rwenzori, Uganda.Th e female is not described and additional records, other than the type series, have never been reported.Th e host of this fl ea remains to be determined.Future collections might well be directed from bird nests of fi nches (family Fringillidae) at or near the type locality.Diagnosis.Males and females diff er from R. ashworthi (Waterston) by the absence of combs on the metanotum and fi rst two abdominal segments.Most closely allied to the R. unipectinata ssp.complex but can be distinguished from those in the male by details of the aedeagus (lacking expanded median dorsal lobe), S-VIII, and the marginal position of the acetabulum with telomere extended beyond posterior margin  Rothschild (1956:347).Description.Head (Fig. 19).Preoral genal spines spatulate, darkly pigmented; posterior spine expanded towards apex.Pale band along smooth margin of frons with one slender seta at oral angle, 14 minute setae separating pale band from preantennal area, and seven slender setae continuing dorsad.Preantennal area adorned with numerous minute scattered setae; ten to twelve setae along ventral margin of antennal fossa, large ocular setae anterior to vestigial, ventrally notched eye, extended beyond genal process.Gena heavily sclerotized, dark at apex; latter sinuate and truncate.Apical half of scape with 7-8 scattered thin setae.Pedicel with 4-5 slender setae extended one third length of clavus.Clavus extended to no further than apex of gena.Th ree long setulae along dorsal margin of antennal fossa.Postantennal area with numerous scattered setae.Maxilla truncate; labial palpus with six segments.Well developed preoral tuber present.Th orax (Figs. 19,20).Pronotal ctenidia of 20 spines; three rows of setae (1-3, 4, 5).Prosternosome expanded dorsad; large notch with fi rst link plate.Meso-and metanota with numerous setae; main row on metanotum exceptionally long.Metanotum with two marginal spinelets.Mesepisternum with two setae; mesepimeron with two dorsal and three ventral setae.Pleural rod slender; upper portion entirely spread cephalad.Mesosternum heavily sclerotized on ventral half.Lateral metanotal area with one large seta.Metepisternum with one equally large seta.Pleural ridge without pleural arch.Metepimeron with two vertical rows, each with two setae, all below round spiracle.Legs (Fig. 24).Fore coxa with 30 lateral setae excluding marginal setae.Meso-and metacoxae with setae along anterior margins.Large seta at apex of metacoxa set in extra large alveolus; apicocaudal notch shallow.Profemur with 6-7 lateral setae; meso-and metafemora each with 4-5 lateral apical setae.Coarse oblique, parallel reticulations on lateral aspect of femora; mesal surface reticulated sculpturing perpendicular to femora.Femorotibial joints with two guard setae each; lateral smaller of pairs.Sparse false comb on dorsal margin protibia and mesotibia; metatibia slender with single long seta in poorly defi ned dorsotibial notches, most with small basal seta.First and second mesotarsal segments subequal in length.First metatarsal segment long, but less than segments 2-4 combined.Five lateral plantar bristles; fi rst pair shifted onto plantar surface between second pair.Two preapical plantar bristles; two preapical plantar hairs.Dorsal surface of distotarsomere III with longitudinal row of fi ve fi ne setae; two apical fi ne setae resembling preapical lateral hairs.Unmodifi ed Abdominal Segments, Male (Fig. 21).Apical spinelets on T-I-III (3, 1, 1).Tergites heavily sclerotized dorsally.Five to six setae in each row; lowest seta at or just below level of round spiracles.Tergum VIII dorsoapically expanded; enveloping T-IX with 7-8 lateral setae dorsally.Apical margin T-VIII minutely serrate.Sternites II-IV with single seta; S-V-VII each with two setae.Small setae lateral and mesal to long antesen-silial bristle.Sensilial plate expanded caudally; 20 pits in sensilium.Female similar to male except dorsal margins of tergites less sclerotized; single spinelet on T-4.Female S-II-III with single seta, S-IV-VI with three setae.Modifi ed Abdominal Segments, Male (Figs. 21,22).Basomere caudally rounded; acetabular bristles three [two on one side in holotype, three on other side (three the norm)]; acetabulum nearly marginal with telomere extending well beyond caudal margin of basimere.Basimere with long apical seta; two lateral setae.Manubrium with hook-like sclerotization in middle of plate.Sternum VIII with teat-like apex adorned with two long setae, 3-4 smaller basal setae.Proximal arm of S-IX lacking; distal arm with quadrate apical lobe adorned with four small marginal setae, one long curved seta.Apodemal rod long, extending well beyond apex of penis plate.Aedeagus (Fig. 22).Aedeagal apodeme with parallel margins.Penis rods forming 3/4 revolution.Ventral lateral lobes divided by shallow sinus.Median dorsal lobe inconspicuous and rounded apically.Crochet dominant feature of aedeagus; hyaline proximal lobe reduced.Paxillus long, peg-like, associated with subtending sinus of apical lobe of distal arm S-IX.Sclerotized inner tube with thumb-like sclerotization on dorsal aspect.Modifi ed Abdominal Segments, Female (Fig. 25).Caudal margin T-VIII sinuate; with three long dorsal setae, group of four slender setae anterior to marginal setae.Marginal setae include 4-5 long setae; group of 3-4 mesal spiniform setae.Sternum VII with row of fi ve lateral setae; small broad dorsal lobe subtended by shallow sinus extended to ventral margin.Sternum VIII boat-shaped, without setae; ventral margin moderately sclerotized.Dorsal anal lobe with setae on dorsoapical half; anal stylet twice length of maximum width with long apical seta, two basal setae.Ventral anal lobe acutely pointed; setae on ventroapical half.Bulga spherical; hilla twice length of bulga; subapical entrance of duct of spermatheca.Bursa copulatrix sclerotized to perula; perula with distal sclerotization.
Etymology.To Robert Traub, this fl ea is named Rhinolophopsylla traubi in his honor and his memory.Even after his death, Robert Traub's genius in work on ectoparasites (especially fl eas and mites) continues to inspire those who marvel at his keen insights on zoogeography and evolution of these groups.Morsby, 610 m elev., ex. D. moluccensis, 23 VIII 1966, 31 X 1968, 3 XI 1968, N. Wilson (slides B-84147, B-84148, B-84149).Holotype and 5 paratypes deposited in CMNH and one paratype (B-84148) in the author's collection.

Th aumapsylla wilsoni
Diagnosis.Female sex is unknown.Males clearly distinguished from T. dina Jordan, 1937 by the possession of only two preoral genal spines.Further separable from males of T. longiforceps Traub and T. breviceps Rothschild by the shape of the crochet, distal arm of S-IX, and aedeagus.Further details include a greatly expanded prosternosome with ventrad quadrate lobes, a broad marginal band lacking trans-  Hopkins and Rothschild (1956:190) become problematic.
Description.Head (Figs. 26,28).Frons and occiput gently arched separated by antennal groove almost contiguous with dorsal antennal fossa.Th in incrassation with sparse canaliculi along entire margin.Six fi ne setae (with 4-5 minute setae interspersed between them) parallel to margin of frons; with zone of minute coniform receptors between frons and these setae.Th ree minute setae parallel with ventor of antennal fossa anterior to vestigial lightly pigmented eye.Very large ocular bristle at margin of antennal fossa extending over clavus.Genal lobe sinuate at apex; two preoral darkly pigmented spatulate genal ctenidia present; anterior slightly shorter than posterior.Two placoids along margin of frons, two along margin of occiput, and one ventral to the latter two.Four short spiniform setae at dorsal margin of antennal fossa.Two rows of large spiniform setae (1, 3), group of three smaller setae ventrad, and many fi ne setae anterior to those in postantennal area.Th irteen large spiniform setae at posterior margin of head; dorsomedial posterior margin of head with single long seta borne on projection extended over pronotum.Maxilla sharp at apex.Labial palpus six segments extending to 2/3 of forecoxa; segments 3-5 one third length of other segments.Antennal fossa partially covered by genal lobe.Scape with 3 apical setae; pedicel with one or two minute setae; clavus with single stubby seta on each dorsal fl abellate segment.Antenna confi ned to antennal fossa.Th orax .Pronotum ctenidia of 16-17 spatulate spines per side; spines shorter dorsally than ventrally.Ctenidia extended onto prosternosome and arching forward.Single row of six minute setae at base of pronotal ctenidia; all dorsal to robust fi rst link plate.Prosternosome with two lobes forming an unusual quadrate ventral extension.Th e nature of all setae of meso-and metathorax and abdomen are spiniform and darkly pigmented.Many setae on mesothorax and mesopleuron.Noteworthy is horizontal row on ventral mesopleuron that resembles false comb.Mesopleural rod massive and bifurcate.Second link plate conspicuous.Metanotum adorned with marginal row of seven long spiniform setae; anterior group of 13-14 shorter spiniform setae.Metanotal margin with four short, blunt, black spinelets.Lateral metanotal area without setae; heavily sclerotized margins.One small and three large spiniform setae on metepisternum; meso-and metasternites reduced to heavy sclerotizations.Pleural ridge slender; pleural arch absent.Furca thread-like.Metepimeron with group of 18 spiniform setae; round spiracular fossa larger than those of abdomen.Legs (Fig. 31).Fore coxa robust, expanded on caudal margin with noticeably large seta; numerous lateral spiniform setae.Setae on meso-and metacoxa limited to the apical third.Two robust setae at each femoral-tibial joint; lateral smaller of two.To large setae dorsal to each femoral pit.Five dorsal notches on dorsal margin of each tibia; false combs on each.False comb of metatibia less conspicuous on dorsal third of metatibia.Fifth tarsal segments with fi ve lateral plantar bristles; fi rst pair shifted onto plantar surface between second pair.Two preapical spiniform plantar bristles; two thin preapical plantar hairs; three setae on pulvillus.Unmodifi ed Abdominal Segments (Fig. 26).Tergum I with three marginal spinelets; main row of 4 setae and anterior group of 7-8 setae.Tergites II-VI with seven setae in main row; T-II-IV with anterior rows of 4, 3, 2 setae, respectively.Four setae on T-VII.One large antesensilial bristle, lateral small and mesal reduced to minute seta; all borne on tubercle.One seta below lever of round spiracles on all terga.Setae on S-II-VII (1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 2).Sensilium with 16 pits.Pencil-like paired proctigers arise from base of sensilial plate; each bearing terminal tuft of long setae.Modifi ed Abdominal Segments.Tergum VIII with two lateral setae; ventroapical margin extends to upper margin of S-VIII.Sternum VIII with truncate lobe; lower portion bearing row of four marginal setae and one minute seta anterior to main row.Length of basimere twice width, with dorsal fringe of fi ne setae and two long acetabular bristles.Telomere spherical with two large apical setae.Manubrium knife-like and directed downward.Dorsal arm of S-IX with single long seta on ventral lobe (Fig. 30).Proximal arm of S-IX short; fused with ventral portion of aedeagal apodeme.Apodemal rod long, forming one complete revolution.Aedeagus (Fig. 30).Aedeagal apodeme expanded dorsad and sharp at apex; apical appendage nearly as long as apodeme.Penis rods forming coil of two revolutions.Median dorsal lobe narrow, extended well beyond sclerotized inner tube.Sclerotized inner tube short with thick dorsal spur.Crescent sclerite thickened at anterior.Crochet long, extended to sharp pointed apex; paxillus interlocked with sinus of distal arm of S-IX.
Etymology.Th e species is named Th aumapsylla wilsoni in honor of my colleague Nixon Wilson, Professor Emeritus, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa for not only collecting this new species, but also in recognition of his untiring eff orts collecting ectoparasites over many years and for his contributions to our understanding of the order Siphonaptera.

Ectinorus Jordan, 1942
A comprehensive listing of the 38 known species of the South American genus Ectinorus was presented in Hastriter and Sage (in press).Th is new species represents the 39 th species in the genus Ectinorus.whose bulgae are obviously longer than wide.Distinguished from the remaining fi ve species (E. alejoi, E. chilensis, E. cocyti, E. disjugis, and E. gallardoi) by a combination of all the following characters: 1) hilla is much longer than length of bulga, 2) seven segments in the labial palpus (including basal palp bearing segment), 3) six setae in main row on S-VII, 4) a group of fi ne setae on lateral aspects of both S-II and S-III, and 5) four setae per side on S-IV-VI.Extralimital species whose female sexes are unknown include E. lareschiae, E. mimacydis, and E. splendidus.Th is new species is very closely related to E. ineptus Johnson, E. uncinatus Beaucournu and Gallardo, and E. curvatus Beaucournus and Gallardo.Th ese are all geographically confi ned to northern Chile and the southern half of Peru.Although males are easily distinguished, the females prove to be an enigmatic complex for which identifi cations remain uncertain.Th e possession of seven segments in the labial palpus of E. hirsutus diff ers from those females tentatively assigned by Beaucournu and Gallardo (1991) to the respective "ineptus complex" of species (E.ineptus, E. curvatus, and E. uncinatus), although the number of segments in the labial palpus of this single female (allotype) may prove anomalous and not distinctive for this new species.Ectinorus ineptus and E. uncinatus display only minor diff erences in the male sex and E. uncinatus may prove to be a junior synonym of E. ineptus.Further material is required to assess the validity of these two species.

Ectinorus hirsutus
Description.Head (Figs. 32,33).Frontal tubercle squared at apex; thick sclerotization behind tubercle.Fine seta dorsad and contiguous with tubercle.Two placoids along margin of frons; one placoid caudad to scape and one more posterior near occipital groove.Preanntennal area with numerous minute coniform peg-like receptors.Single seta along antennal fossa anterior to moderately pigmented eye.Ocular row with three long setae; two shorter setae (female with four).Genal process bluntly acute; with marginal row of 4-6 setae caudad and ventrad to eye, two short setae at apex of gena.Lateral and anterior tentorial arms fused and connecting eye with margin of gena.Postantennal area with three rows of setae (1, 1, 6).Dorsal margin of antennal fossa with row of 22 minute spiniform setulae (female with 5-6).Seven setae confi ned to apical margin of scape; barely extended to apex of pedicel.Pedicel without setae; apical segments of clavus extended onto prosternosome.Maxilla acutely sharp at apex.Labial palpus of seven segments; extends to apex of fore coxa.Th orax (Figs. 32,33,35).Pronotum with main row and incomplete anterior row of setae.First link plate affi xed to shallow notch on prosternosome (link plate vestigial in female).Mesonotum with 14 pseudosetae (female with 12); two complete rows of setae with scattered anterior setae.Mesepisternum with one seta; mesepimeron with four setae.Metanotum with main row and anterior row of setae; caudal margin hyaline.Lateral metanotal area with one short and two long setae.Metepisternum with single long seta; pleural arch present.Metepimeron with two vertical rows, two setae each; spiracle mushroom shaped (asymmetrical).Legs (Fig. 38).Procoxa with 25-27 lateral setae (including marginals) (female with 18-20).Lateral sulcus of mesocoxa vestigial at apex.Anterior margin of meso-and metacoxa with setae on anterior margin.Profemur with 14-15 small lateral (female with 7-8); 3-4 small mesal seta (female with 2).Femoraltibial guard setae two on all segments; equal size on fore femur, lateral smaller of two on meso-and metafemora.Margin of fore, mid and hind tibiae with 6, 7, 7 dorsal notches, respectively.Number of setae in respective dorsal notches: fore tibia (beginning with proximal notch) (2, 2, 2, 3, 2 3) (female with 1, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3), mid tibia (1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2, 3), hind tibia (2, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2, 4).Lateral setae of meso-and metatibia, respectively (5,6).Two long slender setae on hind tarsi I extended to apex of tarsus II; one seta extended to apex tarsus III.Hind tarsus III with three long slender setae extended well onto distotarsomere.Distotarsomeres each with four pair lateral plantar bristles, two spiniform preapical plantar bristles; in addition to preapical lateral hairs.Numerous fi ne setae on plantar surfaces of all distotarsomeres.Female lacking long slender setae.Unmodifi ed Abdominal Segments.Tergum I with six marginal spinelets (female with 4); two rows setae (5, 6) (female with 4, 5).Tergites II-VII with 7-8 setae in main row; ventral most of each row at level with small round spiracles (female with 1-2 setae below level of spiracles).Sternum II with single ventral seta and two small lateral setae (female with 4-5 lateral setae); S-III with single small lateral seta (female with 3-4 lateral setae), S-III-VII with three ventral setae (female with S-III-VI with 3, 3, 4, and 4 ventral setae).Modifi ed Abdominal Segments, Male (Figs. 36,39).Single antesensilial bristles on projection.Sensilium with 18 sensilial pits.Tergum VIII vestigial.Tergum IX massive relative to abdomen; manubrium hooked upward at apex.Caudal margin fringed with many long setae; processus basimeris ventralis arising from apical margin into large lobe bearing caudal fringe of stout setae.Telomere parallel sided, oblique at apex.Acetabulum set well back from caudal margin of basimere.Sternum VIII with caudal lobe subtended by ventral sinus; adorned along margin with 11-12 long setae.At apex of S-VIII, subventral lobe adorned with multiple curved setae.Proximal arm of S-IX with expanded apex attached to inner aspect of junction of basimere and manubrium.Distal arm of S-IX with lobe on caudal margin bearing 2-3 long setae; numerous fi ne lateral setae, and 6-7 long setae along apicocaudal margin.Apex of S-IX with caudally directed tooth-like appendage.Aedeagus (Fig. 34).Median dorsal lobe acutely pointed at apex.Apico-median sclerite with caudal sinus and ventro-apical hook.Crochet spoon-shaped; heavily sclerotized at ventral margin.Sclerotized inner tube widening towards apex with oblique line ending with small ventral spur (appears as artifact, but is present on all specimens examined); slight swelling at base.Anterior portion of crescent sclerite thickened.Girdle ventrally expanded; truncate at ventral apex.Penis rod single, extending to apex of aedeagal apodeme (penis rod extended well beyond aedeagal apodeme in illustration because it was pulled out during dissection).Aedeagal apodeme broad; round at apex.Small proximal spur present.Modifi ed Abdominal Segments, Female (Fig. 37,40).Tergum VIII especially long on dorsal margin; fi ve small dorsal setae, 5-8 long lateral setae.Caudal lobe with 11-12 long marginal setae; 5-8 small sharp setae at mesal surface near margin.Spiracle VIII vermiform.Sensilial plate with 18 sensilial pits per side.Sternum VII with row of six long setae; caudal margin with round ventral lobe subtended by small sinus.Sternum VIII bluntly rounded; longitudinal sculpturing present.Dorsal anal lobe with scattered setae; anal stylet twice as long as width.Anal stylet placed at ventral margin; dorsal anal lobe bearing one long apical seta; two short setae ventrad to base of long seta.Ventral anal lobe with scattered setae on apical half; ventral margin sclerotized.Spermatheca with hilla longer than bulga.Bulga obliquely fl attened at subventral margin of cribriform area.Bursa copulatrix sclerotized, arching caudad; perula slightly globular without sclerotization.Fibula vaginalis long, sclerotized, and distinct.
Length (slide mounted specimens): Holotype 1.9mm, male average: 1.7mm (n = 6; range: 1534-1970 μm); allotype 2.3mm Etymology.Th e ninth tergite and the eighth and ninth sternites of the male are adorned with rows of long setae producing an appearance of "hairy" or "shaggy", thus hirsutus (L.) Remarks.Neotomys appears to be the preferred host of E. hirsutus.Only Neotomys was recorded on the slides and on the "B" number records of Robert Traub.Voucher specimens could not be traced to validate the fi eld identifi cations; however, the type locality of E. hirsutus is sympatric with that of Neotomys ebriosus Th omas, the only species in the genus.Occurring together with this new species on N. ebriosus were the two specimens (male and female) of Sphinctopsylla inca (Rothschild) and a single female Tetrapsyllus bleptus (Jordan & Rothschild) identifi ed by Robert Traub.