The status of traubella prince, eads and barnes, 1976 (Siphonaptera Ceratophyllidae)

2007·2.4 MB·

by  Robert E Lewis

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PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH.
109(4), 2007, pp. 863-867
THE STATUS OF TRAUBELLA PRINCE, EADS AND BARNES, 1976
(SIPHONAPTERA: CERATOPHYLLIDAE)
Robert E. Lewis
Research Associate, Section of Invertebrate Zoology, Carnegie Museum of
Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-4080, U.S.A.; mailing address: 3906 Stone
Brooke Circle, Ames, lA 50010-4174, U.S.A. (e-mail: [email protected])
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Abstract. The ceratophyllid genus Traubella is redescribed in order to contrast it
with the closely related genus Malaraeus Jordan, 1933. Its literary history is reviewed
and its diagnostic characters are figured.
Key Words: Traubella, Malaraeus, Amphipsylla, Siphonaptera, distribution, host
preferences, classification
Of the 28 ceratophyllid genera with a very restricted range in southern
representatives in North America a few California. An additional species, T.
of them are so similar that taxonomic grundmanni Egoscue, 1989, has since
discrimination is extremely difficult, es- been determined to belong to Malaraeus
pecially in the females. In some groups of Jordan, 1933, according to Lewis (in
plants and animals generic characters are press) and it is included in a study ofthat
obvious and may involve anatomical genus.
modifications such as venation, leaf
Genus Traubella Prince, Eads and
configuration or flower formulae, leav-
Barnes, 1976
ing genitalic characters for differentia-
tion at the subgeneric and species levels. Traubella Prince, Eads, and Barnes, 1976:
This is not true with fleas where practi- 162-168, figs. 1-13. Type species: Am-
cally the only characters used in identi- phipsyllaneotomae\. Fox, 1940.
fication are genitalic. This is further Traubella: Lewis, 1990: 157. Adams and
complicated by the fact that females of Lewis, 1995: 71.
closely related genera are so similar as to Generic diagnosis. Male: Setae on
be inseparable at the species level. It is caudal margin of legs coarse, heavy and
the purpose of this study to clarify the forming false combs. Longest setae of
relationship between Traubella Prince, hindtarsal segment II only extending to
Eads and Barnes, 1976, and the closely base of tarsal segment IV, while these in
related genus Malaraeus Jordan, 1933. Malaraeus species are more delicate and
Traubella was proposed for the taxon extend at least to base of segment V.
Amphipsylla neotomae I. Fox, 1940, Sternite VIII short, linear and vestigial,
which was originally placed in the its apex bearing 3-5 short setae, while
Leptopsyllidae. It is a rare species that this sclerite is asetose, very reduced or
evidently is a parasite of Neotoma lepida absent in Malaraeus. The proximal arm
Thomas, 1893 (Rodentia: Muridae), with ofSt IX truncated, its terminus blunt and
864 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
directed cephalad. This structure in of the tentorium persists in some speci-
Malaraeus is not truncated, its terminus mens but is not conspicuous. Ocular setal
bluntly rounded, the arm flexed caudad row of 3 bristles in both sexes. Posto-
—90'. Cephalic arm of manubrium cular seta absent. Pedicellar setae short
blunt, its apex only slightly flexed in males, extending to claval segments 4-
dorsad, while in Malaraeus this structure 6 in females. With 1 preoccipital setal
is sharply pointed and flexed dorsad. row of 1-3 bristles in males, usually in
Movable process crescentric, seinicircu- females. Occipital setal row of 5-6 setae
lar, its caudal margin with 3 evenly in both sexes. Labial palpi and stylets
spaced long setae. In Malaraeus species extending to apex of forecoxa. Thorax:
this structure is more rectangular, its Setae per side in pronotal row, 5-6 in
setation varying by species. Female: In males, 4-6 in female. Spines in pronotal
the female, though similar to those of comb, 22-24 in males, 19 26 in females.
Malaraeus, some Megabothris Jordan, Setae per side in main mesonotal row, 5-
1933, and Monopsyllus vison Baker, 6 in both sexes and 4-6 pseudosetae
1904, they differ in the following char- under the mesonotal collar. Setae per
acters. The ductus obturatus is absent; side in main metanotal row usually 5,
the spermathecal hilla is papillate and the occasionally 6. Marginal metanotal spi-
anal stylet is ~2x as long as wide, widest nelets 1/1 or 2/1. Metepisternal squamu-
in middle and with 2-3 subapical setae. lum present as a low thickening on the
Females of the 3 species of Malaraeus margin above the middle, its height
possess a ductus obturatus; the hilla of about 2x its depth. Metepisternal setae
the spermatheca is apapillate, and the 7-11 in 3 irregular rows. Legs: Midcoxal
anal stylet is 4—5X as long as wide at sulcus incomplete. Notches in caudal
base, its margins subparallel, tapering to margin of fore, mid and hindfemur 5, 6
a narrow apex, and with only 1 well and 8 in both sexes. No apical setae on
developed lateral seta. hindtarsal segment I in either sex reach-
Following is a redescription of the ing segment III. Lateral plantar setae on
genus, including additional characters, tarsal segment V 5 per side, pair I slightly
some shared by related genera that in shifted on to the plantar surface. Tarsal
combination with those listed above, are ungues unmodified, sculptured ventrally.
diagnostic for the genus. Abdomen (unmodified segments): No
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Redescription. No genal comb. Ten- tergal "mane" on anterior abdominal
torium visible as a vestige in a few segments in either sex. Marginal spinelets
specimens, never conspicuous. No inter- on anterior segments 1, 1-2, 1-2 and 1-2.
antennal suture. Clavus of male antenna Spiracular fossae circular and very small.
extending onto propleuron. Metanotum Main setal row ofanterior segments, 6-8
and some anterior abdominal tergites per side. Modified segments: Male.
with marginal spinelets. Sternite VIII of Wagner's organ absent. Apex of manu-
male narrow, sometimes reduced but brium blunt to rounded, but not hooked
always present and with 3-4 setae on dorsad. Terminal appendage of penis
apex. Head: Frontal tubercle present but plate usually poorly developed (broken
inconspicuous in both sexes. Frontal offin holotype). Penis rods coiled <180°.
setal row of 5-7 bristles on males, 4-6 Antepygidial seta single, bordered dor-
in females. Trabecula centralis small, sally and ventrally by short setae (not
circular, above and before the eye. Eye setulae). Spiculose area on inner surface
well developed although somewhat re- of st VIII absent. Sternum VIII present
3^
duced, slightly oval, with only the but reduced and bearing setae near
A
periphery heavily pigmented. vestige apex. Ventral anal lobe about half again
VOLUME NUMBER
109, 4 865
Figs. 1-10. Traubella neotomae. 1, Clasper of holotype male. 2, Sternite VIII of male holotype. 3,
Sternite IX of male holotype. 4, Crochet of male holotype. 5, Dorsal and ventral anal lobes of male
holotype. 6,Anal styletoffemale. 7, Dorsalandventral anal lobesoffemale. 8, Spermathecaoffemale. 9,
Bursa copulatrix offemale. 10, Variation in caudal margin ofst VII in females.
866 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
as long as dorsal lobe. Proximal arm ofst apply to the species, Traubella neotomae
IX relatively straight, its expanded apex (I. Fox 1940). The other species has been
directed cephalad. Distal arm of st IX reassigned to Malaraeus by Lewis (in
not conspicuously bilobed. Movable press).
process clavate, with 3 heavy setae on In addition to the male holotype and
middle of caudal margin. Fixed process a misdesignated female "allotype" from
conical, as long as movable process. Riverside County, California, from Spi-
Female. Three antepygidial setae, the logalegracilis, the following material was
median the longest, the laterals about available to me: California, Imperial
half as long as median and usually County, from Neotoma lepida, 2 males,
subequal, the dorsalmost the shorter. 2 females; Inyo County, also from N.
Dorsal and ventral anal lobes of equal lepida, 1 female; Riverside County, from
length. Anal stylet about 2.5X as long Neotoma nest, 1 male; and Arizona,
as wide at base and usually with 2 Mohave County, from Neotoma sp. and
subapical setae. Caudal margin of st Peromyscus crinitus, 1 male, 1 female. All
VII sinuate, with dorsal and ventral specimens are in the Carnegie Natural
lobes separated by a shallow sinus. History Museum (CMNH), Pittsburgh,
Bulga of spermatheca oval, with a con- PA, and the National Museum of
cave ventral margin. Hilla longer than Natural History, Smithsonian Institu-
bulga, its apex with a small papilla. tion, Washington, DC. (USNM)
Bursa copulatrix sinuate and sclerotized. Male 3 mm, female 4 mm.
Ductus obturatus absent.
Acknowledgments
Traubella neotomae (I. Fox 1940)
(Figs. 1-10) I thank the following curators and
their institutions for the loan ofmaterial
Amphipsylla neotomae I. Fox, 1940: 273, upon which this study was based. Both
fig. 3. U.S.A., California, Merced Dr. John Rawlins and the late Ms.
County, Dos Palos, 36.59N 120.39W. Nancy Adams loaned material from
from Neotoma lepida. III. 1934, H. S. their respective institutions, the CMNH
USNM
Gentry leg. Holotype male, and USNM. Also, Mr. James Kucera of
No. 54012. Salt Lake City made available speci-
Amphipsylla neotomae: Augustson, 1942: mens of Traubella grundmanni for com-
39; 1943: 76; Ewing and I. Fox, 1943: parison with those of T. neotomae. My
31; Hubbard, 1943: 1; Costa Lima thanks to these colleagues for their
and Hathaway, 1946: 256; Hubbard, cooperation.
1947: 260; Holland, 1949: 108; Au-
gustson and Durham, 1961: 10; Beck Literature Cited
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1953: 94; Lewis, 1974: 665. Augustson, G. F. 1942. The allotype of Amphip-
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Dolichopsyllidae). Bulletin of the Southern
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— of some species of Siphonaptera from the
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109, 4 867
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