A new species of Tunga perforating the osteoderms of its armadillo host in Argentina and redescription of the male of Tunga terasma

EZQUIAGA, M.C.; LINARDI P.M.; DE AVELAR, D.M.; LARESCHI, M.

MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2015 vol. 29 p. 196 - 204

0269-283X

A new species of Tunga (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) collected from armadillos from Argentina is herein described. The new species is characterized by eye large and pigmented, antennal segment II with 2 bristles, base of maxilla with 2 bristles and neosome discoid, compressed antero-posteriorly. The gravid female is located in the carapace of the host, perforating the osteoderms. The new species resembles Tunga penetrans and Tunga terasma in general appearance. However, it differs by the larger antero-posterior compression of the neosome, head more angular, manubrium with pointed proximal end and convex ventral margin (while the proximal end of manubrium rounded or slightly pointed in T. terasma, and straight ventral margin in T. penetrans and T. terasma). Also, specimens of T. penetrans have more bristles in the antennal segments II and III, as well as lack of bristles in posterior tibia. This is the first report of a species of Tunga perforating the osteoderms of its host, showing a highly specialization. Tunga terasma is recorded for the first time in Argentina; the male is redescribed and the diagnosis of the species emended. The information may be useful in epidemiological studies of the diseases caused by species of Tunga.