Corvonirmus uncinosus
Creators: name: Bush, Sarah E.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Phthiraptera
Philopteridae
Corvonirmus
Corvonirmus uncinosus

description: Corvonirmus uncinosus (Burmeister, 1838)
(Figs 319–326)
Nirmus uncinosus Burmeister, 1838: 430.
Degeeriella uncinosa (Nitzsch in Burmeister, 1838); Harrison, 1916: 125. Degeeriella uncinosa (Nitzsch, 1838); Séguy, 1944: 314.
Brueelia uncinosa (Burmeister, 1838); Hopkins & Clay, 1952: 62. Brueelia uncinosa plena Ansari, 1957a: 158.
Corvonirmus uncinosus plenus (Ansari, 1957a); Złotorzycka, 1997: 184.
Type host. Corvus cornix cornix Linnaeus, 1758 — hooded crow.
Type locality. South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Other hosts. Corvus corone corone Linnaeus, 1758 — carrion crow. Corvus cornix pallescens (Madarasz, 1904) — hooded crow new host record. Corvus cornix sharpie Oates, 1889 — hooded crow new host record.
Description. Both sexes. Head shape, structure, and chaetotaxy as in genus description and Fig. 321. Marginal carina moderately displaced and translucent at osculum. Preantennal nodi large, broad, rounded medianly. Coni short, not reaching distal margin of scape. Pre- and postocular nodi pronounced. Eyes protruding. Gular plate squat, antero-medianly pointed. Dark pigmentation on marginal carina and anterior fourth of ventral carinae, preantennal nodi and margin of antennal socket, all 3 flagellomeres in both sexes, mandibular framework, preocular nodi, anterior section of occipital carinae, and gular plate. Thoracic and abdominal segments as in genus description and Figs 319–320. Tergopleurites distinctive, much reduced.
Male. Scape (Fig. 321) about twice as long and broad as female scape (Fig. 322). Pteronotum with 8–10 mms on each side (Fig. 319). Abdominal chaetotaxy as in Table 2 and Fig. 319. Tergopleurite IX+X–XI unpigmented. Basal apodeme (Fig. 323) gently narrowing posteriorly. Proximal mesosome broadly rectangular. Gonopore (Fig. 324) small, narrowly open distally, with scaly lateral extensions (Fig. 246). Mesosomal lobes broad half-oval; 2 ames microsetae on each side submedianly anterior to gonopore; 1 pmes sensillus on each side on lateral margins of mesosome at level of gonopore; 1 pmes sensillus on each side on lateral extensions of gonopore. Parameral heads (Fig. 325) slender rectangular, folded obliquely medianly. Parameral necks very short, slender. Parameral blades broadly triangular, much elongated, gently tapering; pst1–2 sensilla. Measurements ex Corvus cornix cornix (n = 24): TL = 1.46–1.82 (1.62); HL = 0.41–0.48 (0.44); HW = 0.47–0.56 (0.51); PRW = 0.27–0.36 (0.31); PTW = 0.46–0.55 (0.50); AW = 0.52–0.77 (0.70). Ex C. c. sharpii (n = 3): TL = 1.47–1.51; HL = 0.45; HW = 0.50–0.53; PRW = 0.31–0.33; PTW = 0.51; AW = 0.70–0.71. Ex. C. corone corone (n = 17): TL = 1.46–1.71 (1.58); HL = 0.41–0.46 (0.43); HW = 0.48–0.56 (0.51); PRW = 0.29–0.37 (0.32); PTW = 0.47–0.54 (0.49); AW = 0.59–0.74 (0.68).
Female. Scape as in Fig. 322. Pteronotum with 6–8 mms on each side (Fig. 320). Abdominal chaetotaxy as in Table 2 and Fig. 320. Tergopleurite IX+X pigmented only on small rhombic median plate, with vague lateral extensions on posterior margin, not always as distinct as in Fig. 320. Subgenital plate (Fig. 326) triangular, reaching to near vulval margin, where it flares into cross-piece, however cross-piece anterior to vulval margin. Vulval margin gently rounded (Fig. 326), with 4–6 slender vms on each side, and 10–14 thorn-like vss on each side; 4–6 vos on each side; distal 2 vos located on cross-piece median to vss. Measurements ex Corvus cornix cornix (n = 35): TL = 1.82–2.12 (1.94); HL = 0.46–0.52 (0.49); HW = 0.54–0.62 (0.58); PRW = 0.31–0.36 (0.33); PTW = 0.51–0.60 (0.54); AW = 0.70–0.83 (0.75). Ex C. c. pallescens (n = 1): TL = 2.06; HL = 0.52; HW = 0.54; PRW = 0.34; PTW = 0.54; AW = 0.81. Ex C. c. sharpii (n = 9): TL = 1.76–1.94; HL = 0.47–0.51; HW = 0.56–0.59; PRW = 0.30–0.35; PTW = 0.50–0.57; AW = 0.72–0.81. Ex. C. corone corone (n = 44): TL = 1.66–2.08 (1.89); HL = 0.43–0.52 (0.47); HW = 0.50–0.61 (0.57); PRW = 0.29–0.37 (0.33); PTW = 0.47–0.57 (0.53); AW = 0.65–0.82 (0.73).
Type material. Ex Corvus cornix cornix [some as Corvus corone cornix or Corvus corone sardonius]: Neotype ♂, South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom, Nov. 1920, R. Meinertzhagen, 35 (NHML). Neoallotype ♀, same data as holotype (NHML). Neoparatypes: 18♂, 32♀, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Jan. 1946, R. Meinertzhagen, 15572 (NHML); 1♂, 1♀, South Uist, Scotland, United Kingdom, Sep. 1953, R. Meinertzhagen, 20233 (NHML); 1♂, North Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom, Aug. 1941, R. Meinertzhagen, 14488 (NHML); 5♂, 9♀, Mull, United Kingdom, Feb. 1944, R. Meinertzhagen, 15032 & 15086 (NHML); 1♂, Johnstown, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland, 12 Jun. 1940, E.O. Maloney (NHML); 3♂, 5♀, Sweden, Jul. 1950, R. Meinertzhagen, 19441 (NHML); 9♂, 13♀, Sweden, Sep. 1946, R. Meinertzhagen, 15984 (NHML); 1♀, Estonia, Aug. 1934, R. Meinertzhagen, 1508 (NHML).
Ex Corvus corone corone: Holotype ♂ of Brueelia uncinosa plena: Devon, England, United Kingdom, Dec. 1944, R. Meinertzhagen, 15262 (NHML). Allotype ♀ of Br. u. plena: same data as holotype (NHML). Paratypes of Br. u. plena: 17♂, 41♀, same data as holotype (NHML); 1♂, 1♀, same data as holotype (OSUS).
Additional material examined (non-types)
Ex Corvus cornix cornix [some as Corvus corone cornix o r Corvus corone sardonius]: 1♂, 1♀, County Cork, Ireland, 29 May 1947, E.O. Maloney (NHML); 1♂, 2♀, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom, 12 May 1964, Eskgrove Lab, Brit. Mus. 1965-186 (NHML); 1♂, 1♀, Wales, United Kingdom, Jan. 1955, R. Meinertzhagen, 20287 (NHML); 1♀, Somerset, England, United Kingdom, May 1934, R. Meinertzhagen, 866 (NHML); 1♂, Cumberland, England, United Kingdom, Apr. 1941, R. Meinertzhagen, 14226 (NHML); 2♂, 2♀, Brookethorpe, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom, 23 May 1954, R.S. George, Brit. Mus. 1954-400 (NHML); 1♀, Sardinia, Italy, R. Meinertzhagen, 4038 (NHML); 1♂, “Beslik L. E. end”, 3 Jun. 1918, J. W[aterston?], BM 1930-232 (NHML); 1♂, “ East Prussia”, D.M. A. Bate (NHML); 2♂, Mainz, Germany, Nov. 1953, K.C. Emerson (PIPeR).
Ex Corvus cornix ssp.: 3♀, Eichler collection, 3037 (MFNB); 4♀, Eichler collection, 1480 (MFNB).
Ex Corvus corone corone: 3♂, 5♀, Wales, United Kingdom, Jan. 1955, R. Meinertzhagen, 20287 (NHML); 4♂, 3♀, Brookethorpe, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom, 23 May 1954, R.S. George, Brit. Mus. 1954- 400 (NHML); 3♀, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom, 25 Jul. 1957, R.S. George, Brit. Mus. 1958-149 (NHML); 1♂, 6♀, Thaden, Rendsburg, Germany, 18 Feb. 1940, A. Jönkh, ZM1236/ 45-1–9 (MFNB).
Ex Corvus cornix pallescens [some as Corvus corone sardonius]: 1♀, Palestine, Mar. 1920, R. Meinertzhagen, 37 (NHML); 8♂, 7♀, Egypt, Apr. 1948, R. Meinertzhagen, 17648–51 (NHML); 1♂, 1♀, Beer Tovia [?], Israel, 6 May 1952, Brit. Mus. 1958-520 (NHML); 1♀, Qalyoubiya, Matariya Province, Egypt, 29 Apr. 1952, PE3156 (UMSP).
Ex Corvus cornix sharpii [some as Corvus corone sardonius]: 1♂, 1♀, Eichler Collection, 3042 (MFNB); 1♂, 2♀, Eichler Collection, 3024 (MFNB); 2♂, 3♀, Tadzjikistan, 5 Jan. 1941, IN1379/ 20-1–2 (MFNB); 3♂, 9♀, Verje, Medvode, Slovenia, 14 Apr. 1954, S. Brelih, 195, 1573–5, 2567–75 (PMSL); 2♂, 2♀, Verje, Medvode, Slovenia, 1 Nov. 1954, S. Brelih, 529–532 (PMSL); 1♂, 1♀, Trmbas, Kragujevac, Serbia, 5 Jan. 1941, S. Brelih, 2762–3 (PMSL).
Ex Corvus corone / cornix ssp.: 1♀, Eichler Collection, 542 (MFNB); 1♂, 1♀, Nikolskoje, RUSSIA?, 11 Jun. 1943, IN 1291/5/2-1 –2 (MFNB).
Ex Corvus corone corone x Corvus cornix cornix [hybrid]: 1♂, 1♀, Pirnice, Medvode, Slovenia, 25 Jan. 1959, S. Grelih, 14404–5 on reverse (OSUS); 2♂, 2♀, Podkoren, Medvode, Slovenia, 4 Feb. 1966, J. Gregori, 11449–52 (PMSL); 4♂, 4♀, Pirnice, Medvode, Slovenia, 25 Jan. 1959, 6328–31, 6333, 6335–7 (PMSL).
Remarks. Corvus corone and Corvus cornix have traditionally been considered conspecific, but are now often regarded as different species, though hybrids are prevalent in a well established hybrid zone (Parkin et al. 2003). Corvonirmus from both Corvus species are structurally indistinguishable, though the pigmentation patterns differ. Material from C. corone have a dark band on the pedicel (translucent in material from C. cornix spp.) and more extensive dark pigmentation on the occipital carinae and along the antennal socket. Abdominal pigmentation patterns overlap between material from the two host species, with material from C. cornix sharpii being palest (little to no pigmentation on tergopleurites median to fenestrae), material from C. cornix cornix being intermediate in pigmentation (little pigmentation on tergopleurites median to fenestrae anteriorly, posterior margin generally pigmented), and material from C. corone corone (“ Brueelia uncinosa plena ”) being darkest (extensive pigmentation of tergopleurites median to tergopleurites along both anterior and posterior margins). In addition, males from C. corone typically have at least some pigmentation on tergopleurite IX+X, whereas this tergopleurite is typically entirely translucent in males from C. cornix. The tergopleurite IX+X in females from C. corone has ornate and partial pigmentation, whereas in females from C. cornix is pigmented only along the posterior margin, if at all. Except for the pigmentation of the pedicel, all of these characters are quite variable between individuals, and there is considerable overlap between material from the two host species. Abdominal chaetotaxy also seem to differ between material from different host species and subspecies, but these differences are minor, overlapping, and not consistent. We tentatively consider material from all these hosts as conspecific. In the future, genetic data may help to clarify whether these different pigmentation patterns are indicative of divergence between the Corvonirmus from different host species.
A single male available to us from Corvus corone orientalis Eversmann, 1841 differs markedly in abdominal chaetotaxy, pigmentation patterns, and many aspects of the preantennal head, as well as having slight differences in the male genitalia. It is probably a different species, but more material is necessary to confirm it, and we do not attempt to formally describe this species here.
description: Published as part of Bush, Sarah E., 2017, Morphological revision of the hyperdiverse Brueelia - complex (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae) with new taxa, checklists and generic key, pp. 1-443 in Zootaxa 4313 (1) on pages 195-199, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4313.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/883161