A New Stenischia Jordan, 1932 (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae) from the Sikkim Large-Clawed Shrew

Abstract

A new species of flea belonging to the genus Stenischia (Hystrichopsyllidae) is described from Nepal. Comparisons are made with the two other species of the genus. It is suggested that members of this genus are primarily nest-inhabiting as adults, that they occur as adults mainly during the winter months, and that the genus as a whole shows a relict distribution. Among the ectoparasitic arthropods collected from Nepalese mammals and birds during the past 2 years are a number of new taxa. Many of these are closely related to presently known forms, both morphologically and geographically, and will require concentrated comparative studies before their relationships can be elucidated. The discovery of certain unique forms belonging to small, poorly known genera testifies to the paucity of our faunal knowledge of this fascinating area of the world and following is the description of one such species. Stenischia pagiana sp. n. (Figs. 1-6) Material Male holotype (8858) from Tarke Gyang, Helembu District, 49 km N Katmandu, Nepal, 2,430 m, from Soriculus nigrescens 3, 10 November 1967, R. M. Mitchell. Two male paratypes: 9248 from Uring Ghang, Bagmati Zone, Nuwakot District, 3,496. m, from Soriculus nigrescens, 1 September 1968, R. M. Mitchell; 9269, same data except 5 September 1968. Holotype deposited in the collection of the United States National Museum, Washington, D. C. Paratypes deposited in the author's collection. Received for publication 24 January 1969. * From Research Project N00014-68-A-0101-0001, Office of Naval Research, Navy Department, Washington, D. C. 20360 to Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private ones of the author and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Navy or the naval service at large. Journal Paper No. J-6044 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project No. 1715. Diagnosis Similar to Stenischia fujisania Sakaguti and Jameson, 1956, from Mt. Fuji, Japan, from which it differs in the possession of a narrower, more elongated movable process, 16 teeth in the pronotal ctenidium, and fewer setae on the inner surface of the hind coxae.