Opisodasys Jordan 1933, a Genus of Siphonaptera

Abstract

Head: Frontal tubercle very small, antennal groove extending 2/3 depth of head, bordered dorsally with fine setae, most numerous posteriorly. Long bristles on 2nd segment of antennae not equaling club. Eye well-pigmented, gena broad. Genal row of 4 bristles on one side and 3 on the other (this same irregularity occurs in a male of this species). Bristles in occipital row, all short, except 2nd ventral one which extends to mesothorax. Rostrum equaling trochanter. Thorax: Pronotal comb of about 24 spines. One lateral bristle on fore femur. First pair of plantar bristles displaced ventrally on all tarsi. Metanotum with an apical spinelet on each side. Abdomen: Apical spinelets on each side of tergites I to IV, 3-3-2-1 respectively. Each side of tergites II to VII with an anterior row of 4-6 short bristles and median row of 6-7 long bristles, alternating with very fine setae. Each side of sternites II to VI with 3-5-4-4 and 4 bristles respectively. Modified segments: Sternite VII with short rounded posterior dorsal lobe, and about 18 bristles irregularly arranged as figured. Three lateral bristles on anal tergite proximal to stylet, anal sternite slightly rounded with numerous long bristles on border. Stylet about 3 times longer than wide, with a long terminal and three quite long subterminal or lateral bristles. Three long antepygidial bristles on each side, median one longest. Head of spermatheca barrel shaped, 1times longer than wide, tail curved dorsally, tip well-sclerified. Allotype female from Sciurus griseus Riverside County, California, September 1936.