Cummingsia micheneri, a new species of Mallophaga (Trimenoponidae) from a Venezuelan mouse-opossum (Marsupialia)

Abstract

The previously recognized species of chewing louse, Cummingsia intermedia Werneck (Mallophaga: Trimenoponidae), is redescribed and illustrated. A new species, C. micheneri, is described and illustrated for lice from a Venezuelan mouse-opossum, Marmosa dryas [= Gracilinanus dryas] (Marsupialia: Didelphidae); this material had earlier been misidentified as C. intermedia. Additionally, we discuss identification of these two closely related species and indicate characters that are useful in distinguishing them from all other known species of Cummingsia. A key is provided for the 10 recognized species of the genus.