Anatoecusspecies (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) from Anseriformes in North America and taxonomic status of Anatoecus dentatus and Anatoecus icterodes

• Published in: The Canadian Entomologist
• Main Authors: Grossi, Alexandra A., Sharanowski, Barbara J., Galloway, Terry D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2014
• Subjects: Cummings; Branta canadensis
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/tce.2014.12; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0008347X14000121

Abstract Anatoecus Cummings (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) is a genus of chewing lice with four species infesting Anseriformes in North America: Anatoecus cygni (Denny), Anatoecus dentatus (Scopoli), Anatoecus icterodes (Nitzsch), and Anatoecus penicillatus Kéler. Males of A. dentatus and A. icterodes are distinguishable by their genitalia; however, there are no known anatomical characteristics to distinguish females. Anatoecus dentatus and A. icterodes are recorded from at least 55 of the same host species worldwide. The mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I was examined from the four Anatoecus species, specifically to examine the taxonomic status of A. dentatus and A. icterodes . When sequences from these species were analysed using neighbour joining analysis, A. dentatus and A. icterodes were recovered in a well-supported cluster. However, A. dentatus and A. icterodes were mixed within the same cluster. The average interspecific genetic distance of A. dentatus and A. icterodes (0.04%) was almost the same as the average intraspecific genetic distances of A. dentatus and A. icterodes 0.02% and 0.05%, respectively. Therefore, we formally synonymise A. dentatus and A. icterodes as Anatoecus dentatus (new synonymy). In addition two new hosts for A. penicillatus were recorded: Branta canadensis (Linnaeus) (Anseriformes: Anatidae) and Chen caerulescens (Linnaeus) (Anseriformes: Anatidae).