Metelasmus pseudopterus Coquillett, 1907

Metelasmus pseudopterus Coquillett, 1907 View in CoL

Metelasmus pseudopterus Coquillett, 1907: 292 View in CoL .

Material examined: Misiones: Estancia Prates, Barra Concepción, 28°05′S, 55°32′W, 25.iii. 2011, 1 ♀ ( CMLA 717 ) and 1 ♂ ( CMLA 718 ) on Artibeus fimbriatus ♀ ( FMI 271 ) GoogleMaps ; 26.iii.2011, 3 ♂ ( CMLA 711 , 712 , 713 ) on A. fimbriatus ♀ ( FMI 272 ) ; Reserva Ecológica Tupá Puojhá (Fachinal), 27°37′S, 55°43′W, 21.xi.2010, 1 ♀ ( CMLA 714 ), 2 ♂ ( CMLA 715 , 716 ) on Eptesicus furinalis ♀ ( FMI 230 ) GoogleMaps .

Identification: Metalasmus pseudopterus is easily recognizable by its bell-shaped head with a comb of closely spaced thick spines (ctenidium) along the posterior ventral margins. The ctenidium, consisting of numerous spines, extends dorsoventrally on the posterior margin of the head; broad scales (remiform scale) are present on the side of the head behind the ctenidium; and the wings are brachypterous, almost oval shaped, with only four longitudinal veins. Female: tergite VII with one pair of setae. Male: gonopod shorter; rapidly narrowing toward the hooked apex ( Guerrero, 1996; Autino et al., 1999; Graciolli & Carvalho, 2001).

Comments: This species parasitizes widely on bats of the family Phyllostomidae , although it has been cited for Emballonuridae on Peropteryx macrotis (Wagner, 1843) and for Vespertilionidae on Myotis nigricans (Schinz, 1821) (Vespertilionidae) ( Graciolli & Carvalho, 2001). In northern Argentina,it has been recorded on Artibeus fimbriatus (Misiones) (Claps et al., 2000; Autino et al., 2009) and A. planirostris ( Jujuy, Salta and Tucumán) (Autino et al., 1999, 2009).