Suborder AMBLYCERA

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Introduction

The suborder Amblycera is regarded as monophyletic and as the sister group of the other three suborders of Phthiraptera (Lyal 1985). Amblyceran species are distinguished from all other lice by the pedunculate third antennal segment, antennae concealed in fossae or pits, and by the presence of maxillary palps. The taxonomy of the suborder was reviewed in detail by Clay (1970).

This suborder is divided into seven families, five of which occur in Australia. Three families—Laemobothriidae, Menoponidae, Ricinidae—contain the majority of native species that are exclusively parasitic on birds. The Boopiidae comprise native species that are restricted almost entirely to marsupials, and the Gyropidae have only two species, introduced with the Guinea Pig (Calaby & Murray 1991). The two non-Australian families of Amblycera (Abrocomophagidae, Trimenoponidae) are endemic to South America, with several species parasitic on rodents and marsupials (Emerson & Price 1976; Cicchino & Castro 1984).

General References

Calaby, J.H. & Murray, M.D. 1991. Phthiraptera. pp. 421-428 in CSIRO (ed.). The Insects of Australia. A textbook for students and research workers. Melbourne : Melbourne University Press Vol. 1 xiii 542 pp.

Cicchino, A.C. & Castro, D.C. 1984. Contribución al conocimiento de los malófagos argentinos. XV. Una nueva especie del género Philandesia Kellogg y Nakayama, 1914 (Mallophaga—Trimenoponidae). Historia Natural, Corrientes 4: 25-32

Clay, T. 1970. The Amblycera (Phthiraptera: Insecta). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 25: 73-98 5 pls

Emerson, K.C. & Price, R.D. 1976. Abrocomophagidae (Mallophaga: Amblycera), a new family from Chile. Florida Entomologist 59(4): 425-428

Lyal, C.H.C. 1985. Phylogeny and classification of the Psocodea, with particular reference to the lice (Psocodea: Phthiraptera). Systematic Entomology 10: 145-165

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