A revision of the Australasian Boopiidae (Insecta : Phthiraptera), with notes on the Trimenoponidae

Abstract

The louse family Boopiidae, parasitic on marsupials in Australia and New Guinea, is revised on the basis of much new material from wild hosts. Important morphological features, particularly the genitalia, and their taxonomic value, are reviewed.
A key is given to the genera of Boopiidae and those of the most closely related family, the Trimenoponidae, which occurs on Neotropical marsupials and caviomorph rodents. Seven genera (Boopia, Phacogalia, Heterodoxus, Paraboopia, Macropophila, Paraheterodoxus, Latumcephalum) and 35 species of Boopiidae are recognized. Keys are given to the species, and all species are described and figured. Fourteen species are described as new, two in Boopia, seven in Heterodoxus, three in Macropophila, and two in Paraheterodoxus.
The majority of boopiids are parasites of Macropodidae but a few species are found on members of the families Dasyuridae, Peramelidae, and Vornbatidae. One species, Heterodoxus spiniger, has an anomalous host distribution; it is found on domestic and wild Canidae in many parts of the world, but there are occasional records from wallabies.