Scanning electron microscope study of Mirophthirus liae (Anoplura: Mirophthiridae) and confirmation of the family status of the Mirophthiridae (Phthiraptera: Anoplura).
The family Mirophthiridae was erected in 1980 to accommodate the monotypic sucking louse Mirophthirus liae Chin, an ectoparsite of the Chinese pygmy dormouse, Typhlomys cinereus. Some systematists did not accept this taxonomic designation and instead placed M. liae in the family Polyplacidae. The scanning electron microscope study described here provides further diagnosis of M. liae and, based on the unique morphological characteristics of this louse, it is returned to the monotypic family Mirophthiridae. A diagnosis of the family Mirophthiridae is provided.
Department of Parasitology, Guiyang Medical College, Guizhou, People's Republic of China.
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Chin
D000818:Animals; D000854:Anoplura / Q000145:classification* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning