Taxonomy of the Geomydoecus umbrini complex (Mallophaga, Trichodectidae) from Thomomys umbrinus (Rodentia, Geomyidae) in mexico

Eight specific and subspecific taxa of the Geomydoecus umbrini complex are described: G. umbrini Price and Emerson from 2 host subspecies in Sinaloa (type-host: T. u. parviceps); G. musculi n. sp. from 2 host subspecies in Sinaloa (type-host: T. u. musculus); G. cliftoni n. sp. and G. jaliscoensis n.sp. each from unidentified subspecies of T. umbrinus from Jalisco; G. extimi n. sp. and G. nayuritensis n. sp. each from T. u. extimus from Nayarit; G. welleri welleri n. sp. from 11 host subspecies from 9 Mexican states (type-host: T. u. chihuahuae); and G. w. multilineatus n. subsp. from 6 host subspecies from 5 Mexican states (type-host: T. u. zacatecae). Distinctions among taxa are shown using qualitative and quantitative characters and principal components analysis of quantitative characters. Discriminant functions for 2 or 3 characters are provided in instances where they are shown to offer enhanced differentiation over single characters. Keys are provided for the identification of these 8 taxa.