LEIDYANA-MIGRATOR N-SP (APICOMPLEXA, EUGREGARINIDA, LEIDYANIDAE) FROM THE MADAGASCAR HISSING COCKROACH, GROMPHADORHINA-PORTENTOSA (INSECTA, BLATTODEA)

Leidyana migrator n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida) is described from the alimentary tract of the Madagascar hissing cockroach, Gromphadorhina portentosa (Insecta: Blattodea), taken from research colonies in Texas. This is the first species of Leidyana described from a cockroach, and the complete life cycle and development are presented. Although trophozoites and gamonts of L. migrator overlap morphometrically with those of the 2 most similar congeners, L. erratica and L. oviformis, each of the 3 species displays unique characters. The lanceolate epimerite of L. oviformis distinguishes this species from L. migrator and L. erratica, which possess a simple, globular epimerite. Leidyana migrator and L. erratica are separated by differences in their gametocysts, dehiscence, and oocysts. The gametocysts of L. migrator are elliptoid with an average length of 1,066 mu m; they dehisce through 6 spore tubes, releasing dolioform oocysts measuring 8 mu m by 4 mu m. In contrast, the gametocysts of L. erratica are spherical and 260-350 mu m in diameter; they dehisce through 1-12 spore tubes, releasing dolioform oocysts measuring 6 mu m by 3 mu m.