Trachypauropus cordatus ( Scheller, 1974 )

Tulande-M, Esteban, 2023, First record of Trachypauropus cordatus (Scheller, 1974) (Tetramerocerata: Eurypauropodidae) in South America, with a summary of Pauropoda in Colombia, Revista Chilena de Entomología (Rev. Chil. Entomol.) 49 (3), pp. 477-482 : 478-481

Trachypauropus cordatus ( Scheller, 1974)

( Figs. 1 A-1I)

Gravieripus cordatus Scheller, 1974 .

Diagnosis. Trachypauropus cordatus ( Scheller, 1974) can be differentiated from closer species T. atticus (Remy, 1951) and T. latzeli (Cook, 1896) , by the globulus of the fourth antennal segment ( Fig. 1C ) being as long as broad compared to longer than broad in T. cordatus ( Scheller, 1974) , also the pygidium setae and shape of the annal plate are different. T. cordatus ( Scheller, 1974) can be differentiated from T. hispanicus ( Scheller, 1974) and T. asper ( Scheller, 1974) by the annal plate ( Fig. 1G , ap) lacking the stalks and related pubescent appendages (for more details see Scheller 1974).

New record. Trachypauropus cordatus ( Scheller, 1974) . 1 female. COLOMBIA. Bogota D.C, Engativá, JardÍn Botánico de Bogota José Celestino Mutis , Cloud Forest live collection, 4°40’1.956” N - 74°6’1.26” W, 2600 m, 25-May-2022, leg. E. Tulande-M [ MPUJ _ENT_0088334] .

Description. A fourth instar larvae with 8 pairs of legs, 5 tergites and 4 bothriotrichia, colour light brown ( Fig. 1A ). Antennae: globulus g2 of tergal side 1.5 times as long as broad, bracts open and cuticle pubescent ( Fig. 1C ), 4 th antennal joint with four pair of setae, relative lengths p = 100, p’ = 100, p”= 95, r´ = 90; ( Figs. 1 B-C). Trunk: tergite I completely covering the head, much narrower than other tergites; all tergites with many short conical protuberances, the ones located anteriorly very small, posterior protuberances larger, sides of tergites with many thick spines, four pairs of sensorial setae T; T1 ( Fig. 1D ) and T2 ( Fig. 1E ), thin and glabrous with delicate sparse pubescence at distal end, T3 with a thick axis and apical end-swelling, bearing a strong pubescence of simple hairs ( Fig. 1F ), T4 similar to T3 but without the distal end-swelling, distal pubescence also longer than T3, all legs 5 segmented. Pygidial tergum: with 5 pairs of setae, stylus (st) very short, a1 inserted near the posterior margin of the tergum with a “winged” shape forming a heart-shaped shield, a2 winged and curved inwardly, a3 and d2 glabrous and spinous ( Figs. 1 G-H). Anal plate: lyrate with two diverging lateral appendages, and two submedian ones long and straight, distal end oblique with an inner pubescence, two leaf-like pubescent appendages with thin and glabrous stalks arise from it, relative length of setae: a1 = 10, a2 = 20, a3 = 30, d2 = 30. Pygidial sternum: with three pairs of setae b1 = 30, b2= 15, b3 = 12, all three setae with small pubescence ( Fig. 1I ).

Remarks. This is the first recorded occurrence of the family Eurypauropodidae in South America and Colombia. However, this record is likely the result of accidental introduction, as the Botanical Garden of Bogotá receives thousands of visitors annually from Europe and Asia and harbors nonnative species from these continents, where T. cordatus is quite common. Nevertheless, it is remarkable that the species may have adapted to the conditions of the botanical garden, particularly in the cloud forest collection. In Germany, it has been found associated with suburban areas, natural protected areas, as well as grasslands with shrubs of the genus Rubus sp. (which is a common genus in the Colombian Andes) ( Voigtländer et al. 2016). Additionally, it is worth noting that anthropogenic factors may play an important role in the dispersal of pauropods, which often go unnoticed due to the difficulty of finding them and the limited interest in the group as a whole. In Central and South America, five families have been recorded: Pauropodidae (cosmopolitan), Polypauropodidae ( Argentina, Brazil), Diplopauropodidae ( Brazil), Millotauropodidae ( Brazil), and Hansenauropodidae ( Panama). By contrast, the study of pauropods in Colombia has been somewhat overlooked. Only one work ( Remy 1950) describes the two recorded species in the country, both of which were found in the Antioquia department of the Andean region ( Tab. 1). This lack of research extends to neighboring countries like Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela, where no species are currently recorded in their territories, underscoring the need for further exploration of Pauropoda in northern South America.

Based on the pauropod fauna observed in countries within the region, including Argentina ( Scheller 1968), Brazil, and Chile ( Vega-Roman et al. 2011), and considering the insights provided by Scheller (1999) regarding the South American fauna, it is plausible to anticipate that certain genera found in these countries, may also be discovered in Colombian territory in the future ( Tab. 2).

Finally, it is important to note the presence of an incongruity between the diagnostic characters of the genus Trachypauropus Tömösváry, 1882 and T. cordatus ( Scheller, 1974) (similarly observed in T. asper ( Scheller, 1974)) . According to the established diagnosis, the genus Trachypauropus is characterized by having the first and last pair of legs with 5 segments, whereas the remaining legs have 6 segments. However, the original description by Scheller (1974) mentions that T. cordatus possesses all legs with 5 segments, a character that would align it more closely with the genera Samarangopus Verhoeff, 1934 , or Acopauropus (Cook, 1896) . Additionally, Scheller (1974) notes that T. cordatus is virtually identical to T. glomeroides Tömösváry, 1882 , with the sole difference being the segmentation of the legs.

Figures

Figure 1. Trachypauropus cordatus. A. Habitus, ventral view. B. Antennae. C. Globulus, g. D. Bothriotrichia T1, E. T2, F. T3. G. Pygidial tergum, st = stylus, ap= anal plate (dorsal). H. end of pygidial tergum (dorsal). I. Pygidial sternum (ventral). Scale bar: 100 µm. / A. Hábito, vista ventral. B. Antena.C. Globulus,g. D. Botriotrichia T1,E. T2, F. T3. G. Tergo del pigidio (dorsal), st = stylo, ap= placa anal, H. parte final del tergo pigidal (dorsal). I. Esterno pigidial. Escala: 100 µm.