Paratullbergia changfengensis, Bu, Yun & Gao, Yan, 2015

Bu, Yun & Gao, Yan, 2015, Paratullbergia Womersley in China: the description of a new species and a key to the genus (Collembola, Tullbergiidae), ZooKeys 534, pp. 55-60 : 56-57

Taxon classification Animalia Collembola Tullbergiidae

Paratullbergia changfengensis sp. n. Figs 1-6, Table 1

Material examined.

Holotype, male (No. Changfeng2-2) (SNHM), China, Shanghai, extracted from soil samples of broad-leaved forest of Changfeng Park, 31°13'N 121°23'E, 15-III-2015, coll. Y. Bu & Y. Gao. Paratypes, 2 females (Nos. Changfeng2-1, Changfeng3-Changfeng7) (SNHM), data same as holotype. Other materials: 2 juveniles and 1 male subadult (Nos. Changfeng1, Changfeng8, Changfeng9), data same as holotype.

Description.

Adult body 0.85 mm long in average (0.7-1.0 mm, n = 7). Both females and males were present. Setae well differentiated into micro- and macrosetae (Fig. 1). Granulations coarse, formed by secondary granules, 2.5-4.0 µm in diameter. Pseudocellar formula: 11/122/11111, 5-8 µm in diameter; on antenna base composed by four ridges from one side only (type IV) (Fig. 2), others star-like (type I); on Th. I between seta m2 and m3, and close to hind margin; on Th. II and III between setae m4/m5 and p3/p4, and close to m5 and p3 respectively; on Abd. I–III posterior to seta p3; on Abd. IV parallel to seta p3; on Abd. V on the border of Abd. VI (Fig. 1).

Head seta a0 present (20-22 µm), c1 absent, oc2 as macroseta (25-30 µm), and sd5 as mesoseta (20-25 µm) (Fig. 1). Postantennal organ 25-30 µm long and 6-7 µm wide, composed of 32-47 elliptical vesicles arranged in two rows, and latero-externally widened with three rounded vesicles inserted (Fig. 2). Labrum with 4/5/4 setae. Labium with five papillae, six apical guard setae, six proximal setae, four basomedian setae, and five basolateral setae.

Antenna (100-135 µm) shorter than head (130-150 µm). Ant. segment IV (Fig. 3) with five slightly thickened sensilla a–e, without basal heel, sensilla a, c, e long and curved toward inside, b and d short. Small microsensillum, subapical organite and one large apical vesicles present. Antennal organ III (Fig. 3) consists of two small sensory rods concealed behind two papilla and two thick sensory clubs bent toward each other, with four guard setae.

Legs without clavate tibiotarsal hairs (Fig. 4). Coxa, trochanter, femur and tibiotarsus with 3/7/7; 6/6/5; 10/10/10; 15/15/14 setae on Leg I, II and III, respectively. Anal lobes with seta 12' and l3' (Fig. 5). Claw 25 µm long, with short empodial appendage. Anal spines 30-32 µm long.

Adult chaetotaxy given in Fig. 1, Fig. 5 and Table 1. Microsensilla present on Th. II-III, and lateral sensory setae s 37-39 µm long (Fig. 1). Thorax with 0, 2, 2 ventral setae. Abd. I–III each with 2+2 axial setae dorsally, setae m3 and m4 present. Abd. IV with seta px, setae m2 and m3 present. Abd. segment V with sensory seta p3 slightly differentiated, 22-29 µm long; seta a2 (15-16 µm) and p4 (19-21 µm) as microsetae (Fig. 1). Crescentic ridges on Abd. VI present.

Number of ventral setae on Abd. II, III and IV variable, with 17-20, 19-23, and 22-26 setae respectively (Fig. 5). Ventral tube with 4+4 apical setae and 2+2 basal setae (Fig. 5). Male genital plate with 18-21 setae (Fig. 6).

Etymology.

The species is named after the Changfeng Park where the type specimens were collected.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality. Considering that all specimens were only found in Changfeng Park, and that no other Paratullbergia has ever been recorded from China, this species has been probably introduced from an other place together with plants and soil.

Diagnosis.

Paratullbergia changfengensis sp. n. is characterized by the presence of pseudocelli on thoracic segment I, with two pairs of pseudocelli on each thoracic segment II and III, the presence of seta px on abdominal segment IV, setae a2 and p4 on abdominal segment V as microsetae, and less differentiated sensory seta p3 on abdominal segment V. Bisexual.

Remarks.

The presence of pseudocelli on thoracic segment I easily distinguishes Paratullbergia changfengensis sp. n. from other congeners. It is similar to Paratullbergia trivandrana Prabhoo, 1971 from India in the presence of two pairs of pseudocelli on each of thoracic segments II and III, but differs in the presence of pseudocelli on thoracic segment I (absent in Paratullbergia trivandrana ) and shape of sensory seta p3 on abdominal segment V (setiform vs. flame-like). The nine existing species of the genus Paratullbergia can be distinguished by the following key.