Drepanura albocoerulea (Schött, 1917)

Figs 2−3, 36−51

Material examined. 14 females, Australia: Northern Territory: 23.31o 52.46”S 133. 40 o 09.18”E, north west of Alice Springs: Kunoth Paddock, pitfalls. 17~ 18−III −1976. Collected by Penelope Greenslade. All deposited in SAM.

Description. Body length up to 1.9mm. Ground colour pale yellow; eye patches dark blue; blue pigment on antennae, coxae, Abd. III −IV, manubrium, anterior and lateral margin of dorsal head, anterior margin of Th. II (Fig. 2). In some specimen, Abd. III and IV pale and with a little pigment scattered (Fig. 3).

Antenna 0.53−0.62 times length of body. Ratio of Ant. I −IV as 1.0/1.8−2.4/1.5−2.0/1.8−2.3. Distal part of Ant. IV with many sensory chaetae and normal ciliate chaetae and an apical rod-like bulb (Fig. 36). Eyes 8+8, G and H smaller. Interocular chaetae as p, q, r, s, t, p chaeta larger than others. Dorsal cephalic chaetotaxy with 4 antennal (An1, An2, An3a1, An3), 2 median (M2, M4) and 7 sutural (S0, S2, S3, S4, S 4i, S5, S 5i) macrochaetae (Fig. 37). Prelabral and labral chaetae 4/5, 5, 4, all smooth, distal labral margin with 4 papillae, each with 3 secondary spinules (Fig. 38). Basal chaetae of labium as M, R, E, L1, L2, all ciliate (Fig. 39).

Dorsal macrochaetae shown as in Fig. 40. Th. II with 3 (m1, m2, m 2i) macrochaetae in Mm area and 6 (m 4i, m4, m4pi, m4p, a5, m5) macrochaetae in Ms area. Th. III with 3 (a1, a2, a3) macrochaetae in Am area and 6 (a 4i 2, a 4i, a4, a5, m 5i, m5) macrochaetae in As area. Trochanteral organ with 12−19 chaetae (Fig. 41). Inner differentiated tibiotarsal chaetae ciliate, the most distal one smooth. Tenent hair clavate, 1.2−1.5 × length of inner side of unguis; Unguis with 4 inner teeth, first pair at about 0.5 distance from base of claw, and 2 unpaired teeth, first one at 0.7−0.8 and distal one at 0.8−0.9 distance from base respectively, two dorsal and lateral teeth about 0.5 distance from base; unguiculus acuminate and outer edge serrate (Fig. 42).

Abd. IV 5.0−8.5 times as long as Abd. III along dorsal midline. Abd. I with 9 −10 (m 2i, m2, a2, a3, m3, m4p, m4, a5, m5, sometimes a6) macrochaetae. Abd. II with 4 central (a2, a3, m3, m3e) and 2 lateral (m5, m6) macrochaeta, Abd. III with 1 central (m3) and 3 lateral (am6, pm6, p6) macrochaetae (Fig. 43). Macrochaetae, sensory chaetae and bothriotricha of Abd. IV as shown in Fig. 44, lateral side with 16−20 macrochaetae on each side, central part with 25−29 macrochaetae. Abd. V with 3 sensory chaetae and 11 macrochaetae (Fig. 45). Ventral tube anteriorly with 18−19 ciliate chaetae on each side (Fig. 46); posteriorly with 10 smooth chaetae (Fig. 47); each lateral flap with 7 smooth chaetae and 1 ciliate chaeta (Fig. 48). Tenaculum with 4 teeth and 1 large striate chaeta (Fig. 49). Manubrial plaque with 4 ciliate chaetae and 2 pseudopores (Fig. 50). Distal smooth part of dens 2.8−2.9 times as long as mucro in length. Mucro falcate and tip of basal spine not reaching apex of apical tooth (Fig. 51).

Remarks. In the original description by Schött, in 1917, the head, latero-ventral part of Th. II −III, most part of Abd. II −IV are deep blue −black. In our specimens, the dorsal head is not totally blue −black and some irregular yellowish stripes are present on dorsal of Abd. IV.

Type locality. Australia: Kimberley District. Lectotype in the NHRM No.4173 (not examined).