Entomobrya restituta, Jordana & Greenslade, 2020

Jordana, Rafael & Greenslade, Penelope, 2020, Biogeographical and ecological insights from Australasian faunas: the megadiverse collembolan genus, Entomobrya (Entomobryidae), Zootaxa 4770 (1), pp. 1-104 : 65-66

Entomobrya restituta sp. nov.

( Figs 3D , 5K 35 A–D)

Holotype. One male, SA, Hindmarsh Island, revegetated site on Anne (young) property, - 35.51661°S, 138.8712°E, 25m asl, pitfalls, 4.x.2013, PG leg., [ SAMA 22659-01 ].

Paratypes. Four specimens in alcohol, [ SAMA 22659-02 ]; male, [ SAMA 22659-03 ], all paratypes from the same locality and date .

Other material examined. SAMA: ACT, Canberra Nature Park, The Pinnacle, - 35.2591°S, 149.0396°E, 780m asl ,, suction ex-soil, grass, 14.viii.90, PG leg .,; NSW, Armidale, Chiswick, - 32.00°S, 147°E, 980m asl, Sept.1972, KK leg .,; NSW, Richmond, - 33.6000°S, 150.7500°E, 19m asl, 3.xii.1974, PG leg .; QLD, nr Harrisville, - 27.811667°S, 152.668889°E, 79m asl, Willow bank , CSIRO field station, PG leg.,; ACT, Hawker, - 35.2440°S, 149.0380°E, 575m asl, May 1988, PG leg .,; SA, Belair, - 34.9981°S, 138.6225°E, 300m asl, garden, strawberry plant, Jan 1972, PG leg .; SA, Glen Osmond, - 34.9600°S, 138.6502°E, 300m asl ,, under stones, 11.ix.74, PG leg .,; SA, Kimba,., - 33.1386°S, 136.4175°E, 63m asl, leaf litter, Oct 71, I. Valentine leg; TAS, Launceston, - 41.4332°S, 147.1441°E, 13m asl. Aug. 1929,; VIC, Dowling Forest Cemetery , - 37.4706°S, 143.7676°E, 425m asl, Oct 2015, PG leg .

Description. Size. Length up to 1.5 mm excluding antennae (n= 11).

Colour. As figures 3D and 5K; among 43 specimens studied only 3 specimens have a colour pattern similar to E. multifasciata . The remaining specimens only two with this colour but partially faded, in 38 specimens colour uniform yellow with a blue–purple spot on the front of the head and the ocular pigment.

Head. Antennal length 540–1060 μm, 2.5 times the length of the head (n=11), Ant IV with a bilobed apical vesicle. Relative lengths of Ant I/II/III/IV=1.0/2.1/2.0/2.7. Four spinulate labral papillae or with some projections. Four prelabral chaetae ciliated and 5,5,4 labral chaetae smooth. Eight eyes, G and H smaller than E and. Labial papilla E with external process not reaching the papilla tip. Labial posterior row with MREL 1 L 2, R smaller than M.

Thorax and abdomen. Ratio of lengths of Abd IV/III=4 (n=11). Trochanteral organ with 12–14 spiny chaetae, Unguis with 4 teeth on internal edge: first pair at 50% distance from the base of the unguis, and 2 unpaired teeth, first one at 75% distance from the base and the most distal one minute. Dorsal tooth approximately at half distance between the base of unguis and internal pair of teeth. Unguiculus spike–like, with the serrated external edge on leg III. Furca length 606 μm (n=11). Manubrial plate with 4 chaetae and 2 psp. Mucro with 2 teeth, subapical tooth in size similar to the apical one. Mucronal spine present. Distal smooth part of dens 3 times mucronal length.

Macrochaetotaxy. Simplified formula: 3,1,0,3,2/2,4/2,2(3)/1,2,1/0,2(3,4),3(5),2,2. Head chaetotaxy ( Fig. 35A ) H1 area with An 2, An 3a1 and An 3, H2 area with A 5, S’ 0 Mc absent, H4 with S 1, S 3 and S 4i Mc, H 5 with Ps 2 and Ps 5. Thoracic chaetotaxy ( Fig. 35B ) with Area T1 on Th II with 2 Mc (m 1 and m 2 present). Area T2 on Th II with 4 Mc present (a 5, m 4, m 4i and m 5). Abdominal chaetotaxy ( Fig. 35C ) Area A 1 on Abd II with 2 Mc and area A2 on Abd II with 2 Mc (31 specimens with 2 Mc and 12 specimens with 2 or 3 Mc because in some cases M 3ep a mes). Abd III with 1 mac on areas A3 and A5, 2 Mac on area A4. Abd IV with 18 Mc (A 3 –A 6, B 4 –B 6, E 1 and C 2a); sometimes a variation on Area A 7 on Abd IV with 3 Mc (5 specimen) or 4 Mc (4 specimen); and variation from 3 to 5 Mc on Area A8 (more frequent 3 Mc. ( Fig 35D ). Sensillary chaetotaxy S =21/02293 and ms=10/101, similar to E. multifasciata .

Remarks. This species has been misidentified as E. multifasciata or as E. lanuginosa ( Nicolet, 1842) Rondani, 1861 , or as a female of E. nigrocincta which has a similar colour. The commonest colour is yellowish, only four examined specimens had a colour similar to E. multifasciata . The chaetotaxy of the new species is slightly variable, Th II always with m 5, and with a tendency to appear the Mc m 3ep on Abd II. This may be an adaptation of E. multifasciata to a new environment. The chaetotaxy of the new species is unique among the known Entomobrya of the world. The possible origin of E. restituta sp. nov. from E. multifasciata could be investigated using DNA analysis. The species is clearly a grass inhabitant and only found in somewhat modified grassy habitats. It appears to be only associated with exotic not native grasses.

Some species from the Canary Islands have a similar chaetotaxy considering the variability, (listed below) but all of them have the Mc m 2i on Th II instead m 2. Furthermore, the colour is very pale in the new species and with different patterns and more intense colour in the cited species; E. gazmirae Baquero & Jordana, 2018 , has labral papilla smooth, and external unguiculus lamella smooth as have E. grimanesae Baquero & Jordana, 2018 , E. cf. quinquelineata and E. achuteygai Baquero & Jordana, 2018 ; E. guayarminae Baquero & Jordana, 2018 , has a tooth on this lamella. A comparison of the simplified formula of similar species is given below:

* means difference.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin for restoration as type locality was revegetated farmland.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Habitus and colour of: A, Entomobrya promontorium sp. nov.; B, Entomobrya pseudomarginata sp. nov.; C, Entomobrya regina sp. nov.; D, Entomobrya restituta sp. nov.; E, Entomobrya salina sp. nov.; F, Entomobrya stirlingensis sp. nov.; G, Entomobrya tasmomarginata sp. nov.; H, E. termitophila Schött, 1917; I, E. torquemensa sp. nov.; J, E. unostrigata Stach, 1930; K, E. varia Schött, 1917; L, E. virgata Schött, 1917; M, Entomobrya weldensis sp. nov.; N, E. womersleyi Bagnall, 1939; O, Entomobrya zebra sp. nov.; P, Himalanura draconis sp. nov. Bar=0.5 mm.

FIGURE 5. Photographs of: A, Entomobrya loftyensis sp. nov., Holotype; B, Entomobrya ludimus sp. nov., Holotype; C, Entomobrya militum sp. nov., Holotype; D, E. multifasciata; E, Entomobrya niger comb. nov.; F, E. nigrocincta, male; G, E. nigrocincta, female; H, Entomobrya peregrina sp. nov., Holotype; I, Entomobrya pseudomarginata sp. nov., Holotype; J, Entomobrya regina sp. nov., Holotype; K, Entomobrya restitutasp. nov., Paratype; L, Entomobrya salina sp. nov., Paratype; M, Entomobrya stirlingensis sp. nov., Paratype; N, Entomobrya tasmomarginata sp. nov., Holotype; O, P, E. termitophila, O, dorsal view, P, lateral view. Bar=0.5 mm.

FIGURE 35. Entomobrya restituta sp. nov. Line drawings A–D.A, head chaetotaxy; B, Th II chaetotaxy; C, Abd II–III chaetotaxy; D, Abd IV chaetotaxy. Open circles means unstable Mc. Bar=0.05 mm.