Phyllhermannia sauli, Colloff, 2011

Colloff, Matthew J., 2011, 2770, Zootaxa 2770, pp. 1-60 : 39-46

Phyllhermannia sauli sp. nov.

( Figs. 23– 30, 34o)

Dimensions. Holotype female length 710 µm, breadth 419 µm. Paratype females (n = 14) mean length 703 µm (range 682–722 µm), breadth 399 µm (range 364–425 µm); paratype males (n = 7) mean length 624 µm (range 595–641 µm), breadth 333 µm (range 309–354 µm). Ratio of length of prodorsum to total length: 0.34 (holotype).

Female. Prodorsum: rostrum rounded, with inverted V-shaped ridge; rostral seta (ro) 20 µm, curved, setiform, smooth ( Fig. 23a). Lamellar seta (le) 35 µm, curved, setiform, smooth, on squat lateral tubercle. Transverse lamellar ridge absent. With lateral ridge between base of lamellar seta and acetabulum I inflated laterally, then waisted; prodorsum tuberculate posterior of le. Interlamellar setae (in) 32 µm, phylliform, curved, uniformly barbed, rounded or truncated apically, on broad, smooth, acutely pointed, inverted V-shaped interbothridial ridge. Bothridial seta (bs) elongate, 90 µm, evenly thick, apex rough or finely barbed, bluntly pointed apically ( Fig. 25c). Exobothridial seta (ex) 17 µm long. Interbothridial region densely and strongly porose, divided medially by non-porose region bearing scattered tubercles. Median condyles present with sparse tubercles between them.

Notogaster: ratio of length to breadth 1.1. Dorsosejugal suture smooth. Notogaster with network of transverse and longitudinal lines of minute tubercles connecting bases of setae in median and lateral files, extending posteriorly to setae of the e series ( Fig. 23a). Setae flat, broad, phylliform with a basal stalk, straight or slightly curved, uniformly barbed, rounded or truncated apically ( Fig. 25b), not overlapping, p series shorter (20–34 µm) than others (41–49 µm). Setae of c series all directed posteriorly or posteriolaterally, c 2 closer to c 1 than to c 3. Distance between setae c 1 0.5 × that between d 1; distance between d 2 1.7 × that between d 1; distance between bases of setae e 1 sub-equal to that between f 1. Lyrifissurae im obtuse.

Subcapitulum: posterior part of mentum and lateral margin of gena densely punctate; seta h 23 µm, m 5 µm, a 30 µm ( Fig. 25a). Oral setae setiform. Palp formula 0-1-1-3-9(1); tarsal setae curled apically.

Coxisternum: Posteriolateral margins of rostrum sparingly tuberculate; lateral margins of epimeres I smooth; posteriolateral margin of epimere I pointed ( Fig. 24a). Anterior sternal apodeme crenellated. Apodeme III transverse, much broader than other apodemata, with U-shaped median ridge. Tubercles present on posterior margin of epimere III. Posterior margin of epimere IV with line of well-developed tubercles, but without ridge of tubercles anterior of genital plate. Epimere IV without sclerotised projection laterally. Epimeral setal formula 3-1-3-5. Setae 1a, 2a, and 3a very short, sub-equal (7–9 µm); 1b and 4b longer (14–17 µm), 1c, 3b and 4a longer still (20–27 µm). Setae 3c, 4c and 4d longest (70–85 µm), 4e slightly longer than others (112 µm). Setae on epimeral plates III and IV on medial part.

Anogenital region: Posterior and lateral regions of genital plates surrounded by narrow zone of cuticle, slightly more heavily sclerotised than rest of ventral plate, with sparse tubercles ( Fig. 24a). Each genital plate striated, 115 µm long, 68 µm broad with six short (10–14 µm), thin spiniform setae in median file; g 1 slightly displaced laterally ( Fig. 25d). With three setae in lateral file, anteriolateral seta (g 4) longest (34 µm); others same length as median setae. Aggenital setae sub-equal in length to genital setae in median file. Pre-anal organ pointed. Each anal plate 158 µm long, 51 µm broad, with two short (10 µm) setae on anterior and central part. Adanal setae ad 1 slightly longer (21 µm) and thicker than others (15–17 µm).

Lateral view: Anterior prodorsal margin curved vertically and slightly posteriorly; prodorsum with ridge anterior of base of lamellar seta ( Fig. 23c). Lamellar seta not projecting as far as base of rostral seta. Acetabulum I and II each with a dorsal tectum, surrounded by tubercles. Exobothridial seta emerging from base of bothridium. With alvelolus-like structure posterior of exobothridial seta. Interbothridial region convex; posterior prodorsum forming narrow channel with prodorsal condyle medially and enantiophysis laterally. Notogastral shield convex: ratio of height to length 0.39. Anterior margin of notogastral shield overhanging prodorsum; notogastral setae slightly curved. Region between genital plate and epimere IV slightly concave.

Legs: Cuticle of femora, genua and tibiae alveolate; with oval porose areas on paraxial surfaces. Femora I and II laterally flattened, with large ventral keel ( Fig. 26). Femur I 167 µm long, with well developed posteriolateral projection proximally; medial projection slight ( Fig. 34o); setae d and l ” squat, phylliform, barbed and pointed apically, sub-equal in length (18 µm) seta l ' longer and thinner (52 µm), pointed and barbed apically. Seta v ' 31 µm long. Seta v ” on femur I spiniform, barbed, pointed; bv ” smooth, pointed apically ( Fig. 26a). Lateral setae on genu I spiniform, smooth; v ” on genu and tibia I and genu II short, spiniform, barbed, v ” on tibia II smooth ( Figs. 26a, 26b). Solenidion φ 1 on tibia I 185 µm long; φ 2 53 µm long, both emerging from short ( Fig. 26). Dorsal surface of tarsus I with slight protuberance bearing solenidion ω (51 µm long), eupathidium Ɛ (37 µm long); and setae ft ' and ft ”. Formula: Leg I 1-7-4(1)-4(2)-21(1); Leg II 1-6-4(1)-4(1)-16(1); Leg III 3-3-4(1)-4(1)-15; Leg IV 1-3-3-4(1)- 14.

Male. As for female except as follows: Prodorsum: lamellar seta (le) 24 µm long; prodorsum smooth ( Fig. 23b). Notogaster: ratio of length to breadth 1.32; narrower and shorter than female ( Fig. 23b). Distance between setae c 1 0.5 × that between d 1; distance between d 2 1.3 × that between d 1; distance between e 1 2 × that between f 1. Coxisternum: Lateral margins of epimeres I tuberculate ( Fig. 24b). Setae 1a, 2a, and 3a short, sub-equal (13–17 µm); 1b, 1c, 4b longer (20–23 µm). Lateral setae 3b, 3c, 4c and 4e long, subequal (54–67 µm), 4d longest (91 µm).

Anogenital region: Cuticle round genital and anal plates more tuberculate than in female ( Fig. 24b). Each genital plate 84 µm long, 44 µm broad with six short setae (7–13 µm) in median file and three lateral setae, anteriolateral seta (g 4) longer (40 µm) than others (24 µm). Each anal plate 144 µm long, 37 µm broad, with two short (8 µm) setae on central part.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Larva. length 340 µm, breadth 169 µm. Prodorsum: Rostral seta (ro) smooth, thin, straight, 5 µm long ( Fig. 27a). Lamellar seta 8 µm long, curved, thick, smooth, on squat tubercle. Region between lamellar setae and interbothridial ridge smooth. Interlamellar setae (in) 8 µm, spiniform, barbed. Bothridial seta (bs) elongate, 60 µm long, evenly thick, apex tapering, pointed, barbed. Interbothridial region smooth, divided by two longitudinal parallel ridges. Gastronotic region: Length 210 µm. Ecdysial cleavage lines δ s and δ t present and well-developed; δ t extending laterally between e 1 and e 2. With pattern of irregular plications extending posteriorly as far as seta e 1 and e 2; medial plications transverse, lateral ones longitudinal ( Fig. 27a). With 5–7 plications between setae c 1 and d 1. Region between d 1 and d 2 trapezoid, smooth, non-plicate. Notogastral setae narrowly phylliform, barbed, 12 pairs (missing h 3). Setae f 1 on rounded tubercles on curved transverse ridge. Region posterior of δ t smooth, not plicate. Caudal margin incised lateral of e 2 and between f 2 and h 1; h 2 positioned ventrally. Ventral region: Sejugal apodeme smooth, straight. Lateral margins of epimeres I–III smooth ( Fig. 27b). Epimeral setal formula 2-1-2. Ventral plications broad, running transversely anterior of anal plates; diagonally and longitudinally in lateral and posterior region.

Protonymph. As for larva except as follows: length 400 µm, breadth 212 µm. Prodorsum: Rostral seta 9 µm long ( Fig. 28a). Lamellar seta 12 µm long. Interlamellar seta (in) 15 µm long. Bothridial seta 131 µm long. Interbothridial region divided by transverse ridge. Gastronotic region: Length 253 µm ( Fig. 28a). Notogastral setae phylliform, 16 pairs, barbed, pointed apically. Region posterior of e 1 and e 2 smooth. Ventral region: Lateral margins of epimeres I–III tuberculate; posteriolateral margin of epimere I in the form of a blunt spine; epimeral plates III porose only on anterior part ( Fig. 28b); posterior margin of epimeral plates III and IV tuberculate. Epimeral setal formula 3-1-2-1. Ventral plications broad, with tubercles and elongated plaques. Genital plate with one long spiniform setae (22 µm).

Deutonymph. As for protonymph except as follows: length 480 µm, breadth 230 µm. Prodorsum: Lamellar seta 11 µm long on large tubercle ( Fig. 29a). Gastronotic region: Length 323 µm. Setae f 1 on tubercles; h 1 and h 2 on prominent ridge. Ventral region: Sejugal apodeme tuberculate. Epimeral plate IV tuberculate along posterior margin and with opposing line of tubercles anterior of genital plate. Epimeral setal formula 3-1-2-3 (Fig. 129b). Genital plate with median carina bearing three short setae in medial file and one longer one (24 µm) in lateral file.

Tritonymph. As for deutonymph except as follows: length 571 µm, breadth 293 µm. Prodorsum: With lateral ridge between lamellar seta and acetabulum of leg I inflated, then strongly waisted ( Fig. 30a). Gastronotic region: Length 374 µm. Region posterior of e 1 and e 2 and anterior of δ t strongly porose. Ventral region: Epimeral setal formula 3-1-3-4 ( Fig. 30b). Genital plate striated, with three short setae in medial file and three longer in lateral file; anteriolateral seta 34 µm long.

Material examined. Holotype, 14 female paratypes and seven male paratypes, moss on trunk of Sassafras ( Atherosperma moschatum ), cool temperate rainforest, Errinundra Saddle, Errinundra National Park , Victoria, 37°19'18"S 148°51'11"E 1030 m., coll. M.J. Colloff, 11.iv.2009 . Non-type material: seven immatures, same data as holotype. One male , three immatures, ANIC 22 leaf litter, subalpine zone, Powers Lookout, 45 km NE of Mansfield , Victoria, 36°51'S, 146°21'E, 914 m ., coll. R. McInnes, 17.v.1967. One female, ANIC 296 litter, Snowgum, Lake Mountain , Victoria, 37°30'S 145°53'E, 1200 m ., coll. R. W. Taylor & R. J. Bartell, 4.xi.1970. One male, ANIC 299 , litter, wet sclerophyll forest, 1050 m , Mount Donna Buang, Yarra Ranges National Park, Victoria, 37°42'S, 145°41'E, coll. R. W. Taylor & R. J. Bartell, 5.xi.1970. One male, sieved litter, Eucalyptus forest, Eurobin Falls , Mount Buffalo National Park , Victoria, 36°43'2.65"S 146°50'29.35"E, 460 m, coll. D. Black. Holotype and paratypes deposited in the Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Canberra .

Etymology. Phyllhermannia sauli is named in honour of my friend and colleague, Dr Saul Cunningham (CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Canberra), in recognition of his research association with the Errinundra Plateau, his Victorian heritage and his contribution to the ecology and conservation of Australian invertebrates.

Remarks. Phyllhermannia sauli can be differentiated from other member of the genus based on the following combination of characters: 1) the smooth, spiniform, pointed lamellar setae; 2) the tuberculate lateral prodorsum; 3) the ridge between the lamellar seta and the acetabulum of leg I is inflated laterally then waisted; 4) the bothridial setae are barbed and blunt; 5) the interbothridial ridge is in the form of a flat, shallow curve, lacking an acute median apex; 6) the presence of tubercules between the median prodorsal condyles; 7) the network of lines of minute notogastral tubercles; 8) the broad, phylliform, uniformly barbed, apically-rounded notogastral setae; 9) the striate genital plates; 10) with setae d and l ” on femur I squat, broad, phylliform, barbed and pointed and seta l ' long, thin, curved, barbed and pointed.

The association of the immatures with the adult is based on their presence in the same sample from Errinundra National Park, the identical morphology of the lamellar, notogastral and bothridial setae and the striate genital plates of the tritonymph.

Phyllhermannia sauli is morphologically most similar to P. namadjiensis (cf. remarks section for this species above).