Phyllhermannia lemannae, Colloff, 2011

Colloff, Matthew J., 2011, 2770, Zootaxa 2770, pp. 1-60 : 27-34

Phyllhermannia lemannae sp. nov.

( Figs. 14–19, 34k)

Dimensions. Holotype female length 1020 µm, breadth 576 µm. Paratype female lengths 960, 1042 µm, breadths 585, 602 µm. Paratype male lengths 879, 908 µm breadths 520, 525 µm. Ratio of length of prodorsum to total length: 0.31 (holotype).

Female. Prodorsum: rostrum rounded, without inverted V-shaped ridge, sparsely tuberculate; rostral seta (ro) 38 µm, straight, spiniform, smooth ( Fig. 14a). Lamellar seta (le) 53 µm, curved, phylliform, barbed, pointed, on conical tubercle on lateral margin of prodorsum. Transverse lamellar ridge absent, but with curved lateral ridge extending from posterior of base of lamellar seta and acetabulum of leg I, connecting with medially-curving anterior exobothridial ridge. Interlamellar setae very short (in) 42 µm, phylliform, barbed; on inverted V-shaped interbothridial ridge. Ridge bearing a line of tubercles. Bothridial seta (bs) elongate, 227 µm, slightly roughened apically, uniformly thick, tapering to a sharp point. Exobothridial seta (ex) stout, 22 µm long. Interbothridial region densely and strongly porose, divided medially by non-porose region with small, sparsely-distributed tubercles. Median condyles present.

Notogaster: ratio of length to breadth 1.23. Dorsosejugal suture smooth. With network of minute tubercles: broad regions between setae of c series ( Fig. 14a); setae d 3 and c 3 and lateral of e 2 and d 3, narrow longitudinal lines between median file of setae and broader zones between median and lateral files, and transverse lines extending posteriorly as far as bases of h 2. Setae long, narrow, straight or slightly curved, phylliform, pointed and barbed apically; not overlapping ( Fig. 14c); p series shorter (39–45 µm) than others (53–58 µm). Setae of c series all directed posteriorly or posteriolaterally, c 2 closer to c 3 than to c 1. Distance between setae c 1 0.6 × that between d 1; distance between d 2 1.7 × that between d 1; distance between e 1 1.7 × that between f 1. Lyrifissurae im acute.

Coxisternum: Lateral margins of rostrum and epimeres strongly tuberculate; margins of epimere I strongly inflated, projecting laterally; posterior margin a blunt spur ( Fig. 14b). Anterior sternal apodeme tuberculate. Posterior margins of epimeres III and IV with very large tubercles, Apodemes III with median U-shaped ridge. Posterior margin of epimere IV with well-developed tubercles, opposed by ridge of tubercles anterior of genital plate. Epimere IV lacking blunt, sclerotised projection laterally. Epimeral setal formula 3-1-3-5. Setae 1a, 2a, 3a and 4b short, sub-equal (ca. 9–17 µm); 1b, 3b, and 4a slightly longer, subequal (20–26 µm). Lateral setae 3c and 4c, long, subequal (95–108 µm); 4d longer (119 µm); 4e longest (145 µm). Setae on epimeral plate III on anterior part; setae of plate IV on median part.

Anogenital region: Genital plates surrounded by dense tubercles ( Fig. 14b). Each plate strongly alveolate, 176 µm long, 84 µm broad with six spiniform setae (13–18 µm) in median file and three longer setae in lateral file, anteriolateral seta longer (73 µm) and thicker than others (29–32) µm). Aggenital setae subequal in length to median genital setae. Pre-anal organ pointed. Each anal plate 246 µm long, 42 µm broad, with two short (13 µm) setae on central part. Adanal setae subequal (20 µm).

Lateral view: Anterior prodorsal margin curved vertically and slightly posteriorly; prodorsum with faint ridge posterior of bases of lamellar seta to posterior of bases of rostral setae ( Fig. 14d). Lamellar seta not projecting as far as bases of rostral seta; longer than interlamellar seta. Acetabulum I and II surrounded by tubercles, each with a dorsal tectum. 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 strongly convex: ratio of height to length 0.3. 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 sub-rectangular, laterally flattened, with large ventral keel ( Fig. 15). Femur I 257 µm long, with well developed posteriolateral projection proximally; medial projection massive ( Fig. 34k); seta d squat, phylliform, barbed and pointed apically, 26 µm long; l ” broadly phylliform, barbed, rounded apically, 55 µm long; l ' same shape as l ” but longer and broader (77 µm); seta v ' 48 µm long. Seta v ” on femur I phylliform, finely barbed, blunt apically; bv ” barbed, pointed apically ( Fig. 15a). Lateral setae on genu I phylliform; v ” on genu and tibia I and genu II short, spiniform, smooth, v ” on tibia II barbed, phylliform ( Figs. 15a, 15b). Solenidion φ 1 on tibia I 360 µm long; φ 2 56 µm long, both emerging from prominent apophysis ( Fig. 15a). Dorsal surface of tarsus I with slight protuberance bearing solenidion ω (78 µm long), eupathidium Ɛ (22 µm long); and setae f ' and ft ” (126 and 68 µm long). Ventral setae on femora, genua and tibiae of legs III and IV shaped differently from those of legs I and II: broad, phylliform, barbed, rounded apically ( Figs. 15c, d). Formula: Leg I 1-6-4(1)-4(2)-22(1); Leg II 1-6-4(1)-4(1)-17(1); Leg III 2-4-4(1)-4(1)-14; Leg IV 1-4-4-4(1)-13.

Larva. length 348 µm, breadth 179 µm. Prodorsum: Rostral seta (ro) smooth, thin, reflexed, 10 µm long ( Fig. 16a). Lamellar seta 9 µm long, phylliform, smooth, on conical tubercle. Region between lamellar setae and inverted V-shaped interbothridial ridge smooth. Interlamellar setae (in) 8 µm, phylliform, smooth. Bothridial seta (bs) elongate, 112 µm long, evenly thick, apex tapering, pointed, smooth. Interbothridial region smooth, divided by two longitudinal parallel ridges. Gastronotic region: Length 508 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. 16a). With 8–10 plications between setae c 1 and d 1. Region between d 1 and d 2 trapezoid, smooth, mostly non-plicate. Notogastral setae phylliform, 12 pairs (missing h 3), barbed apically. Setae f 1 on rounded tubercles. Region posterior of δ t smooth, not plicate. Caudal margin incised lateral of e 2; h 1 and h 2 on prominent lobe. Ventral region: Subcapitulum with incomplete labiogenal articulation. Lateral margins of epimeres I–III tuberculate ( Fig. 16b). 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: lengths 466, 474 µm, breadths 260, 265 µm. Prodorsum: Rostral seta (ro) smooth, setiform, 13 µm long ( Fig. 17a). Lamellar seta 12 µm long, phylliform, barbed, on squat tubercle. Region between lamellar seta and inverted V-shaped interbothridial ridge sparsely tuberculate. Interlamellar seta (in) 15 µm, phylliform, barbed. Bothridial seta (bs) 131 µm long. With longitudinal parallel ridges extending from in to c 1. Interbothridial region divided by transverse ridge, posterior cuticle wrinkled. Gastronotic region: Length 340 µm. With irregular plications bearing large tubercles extending posteriorly beyond seta e 1 and e 2 ( Fig. 17a). Region between d 1 and d 2 trapezoid, porose, smooth. Notogastral setae phylliform, 16 pairs, barbed and pointed apically. Region posterior of e 1 and e 2 smooth, not plicate. Ventral region: Lateral margins of epimeres I–III tuberculate; epimeral plates III porose only on anterior part ( Fig. 17b). Epimeral setal formula 3-1-2-1. Ventral plications broad, with tubercles and elongated plaques. Genital plates with one pair of setae. Region lateral of anal plates porose.

Deutonymph. As for protonymph except as follows: length 632 µm, breadth 348 µm. Prodorsum: Inverted Vshaped interbothridial ridge bearing a line of tubercles. Interbothridial region strongly porose anterior of transverse ridge, tuberculate posterior of it ( Fig. 18a). Gastronotic region: Length 447 µm. Irregular plications more strongly and densely tuberculate than those of protonymph. Region posterior of e 1 and e 2 and anterior of δ t sparingly tuberculate. Ventral region: Epimeral plates III and IV tuberculate along posterior margin. Epimeral setal formula 3-1-2- 3 ( Fig. 18b). Genital plate with median carina bearing two short setae in medial file and two in lateral file; anteriolateral seta 46 µm long.

Tritonymph. As for deutonymph except as follows: mean length (n = 4) 807 µm, mean breadth 440 µm. Prodorsum: Region posterior of transverse interbothridial ridge tuberculate ( Fig. 19a). Gastronotic region: Length 594 µm. Irregular plications tuberculate. Region posterior of e 1 and anterior of δ t tuberculate and ridged medially, smooth, porose laterally. Setae f 1 on semicircular ridge extending laterally to caudal lobes bearing setae h 1 and h 2.

Ventral region: Ventral surface very strongly and densely tuberculate. Epimeral setal formula 3-1-3-4 ( Fig. 18b). Genital plate with three short setae in medial file and three in lateral file; anteriolateral seta 107 µm long.

Material examined. Holotype female, two paratype females, two paratype males, 15 immatures (non-types), ANIC 3757 , sifted litter and mossy logs, rainforest with Eucalyptus sp. , State Forest , 2.2 km NE Corinna, Tasmania, 41°38'43"S 145°05'50"E., 45 m., coll. T. Weir & C. Lemann, 14.iii.2008 . Holotype and paratypes deposited in the Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Canberra .

Etymology. Phyllhermannia lemannae is named in honour of its co-collector, my colleague Cate Lemann (Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Canberra).

Remarks. Phyllhermannia lemannae sp. nov. can be differentiated from other member of the genus based on the following combination of characters: 1) the interlamellar setae shaped differently from the notogastral setae; 2) the strongly tuberculate prodorsum and interbothridial ridge; 3) the curved, barbed, phylliform lamellar setae; 4) elongated, phylliform notogastral setae, barbed apically; 5) the strongly tuberculate epimeres and perigenital region; 6) the alveolate genital plates; 7) the lines of very large tubercles on the posterior margins of epimeral plates III and IV; 8) the massive, tuberculate projection on the anteriolateral margin of the ventral plate. 9) the broad, rounded, barbed phylliform setae on the legs; 10) the large, laterally flattened, sub-rectangular femora I and II, with a large ventral keel.

The association of the immatures with the adult is based on their presence in the same sample; the strongly tuberculate cuticle, especially on the prodorsum and along the interbothridial ridge; the very broad, barbed, phylliform setae on the legs; the identical morphology of the notogastral setae and the large size of the immatures, congruent with the dimensions of the adult.

Phyllhermannia lemannae is morphologically most similar to P. gigas in the shape of its bothridial setae, the pattern of microtubercles on the notogaster and its large size, but differs in the morphology of the setae of the notogaster: those of P. gigas have stout barbs along their entire length, those of P. lemannae are finer, shorter and confined to the apices of the setae. The lateral setae of femur I of P. lemannae are broad, phylliform and rounded; those of P. gigas are squat and spiniform.