Neelus fimbriatus Bretfeld &Trinklein, 2000

Schneider, Clément, 2017, Morphological review of the order Neelipleona (Collembola) through the redescription of the type species of Acanthoneelidus, Neelides and Neelus, Zootaxa 4308 (1), pp. 1-94 : 73-74

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4308.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:254C1FE2-8233-43C0-9B83-7A10BC64A092
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6040281
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A8760E-7B61-4F07-72BB-FBDDD06270F3
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Neelus fimbriatus Bretfeld &Trinklein, 2000
status

Treatment

Figs 5, 36A–H.

Material examined. Holotype . ♀ on a slide, Cotopaxi Province, Otonga Reserve , cloud forest, 1900 m, litter sample C, 26.viii.1996, N. Trinklein leg., [ SMC]. Paratypes . 4 ♀ on 13 slides, 1 ♂ on a slide and 1 juvenile on a slide, same data as the holotype, [ SMC].

Comments. There were two pairs of females labeled with the same number (“ ♀ 1” and “ ♀ 2”). I added a label “ ♀ 4” on one of the females “ ♀ 1” and a label “ ♀ 5” on one of the females “ ♀ 2”, at the back of the slides. Early instars were not available but most of the specimens of Neelus fimbriatus I observed did not seem to have reach full development of the antenna morphology (while having mature genital plate). Adult morphology of the antenna was drawn after the specimen “ ♀ 4” and sub-adult morphology was drawn after the specimen “ ♀ 5”. The antennae of the juvenile were not studied due to a poor positioning on the slide.

Diagnosis. Whitish with dark brown or reddish brown. 500 µm. Labrum: chaetae a1 and a2 with 3 to 7 external teeth. Posterior pair of post-labial chaetae ciliate. Ant. IV with nine S-chaetae S, a and sa acuminate. Abdomen with numerous microspines (tertiary rods). Manubrium with 3 + 3 posterior chaetae. dp with 1 + 1 chaetae.

Description. Addendum to Bretfeld & Trinklein (2000).

Antenna, adult. Total length of antenna ~ 143.3 µm; max width (Ant. III) ~ 19.4 µm; ratio width: length ~ 0.14; ratio length of Ant. I: Ant. II: Ant. III: Ant. IV ~ 0.22: 0.59: 0.82: 1. Ant. I with three chaetae on dorsal side ( Fig. 36 View FIGURE 36 A). Ant. II with five chaetae in two whorls, one chaeta in basal whorl, four chaetae in apical whorl ( Fig. 36 View FIGURE 36 A). Ant. III with 13 mesochaetae in five rough whorls (distribution from base to apex: 1, 1, 3, 2 and 6 chaetae), 10 of those chaetae particularly thick; five apical S-chaetae (S1–S5), S1 and S4 long and tubular, S2 and S3 short and tubular, S5 short and flam-shaped ( Fig. 36 View FIGURE 36 B). S4 full length could not be assessed. Ant. IV with 15 thin mesochaetae; 11 S-chaetae, nine long with round apex (S), one shorter than S with pointed apex (Sx, 6 µm) and one thicker than S with round apex (Sy); two apical special chaetae with long and thin apex in apical (a) and sub-apical position (sa); a sub-apical organite Or with two apical filaments, in basal position in regard to sa, and apical position in regard to Sx ( Fig. 36 View FIGURE 36 C, D).

Antenna, sub-adult. Total length of antenna ~ 107.5 µm; max width (Ant. III) ~ 22.3 µm; ratio width: length ~ 0.20; ratio length of Ant. I: Ant. II: Ant. III: Ant. IV ~ 0.35: 0.59: 0.75: 1. Only two chaetae could be see on Ant. I. Ant. II and III as the adult, S4 full length could not be assessed ( Fig. 36 View FIGURE 36 E, F). Only 13 ordinary chaetae could be see on Ant. IV, rest of the chaetotaxy as the adult ( Fig. 36 View FIGURE 36 E, F). The chaetotaxic pattern of the apex of the antenna matches with Bretfeld & Trinklein (2000) —see their Fig. 6.

Male sexual apparatus. Abd. VI sternum with at least 1 + 1 swollen chaetae sm, maybe 2 + 2 ( Fig. 36 View FIGURE 36 G); genital plate with 13 + 13 chaetae ( Fig. 36 View FIGURE 36 G); testis slender and curved ( Fig. 36 View FIGURE 36 H).

Discussion. Closely related to Neelus murinus and Neelus koseli from which it differs in antennal chaetotaxy, labral chaetae morphology and post-labial chaetae morphology.