Eosentomon kubotai Nakamura, 2010

Nakamura, Osami, 2010, Taxonomic revision of the family Eosentomidae (Hexapoda: Protura) from Japan 2701, Zootaxa 2701, pp. 1-109 : 65-67

Eosentomon kubotai Nakamura sp. nov.

Figs. 37–38; Table 15

Type specimens. Holotype female ( NSMT –Ap 502), Goshogadani, Tsumori, Yukuhashi –shi, Fukuoka Prefecture, 33°40'31"N, 130°55'51"E, 100 m elevation, litter from a forest dominated by P. densiflora , 1-X-1988, T. Kubota leg. Paratypes: 3 females ( NSMT –Ap 503–505), same date as for the holotype .

Other specimens examined. One male, 2 females, 1 imago, 1 maturus junior, same data as for the holotype ; one male, Miike –zan, Omuta –shi, Fukuoka Prefecture, 33°01'43"N, 130°30'14"E, 300 m elevation, 15-X-1988, litter of a forest dominated by C. cuspidata subsp. cuspidata, T. Kubota leg .

Description. Body length 793 (624–975) µm. Head 112 (112–117) µm long, 78 (79–81) µm wide. Setae aa, pa and m4 present, sensilla as and ps present ( Fig. 37A); seta sp 1.1(1.2) times longer than p; sensilla pp rudimentary. Labral setae absent ( Fig. 37B). A pair of extra setae present between both rs setae ( Fig. 37B); rs inflated, longer than sr ( Fig. 37B). On maxillary palpus ( Fig. 37C) sensilla md and ml similar to each other in shape and length. On galea ( Fig. 37D) digit O longer than M and I; M and I close to each other. Mandible with four teeth ( Fig. 37E). Clypeal apodemes distinct ( Figs. 37A, B). Pseudoculus 9 µm long, without inner structure ( Fig. 37F), PR = 13.

Foretarsus length ( Figs. 37G, H) 76 (75–77) µm; claw 16 µm, TR = 4.9 (4.9–5.0); empodium 16 (14–16) µm, EU = 1.0 (0.9–1.0); sensillum s as long as or slightly longer than claw, 16 (16–18) µm. Sensillum t1 closer to α 3 than to α 3’, BS = 0.9 (0.9); t2 thin; t3 surpassing base of α 7; a nearer to γ 1 than to γ 2, reaching nearly to base of γ 2; b surpassing base of β 6; c slightly broadened; d reaching base of t3; e and g roundedly spatulate and long; f1 thinly spatulate; f2 thin, reaching base of γ 5; a' slightly thick, reaching base of α 3’; b'1 nearer to δ 3' than to δ 4’; b'2 thin; c' absent. Length of middle tarsus 36 (35–37) µm, length of claw 11 µm, empodium short ( Fig. 37I), 2 (1–2) µm long; hind tarsus 46 (45–46) µm, claw 12 (12–13) µm, empodium short ( Fig. 37J), 2 (1–2) µm; on hind tarsus ( Fig. 37J) D2 and D4 thin spine.

Tracheal camerae thick, distally contracted ( Fig. 38A). Central lobe trapezoidal ( Fig. 38B). Laterostigmata II– IV distinct, without inner structure. On female squama genitalis ( Fig. 38C) caput processus duck's head-like; filum processus long. Male genitalis with long basiperiphallar setae.

Chaetotaxy as in Table 15. Thoracic and abdominal chaetotaxy similar to E. hitakami , but abdominal sternites IX–X with two pairs of setae, 1 and 2.

Diagnosis. Among Eosentomon spp. possessing two anterior and nine posterior setae on abdominal sternite VIII, this new species is characterized by four setae on abdominal sternites IX–X (six setae in others) and the presence of extra setae between the rs setae (absent in others). This species is similar to E. hitakami in possessing short empodia on middle and hind tarsus, but differs in the presence of labral setae (absent in E. hitakami ), pseudoculus without inner structure (with a central spot and weakly V-shaped structure in E. hitakami ), and the linear shape of foretarsal sensillum t3 (broadened in E. hitakami ).

Etymology. This specific name is dedicated to Mr. Tadashi Kubota, who kindly supplied me with materials from Kyushu, including the present new species.

Distribution. Japan (Kyushu).