Limbodessus raeae Watts & Humphreys, 2006

Michat, Mariano C., Alarie, Yves & Watts, Chris H. S., 2012, 3584, Zootaxa 3584 (1), pp. 1-110 : 80

Limbodessus raeae Watts & Humphreys, 2006

(Figs 208–211)

Source of material. One specimen of instar III was used for the description ( Table 1). The larva was collected in association with adults at the following locality: Australia, Carey palaeovalley, Hinkler Well calcrete, Lake Way Station, Dawson’s Well, BES 14305, 28.8866S, 120.1621E, 17–IX–2006, coll. W. F. Humphreys and T. Moulds.

Diagnosis (instar III). Medium-sized species (HL 0.55–1.15 mm); head (Fig. 208) subpentagonal; nasale subtriangular; half-circle of dense spinulae on lateroventral margins of nasale absent; hole-like structure on ventrodistal surface of nasale absent; lateral margins of nasale not inflated in dorsal view; lateral branches of nasale minute; slender spinulae anterior to seta FR13 scarce (20 or less); occipital foramen well developed (HW/OCW less than 1.90); occipital suture present; lateral margins of parietal straight; secondary spiniform setae on lateral margins of parietal scarce; seta AN2 present; distal half of MN broad; setae LA3, LA4, LA5 and LA8 hair-like; secondary setae on U absent (Fig. 211).

Instar I. Not available.

Instar II. Not available.

Instar III (Figs 208–211). Head (Fig. 208). A3 less than 2.25 times longer than A1; A3 less than 1.45 times longer than A2; MN less than 4.85 times longer than broad; MP less than 1.75 times longer than labial palpus; MP2 2.10–3.10 times longer than MP3; LP2 more than 0.65 times as long as LP1. Legs (Figs 209–210). L3 2.25–2.85 times longer than HW. Abdomen (Fig. 211). Chaetotaxy. Anteroventral margin of nasale with 59 lamellae clypeales distributed in 2 rows; proCO with 1–4 anterior secondary setae; mesoCO with 1–5 anterior secondary setae; pro-, meso- and metaCO without posterior secondary setae; proCO with less than 11 secondary setae; metaCO with less than 20 secondary setae; anterodorsal secondary setae on pro- and metaFE present; metaFE with less than 12 anteroventral secondary setae; posterodorsal secondary setae on meso- and metaFE absent; metaFE with 9–27 secondary setae; anterodorsal and anteroventral secondary setae on proTI present; metaTI with less than 9 anteroventral secondary setae; posterodorsal secondary setae on proTI absent; metaTI with less than 16 secondary setae; anterodorsal and posteroventral secondary setae on pro-, meso- and metaTA absent; anteroventral secondary setae on pro- and metaTA present; posterodorsal secondary setae on proTA absent; posterodorsal secondary setae on meso- and metaTA present; proTA with 1–7 secondary setae; metaTA with less than 16 secondary setae; secondary setae on U absent. Measurements and ratios that characterize the body shape are shown in Table 11. Secondary leg setation detailed in Table 19.

Remarks. The description of L. raeae is based on a single instar III in which the mesothoracic legs and the second urogomphomere were broken, which prevented the evaluation of some morphometric and chaetotaxic characters. This species belongs to the group of stygobitic species characterized by the absence of secondary setae on the urogomphus ( L. challaensis , L. exilis , L. fridaywellensis , L. hillviewensis , L. hinkleri , L. leysi , L. masonensis , L. millbilliensis , L. morgani , L. ordinarius , L. pulpa , L. windarraensis , L. yuinmeryensis ) (Fig. 211). Compared to these species, larvae of L. raeae can be distinguished by the lateral margins of the nasale not inflated in dorsal view (Fig. 208), the presence of anterior secondary setae on the pro- and mesocoxa (Fig. 209), the presence of anteroventral secondary setae on the protibia and the protarsus (Fig. 209), and the absence of posteroventral secondary setae on the tarsus (Fig. 210).