Caribesella impudica ( Escherich, 1905 ) Molero-Baltanás & Gaju-Ricart & Smith, 2024

Molero-Baltanás, Rafael, Gaju-Ricart, Miquel & Smith, Graeme B., 2024, New insights in the taxonomy of Lepismatidae (Insecta, Zygentoma) with an updated key to genera and future challenges, European Journal of Taxonomy 943 (1), pp. 80-126 : 107-108

Caribesella impudica ( Escherich, 1905) comb. nov.

Figs 7B , 9A , 10B , 11A , 13A

Acrotelsa impudica Escherich, 1905: 112 [holotype female, Santa Marta, Colombia (ZMA)].

Stylifera impudica – Wygodzinsky 1959a: 39 [supplementary description based on specimens from Venezuela (Paraguaná), Aruba, Curaçao, Little Curaçao (as Klein Curaçao), Bonaire, Margarita, Los Frailes, Los Testigos, Trinidad (ZMA)].

Stylifera (Acrotelsella) impudica – Paclt 1966: 156 [supplementary description based on intercepted quarantine material from Venezuela or Colombia and from a boat on the Pacific (ZMH)].

Acrotelsella impudica – Mendes 1986c: 334 [treated Acrotelsella as a genus independent of Stylifera , first published use of combination].

Material examined

VENEZUELA • 10 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀ (3 ♂♂ and 3 ♀♀ mounted on slides, 1 ♂ and 1 ♀ mounted for SEM study, remaining specimens preserved in 70% alcohol); Monagas State, Uverito Forest ; 8°39′ N, 62°37′ W; 15 Aug. 1996; C. Bach leg.; pitfall traps in a plantation of Pinus caribea formerly occupied by a savanna; UCO Z2561 , Z2565 .

Remarks

Most of the descriptive details of this species were provided by Wygodzinsky (1959a) as Stylifera impudica , except for some of the new characters described here for the diagnosis of the new genus which include the clypeal tufts, trichobothrial areas, coxal combs of macrochaetae, pattern and distribution of scales on appendages, and pretarsal microtrichia. Dorsal scales are illustrated in Fig. 19A–B and scales of different appendages in Fig. 19C–F . The scales of the coxae are rounded, but not orbicular (i.e., with the basal part not surrounding the insertion), with a finely denticulate apical margin. Femoral scales are similar in shape to coxal scales, but slightly smaller and apically narrower. Tibial scales are narrower and smaller than those of the femora. Scales covering styli are even smaller, with their apical margin more denticulate. Coxal combs have 3–6 macrochaetae, some of them as long as half the width of the coxa. Details of abdominal chaetotaxy are presented in Table 1 , although most of them do not represent an increase of the variability given by Wygodzinsky.

Figures

Fig. 7. Trichobothrial areas, SEM photographs. A. Open trichobothrial areas of the pronotum of Sceletolepisma guadianicum (Mendes, 1992); the anterior area is visible in the upper part of the photo, and the posterior area is placed in the lower part. B. Closed trichobothrial area of Caribesella impudica (Escherich, 1905) comb. nov. (formerly Acrotelsella impudica). Scale bars: A = 0.2 mm; B = 50 μm.

Fig. 9. Chaetotaxy of coxae in Lepismatidae Latreille, 1802, micrographs of the external margin of the coxa. A. Caribesella impudica (Escherich, 1905) comb. nov., showing discrete combs of few macrochaetae. B. Neoasterolepisma curtiseta Mendes, 1988, showing isolated macrochaetae inside a row of setulae. C. Ctenolepisma nicoletii (Lucas, 1846), with an irregular row of macrochaetae not clearly arranged in combs. Scale bars: A, C = 0.1 mm; B = 50 μm.

Fig. 10. Praetarsal claws in Lepismatidae Latreille, 1802, SEM photographs. A. Praetarsus of Ctenolepisma nicoletii (Lucas, 1846), showing lateral claws with smooth base and finely striated tegument. B. Pretarsal claw of Caribesella impudica (Escherich, 1905) comb. nov., with microtrichia, and the empodium with striated tegument. Scale bars: A = 100 μm; B = 50 μm.

Fig. 11. Shape and chaetotaxy of the urotergite X (last abdominal tergite) of Lepismatidae Latreille, 1802, variability. A. Caribesella impudica (Escherich, 1905) comb. nov., adapted from Wygodzinsky (1959a). B. Qantelsella louisae Smith, 2015, from Smith (2015). C. Stylifera gigantea (Escherich, 1905), from Irish (1988c). D. Acrotelsella parlevar Smith 2016, from Smith (2016b). E. Hemitelsella clarksonorum Smith, 2016, from Smith (2016b). F. Hemitelsella hortorum Smith & Mitchell, 2021, from Smith & Mitchell (2021). G. Thermobia vallaris Irish, 1988, from Irish (1988b). H. Thermobia domestica (Packard, 1873), from Irish (1988b). I. Sceletolepisma sagartianum (Molero, Kahrarian & Gaju, 2016), from Kahrarian et al. (2016). J. Hyperlepisma patrizii Silvestri, 1932, from Silvestri (1932). K. Nebkhalepisma australe (Wygodzinsky, 1959), from Wygodzinsky (1959b). L. Hyperlepisma arabiense Irish, 1991, from Irish (1991). M. Ornatilepisma horni Irish, 1988, from Irish (1988a). N. Swalepisma mirabile Irish, 1988, from Irish & Mendes (1988). O. Sceletolepisma occidentale (Irish, 1987), from Irish (1987).

Fig. 13. Ovipositor types in Lepismatidae Latreille, 1802. A. Primary ovipositor of Ctenolepisma rothschildi Silvestri, 1907, SEM photograph. B–C. Secondary ovipositor of Caribesella impudica (Escherich, 1905) comb. nov., SEM photograph (B) and micrograph (C). Scale bars: A = 10 μm; B = 90 μm; C = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 19. Caribesella gen. nov., diagnostic characters not previously illustrated, SEM photographs. A. Orbicular scales of dorsal side of the abdomen. B. An indented scale of the dorsal side of the thorax. C. Coxal scales. D. Scales on the apex of the femur. E. Scales and setae on the basal part of the tibia. F. Scales on stylus IX. G. Open anterior trichobothrial area of the pronotum. Scale bars: A = 70 μm; B, G = 50 μm; C = 60 μm; D–E = 90 μm; F = 80 μm.