On some Silverfish Taxa from Tasmania (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae and Nicoletiidae)
Author
Smith, Graeme B.
text
Records of the Australian Museum
2016
2016-07-21
68
2
45
80
http://dx.doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.68.2016.1652
journal article
10.3853/j.2201-4349.68.2016.1652
2201-4349
5238073
Hemitelsella
n.gen.
Type
species
.
Acrotelsella transpectinata
Smith, 2015
.
Diagnosis
. Medium-sized silverfish. Body shape as in
Fig. 164
. Pigment present. Macrochaetae variably plumose. Scales multiradiate of variable shape as well as lanceolate. Antennae with both poculiform and rod-like basiconic sensillae. Chaetotaxy of frons consisting of weak bushes of pectinate macrochaetae in the anterolateral corners between the antennae, with the macrochaetae not aligned in distinct rows, with a small gap between this group and further marginal macrochaetae running along the lateral margin and above the eyes; with small 1+1 isolated groups of macrochaetae posterior to the antennal bases. Clypeus and labrum each with 1+1 bushes of pectinate macrochaetae. Eyes of 12 ommatidia.
Apical article of labial palp with long row of sensory papillae. Pronotum with narrow setal collar. Thoracic nota each with several lateral bristlecombs and 1+1 posterolateral combs of one or two macrochaetae positioned quite laterad; all trichobothrial areas open (
type
1 of
Mendes, 1986
) and each associated with a bristlecomb.
Thoracic
sternites subtriangular to broadly parabolic with posterolateral bristlecombs.
Tibiae
with many long strong pectinate macrochaetae.
Tarsi
with four articles all with roundtipped setae below, pretarsus with two claws and a medial empodial claw.
Urotergite I
with 1+1 and II–
VII
each with 3+3 bristlecombs, urotergite
VIII
with 2+2 bristlecombs (lacking the sublaterals),
IX
glabrous.
Urotergite X
short, subtriangular with many marginal macrochaetae and with submarginal bristlecombs.
Urosternites I
–II glabrous and III–
VIII
with 1+1 bristlecombs.
Coxites
IX
in both sexes with transverse bristlecombs across the inner process.
One
pair of styli only (
IX
).
Parameres
absent.
Penis
typical for family; large, two segmented, apically with many short glandular setae each set on a protuberance.
Cerci
with both broad and lanceolate scales
.
Female, in the one species where it is known, with secondary
type
ovipositor with apical spines.
Etymology
. The genus is close to
Acrotelsella
Silvestri
but carries only half the number of styli. The name is composed of the Greek prefix “hemi” meaning half combined with—
telsella
. It is treated as grammatically feminine.
Remarks
. Short transverse combs on coxites IX have previously been reported for several species of
Ctenolepisma (Sceletolepisma)
Wygodzinsky, 1955
sensu
Irish, 1987
including
C. albid
a
Escherich, 1905
,
C. guadianica
Mendes, 1992
,
C. maroccana
Mendes, 1980
,
C. serranoi
Mendes, 1985
,
C. silvestrii
Stach, 1946
,
C. luederitzi
, Irish, 1987
,
C. namibensis
Irish, 1987
,
C. placida
Irish, 1987
and
C. spinipes
Irish, 1987
. Several of these species are not that different to species of
Ctenolepisma (Sceletolepisma)
without such combs (Mendes pers. comm.) and hence the presence of such combs may not be of high taxonomic importance. In the case of
Hemitelsella
, these combs are much more substantial and the inner processes of the coxites quite wide rather than elongated.
Hemitelsella
would appear to be closely related to
Acrotelsella
Silvestri
with which it shares the same dorsal chaetotaxy and shape of urotergite X, however in the chaetotaxy of the head, the rounded tipped setae on the tarsi and the sensillae of the distal antennal intervals it would appear to be closer to species of
Qantelsella
Smith, 2015
.