Seira mendoncea, Bellini & Zeppelini, 2008

Bellini, Bruno C. & Zeppelini, Douglas, 2008, A new species of Seira (Collembola: Entomobryidae) from northeastern Brazil, Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 25 (4), pp. 724-727 : 724-726

Seira mendoncea sp. nov.

Figs 1-11

Etymology. The species was named after Maria Cleide de Mendonça, one of the most important Collembola researchers in Brazil.

Total length of the holotype 1,48 mm, other measures are listed in table I. Habitus typically entomobryid ( Figs 1 and 2 ). Color of fixed specimens pale yellow with dark blue pigment covering the antennae, fore-head, lateral borders of meso and metathorax, abd I, III, IV and V ( Fig. 1 ); mounted specimens – pale grey with dark blue pigment covering antennae, fore-head, lateral borders of meso and metathorax, abd I, III, IV and V ( Fig. 2 ). Brownish rounded scales covering Ant. I, II and III, head, meso and metathorax, abdomen, coxae, trochanters, femurs and tibiotarsus, manubrium and dens. Ant. IV not annulated, with an apical bulb and no pin setae ( Fig. 4 ). Eye patches oval, with the largest lens being B and the smallest lens being H, with four interocular feathered setae ( Fig. 5 ). Prelabral and labral setae feathered. Labial triangle seta r reduced. M1, M2 and E feathered ( Fig. 3 ). Trochanteral organ in inverted V-shape with 24 spine like setae ( Fig. 5 ). Pro, meso and meta ungues with four inner teeth, one pair at base and two unpaired teeth at apex ( Figs 7-9 ). Unguiculi acuminate, with slightly smooth edges ( Figs 7-9 ). Tenent hair capitate with smooth edges. Venter of manubrium with five subapical setae. No spine-like setae on manubrium. Mucro tipically falcated ( Fig. 10 ). Dorsal macrochaetae distribution of head and body as in figure 11. Other characteristics are listed in table II.

Taxonomic Summary. Holotype. BRAZIL, Paraíba: Cacimba de Dentro ( Fazenda Cachoeira da Capivara ), male, 27-I-2008, B. Bellini leg. Paratypes: 3 males, 9 females, with the same data as the holotype. The type material is deposited at the Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil ( CM / MNRJ) .

Remarks. The head chaetotaxy of S. mendoncea sp. nov. resembles that of S. delamarei Jacquemart, 1980, a species only found in Ecuador ( CHRISTIANSEN & BELLINGER 2000). Cephalic regions 2, 4A, 4C and 6 of both species have the same number of macrochaetae in the same disposition. Regions 1 and 5 have also some similarities. The number and disposition of macrochaetae at the cephalic region 4 of S. mendoncea sp. nov. is similar to S. dubia Christiansen & Bellinger, 1980 and S. mantis Zeppelini & Bellini, 2006, with two macrochaetae at region 4A, four at 4B and three at 4C. The chaetotaxy pattern of the thorax of S. mendoncea sp. nov. resembles that of S. delamarei, especially at regions 2 and 3A at the mesothorax and region A and B of the metathorax. There are five macrochaetae on the first abdominal segment of S. mendoncea sp. nov. in contrast to three or four found in S. delamarei. Abdominal segments II and III have also similarities between the two species. The Abd. IV on the species differs considerably, and this segment in S. mendoncea sp. nov. appears more similar to that of S. mantis. The shape of the feet complexes and antennae is similar in S. mendoncea sp. nov. and S. delamarei (Tab. II). Other characteristics are compared in table II.

Seira mendoncea sp. nov. was collected at Cacimba de Dentro, state of Paraíba, Brazil. The climate of the type locality is ‘As’ following Koeppen’s system ( KOTTEK et al. 2006) and it is located at the biogeographic zone 27 ( GOOD 1974). This region is situated between Caatinga and Brejo de Altitude biomes. In the same locality occur other three species of Seira : S. raptora Zeppelini & Bellini, 2006, S. nigrans (Arlé, 1959), and S. mirianae Arlé & Guimarães, 1981.

A total of 12 species of Seira have been recorded in Paraíba so far, including S. mendoncea sp. nov. ( BELLINI & ZEPPELINI 2005, 2008, ZEPPELINI & BELLINI 2006). In Brazil there are now 21 described species.

Figures

Figure 1. Seira mendoncea sp. nov. Habitus of a preserved specimen.

Figures 2-11. Seira mendoncea sp. nov.: (2) habitus; (3) labial quaetotaxy; (4) apical bulb of 4th antennal segment; (5) right eye patch; (6) metatrochanteral organ; (7) first foot complex; (8) second foot complex; (9) third foot complex; (10) distal dens and mucro; (11) dorsal macrochaetae distribution.