Trogolaphysa giordanoae Soto-Adames & Taylor

Soto-Adames, Felipe N. & Taylor, Steven J., 2013, The dorsal chaetotaxy of Trogolaphysa (Collembola, Paronellidae), with descriptions of two new species from caves in Belize, ZooKeys 323, pp. 35-74 : 39-44

Trogolaphysa giordanoae Soto-Adames & Taylor sp. n. Figs 1-21; Figs 22-23 (habitat)

Type locality.

BELIZE: Toledo District: 29 km WNW of Punta Gorda, Blue Creek Cave, Hokeb Ha entrance, 11.IV.2011, SJT, MES, JJ, CMS, GBH & RS, coll.

Type material:Holotype, female on microscope slide preparation, INHS Collection Number 579,406; Paratypes: BELIZE: Toledo District: 29 km WNW of Punta Gorda, Blue Creek Cave, Hokeb Ha entrance, 11.IV.2011, (3 in alcohol), SJT, MES, JJ, CMS, GBH & RS, coll.; 37 km WNW of Punta Gorda, cave near Pueblo Creek Cave, 16.IV.2011, (4 in alcohol-one headless), MES, JKK, CMS, GBH & GeC, coll.; 28 km NNW of Punta Gorda, Tiger Cave, 9.IV.2012, (1 on slide, 33 in alcohol), SJT, MES, JJ, CMS, GBH, BKK & GaC, coll.; 28 km NNW of Punta Gorda, Bat Cave, 10.IV.2011, (2 on slides, 29 in alcohol-some in poor condition, one headless), SJT, MES, JJ, CMS & GBH, coll.; 31 km WNW of Punta Gorda, Okebal Ha, 14.IV.2011, (3 on slides, 16 in alcohol), SJT, MES, JJ, CMS, GBH, BKK & RS, coll.

Diagnosis.

Trogolaphysa giordanoae sp. n. is unique among species with 6-8 eyes in having 5 dorsal head macrochaetae, 3 metathoracic macrochaetae and 4 inner macrochaetae on Abd. 4. Among species with known dorsal chaetotaxy, the new species is most similar to Trogolaphysa riopedrensis , but the two species are easily distinguished by the combination of characters given above and by the presence of a relatively shorter mucro in the new species (Table 2). Additional diagnostic characters distinguishing the new species from all other New World Trogolaphysa with 6-8 eyes and capitate/spatulate tenent hair are presented in Table 2. Among the species described before the introduction of chaetotaxy, the new species is most similar to Trogolaphysa distinguenda (Denis, 1931), but the two species can be separated by the presence of a relatively long mucro with 5 teeth in distinguenda, and a 4-toothed short mucro in Trogolaphysa giordanoae sp. n. Trogolaphysa belizeana is the only other New World Trogolaphysa with 3 metathoracic macrochaetae. However, Trogolaphysa belizeana is a troglobiont (sensu Sket 2008, Culver and Pipan 2009)-blind, with long antennae and modified ungues.

Description.

Size. Body length up to 2.1 mm.

Color. Pattern, if any, obscured by green dye present in the alcohol in which specimens were preserved (Fig. 1).

Scale distribution. Scales dark brown, present on Ant. 1-2 and base of Ant. 3, more abundant on dorsal face than on ventral face of segment. Scales absent from ventral tube, legs and dorsal face of manubrium.

Head. Antenna/cephalic diagonal ratio 2.0-2.5 (Fig. 1). Apical bulb of Ant. 4 absent; subapical sensillum capitate (Fig. 2), fully contained in circular depression; guard sensillum absent. Sense organ of Ant. 3 (Fig. 3) with sensilla 1 and 4 acumi nate, thin-walled and translucent; sensillum 5 acuminate, dark (light dense), shorter than 1 and 4; sensilla 2-3 wide, leaf-like, resting in shallow grooves. Eyes 6+6 (Fig. 4), chaetotaxy of eyepatch well with 4, sometimes 6 ciliate setae, and 1 seta posterior to eye F. Head dorsally with 5 macrochaetae (A0, A2, M3, Pa5 and Pm3 - Figs 4-5). Series M with 2 setae (M3-4); series S with 5 setae (S1-5); seta M0 seen only in one individual; S0 absent. Prelabral setae serrate (Fig. 6). Labral setae smooth: setae in rows A and C subequal; seta B2 distinctly shorter than setae B0 and B1 (Fig. 7). Distal margin of labrum with 1+1 medial hooks, papillae absent (Fig. 8). Apical and subapical setae of maxillary palp smooth; sublobular plate with 2 seta-like appendages. Lateral process of labial papilla E weakly bent dorsally, barely reaching apex of papilla (Fig. 9). Labial triangle setae as M1M2rEL1 –2A1– 5 (Fig. 10); r short, stout and sparsely ciliate; L1 inserted close to E and distant from L2 when compared to other entomobryoids (Fig. 11). Postlabium covered by setae and scales, all postlabial setae ciliate, modified setae absent. Columns ICELO with 42221 setae (Fig. 11): col umn I with posterior seta detached from main group and much longer than anterior setae. Ventral cervical setae usually 8+8.

Body. Mesothoracic hood not developed. Complete dorsal macrochaetae as 32/73/0245+0+9. Mesothorax with 1 anterior (a5) and 6 posterior (p3 complex) macrochaetae arranged as is typical for genus (Fig. 12); microchaetae m2, m4, p1, p2, p4, p5 and p6 present. Inner chaetotaxy of metathorax with 3 macro- and 1 microchaetae (Fig. 13). First abdominal segment with 1 anterior (a6) and 4 posterior setae arranged in a single row (Fig. 14). Second abdominal segment (Fig. 15) inner bothriotrix with 3 fan-shaped setae, one microsensillum and macrochaeta m3; outer bothriotrix with 3 fan-shaped setae and macrochaeta m5; setae a6, m6 and p5 present. Third abdominal segment (Fig. 16) inner bothriotrix complex with 2 fan-shaped setae, 1 sensillum, and macrochaeta m3; external bothriotricha with 7 fan-shaped setae, and macrochaetae am6, pm6 and p6; sensillum d2 present, inserted near pm6. Fourth abdominal segment with 5 inner and 9 outer macrochaetae (Fig. 17): large inner macrochaetae A4, A5, B4, and B5 present; B6 a small macrochaeta; large outer macrochaetae D3, E2, E3, F1, F2, and F3 present; macrochaetae E4, F4 and one other seta probably homologous to Fe4, small. Anterior and medial bothriotricha with 7 and 3 fan-shaped supplementary setae, respectively. Posterior bothriotrix, corresponding to D4, without associated supplementary setae. Posterior setae 19 –21+19– 21. Intersegmental membrane between Abd. 4-5 with 4-10 lenticular organs (as in Trogolaphysa riopedrensis , Fig. 60).

Legs. Trochanteral organ with up to 36 setae. Metathoracic claw complex as in Fig. 18. Tenent hair weakly spatulate. Smooth posterior setae on metathoracic legs 0.76 × as long as unguiculus. Unguis with 4 inner teeth: 1 basal tooth sometimes ap pearing slightly larger than other, both paired teeth ending near middle of inner edge; proximal unpaired tooth as large as basal paired teeth, ending on distal half of inner edge; distal unpaired tooth smallest of all inner teeth and ending on distal fourth of inner edge. Outer tooth ending on basal quarter of outer ungual edge. Unguiculus lanceolate, with outer margin serrate.

Ventral tube. Anterior face with 3+3 or 4+4 distal macrochaetae; lateral and posterior setae not seen clearly.

Furcula. Dens with 2 rows of ciliate spines: inner row with 35-42 spines; outer row with 25-28 spines. Basal outer spines longest (Figs 19-20). Mucro with 4 short, stout teeth (Fig. 21), ratio mucro length/width of dens tip 1.2 –1.8×; basal outer tooth reaches to at least half length of basal inner tooth.

Etymology.

This species is dedicated to Rosanna Giordano, the senior author’s wife, for her years of support and contributions to science.

Distribution.

The species is known only fromBelize

Habitat.

Trogolaphysa giordanoae sp. n. is a guanophile, recorded from entrance, twilight (Fig. 22) and dark zones of caves (6.7, 53.3 & 40.0 % of 15 collections, respectively), often in association with fruit bat or other guano (Fig. 23) (noted for 40% of 15 collections). It was commonly found on the floor of caves (76.9% of 13 collections where position was noted), but also on cave walls (23.1% of 13 collections where position was noted).