Plusiocampa (Dydimocampa) evallonychia Silvestri, 1949

Sendra, Alberto, Antić, Dragan, Barranco, Pablo, Borko, Špela, Christian, Erhard, Delić, Teo, Fadrique, Floren, Faille, Arnaud, Galli, Loris, Gasparo, Fulvio, Georgiev, Dilian, Giachino, Pier Mauro, Kovac, L'ubomír, Lukić, Marko, Marcia, Paolo, Miculinić, Kazimir, Nicolosi, Giuseppe, Palero, Ferran, Paragamian, Kaloust, Pérez, Toni, Polak, Slavko, Prieto, Carlos E., Turbanov, Ilya, Vailati, Dante & Reboleira, Ana Sofia P. S., 2020, Flourishing in subterranean ecosystems: Euro-Mediterranean Plusiocampinae and tachycampoids (Diplura, Campodeidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 591, pp. 1-138 : 22

Plusiocampa (Dydimocampa) evallonychia Silvestri, 1949

Figs 3–8 ; Table 1

Plusiocampa evallonychia Silvestri, 1949: 29 , figs ii–iii.

Diagnosis ( Silvestri 1949; Condé 1996)

Troglomorphic species. Antennae with 33 antennomeres. Protruding frontal process with tubercular setae. Pronotum with 1+1 ma, 2+2 la, 2+2 lp macrosetae; mesonotum with 1+1 ma, 1+1 la, 2+2 lp macrosetae; metanotum with 1+1 ma, 2+2 lp macrosetae; long, barbed macrosetae. Two ventral tibial macrosetae; unequal claws with large lateral crests, posterior claw with a backward overhang; short lateral anterior process and long lateral posterior process. Urotergites I–III with 1+1 post macrosetae; urotergites IV–VI with 1+1 la, 2+2 post macrosetae; urotergite VII with 1+1 la, 5+5 post macrosetae. Urosternite I with 7+7, urosternites II–VII with 6+6, urosternite VIII with 2+2 macrosetae. Male unknown; female with subcylindrical appendages with glandular a 1 setae.

Remarks

The study of four specimens, a juvenile and 3 females, collected in three caves (see Table S 2 in Supplementary Material) allowed a comparison with the species description, but new topotype material is needed to clarify the taxonomic status of this species ( Table 1 ). The epicuticle of dorsal sclerites is reticulate when observed in high magnification ( Fig. 6 ). Antennae with 34 and 35 antennomeres in two adults, and 40 in the juvenile; adult medial antennomeres 1.6× as long as wide, apical antennomere 2.5× as long as wide; one distal whorl with 20–22 gouge sensilla in each medial and distal antennomere, 36– 38 µm in length ( Fig. 4 ). Cupuliform organ occupies 1/5 of total length of last antennomere, with more than ten spheroidal olfactory chemoreceptors with a central column unfolded in complex expansions with a visible polygonal net with porous surface ( Fig. 3 ). Protruding frontal process with abundant tubercular setae ( Fig. 5 ). Pronotum with 3+3 la macrosetae (2+2 la in original description). Unequal claws (1.4–1.5) with large lateral crests (Fig, 7), posterior claw with a large backward overhang; short lateral anterior pretarsal processes, less than half length of claw, and long lateral posterior pretarsal anterior process overpassing end of claw, as described in type form. Calcars with two rows of long barbs almost from base; smooth subapical tarsal setae. Urotergites with important differences from type form: 2+2 (3+2) la and 4+4–5+5 post on urotergites VI–VII; 6+6 post on urotergite VII; 9+9 post macrosetae on abdominal segment IX (undescribed in type form). Stylar setae with a few long, thin barbs. Urosternite I with 7+7, urosternites II–VII with 6+6, urosternite VIII with 2+2 macrosetae ( Fig. 8 ). Cerci 1.9× as long as body, with only 6 articles plus base.

Habitat and distribution

Subterranean species found in four caves, including the type locality in the I-El Koba (= Kizil-Koba, Krasnaya) Сave in the Crimean Mountains. The occurrence of such a distribution for P. (D.) evallonychia in the currently unrelated isolated karst regions of the Crimean Mountains is probably associated with the recent colonization of the caves by the edaphic form of this species in the Würm glacial stage. Such a recent isolation of the populations of this species might explain the absence of differences between them.

Figures

Figs 3–8. Plusiocampa (Dydimocampa) evallonychia Silvestri, 1949, from Mamut-Tshokrak Cave, Baidarsko-Balaklavsky karst massif, Crimean Peninsula (Coll. AS). 3. Cupuliform organ. 4. Lateral side of a middle antennomere with several gouge sensilla. 5. Frontal process. 6. Surface of metanotum. 7. Metathoracic claws. 8. Urosternites VII–IX.