Visma powellheueri, Smith & Mitchell & Molero-Baltanás, 2021

Smith, Graeme B., Mitchell, Andrew & Molero-Baltanás, Rafael, 2021, Molecular and morphological studies identify a new genus within the Heterolepismatinae (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae), Zootaxa 5030 (1), pp. 1-118 : 93-100

Visma powellheueri new species

Table 11; Figs. 8 , 331–365

Type material. Holotype SA: Wilmington , adjacent to Beautiful Valley caravan park 32.66271°S 138.11152°E 348 m asl, 10 May 2012, Graeme Smith, leaf litter inside hollow at base of old eucalypt, ♀ ( HW 1.38 ) on two slides ( SAMA 05-000002 - 1 and 05-000002-2) . Paratype ♂ ( HW 1.23 ) same data as holotype, on two slides ( SAMA 05- 000003 - 1 and 05-000003-2 two slides). Other paratypes : ♂ ( HW 1.21 ) same data as holotype, in alcohol (K.377914); juvenile ♂ ( HW 0.75) same data as holotype, in alcohol (K.377915) .

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from other species of the Visma Southern Group (species with 3+3 combs on urotergite I, the presence of only a single macrochaeta in the posterior combs of the nota and the absence of combs of two macrochaetae on the meso and metanota) by a combination of characters such as the high proportion of scales of the nota with widely spaced ribs and the presence of only three pair of styli.

Description. Medium-sized Heterolepismatinae , thorax widest at pro- and mesonotum, with the metanotum about 10% narrower and the first abdominal tergite about 5% narrower again; abdomen only tapers slightly posteriorly from about the fifth abdominal segment; appearance when live mottled grey with dark pigment patches visible on the end of the femur and tibia and basal article of tarsus, antennae almost evenly light brown but slightly lighter around the annuli with the larger setae, terminal filaments distinctly annulated with quite dark pigment on all but the most distal annulus of each division ( Fig. 8 ).

H+B length up to 9.5 mm; thorax: length 3.4 mm or 0.36 H+B; width up to 2.1 mm with mesonotum being slightly wider than the pronotum and much wider than the mesonotum; antennae probably almost equal to H+B; terminal filaments long, probably about 80% H+B.

Pigment rusty brownish to dark grey to black. Flagellum of antennae in holotype almost evenly light brown. Terminal filaments with quite dark pigment, except for the most distal annulus of each division. Head with pigment around eyes along lateral margins extending into peri-antennal groups. Clypeus and labrum without pigment. Mandible with light pigment among the macrochaetae. Maxillary palp with dark pigment on much of the third and fourth articles, and to a lesser extent on the ultimate article, second article, may also have some pigment. Labial palp with dark pigment only along lateral margins of the ultimate and penultimate articles and sometimes lighter pigment also on the second article. Precoxae without pigment. Anterior corners of coxae with light pigment at the margins. Trochanter without pigment or with pigment along posterior edge and a darker patch subapically; femur with light pigment overall, darker near anterior dorsal corner and around posterior bulge; tibia pigmented overall being darker towards the margins, quite dark on anterior distal region; basal tarsal article with dark brown pigment overall. Urotergite X and coxites IX only very lightly pigmented. Styli IX darkly pigmented except for basal 10%, other styli with or without some light pigment. Ovipositor white or slightly yellowish.

Macrochaetae smooth, hyaline to brown, apically bifurcate with truncated tips to each bifurcation. Some macrochaetae on tibia are carrot-shaped.

Scales generally quite rounded although of variable shape, mostly with quite widely spaced subparallel ribs that do not surpass the margin of the scale ( Fig. 331 ); about 25–35 ribs per scale on the scales of the pronotum. Round scales found on top of head, present on all nota, all thoracic sterna, and coxae, present on all urotergites and urosternites. Narrow and broader triangular scales present on clypeus, scape, femora and tibia. Lanceolate and possibly narrow triangular scales present on basal divisions of terminal filaments and subapically on styli IX. Scales absent from trochanter and tarsi.

Head wider than long ( Fig. 332 ), without distinct bushes other than those formed along the lateral margins of the frons. Anterior margin of frons glabrous in the medial region. Lateral rows of macrochaetae extend along each side of head but there is a small but distinct gap between these rows and the macrochaetae surrounding the eyes; peri-antennal groups small, with trichobothrium-like seta which is quite thick at its base and a few macrochaetae, the peri-antennal groups slightly isolated from the marginal macrochaetae. Clypeus with long 1+1 rows of macrochaetae close to the frons, as well as 2+2 long strong macrochaetae in the mid-region, otherwise with scattered setae, cilia and lanceolate or narrow triangular scales. Labrum with about 30 macrochaetae scattered across the proximal half and the usual six fine setae subdistally. Scape and pedicel of antenna ( Fig. 333 ) each with a subapical ring of small macrochaetae, scape with triangular scales on inner and outer faces, there may be a few scales on the anterior face of the pedicel. Sutures between the annuli of the basal articles of the flagellum very difficult to discern; each annulus appears to have one ring of setae, trichobothria and some cilia. Each interval splits into two annuli by about the seventh or eighth interval, with a trichobothrium in the most distal annulus only. The intervals further subdivide by about the 12 th interval into four. Most distal surviving intervals ( Fig. 334 ) divided into repeated patterns of eight annuli, with four in each chain, rod-like basiconic sensilla in the most distal annulus of each chain and a trichobothrium in the distal most annulus of each interval. The basal annulus of each chain with only a single sub-basal ring of thin setae, the second and third annuli each with two rings of thin setae, one sub-basal the other subapical, the most dorsal annulus of each chain with three rings of setae, one sub-basal, the next about ⅔ along the annulus and these setae are quite curved (and carrying the trichobothrium in the t-annulus) and the most distal ring of fine setae and one or more basiconic sensilla type B.

Mandibles typical for Heterolepismatinae , not strongly curved ( Fig. 335 ) with well-developed molar and incisor areas; a group of about seven strong and short setae as well as 6–9 thinner but longer, apically bifurcate setae adjacent to the pectinate molar area and a bush of about 70 macrochaetae externally. Maxilla ( Figs. 336, 337 ) with 3–4 thick apically bifurcate macrochaetae externally proximal to the palp; lacinia not very short and wide, with three strong teeth, one set only slightly further back than the other two, followed by 6–8 lamellate processes and a row of 7–10 setae, galea with 2–5 stronger setae proximally but otherwise with only short fine cilia or setulae; apical article of maxillary palp 5.3 times longer than wide (range 4.8–5.9) and about 1.1 times the length of the penultimate article (range 1.06–1.14), the ultimate article probably with two or three slender simple branched papillae of the thin type in both sexes, and with a single sausage-shaped basiconic sensillum (type C) near the apex; last two articles of palp without thicker setae, third article with some slightly stronger setae towards the distal end as well as two thicker apically bifurcate setae, two basal articles with subapical rings of thicker setae. Labium ( Fig. 338 ) much wider than long, postmentum with several setae scattered irregularly across the anterior third, as well as some apically bifurcate macrochaetae sublaterally, prementum with transverse and oblique groups of stronger setae and with short cilia and setulae distally; apical article of labial palp about as long as wide (L/ W 1.08, range 0.96–1.24), with five subequal papillae of the compact type arranged in two rows, with the distal row curving around the proximal two in a cluster arrangement, a basiconic sensillum type C is located on the face, face covered with numerous fine short setae, those proximal and laterally longer than those distal; penultimate article with only slightly stronger setae medially.

Pronotum ( Fig. 339 ) with setal collar of medium to long length macrochaetae and some small setae and cilia; the macrochaetae only slightly less dense in the medial region; entire lateral margins with medium to short setae and some cilia as well as several longer marginal and submarginal macrochaetae. The anterior trichobothrial area ( Fig. 340 ) located about 0.44 the distance along the lateral margin (range 0.42–0.46), the trichobothrium not associated with a macrochaeta but with 1–3 setulae and 0–1 cilia. The posterior trichobothrium ( Fig. 341 ) is mediad of a submarginal macrochaeta with 1–3 setulae posterior to this and a cilium laterad of the macrochaetae. Posterior margin with 1+1 single insertion points each associated with two cilia and 1–2 setulae ( Fig. 342 ). Mesonotum ( Fig. 343 ) with similar lateral chaetotaxy to pronotum except it lacks the anterior setal collar; none of the submarginal macrochaetae are arranged in combs of two macrochaetae; the anterior trichobothrial areas ( Fig. 344 ) are located about ⅔ along the margin somewhat associated with a macrochaeta located posterior and lateral to the trichoboth- rium but not closely associated with it (located more posterior on left side of holotype); the macrochaeta but not the trichobothrium with two or three setulae posterior to and/or either side of it; the posterior trichobothrial area located about 0.85 the distance along the margin, with the usual strong macrochaeta between the trichobothrium and the margin as well as a cilium and a setula; 1+1 posterior insertion points as in pronotum. Metanotum ( Fig. 345 ) similar to mesonotum except the anterior trichobothrium has a submarginal macrochaeta mediad of it on the right side but not associated with any macrochaeta on the left side (nor on either side of the dissected male paratype), both trichobothria are more posterior than on the mesonotum (0.81 and 0.90 respectively), the lateral margins also without combs of two macrochaetae; 1+1 posterior insertion points as in pronotum.

Presternum narrow, with an irregular transverse band of strong, mostly apically bifurcate macrochaetae ( Fig. 346 ). All thoracic sterna with hyaline scales. Prothoracic sternum trapezoidal, a little longer than wide at base (L/ W 1.07, range 1.04–1.10), all of lateral margins with fine setae, postero-lateral corners with 1+1 combs of 1–3 macrochaetae and 3–4 strong marginal setae distally; posterior margin between the combs glabrous and straight or very slightly concave. Mesosternum ( Fig. 347 ) trapezoidal tending to parabolic in holotype, not much longer than wide (L/ W 1.06, range 1.04–1.08) with fine setae along posterior half of each lateral margin, 1+1 postero-lateral combs each of 1–4 long thick marginal seta and two submarginal macrochaetae, posterior margin between combs very slightly convex or concave (e.g. dissected paratype SAMA 05-000003 ) and glabrous. Metasternum ( Fig. 348 ) much wider than long (L/ W 0.75, range0.74–0.76), distal third of lateral margins with fine setae, each postero-lateral corner with a comb of two submarginal macrochaetae and 1–2 strong marginal setae as well as some cilia, posterior margin between the combs concave and glabrous .

Legs ( Figs. 346 , 347, 349 ) progressively longer anterior to posterior with the tibia of PI being 0.54 times the length of PIII and the tarsus of PI being only 0.67 the length of PIII. Tibia L/W ratio of legs PI 2.5 (range 2.1–2.8), PII 3.1 (range 3.0–3.2), PIII 3.9 (range 3.2–4.3); tarsi L/W ratio PI 6.2 (range 5.6–6.6), PII 7.7 (range 6.8–8.4), PIII 8.7 (range 7.2–9.9). Precoxa of PI only ( Fig. 346 ) with comb of four strong macrochaetae near the anterolateral corner. Coxae with many strong macrochaetae along the external margin, inner margin with 2–4 macrochaetae along the distal margin and a group of about six setae distally over the articulation as well as some fine setae distally on the dorsal face. Trochanter with one macrochaeta and one strong seta as well as several other setae. Femur ventrally with some macrochaetae along the posterior margin, a line of macrochaetae extending along the face subdistally towards the articulation; anterior margin with 1–2 strong setae about ⅔ along the margin and a cluster of three or four setae closer to the distal end. Ventral face and anterior margin of femur with triangular scales in the anterior half and long thin setae in the posterior half. Tibia with 1–3 carrot-shaped macrochaetae along the dorsal margin and two strong carrot-shaped macrochaetae on the ventral margin as well as some stronger setae along the face adjacent to the posterior margin; apical spur distinctly hooked and bearing several small setae; face of tibia also with setae and long thin triangular scales. Tarsi of four articles, the basal tarsal article of PI only slightly less than the length of the remaining articles together, basal article of PII about the same length as or slightly longer than the last three articles together, bearing some stronger setae below; second and third articles of all legs short with two long setae and several smaller setae; second article of tarsi of all legs with trichobothrium dorsally. Pretarsus with two long curved lateral claws and a much shorter straight medial claw. PII ( Fig. 347 ) and PIII ( Fig. 349 ) similar to PI except tibia of PIII with trichobothrium-like seta proximal to the first dorsal macrochaeta and the basal tarsal article is just a little shorter than the distal three combined.

Urotergites I–VII with 3+3 combs as shown in Table 11, each lateral comb of 2–4 macrochaetae associated with 1–3 small marginal setae, 2–4 cilia and 2–7 setulae, each sublateral comb of 2–4 macrochaetae associated with 1–2 cilia, 0–1 small marginal setae and 1–5 setulae and each submedial comb of just a single macrochaeta with two cilia and a single setula ( Figs. 350–353 ); urotergite VIII with 2+2 combs, lacking the sublateral comb, each lateral comb of three macrochaetae associated with 2–3 cilia, 1–2 small marginal setae and 2–3 setulae; urotergite IX without combs but with a cilium and 2–3 small marginal setae or setulae in each infralateral corner ( Fig. 354 ). Urotergite X ( Fig. 355 ) short, round (L/ W 0.28, range 0.25–0.31) with numerous macrochaetae, setae and cilia along the lateral margins, posterior margin is glabrous only for a short region in the middle of both dissected specimens; lacking posterolateral submarginal macrochaetae.

Urosternite I glabrous, urosternites II– VI with 1+1 lateral macrochaetae each associated with 1–2 cilia and a setula ( Fig. 356 ), urosternites VII ( VIII in male) similar but bearing a pair of styli, with 1+1 lateral single macrochaeta mediad to each stylus ( Fig. 357 ), each macrochaeta associated with one cilium and several setulae, the corner laterad of each stylus with a cilium and 3–4 setulae. Coxites VIII of ♀ ( Fig. 359 ), with rounded inner process each bearing a single macrochaeta mediad of the base of the stylus and several setulae, outer process with a cilium and a small seta as well as a few setulae. Three pairs of styli present (on urosternites VII – IX) in both sexes, the styli on VII and VIII only half the length of styli IX but still armed with several strong setae apically .

Coxite IX of ♀ ( Fig. 359 ) with apically acute inner process about three times longer than the external process (range 2.95–3.00) and 1.8 times longer than wide at its base (range 1.64–1.89), external process with a few robust setae and some smaller setae near the apex, internal and external margins of inner process with many strong setae or macrochaetae, inner process without a macrochaeta mediad of the base of the stylus insertion. Styli IX long with several stronger setae distally and along the shaft, the stylus (excluding the apical macrochaetae) a bit longer than twice the length of the internal process. Ovipositor long about 2.2 times as long as HW surpassing the end of the inner process of coxite IX by about five times the length of the inner process, composed of about 40 divisions (range 40–41). Distal divisions of gonapophyses ( Fig. 360 ) with only short fine setae and setulae.

Urosternite VIII ( Fig. 361 ) of ♂ with slightly concave or almost straight posterior margin between the styli. Each coxite IX of ♂ with a macrochaeta mediad of but posterior to the base of each stylus, several strong macro- chaetae along the inner and outer margins of the inner process and apically on the outer process; the internal process acute, about 1.1 times longer than wide at its base (range 1.08–1.20) and 2.7 times as long as the outer process (range 2.56–2.81) which is shorter than wide at its base (L/ W 0.69) and rounded. Penis quite bulbous with numerous glandular setae apically, each set on a protuberance. Parameres ( Figs. 362, 363 ) not prominent, divided into two segments although the suture between them is not very distinct and may be incomplete, appear to lack small papillae-like glands near the apex; with numerous (40+) long thin setae .

Cerci ( Figs. 364, 365 ) with first four or five divisions with a single ring of setae, trichobothria and macrochaetae on the outer side, following two divisions with two rings, seventh division with three rings and following divisions of four rings, the macrochaetae restricted to the most distal division,, lanceolate or narrow triangular scales present at least in basal rings. Most distal surviving divisions with nine annuli with macrochaetae present on the fifth and the most distal, two trichobothria present on the sixth annulus. Median dorsal appendage ( Fig. 364 ) with basal two divisions partially covered by the epiproct which is apically cleft in the female holotype but straight in the male paratype (SAMA 05-000003), the next two divisions also short with only a single ring of long thin setae, with two trichobothria in the ring dorsally, next four divisions increasingly longer with two rings, the dorsal trichobothria restricted to the middle two rings, following divisions with four rings of setae, the macrochaetae restricted to the most dorsal ring, the basal and penultimate rings also with lanceolate scales. Most distal surviving divisions similar to those of cerci probably only 40% of the maximum length, with four annuli per division, the trichobothria found on the second and third annuli.

Habitat. Collected from leaf litter inside hollow base of old Red Gum.

Etymology. Named for my good friend and travelling companion Powell Heuer (26.03.1956 – 29.05.2019), a knowledgeable man fascinated by science and the wonders of the universe.

Remarks. This species fits into the group containing V. stilivarians and V. xanthorrhoea n. sp. where urotergite I has 3+3 combs and the meso- and metanota lack combs of two macrochaetae. It is the only species of Visma so far described with just three pairs of styli in both sexes but see comments below regarding H. stilivarians .

Figures

FIGURES 5–9. 5. Visma advenum n. sp. 6. Visma bundjalung n. sp. 7. Visma bingara n. sp. 8. Visma powellheueri n. sp. 9. Visma xanthorrhoea n. sp.

FIGURES 331–338. Visma powellheueri n. sp. holotype ♀ 331. Round scale of pronotum. 332. Head (cross-hatched area ob- scured by eye pigment), labrum partially detached from frons). 333. Antenna, scape, pedicel and basal intervals of flagellum. 334. Idem, most distal surviving interval showing possible minute. 335. Mandible. 336. maxilla, smaller setae omitted from palp. 337. Idem, ultimate article of palp two papillae. 338. Labium. Scales: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 339–346. Visma powellheueri n. sp. holotype ♀ 339. Pronotum, right half. 340. Idem, anterior trichobothrial area. 341. Idem, posterior trichobothrial area. 342. Idem, posterior comb. 343. Mesonotum, right margin. 344. Mesonotum, left trichobothrial areas. 345. Metanotum, right margin. 346. Presternum, prothoracic sternum and PI. Scales: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 347–358. Visma powellheueri n. sp. holotype ♀ 347. Mesothoracic sternum and PII. 348. Metathoracic sternum. 349. PIII. 350. Urotergite I. 351. Urotergite IV, right lateral comb. 352. Idem, sublateral comb. 353. Idem, submedial comb. 354. Urotergite IX, left infralateral comb. 355. Urotergite X. 356. Urosternite II. 357. Left lateral comb, urosternite IV. 358. Urosternite VII Scales: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 359–365. Visma powellheueri n. sp. holotype ♀ unless otherwise indicated by specimen number 359. Urosternites VIII, IX and ovipositor. 360. Apical divisions of ovipositor. 361. Urosternite VIII of ♂ (SAMA 05-000003). 362. Coxites IX of ♂ with penis and parameres (SAMA 05-000003). 363. Paramere enlarged (SAMA 05-000003). 364. Base of cercus and median dorsal appendage. 365. Apical division of cercus. Scales: 0.1 mm.