Entomobrya boreensis sp. nov.

(Figs 1E, 4C, 10 A–F)

Holotype. Female, SA, 90 Mile Desert, Ngarkat Conservation Park, Comet Bore, mallee clay pan, - 35.44°S, 140.48.2°E, 25m asl, pitfall, 5−10.x.1977, PG leg., [SAMA 22667].

Paratypes. Two females, same collection data as holotype.

Other material examined. SAMA, 2 male and 2 female, NSW, Broken Hill, in Mitchell grass, 21.ix.1990 ; 60 km ENE Broken Hill, Glen Idol Station, 10.x.1990, - 31.8175°S, 141.933056°E, 165m asl, pitfall .

Description. Size. Length Up to 1.25 mm excluding antennae, (n=8 from 0.98–1.67 mm).

Colour. Uniform pale orange. Head with an anterior stripe purple. Ant 3 and 4 entirely pigmented. Th II to Abd III with the posterior transversal narrow band and laterals one (Figs 1E, 4C). Some scattered pigment can be seen under a microscope.

Head. Eight eyes, G and H smaller than E and F. Antennae length 630 μm (n=7), 2.4 times the length of the head (n=7). Ant IV with bilobed apical vesicle with pin chaeta beside it; relative length of Ant I/II/III/IV=1/1.9/2/2.6 (n=7). Sensory organ of Ant III with curved rod-like sensilla in addition to the 3 guard sensilla (Fig. 10B); four labral papillae with one short and conical projection each (Fig. 10A). Labral formula: 4/554, 4 prelabral ciliated chaetae, labral chaetae smooth. Labial chaetae MEL 1 L 2 all ciliated, only with one Mc M, and without R. External process of labial papilla E reaching the papilla tip.

Thorax and abdomen. Length ratio of Abd IV/III=4 (n=8). Tibiotarsus without differentiated chaetae, with exception of the presence of the smooth terminal chaetae on legs 3, characteristic for the genus. Trochanteral organ from 8 to 12 spiny chaetae. Unguis length 40 μm. Unguis with 4 teeth: paired at 50% of the base and first unpaired at 70-75 % from base; lateral teeth below the level of paired ones. Unguiculus lanceolate, with external serrated lamella. Tenent hair clavate, longer than unguis. The length of manubrium and dens 220 + 353=573 μm (n=8). Manubrial plate with 4 chaetae and 2 pseudopores. Mucro bidentate with anteapical tooth similar in size to apical one, and with mucronal basal spine reaching the tip of the subapical tooth. Mucro 11 μm, (n=8). Length of apical smooth part of dens twice length of mucro.

LP=Labral Papilla: Without =0 smooth =1 Multispinate =2 seta like =3 Pointed not seta like =4. External unguiculus=EU: 0=smooth, 1=serrate. Diff = differences. bor / sti meaning the comparison between the species E. boreensis versus E. stirlingensis . The same abbreviations (first three letters) for the remaining species. * means differences.

Macrochaetotaxy. Simplified Mc formula: 3,1,0,1(2),2/1(2),4/0,2/0,0,1/0,0,3,2,2. Head chaetotaxy (Fig. 10C) An 1, An 2, An 3a1 and An 3 Mc. A 5 Mc. M 1 to M 4 present as Mc. In sutural row S 0, S 1 (sometimes absent), S 3, S 4, S 5i and S 5. Ps 2 and Ps 5 present. Thorax chaetotaxy: Th II chaetotaxy (Fig. 10D) with Mc m 2 and m 2i2 (sometimes absent) on T1 area. On T2 area Mc a 5, m 4, m 4i and m 5 present (sometimes a 5’ as mesochaeta is present). Abdominal chaetotaxy, a 2 and a 3 absent on A1 area at Abd II, only m 3 and m 3e Mc are present on A2 area of Abd II (Fig. 10E). On Abd III only m 3 Mc is present on A5 area, Abd IV (Fig.10F) with Mc A 4 –A 6, B 4 –B 6 and C 2a. Sensillary formula 2,2/1,2,2,7,3, mS= 1,0/1,0,1.

Remarks. The new species has the same chaetotaxy on Abd II and Abd III (0,2/0,0,1 Mc) as E. stirlingensis sp. nov. and E. clarki, but differs in the presence of Ps 2 on the head and of 3 Mc on area 8 of Abd IV. The colour differs between these species, and E. boreensis sp. nov. has labral papillae with one short conical projection instead of having a multispinate form as in E. clarki . Other differences are in the absence of labial R chaeta in the new species and the unguis with paired teeth at 32% from base in E. clarki and 50% in E. boreensis . The size also differs, as adults are smaller in E. boreensis than in E. clarki . See Table 5

The distribution of this species is unusual for the genus being found in widespread localities in the arid zone.

Etymology. The species name refers to the type locality.