Entomobrya niger comb. nov.

(Figs 2K, 5E, 28 A–G)

Syn. Entomobrya virgata v. nigrella Womersley, 1934, nec. Latzel, 1917–18. Stat. nov.

Holotype. Female, SA, Waterfall Gully, - 34.9600°S, 138.6760°E, 300m asl, May 1934, HW leg. [SAMA].

Other material examined. Two females, two slides and 4 in ethyl alcohol, NSW, Barrengarry, Kangaroo Valley, - 34.683333°S, 150.516667°E 360m asl, sweeping plants, 2003, PG leg., SAMA; female, 1 km N of Barrengarry, 500m asl, beating bushes, 10.iv.1991, PG leg .

Redescription. Size. Length 1.570 and 2.180 mm (2 females).

Colour. Dorsally whitish orange to whitish with some dark blue transversal bands from whole Th III to dorsal half Abd III, and of posterior half of Abd IV; Head, Th II, Abd V and VI orange. (Figs 2K, 5E). Ant. III and IV blue, darker trough the tip.

Head. Total Ant length 0.720 –0.870 mm, Ant /head ratio=2.2 Body 1.570 –2.180 mm, Ant Org. III with the middle papilla short and rod–like (Fig. 28B). Apical bulb of antennal segment IV bilobed. Labral papillae smooth and conical (Fig. 28A). Prelabral and labral chaetae 4/554, prelabral chaetae ciliated, labral chaetae smooth. Lateral process of Papilla E reaching the papilla tip. Posterior row with MEL 1 L 2 ciliated chaetae, R not seen. Eyes G and H smaller than E and F. Ant / head ratio=2.2. Measurements: Ant I–IV 100–130, 200–260, 180–210 and 240–270 in µm respectively.

Thorax and abdomen. Abd IV/III=2.9–3.5. Manubrium (280–260), dens (500–365)= 0.780–625 mm. Three manubrial chaetae and two pseudopores on manubrial plate. Trochanteral organ with 12 chaetae. Unguis slender (Fig. 28G) with 4 inner teeth; paired teeth located approximately 30–37% of inner unguis length, dorsal tooth in and intermediate position, 2 unpaired teeth on the internal edge of the unguis, unguiculus smooth external edge. Tenent hair expanded at its tip. Mucronal teeth normal.

Chaetotaxy. Formula: 3,1,0,1,1a/1,4/1,2/0,0,1/0,0,2,2,2. Head (Fig. 28C) with An 2, An 3a1 and An 3 on H1 area, with A 5 on H2 area; only two Mc on M row M 2 an M 4. Sutural row with S 0, S 2, S 3, S 4 and S 5 and P s5. Thoracic chaetotaxy T1 area on Th II with one Mc (m 2), T2 area with four Mc a 5, m 4, m 4i and m 5 (Fig. 28D). Abdominal chaetotaxy (Fig. 28E) reduced. Abd 2 with a 3 Mc m 3 and m 3e. Abd. III with m 3 Mc. Abd. IV with 6 central posterior Mc A 4 –A 6, B 5, B 6, and C 2a (Fig. 28F).

Remarks. Womersley described Entomobrya virgata Schött var. nigrella var. nov. in 1934 stating: “This variety differs from the typical form only in that the pigment is continuous between the bands on metanotum and third abdominal segment. A single specimen was collected from moss at Waterfall Gully, South Australia, in May, 1934 (R.V. S.). The name is preoccupied by Latzel, R, 1917:242, for E. arvensis var. nigrella .

The type from Waterfall Gully, S. A. May 1934 has been checked. It is totally cleared, and so not possible to see the chaetotaxy. In the collection of P. Greenslade were 6 specimens, four in ethyl alcohol, and two mounted on a slide, one of them cleared, they are coincident with this colour and we give the following description.

Entomobrya herbacea sp. nov. described above, has a unique chaetotaxic formula with only slight differences to any other species in the genus. Entomobrya herbacea sp. nov. has S 0, S 2, S 3,S 4i, S 4, S 5i and S 5 and four Mc M on the head and B 3 instead of C 2a on Abd IV, while E. niger com. nov. lacks S 4i and S 5i and has only M 1 an M 4 Mc on the head. These species also differ in colour. See remarks for E. herbacea sp. nov. This species is not common and most records are from shrubs.

Etymology. The species name refers to the colour and name given by Womersley.