Seira arenicola sp. nov.

(Figs 2, 4 B, 5B)

Type material. Holotype male, Brazil, Paraíba, Mataraca, vi-2006. Zeppelini, D. coll. Paratypes 3 males, 3 females, Brazil, Paraíba, Mataraca, VI-2006. Zeppelini, D. coll. Material deposited in the Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro (CM/ MNRJ).

Description. Total length of the holotype 1.47 mm, other measurements in Table 2. Habitus typically entomobryid (Fig. 2 A). Colour of mounted specimens pale grey. Dark blue pigment present on eye patches, antennae, meso and metathorax lateral-ventral edges, end of abdominal segment IV, coxae and trochanters and a spot on the forehead typical for Seira . Yellowish rounded scales covering the first two antennal segments and the base of the third antennal segment, head, meso and metathorax, abdomen, coxae and trochanters. Fourth antennal segment not annulated, with an apical bulb and no pin setae. Eye patches oval, with the largest lens being B and the smallest lens being D (Fig. 2 F). No interocular macrochaetae observed. Pre-labral and labral setae smooth. Labial triangle seta r normal and feathered. M1, M2 and E feathered (Fig. 2 B). Trochanteral organ with 15 spine-like setae, arranged in four rows. Pro, meso and meta ungues with four inner teeth, one pair at the base and two unpaired teeth at the apex (Figs 2 C-E). Unguiculi acuminate, with smooth edges (Figs 2 C-E). Tenent hair capitate, with smooth edges. Venter of manubrium with four subapical setae. No spine-like setae present on the manubrium. Dorsal macrochaetal distribution on head and body as in fig. 4B. Other characteristics are listed in Table 3.

Remarks. The head chaetotaxy of S. arenicola sp. nov. differs from that of the other New World Seira . Cephalic region 6 of this species has 5+5 setae and thus resembles S. dubia Christiansen & Bellinger. The position of the four posterior setae on the cephalic dorsum is similar to that of many New World Seira, like S. bipunctata (Packard), S. cryptica Mari Mutt, S. delamarei Jacquemart and S. dubia Christiansen and Bellinger. The body chaetotaxy also differs from the other New World specimens, with a remarkably high number of setae on the second abdominal segment (7+7). Antennae, ungues, unguiculi and colour pattern are similar to S.mataraquensis sp. nov.

Etymology. Arenicola is the latin word for “living in sand”. Seira arenicola sp. nov. was the only new species species found in sand dunes that lack vegetation cover in Mataraca (PB, Brazil).

Distribution. Good’s biogeographic zone 27 (Good 1974).