Tetracanthella bichaeta, Potapov & Deharveng, 2005

Potapov, Mikhail & Deharveng, Louis, 2005, Three new species of Tetracanthella (Collembola, Isotomidae) from western Europe, Zoosystema 27 (1), pp. 85-93 : 87

Tetracanthella bichaeta n. sp.

( Fig. 1 )

TYPE MATERIAL. — Switzerland. Les Diablerets , 2550 m, lichens and mosses on limestone rocks, 1.VIII.1982, L. Deharveng leg. (sample # SUI3 ), holotype and 2 paratypes ( MNHN) ; 1 paratype ( MSPU) .

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific name is given for the unusual presence of two clavate tenent hairs on tibiotarsi of the first pair of legs.

DISTRIBUTION. — Only known from the type locality.

DESCRIPTION

Body length 1-1.2 mm. Body rather broad. Coloration dark, including antennae. Two kinds of dorsal plates: many small polygons (much smaller than mesochaeta socket) regularly scattered among larger ones (roundish, slightly smaller than mesochaeta socket) ( Fig. 1G ); polygons not larger on Abd. IV or V. Canals between polygons well marked. Smooth fields absent. Dorsal mesochaetae of medium size, longer in posterior rows of tergites. Mesochaetae not shortened in axial part of tergites: Abd. IV with p3 subequal to p1. Macrochaetae long and acuminate, curved at apex. 8+8 ocelli, G and H reduced (dcA/dcH = 1.5- 1.7). PAO short, about two times as long as the diameter of ocellus A ( Fig. 1A ). Chaeta s’ of ant. III in males absent. Three prelabral chaetae. Outer maxillary lobe with two sublobal hairs. Five chaetae between medial line and pc3 on head. Frontal chaeta ap present.

Figures

FIG. 1. — Tetracanthella bichaeta n. sp.; A, ocelli and PAO; B, distal part of Tita I; C, chaetotaxy of Tita III in adult male; D, furcal area; E, dorsal chaetotaxy of Th. II; F, dorsal chaetotaxy of Abd. II-VI; G, dorsal plates in axial area near p1-chaetae of Abd. IV. In E and F, axial chaetae are marked. Abbreviations: Abd. II-VI, abdominal tergites II-VI; PAO, postantennal organ; Th. II, thoracic tergite II; Tita