Qantelsella, Smith, 2015

Smith, Graeme B., 2015, New Silverfish Taxa from Queensland (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae), Records of the Australian Museum 67 (3), pp. 67-81 : 68

Qantelsella n.gen.

Type species: Qantelsella louisae n.sp.

Diagnosis. Small to medium-sized silverfish. Body shape as in Figs 2 and 3 . Pigment present. Macrochaetae variably plumose, often quite stout (short and thick). Antennae with both circular (poculiform?) and rod-like basiconic sensillae. Chaetotaxy of frons consisting of mostly strong marginal macrochaetae which form 1+1 weak bushes anterolaterally, 1+1 weak submarginal groups at the level of the antennae not greatly separated from the marginal macrochaetae, some macrochaetae extending over the anterior part of the eyes and two macrochaetae behind the eyes; clypeus with 1+1 groups of macrochaetae; labrum with transverse proximal row of macrochaetae. Apical article of labial palp with long row of sensory papillae. Thoracic nota with short lateral bristlecombs and 1+1 posterolateral bristlecombs each with single macrochaeta; trichobothrial areas of type 1. Thoracic sternites trapezoidal with 1+1 posterolateral combs. Tarsi with four articles, pretarsus with two claws and a medial empodial claw. Urotergite 1 with 1+1 and II–VIII each with 2+2 bristlecombs, IX glabrous. Urotergite X short, subtriangular with many marginal macrochaetae, without 1+1 bristlecombs. Urosternites I–II without setae and III– VIII with 1+1 bristlecombs. Two pairs of stylets. Parameres absent. Penis typical for family; two segmented, apically with many short glandular setae each set on a protuberance.

Female unknown.

Etymology. The genus is described from a specimen collected near the town of Winton in central Queensland, a town which also claims to be the “birthplace” of Australia’s national airline Qantas (pronounced “kwantas”). The genus name is based on a combination of part of the airline name with “telsella” referring to its possible relationship to the genus Acrotelsella . It is treated as grammatically feminine.

Figures

Figure 2. Qantelsella louisae n.sp.

Figures 3–15. Qantelsella louisae n.sp. holotype ♂ (3) habitus; (4) notal scale; (5) feathery macrochaeta with very long pectinations; (6) stout macrochaeta with fine pectinations; (7) long macrochaeta with rounded pectinations;(8) head;(9) basal articles of antenna;(10) distal articles of antenna showing a circular sensilla (cs) and rod-like basiconic sensilla(rs); (11) mandible;(12) idem, detail of incisor and molar regions; (13) maxilla; (14) idem, lacinia and galea; (15) idem, ultimate article of palp. Scale bar = 0.1 mm unless otherwise indicated.