Anisolepisma sp.

Smith, Graeme B., 2016, Revision of the Genus Anisolepisma (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae: Acrotelsatinae), Records of the Australian Museum 68 (6), pp. 269-312 : 306

Anisolepisma sp.

John Irish identified some specimens of Anisolepisma among the Australian material he had borrowed from the University of Queensland collection in the 1980’s (Irish pers. comm.). He returned the material (in alcohol) to the museum in the early 90’s, and the University collection was later transferred to the QM. Unfortunately, the shipment from Irish was never unpacked and, when finally located, the tubes were found to have dried out and the specimens shrivelled up. Attempts were made to re-hydrate and dissect the specimens with somewhat mixed but nevertheless unsatisfactory results as detailed below.

1 (sex unknown), gbs003081, QLD: “Durrie”, 40 mi. E. of Betoota 25.68°S 141.27°E 100 m asl, B. Cantrell (QM on two slides) .

The specimen was very dried out and the slides prepared not of much use. The specimen has abdominal combs on the urotergites and urosternites of at least some segments similar to those expected for mid-abdominal segments of A. aquilonaridum or A. hartmeyeri , but otherwise very little else is certain.

1♂ gbs003076 QM on two slides. NT: Mount Cavanagh, 15.viii.1959, E. Exley, under stones, rifle range. This specimen dissected reasonably well and a lot of detail could be determined. It has abdominal chaetotaxy similar to A. pigmentum except that it appears both urotergites I and II have 2+2 combs whereas urotergite II has 3+3 combs in A. pigmentum . Unfortunately the quality of the head and thorax is more affected by the desiccation so no attempt is made here to describe this material. Two other specimens (gbs003077 and gbs003078 QM) remain somewhat shrivelled in 80% ethanol.