Pilonychiurus delhezi ( Stomp, 1983 ) Stomp, 1983

Pomorski, Romuald J., 2007, Three new genera of Onychiuridae (Collembola), Zootaxa 1461, pp. 49-58 : 56-58

Pilonychiurus delhezi ( Stomp, 1983) comb. nov.

Figs. 28–34

Onychiurus delhezi Stomp, 1983: 192

Type material. Holotype reproductive male in alcohol; Algeria, Atlas Mountains, Djurdjura, Gouffre du Petit Boussouil cave, 1973; leg. F. Delhez (Museum of Natural History, Geneva)..

Redescription. Color white. Length (without antennae): holotype adult male 1.5 mm. Body white, cylindrical, broadened in the region of abdominal segments III and IV, without anal spines ( Fig. 29 ). Granulation of body surface regular and fine, without areas of coarser granules. Antennal bases not marked. Antennal III sense organ with 4 papillae, 2 sensory rods and 2 elongated and granulated sensory clubs. Postantennal organ consisting of 20–22 fine and simple vesicles ( Fig. 30 ). Pseudocellar formula dorsally: 3–4 7/279/10 11–12 12 14 6; ventrally 1/000/00000, subcoxa I–III each with one pseudocellus. Posterior cephalic pseudocelli located on the back side of the granulated head capsule ( Fig. 28 ). Thoracic and abdominal pseudocelli numerous, located mostly on posterior margins of terga.

Dorsal chaetotaxy, oligochaetose, usually symmetric, microsetae often asymmetric ( Figs 28–29, 31 ). Dorsal setae distinctly differentiated into very thin and relatively long macrosetae and mesosetae. Microsetae are short and apically pointed. Abdominal terga with 2+2 submedial microsetae. Head with seta d0 present. Abdominal tergum V with p0 present. Upper subcoxae I–III with 4, 5, 5 setae respectively. No thoracic ventral setae. Ventral tube with 2+2 (?) basal setae. Sensilla invisible.

Furca reduced to two poorly marked finely granulated areas on the border between abdominal sterna III and IV ( Fig. 34 ). Claw without inner and lateral denticles ( Fig. 27 ). Empodial appendage with small basal lamella, half as long as inner edge of Cl III. Tibiotarsi with 11 distal setae. Males without ventral organ.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Remarks. The species needs to be redescribed from new specimens (see also the Discussion above).

Figures

FIGURES 28 – 34. Pilonychiurus delhezi: 28, arrangement of pseudocelli and chaetotaxy of dorsal side of head and thoracic tergum I; 29, chaetotaxy and arrangement of pseudocelli on abdominal terga I – VI; 30, postantennal organ (after Stomp 1983); 31, chaetotaxy and arrangement of pseudocelli on thoracic tergum III; 32, labrum; 33, tibiotarsal chaetotaxy and claw; 34, furcal area.

FIGURES 22 – 27. Wandaphorura millsi: 22, postantennal organ and anterior cephalic pseudocelli; 23, antennal III sense organ – sensory clubs and rods; 24, labial palp; 25, arrangement of parapseudocelli on abdominal sterna and general shape of body; 26, furcal area; 27, tibiotarsal chaetotaxy and claw.