Entomobrya weldensis Jordana & Greenslade 2020, sp. nov.

Entomobrya weldensis sp. nov.

(Figs 3M, 6D, 44 A–E)

Holotype. Female, TAS, Mt Weld, - 43°S, 146.566°E, 1300m asl, pitfalls, one specimen with colour, Feb 2012, M. Driessen leg. [SAMA 22664].

Paratype. One specimen on same slide, same locality and date, on the same slide.

Description. Size. Length. Up to 1.439 mm excluding antennae.

Colour. White, dark blue from Th III to Abd VI, some white areas in the anterior part of Abd IV. Legs and manubrium bluish. Head with an anterior black spot between antennae, the ocular spot black. (Fig 236).

Head. Eight eyes, G and H smaller than E and F. Antennal length 740 μm, 2.4 times the length of the head. Ant IV with bilobed apical vesicle; relative length of Ant segments 1/3/2/2.8. Four, smooth labral papillae with a small, almost imperceptible point (Fig. 44A); external process of papilla E reaching to papilla tip. Posterior labial row with MREL 1 L 2, all ciliated, R smaller than M.

Thorax and abdomen. Ratio of lengths of Abd IV/III=4.6. Tibiotarsus without differentiated chaetae, with exception of the presence of the smooth terminal chaetae on legs 3, characteristic for the genus. Unguis with 4 teeth similar in size, paired two at 57% from base, first unpaired tooth at 75 % from the base; lateral teeth below the level of paired ones. Unguiculus acuminated, external lamella serrated. Tenent hair clavate, longer than unguis. Trochanteral organ with 15 chaetae. Manubrial plate with 4 chaetae and 2 pseudopores. Mucro bidentate, both teeth the same size, and with mucronal basal spine reaching the tip of the subapical tooth. Mucro of 15 micrometers and smooth distal part of dens twice length of mucro.

Macrochaetotaxy. Simplified Mc formula: 3,1,0,3,2/3,3/2,3(4)/1,0,1/0,3,2,2,2. Head chaetotaxy (Fig. 44B) An 1, An 2, An 3a1, An 3 and A 5 Mac. M 1, M 2, M 3 and M 4 present as Mc. In sutural row S 0, S 1, S 2, S 3, S 4i, S 4, S 5i and S 5, Ps 2 and Ps 5 present. Thoracic chaetotaxy of Th II (Fig. 44C) with Mc m 1, m 2 and m 2i on T1 area, on T2 area with Mc a 5, m 4, and m 4i. Abdominal chaetotaxy (Fig. 44D) of Abd II with a 2, m 3ep and m 3e Mc present on A2 area of Abd II, sometimes m 3ei present. On Abd III a 1 and m 3 Mc present; Abd IV (Fig. 44E) with Mc A 3 –A 6, B 3 –B 6 and C 1. Sensillary formula not seen; bothriotricha on Abd IV in position T 2 and T 4 (0110).

Remarks. This species is unique because of its characteristic colour. The dorsal chaetotaxy of the Abd II and III segments is similar to E. leonensis, E. nivalis, E. unostrigata, E. salina sp. nov., E. caputovisensis sp. nov. and E. cf. quinquelineata of the Canary Islands. It differs from all these species in that Th II has 3, 3 Mc on areas T1 and T2. The labial papillae also have an unusual shape. In spite of extensive collection in the area, this species was only found at high altitude on the mountain. It appears to be a short-range endemic.

Etymology. The species name refers to the locality, Mt. Weld.