Entomobrya lamingtonensis Schott 1917

Entomobrya lamingtonensis Schött, 1917 sensu Jordana & Greenslade

(Figs 2E, 4 M–N, 23A–J)

Holotype. Female, locality and collection details of type locality given above.

Other material examined. Two females, one cleared, one dark, QLD, Emu Vale, 20 km E Warwick, - 28.2284°S, 152.2419°E, 515m asl, in rotten log, 14.v.1974, PG leg. [SAMA]; 2 males, one cleared the other dark, TAS, Claremont, near Hobart, Cadbury’s factory, - 42.793°S, 147.267°E, 12m asl, 4.viii.1966, Ireson leg.; one specimen cleared on slide with 2 dark females, WA, Perth, - 31.986°S, 115.822°E, 7m asl, 18.xi.1930, HW leg.; 4 specimens, 2 female cleared and female and juvenile (dark blue) on same slide below 2 cover slips, 2 specimens, not cleared and both remounted, WA, Perth, Kings Park, - 31.96°S, 115.83°E, 23m asl, wet land , 16.viii.71, M. Johnson leg. [SAMA].

Redescription. Size. Length up to 1.49 mm excluding antennae (Holotype) (n=11 at1339 μm).

Colour. Blue dark with white patches in each chaetal insertion. Ground colour uniform pale yellow; head and every dorsal segment dark blue, with some bleached areas. Ant and legs light blue. Only the furca yellowish. (Fig. 4M, N).

Head. Eight eyes, G, H half the size of E and F. Antennal length 543 μm (n= 6) Holotype without antennae, 1.99 times the length of the head (n=6). Ant IV with bilobed apical vesicle without pin chaeta; 1 small rod and a small sensillum near the tip of Ant IV. Relative length of Ant I /II/III/IV=1/1.8/1.8/2.8. Sensory organ of Ant III with rod-like sensilla in addition to 3 guard sensilla (Fig. 23A); Ant I with 3 smooth chaetae at its base. Labral papillae with 2–5 projections. (Fig. 23B). Labral formula 4/554, 4 prelabral chaetae ciliated, labral chaetae smooth. Labial chaetae MREL 1 L 2 all ciliated, only with one M, and R a little shorter than others (80% of M). Five rows of post labial ciliated chaetae. Labial papilla E with external process not reaching the papilla tip.

Thorax and abdomen. Length ratio of Abd IV/III=2.7 (Holotype) (n= 11 at 3.09). Trochanteral organ with 9–11 chaetae (Fig. 23C); tibiotarsus with smooth terminal chaetae on legs 3, characteristic for the genus and a longer, ciliated and pointed chaetae at the first third of tibiotarsus 3. Trochanteral organ near 12 spiny chaetae. Unguis length 70 μm. Unguis internal edge with 4 teeth, paired two at 53% and first unpaired tooth at 61% from base; lateral and dorsal teeth at level of paired ones (Fig. 23D). Unguiculus lanceolate, 40 μm, with external serrate lamella. Tenent hair clavate, shorter than unguis. Length of manubrium and dentes 209 and 286 μm respectively, Manubrial plate with 2–3 chaetae and 1 pseudopore (Fig. 23E). Mucro bidentate with teeth similar in size; mucronal basal spine reaching the tip of subapical tooth. Length of smooth apical dens 3 times the length of mucro (Fig. 23F).

Macrochaetotaxy. Simplified mac formula: 3,1,0,1, 2/2,2/0,1(2)/0,0,1/0,0,0,1,1. Head chaetotaxy (Fig. 23G) An 1 mes, An 2, An 3ai and An 3 Mc. A 0, A 2, A 3, A 5 Mc. Only M 2 and M 4 present as Mc. Sutural row with S 2, S 3 S 4 and S 5, S 0 present as Mc only in two specimens; in remaining 8 absent, not seen in the holotype because the position of the head. Ps 2 and Ps 5 present as Mc, in one specimen present as Mc Ps 3. Thoracic chaetotaxy with T1 area on Th II with m 1 and m 2 Mc; T2 area on Th II with 2 Mc (a 5 and m 4) (Fig. 23H). Some asymmetries and variation present with mesochaetae on T 1 in the two males studied. Abdominal chaetotaxy (Figs I–J) A1 area on Abd II without Mc and A2 area with 1 Mc (m 3), m 3e present in three specimens. Abd III with 0 Mc on areas A3 and A4, and 1 Mc on area A5 (m 3). Abd IV macrochaetotaxy only 2+2 mac present in central areas, B 4 and B 6, in one specimen a mesochaeta in A 4 position, and in two specimens present A 6 as Mc.

Remarks. The holotype is fixed in an air bubble but retains its natural dark blue colour, which makes it difficult to determine the chaetotaxy. However, two independent taxonomists with a DIC microscope have certified such chaetal arrangements as can be detected. The species is unusual for having few chaetae on Abd IV. The material studied and listed matches the holotype in colour pattern, including the bleached areas, and in chaetotaxy. This species appears to be uncommon but distributed widely. It can be easily confused with other dark blue species that are abundant in Australia. The distribution of the bleached areas on the body allowed identification (Fig 4M). Its chaetotaxy on Abd II and III (0,1/0,0,1 Mc) is similar to E. termitophila but it differs on Th II (0, 2 Mc) and 8 to 16 Mc on Abd IV in E. termitophila and 2, 2 Mc on Th II and only 4 Mc on Abd IV.

Three slides identified as E. lamingtonensis originally determined by H. Womersley are here identified as Drepanura. Two are from WA, Nangara, 31.xi.1930 and one slide from WA, Mundaring, 25.ii.31, both HW leg.