Entomobrya maroccana Baquero & Jordana, 2008, new species

Entomobrya maroccana new species

(Figs 8, 11, 23 and 25)

Type-locality: MOROCCO (Ifrane, Biological Station).

Type-specimens: Holotype (female) on a slide labelled " Entomobrya handschini - Flowers around Biological station Morocco: Ifrane 15.v.1961 P.N. Lawrence 1186 Brit. Mus. 1961-238"; 1 paratype on the same slide as the Holotype; 1 paratype on a slide labelled: " Entomobrya handschini Deciduos humus. Morocco: 15.vi.1961 Ifrane Biol. Stn. P.N. Lawrence. 1175 Brit. Mus. 1961-238"; 3 paratypes on a slide labelled: " Entomobrya handschini - Cedar humus. mixed. Morocco: Ifrane: Biol. Stn. 15.v.1961. P.N. Lawrence 1183. Brit. Mus. 1961-238", and 2 paratypes on a slide labelled: " Entomobrya cf. handschini - Rotten Cabbage Morocco: Ifrane. 20.v.1961. P.N. Lawrence 1258 Brit Mus. 1961-238".

Material deposited: NHM.

Description. Body length up to 1.3 to 2.1 mm excluding antennae. Colour pattern as shown in Figs 8 and 11, with 5 longitudinal stripes interrupted only on the first third of thoracic tergite II and abdominal tergite IV. Eight eyes, GH and EF similar in size. Antennae 2.4 to 2.8 times the length of the head, with simple apical vesicle. Head trichobothria present. Labral setae formula 5, 5, 4, as in other Entomobrya species. Labral papillae smooth. Thoracic tergite II with ‘mane’ of macrochaetae. Tibiotarsus without differentiated setae (except for the smooth terminal setae on legs III, characteristic of the genus). Unguis with four internal teeth: first pair at 6–7/10ths of distance from base of unguis, and two unpaired teeth (the first at 7.5–8.5/10ths of distance from base and the most distal one minute); dorsal tooth at the level of lateral teeth, that are at 5–6/10ths of distance from base of unguis (Fig. 25). Unguiculus spike-like, without serrated inner edge on leg III. Observation of the setae and pseudopores of the manubrial plate was impossible. Mucro with both teeth similar in size, and mucronal spine. Thirty-nine relevant characters listed in Table 1. Simplified formula: 3-1-0-2-2/2-3/2-3/1-2-1/ 0-0-3-2-2 (Table 1). In the mounted specimen two additional setae on head were visible behind S0–S2. We have observed the same character in some Mesentotoma species.

Remarks. Entomobrya maroccana n. sp. has smooth labral papillae as do all other species except E. fimbaensis n. sp. Entomobrya maroccana n. sp. shares with E. fimbaensis n. sp. the position of unguis dorsal tooth and the m3 seta on abdominal, whilst the other species differ. Entomobrya maroccana n. sp. is different from E. fimbaensis n. sp. by the presence of 1 m 3–m4 setae on abdominal III (Ch. 22) and the absence of an unpaired seta on abdominal IV (Ch. 24), whilst it is similar to the other species. Entomobrya maroccana n. sp. lacks setae on ma1–ma4 series on abdominal IV (Ch. 25), whilst there are always some setae in this position in the other species. A significant character, the relative length of abdominal tergites IV/III, makes Entomobrya maroccana n. sp. different from the rest of species. In four characters Entomobrya maroccana n. sp. differs from E. quinquelineata. In five characters it differs from E. fimbaensis n. sp. In five characters also it differs from Entomobrya lawrencei n. sp. The two supplementary setae below S0–S2 series on head are characteristic for Entomobrya maroccana n. sp.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the country of origin of the new species.